Page 39 of Crimson Oath
Oleg sat back, and the blank expression that fell over his face like a mask told Tatyana he hadn’t forgotten. He hadn’t forgotten at all.
He would never admit fault because admitting anything meant admitting that he had failed. He’d failed to protect her from Zara. Failed to keep Elene alive.
“You say you want me to come back with you, but how can I trust you?” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “How can I trust you when you told me yourself that you wanted me to give you the fangs out of my own mouth?”
Oleg sat back and blinked. The blank expression fled, and his eyes returned to their typical calculating expression. “Did I say that?”
“I remember it very clearly.” Tatyana’s voice grew harder. “You may want me defenseless against you, but no matter what I make of this life that is forced on me, I willnevergive up the little power I have.”
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I see.” He crossed hisarms over his chest, and then his mouth twitched again. “This is… very interesting.”
“Is something funny to you?”
“Not at all.” His voice slid into his typical, seductive register. “I acknowledge what you are saying, Tatyana Vorona.” He nodded slowly. “And I respect it.”
She blinked. In a hundred years, she would not have expected Oleg Sokolov to tell her he respected her. “So you understand why I must develop my independence,” she said. “And you will leave my mother out of this.”
He lifted his wineglass and sipped the fragrant, golden wine. “Don’t be ridiculous—I’m still going to take care of your mother. She’s in my territory.”
“Oleg—”
“And while I respect your quest for… independence, volchitsa, you are still mine.” He set his wineglass down. “Oh look.” He turned to her and smiled. “Your fried chicken pieces have arrived.”
They walkedalong a bend of the river that ran through the heart of Gori, through small parks, past apartment buildings with lit-up windows, and across a bright red bridge.
Part of her wanted to walk back to Samson and fly away.
The bigger part of her understood that coming to some kind of peace with Oleg was a good step, one that might bring her more peace in the future. And meeting with him in Alina’s neutral territory was about as safe as she was going to get.
“Think about my offer,” he said. “You know how vital Elene was. I readily admit that her loss has left a huge void in my organization, and it’s one that you could help fill.”
“I will agree to think about it.”
“You can call me.” He pulled a plastic-cased mobile phone from his pocket. “Do you want my phone number?”
“Oleg Sokolov doesn’t carry a phone.” She cocked her head. “Who are you? A body double?”
He smiled a little bit. “Mika was getting annoyed with me. He says he wastes time tracking me down or chasing my guards to find me when he wants to tell me something.” He shrugged. “So I relented and acquired a mobile phone.”
She narrowed her eyes. “But you love annoying Mika.”
“I know. I got the phone; I didn’t give him the number.”
She couldn’t stop the laugh. “You’re such an asshole.”
“He would be bored if I became too cooperative.” Oleg’s voice softened. “It is good to hear laughter. We do not laugh as much since Elene died.”
Tatyana’s smile fell. “How is her family?”
“Devastated.” His voice was rough. “I speak to her daughter regularly. She is my goddaughter; it’s my responsibility to take care of her. Elene’s son and her husband want nothing to do with me.”
It was good to speak about someone that Tatyana had considered a friend. Someone she’d hoped would be a mentor.
“I envied her life,” she admitted. “I wanted to be her. Successful professionally. Respected like that. To have a family and a husband.” Tatyana shook her head. “She had everything.”
Oleg stopped walking, and Tatyana turned to look at him.
“What?”
