Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Mackenzie
I have the theater to myself again.
I’ve been practicing my routine for the last hour, trying to rebalance my mind. As the soft piano music plays I glide across the stage, my mind loosening, releasing the tension.
Dancing is like medicine for my soul.
The therapy session yesterday also helped too, more than I expected.
Although we didn’t do all that much, it was the way it was done. Dr. Parker knew exactly what to say to me to place me in control of my memories. I’m no longer calling them nightmares.
Being in control put me in the driver’s seat and it was as he said, like trying to retrace my steps when I lose something.
I’ve been thinking about his advice to focus on the second person. The person in the car. I’ve been focusing but I still can’t see them in my head, but it’s good that I’ve been able to isolate that part of my memory.
I’ve also been thinking about Tommy. I’m not sure if he wanted to hurt me. All these long years I thought he kidnapped me and did all kinds of things to me, but part of me doesn’t quite believe that now.
I keep remembering the look on his face. It was like he was trying to protect me.
Someone stabbed him. Who?
I still can’t get over Eric being there.
Dr. Parker was aware that Dmitri could identify him from the tattoo.
Part of me doesn’t want to believe it. I never had much contact with Eric in the past but I know Dmitri looks up to him.
Eric kind up made up for the areas where Dmitri’s father lacked. It will be devastating if Eric killed Tommy. But will also mean my father didn’t do it.
I feel proud in way that I believed my father based on his word. Mom and I took his word and didn’t need anything else no matter how guilty he appeared to be.
Now I just have to figure everything else out. I sensed that Dr. Parker believed if I could remember that second person it would give us more answers, key answers.
The music fades to a hum then stops and I pirouette into a curtsey.
I rise and I almost jump out of my skin when I see a woman standing my the backstage curtains watching me.
It takes me a moment to remember who she is. It’s Yuliana, Dmitri’s stepmother.
I haven’t seen her in years.
I haven’t even seen her around campus now that she and Dmitri’s father live in the Lord Chancellor’s cottage.
“Hello,” I say first because she’s just staring at me. I don’t even know how long she was standing there watching me. Or why she’s here.
Why the hell is she here? And on stage with me?
I would have seen her come from the front if she came through the doors, so she came in from the back.
“I used to love watching you dance. I still do. Sometimes I watch you when you’re home in the summer. I think you’re amazing. And every year you get better and better.” She sounds weird. There’s a hollow to her voice that makes her sound like someone who’s talking but not really thinking.
“Thank you. It’s nice of you to say that.” I bring my hands together and continue staring at her, trying to find the right words to ask her why she’s here.
I never really bonded with this woman the way I did with Dmitri’s mother. Yuliana tried to make everyone like her and not compare her but she just didn’t gel with me. maybe that was why. Because she tried too hard. It would have been more natural if she was herself.
She steps forward. There’s something in her left hand that I can’t quite see because she’s holding it at her side.
“Do you need something Yuliana?” Finally I find the words.
“Do you know what it’s like to love a man who can’t love you?” She glances down to the row of empty seats before us. “I don’t suppose you do. Dmitri has always loved you and I know you love him too. His father on the hand was perhaps the worst thing to happen to me. He never stopped loving his dead wife.”
She looks back at me as if she wants me to comment.
“I’m sorry. He seems happy with you.”
She laughs off key. “You can’t even lie to me. I guess I should thank you. You’ll remember how much Maxim loved Jeneva because saw it for yourself. He never even tried to love me a little bit. All the woman he cheated on me with looked like her in some way. Every single one of them. And worse he wouldn’t have kids with me.”
I feel like I’ve just walked in on a private conversation I shouldn’t hear. It’s awkward and I don’t know what to say. “That’s awful.”
“Yes it truly is. That’s why I sought comfort when it was offered to me in his brother. Eric loved me, but of course he couldn’t be with me because I’m married to his brother. That didn’t stop us.”
Eric?
My lungs squeeze and a tingle races through me from head to toe. I keep my gaze trained on her, realizing suddenly that she’s about to get to the point of her visit.
Why else would she just confess that she’s been having an affair with Eric. Eric
who I remember being present with Tommy and me during the incident.
“Why are you telling me all this?” I search her eyes, trying to guess what she’s going to say next.
“I want you to understand why I did certain things and why I need to protect myself.”
An eerie chill clamors down my spine. “Protect yourself from what?”
“You.”
I shake my head not understanding. “What do you mean? I’ve never done anything to you.”
“Oh but you have. You found out I was sleeping with Eric. You caught us in bed together.”
My mouth falls open and a tremor shoots through me as if I’ve been zapped with lightening. “I don’t remember. I …”
The words die in my throat as the image of her face drifts into my mnd.
The face I was trying to remember.
It was her. She was the second person.
I don’t remember seeing her in bed with Eric but I remember her getting out of that truck. Eric’s truck.
Oh my God.
