Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
TITUS
W hen Clarissa left, the apartment felt empty. The evening went well—better than expected, but I was uncharacteristically unsettled.
My thoughts are drifting too often to the woman who wears my ring, and I’m unsure what to make of that.
When Clarissa spoke, I was thinking of Tatiana and wondering what she was doing now. She is consuming my thoughts and I expect it’s because we are both in the same position. Two players in a game that we don’t know how to play.
All I know is what Boris wants me to. He has engineered this union for his reasons—not mine. I am still in the dark as to what those reasons are, and I wonder if he’s aware that I’m hiding secrets of my own.
I am going along with this because it’s a way to get close to him. To Denislav, because the two men still breathing are the reason my father is not. The reason my mother is broken and the reason a secret society that began years ago is culling its members before they can spill its secrets.
Once again, my thoughts turn to the real reason I am playing this game. The letter that my brother Valentin discovered in a dusty attic in England. At the home of my father’s mistress, his one true love, apparently. The words on the page are as unbelievable today as they were then.
Those words are my declaration of war and Tatiana is my weapon. If I am to use it effectively, I must bide my time. I will play the infatuated fiancé to the most brilliant star in Russia and when I’ve used her to dazzle and blind my enemies, I will cut out the rotten heart of Russia and leave it to bleed in the gutter where it belongs.
When Clarissa left, I instructed Simeon to fetch my fiancée. I’m not sure why I issued the order—it doesn’t really matter. One conversation is all it will take to banish her from my mind and then I will set in place our charm offensive because my intention is to win the hearts of the Russian people. To be the good guy living the romantic dream, so when I strike, nobody would believe I was the man who wielded the final blow.
It’s past midnight when the elevator announces my visitor has arrived. It’s late and she must be wondering why I needed her right away. I have no answer. None I can give her anyway because the only reason she is here is so I can sleep tonight without her image in my head.
I say nothing as she heads inside the room, Simeon beside her with a thunderous expression telling me something isn’t right.
I wait for his explanation and he says grimly, “Miss Pavlov was assaulted in her dressing room.”
His words give me whiplash. I wasn’t expecting that and I run my steely gaze over her and note her pale skin, much paler than normal and the slight tremble of her bottom lip.
A flash of rage blinds me as I picture anyone laying hands on this woman and I growl, “Who was it?”
“Her dance partner.” Simeon replies simply and as a murderous look passes between us, he knows exactly what I expect from him now.
I head toward Tia who appears to be in shock and note the bruising to her face and neck and the tears filling her eyes.
I reach out and guide her toward the couch, noting she responds on autopilot, her mind obviously somewhere else right now.
Simeon leaves and as the elevator descends into Leo’s certain madness, I sit beside her and say softly, “Talk to me.”
“I couldn’t defend myself.”
Her soft whisper slides across my soul like silk, and I sense my anger growing by the second.
“He came into my dressing room and told me I had been flirting with him. Why would he say that, Titus? It’s simply not true.”
“Because he was passing the blame onto you. Justifying his actions and making out you are the villain.”
“You appear to know a lot about that.” She breathes out sharply. “I can’t face him again.”
“You won’t have to.”
“But–” She turns her head and the frightened expression in her eyes unnerves me. I don’t react well to fear, uncertainty, or doubt. I view them as a weakness and I will not tolerate that around me. To be successful, you must hold no fear and have strength and if Tatiana Pavlov is going to be my bride, I demand the same of her.
Now is not the time to reinforce that and once again I surprise myself by taking her hand in mine and whispering gently, “You are safe here.”
“Am I?”
Her eyes sparkle, the tears like diamonds and as I run my thumb across her hand, I subconsciously note that a very large one is missing.
“Where is your ring?”
I note the blood drain from her face as she peers down and gasps, “Nadia has it.”
“Nadia?” I arch my brow and she nods. “My assistant. She was wearing it to keep it safe while I was on stage. Rodion demanded I remove it as it wasn’t part of the costume.”
She appears panicked and I say smoothly, “It’s not important. We will retrieve it tomorrow.”
“But–”
I place my finger against her lips and speak as if I’m calming a frightened animal.
“Nothing matters but you right now. I will instruct my chef to prepare a light supper that you can take in your room.”
“My room?” Her eyes widen.
“Yes, Tia. I will not leave you alone tonight. There are many guest rooms here that are never used. One of them will be yours. Take a bath and relax knowing you are safe here because tomorrow will be a busy day.”
“What’s happening tomorrow?”
“The circus is in town.”
I wink, which confuses her more than my words, and as she blushes and looks away, her breathing is heightened, causing me to smile.
I affect her. I’m good with that because I always affect people either in a good way or a bad way.
I wonder how it will affect her when she realizes our fake engagement will lead to a fake marriage. I wonder what she will think when she lies in my bed and I wonder what I’ll think when I take my virgin bride because one thing is definite, the more time I spend with her I realize that fate has done me a huge favor and gifted me a woman I am proud to call mine.