Page 91 of Twisted Prince
“Did you pursue modeling?” she adds, her enthusiasm building.
“Yeah, some,” I hedge. “I had a job for a minute”—literally—“but… they couldn’t keep me on for long.”
I glance down toward Gabby, stroking her head to silently imply that a pregnant model was not in high demand. But I choose my words carefully because I still don’t know if it’s the right choice to tell Gleb exactly whose child she is. Since we’re going our separate ways, perhaps it’s best not to open that can of worms.
“Anyway, after that, I got a job at a… well, a burlesque lounge. They offer housing on top of income for single mothers, so it was a good setup for us.”
My stomach knots as pity flashes across Silvia’s face, but from Pyotr’s expression, I would guess Gleb’s already pretty well informed him about my situation.
Clearing my throat, I try to push down the embarrassment of what my life has become since I struck out on my own. “That’s about all there is to tell, I guess. We got into a bit of a tight spot, and Gleb came to help us out of it, so here we are. But what about you guys? It seems like plenty has changed around here since I left.”
“Yeah, we had some hard years trying to rebuild,” Pyotr says. “We’ve been keeping a low profile, but we’re getting back on our feet.”
“And in the meantime, the family just keeps growing.” Silvia glances down at Nicolai, who’s busy fiddling with a toy his father handed him.
“How’s Dani?” I ask, my curiosity over the talented photographer getting the better of me.
Both their faces fall, making my stomach plummet.
“I think she’s okay.” Silvia casts a glance in Pyotr’s direction. His jaw is tight with unspoken emotion. “We don’t get to see her except at formal functions anymore. She, uh, she ended up marrying Mikhail Sidorov. From what I’ve gathered, she mostly spends her time Upstate these days.”
My jaw actually drops. And as I gape openly at Silvia, she gives me a sad smile.
“She has a little boy, too, I believe. Though I’m not quite sure how old he’d be now.”
“Wow, I… honestly don’t know what to say. I thought she and Efrem were so good together.” I glance toward Gleb, whose expression is inscrutable as always. And as he keeps his eyes on Pyotr, I’m at a loss completely.
“Yeah, well. Mikhail did a good job of taking him out of the picture along with over half my men,” Pyotr says bitterly.
“While you were imprisoned in that cottage on Mikhail’s land, we tried raiding his home,” Gleb says. “It was an ambush. A bloodbath.”
Oh god, poor Efrem. Poor Dani. My eyes sting with tears to think of her marrying the man responsible for Efrem’s death. But rather than pressing further, I just nod. The subject is clearly still a sore one for Pyotr.
At that moment, one of the housemaids comes in with a tray of drinks and sandwiches. She gives me a kind smile, her eyes lighting with recognition. I return the gesture, thanking her for the food before she slips silently from the room once more.
“Eat, please,” Silvia insists, setting a drink closer to me before rising from her seat to hand one to Gleb.
“I think now that we’ve caught back up, we should discuss the more important matter at hand. What’s your plan now that you’re back in New York, Mel?” Pyotr asks, his silver gaze sharp as he searches my face. “Do you have one yet?”
I bite my lip, shaking my head; I cast my gaze toward Gleb once more as I hold a sandwich to make it easier for Gabby to sneak a bite.
“That’s why we came here first, actually,” Gleb says. “The situation got… more complicated than I’d originally anticipated.”
“I figured as much, considering your phone call informing me my Escalade is totaled in a ditch somewhere in Connecticut,” Pyotr says dryly.
“This guy Mel agreed to marry, I don’t think he intends to let her go so easily. And he’s crazy and violent enough to lay his hands on her if he finds her,” Gleb states, his eyes finally meeting mine.
Flashes of Vinny looming over me, wrapping his fingers around my neck until I can’t breathe, flicker past my mind’s eye. I swallow hard, dropping my gaze to focus on Gabby and her sandwich to keep my anxiety from overwhelming me.
“He’d already started to cross that line by the time I arrived to collect her and Gabby,” Gleb continues, his smooth voice low and measured. And it was his men who drove us off the road near New Haven.”
“You’re sure of it?” Pyotr asks.
Gleb simply nods.
The room is starkly silent as Pyotr frowns, Silvia’s expression pale with concern.
Finally, Gleb speaks once more. “We were hoping you would have a solution to get Mel back on her feet without exposing them to any danger of being found.”