My body freezes as the memories begin to flow. They’re still not clear and seem like fuzzy images but they’re there.
That wide, white space I saw in my dream was the woods near our homes in New York.
Eric had me there. It was he who took me when I tried to run away. Most likely after I caught them together. The memories are all fragmented but hearing that I saw them in bed together explains why I saw Eric shirtless.
He hurt me. Beat me. That’s why it always felt like I was in pain.
There must have been a point where it was just him and me.
Then Tommy came. He was holding my father’s knife but I don’t remember what he said, or how he even found out where I was.
Maybe he knew what was going on between them.
It was Yuliana pulling up in the truck that distracted Tommy, giving Eric the chance to grab the knife and stab him.
Although he was seriously hurt Tommy still grabbed me and we jumped into the river.
We fell down the drop and I hit my head. I remember the sharp pain then nothing more.
“You remember, don’t you?” Yuliana asks with a faint smile. “Dmitri said you were starting to remember.”
Oh no. Dmitri told her. Trusting her.
His focus would have been on Eric when he left me, so maybe that’s why he spoke to her about my memories. It doesn’t matter.
What matters is now.
“You helped Eric kill Tommy and let my father take the blame?”
“It wasn’t personal. It just happened that way. Eric found you and Tommy in the cabin. He killed Tommy. He was about to get to you when your father came by. So you see it wasn’t personal. This isn’t either.” She slowly raises her arm and I get to see what she was holding. It’s a gun.
I’m already frozen with fear, but seeing the gun sends tsunamis of terror crashing through me. “Please, don’t.” The words fall from my lips in a garbled mass of trepidation.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t risk you telling Dmitri. Then he’ll tell his father my secret and I’ll lose everything. I would have stuck it out in a loveless marriage for nothing .”
I back away when she comes forward, her gun aimed right at me. “Stop. Please. This isn’t right.”
“I’m sorry. But I can’t lose everything.”
I break out into a run but crash into a wall of a chest, then two strong arms grab me, fastening around my body like a steel band.
I look up and see Eric. His face looms before me, menacing, taunting. Now that I see him, I fit the hollowed eyed face with his and realize it’s definitely him.
“Sorry, sweetheart. It’s the end of the line for you.” He raises his gun and places it at my head.
“Let her go.” Comes a loud, booming voice from the silent seats.
We all look around and see Dmitri walking down the aisle. He’s got his gun raised and his eyes on Eric holding me.
Panic has stolen the color from Yuliana’s cheeks and her hands tremble.
“You heard me,” Dmitri roars. “It’s over. We all know the truth now. You killed my brother.”
“Listen, son. This wasn’t how I meant for things to turn out. There are things you don’t understand. Tommy got in the way.”
“Fucking bastard. You mean he learned the truth.”
“Your father is a very difficult man. I couldn’t let him find out.”
“Release Mackenzie, right the hell now.”
Eric tightens his grip on me.
“Okay, let’s play dirty then.” Dmitri taunts.
Suddenly a million red laser light dots cover Yuliana’s body. She streaks and is so terrified she drops her gun and raises her palms.
The plan works and Eric releases me, then he runs over to Yuliana. When he reaches her he whirls around and shoots at Dmitri.
Dmitri jumps out of the way. I run behind the pillar and hide under the table to shield myself.
Eric shoots again, then Dmitri.
Dmitri’s shot catches Eric in his shoulder.
Eric readies his gun to shoot again but a bullet lodges straight in his chest and takes him down. He falls on the ground, blood pouring from his chest and Yuliana rushes to his side, crying and screaming.
That shot came from behind Dmitri. It wasn’t him.
I look around at the same time he does to find his father walking up the aisle. He’s just behind Dmitri.
Like a mad man Maxim Valneko jumps on to the stage and stalks over to Eric with his gun aimed at him.
“You? You killed Tommy.” He spits in a venomous tone. “And you just tried to kill my other son. My own fucking brother, a danger to my kids.”
“Maxim, I—” Eric coughs.
“Don’t bother. There are no words and no justice. And for the record I always knew you were fucking my wife.”
“Maxim—”
Maxim pulls the trigger and sends another bullet into Eric’s chest. That finishes him.
Maxim glares down at Yuliana, who is a cowering mess at her dead lover’s side. “You’ll pay for this,” he says to her. “Get her out of my sight.”
On his word guards come out from the corners. I also see Kade, Logan and Alek amongst them.
Dmitri makes his way up to the stage but to my surprise just as he’s about to climb up his father drops his gun and walks over to me, putting out his hand for me to take.
At first I stare at him, my brain not quite comprehending. All this man has shown me is cruelty. It’s strange that he would show kindness now.
Nevertheless I accept it and take his hand.
When I stand I look across at Dmitri.
The darkest of secrets were unleashed tonight, but hope fills his eyes.
The same hope spreads over my heart, telling me things will be different now.
Dad places his hands on his desk and looks from Mom to me with a solemn expression on his face.
It’s been three days since the show down at the theatre. A lot has happened since.
There was an additional investigation which removed Dad’s name from any connection to Tommy’s death. Eric was charged with the murder and Yuliana was sent to the Hollows for being an accomplice, so no one will ever see or hear from her again.
Her punishment seemed kinder. Usually it would be death under the Knight’s law but I think was requested by Maxim. She’ll probably die in that place. Anyone who goes there does.
We also learned about Tommy’s note. Aside from hearing Yuliana’s confession, that note was like a voice from the grave.
We’re not sure when it was written or how it was delivered but it was assumed that it was done once Tommy got me to safety in that cabin where I was found.
The note was also like an SOS cry that led Dmitri to me. He knew I’d be in trouble so he brought reinforcements.
My memories are still hazy with fragments here are there. I ended up seeing Dr. Parker again and he said I may not have a hundred percent recovery of everything but what I remembered was enough. Things may still trickle in from time to time in dreams and thoughts.
I’m just glad that part is over and Dad’s name is fully cleared.
But that hasn’t helped our other situation.
I’ve been staying at the cottage again to be with my parents. Dmitri has called everyday but I haven’t seen him. We also haven’t spoken as much as I’ve wanted to. He’s just basically been checking on me.
I know there’s a lot to wrap his head around and bridges to mend where his father is concerned.
I have my own father to worry about too. He’s summoned Mom and me into his office to talk about the situation.
“I was really hoping things would turn around,” Dad begins and straightens. “But it hasn’t. I have a buyer for the house and a potential buyer for the business. that will at least save me from filing for bankruptcy, but I’ll still be in trouble.”
“Dad, is there nothing more we can do?”
He shakes his head. “No. The Konstantins tainted our names. So I can’t even think of a marriage contract with an investment. If I don’t end up behind bars I’ll have to try and rebuild. Your mother is going to help me do that. But we don’t know when that will happen.”
“There must be something more that can be done.”
“We did our best sweetheart. It just wasn’t possible.”
“I can get a job and do something,” I offer.
Dad smiles. “That’s sweet of you, but we need so much it’s not possible to fix it. What would have helped immensely is if I could have recouped some of that money Keaton stole, or find him.”
“He’s on his way to New York as we speak,” comes a voice from the door. A voice I haven’t heard in this house in years.
We look around and find Maxim Valneko standing at the door with Dmitri next to him.
Dmitri gives me a hopeful look, but then looks back to my father who’s gone pale.
“Sorry for the intrusion, the maid let us in,” Maxim continues.
“That’s okay,” Dad replies in a cautious voice.
“My men picked up Keaton earlier this morning in Monaco. My team managed to get back some of your money, but not all of it. We’re still investigating. I believe we can fix what you need fixing between us.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. All I can do is stare in wonder and amazement.
“Fix?”
“Fix everything.” He gives Dad a reassuring nod and there’s a look in his eyes that suggests he’s talking about their broken friendship too. “Can we talk? There is also believe there’s the matter of a marriage contract we need to discuss between my son and your daughter.”
Dad looks at Dmitri for a long moment with new found respect and I realize this is his doing. He returns his gaze to Maxim and nods. “Yes, there’s a lot to talk about.”
“Out back at the usual spot?”
“Yes.”
Dad glances at Mom and me before making his way to the door. He taps Dmitri’s shoulder and gives him a grateful nod, then he and Maxim head outside to the garden.
Mom and I stand. She smiles and Dmitri and me.
“I’ll leave you two to talk?” she says, giving me a kiss on my cheek. She makes her way out of the office and taps Dmitri’s shoulder too.
He steps forward and I skip into his awaiting arms. We kiss and I savor the moment.
“How did you do this?” I ask when we pull apart.
He sighs. “It’s more like we. Me and you. Things fell into place after my father realized your father wasn’t guilty. I realized the only thing keeping me from you was the situation with your family so I asked for his help. I think once he had to time to process the betrayal and lies he was probably thinking of how he could fix things. I gave him a good idea.”
“You’re amazing Dmitri. You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met in my life.” I nod with conviction. “Thank you for saving me and my family.”
“You don’t have to thank me for that.” He smiles. “But I do want something, Spider. Because I think you’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met in my life too.”
“What do you want?” I beam up at him.
She reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a little navy box. He pops it open revealing a gorgeous princess cut engagement ring and my hands fly up to my cheeks.
He lowers to one knee and takes my hand. “I told you I was going to ask you properly. Mackenzie Domachenkov, will you marry me?”
I’m nodding before he can even finish talking. “Yes. Absolutely yes.”
A radiant smile spreads across his face and he slips the beautiful ring on my finger.
I get up and hug him hard. He pulls me close to his chest and whispers into my ear.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“We found a way, Spider. We flew to the edge of the sun together.”
I laugh and he smiles back at me. “We did.”