Page 6 of Chained Fate
“Birgit.”She cocks her head, studying me.“You’re not American, are you?The way you said your name…”
“Oh, yeah, I’m from Russia.I studied at an American school, though, so…”
“Ah, that explains the accent.Or lack of it.”She plops into the chair opposite me.“I was hoping to visit Russia this year, but I got talked out of it.Unsafe for a young Western woman traveling alone and all that.”
“It probably is,” I admit.And not just for a young Western woman.My brothers never let me go anywhere without a bodyguard—though that was mostly due to all the enemies my family had acquired in their ruthless climb to the top.
Enemies that include the Leonovs, my husband’s family.
At the thought of Alexei, a peculiar heaviness settles low in my stomach.It’s not anxiety or fear, but something more ill-defined, an unease that feels almost like… guilt.
No, that’s ridiculous.I can’t possibly feel guilty that I ran.I don’t owe Alexei anything, no matter what happened between us during that momentary madness.My husband—or more appropriately, mystalker—took away my freedom.He took away all my choices.So when I saw an opportunity for escape, I went for it.It’s what anyone would do in my situation… right?
“—or living here?”
I blink, realizing I tuned Birgit out.“Sorry, say that again?”
Thankfully, she doesn’t seem offended by my lack of attention.“Are you visiting or living here?”she asks, carefully enunciating each word.
Maybe she thinks pregnancy is messing with my brain.Which is possible.Along with the other thing.Which is more than possible, given that it’s afucking tumor in my brain.
Shit.I’m spacing again.“Just visiting,” I say before she writes me off as a total ditz.“What about you?Why are you here?”
She makes a face.“I’m… finding myself, I guess.I did all the right things—went to a university, got a degree, got a boring-ass office job in Frankfurt, got an apartment, and then… then my mom got sick.Breast cancer.She died six months ago, and I realized life is too fucking short not to do what you want.You know?So I’m trying to figure out what that is.I know it’s not my boring-ass job or the boring-ass life I had before.”
I bite my lip.“I’m sorry about your mom.”
She nods, blinking too rapidly.“Yeah, thanks.It’s no longer as raw, but it still fucking sucks.She was only fifty-two.Way too young for that shit, you know?”
I do know.God, I wish I didn’t.But this is not about me.I reach out and cover Birgit’s hand with mine, squeezing gently.“It does fucking suck.”
She stares at our hands, then looks up with an overly bright smile.“So yeah, that’s my story.What’s yours?”
Hmm, let’s see.I was betrothed to the son of my family’s enemies at fifteen and did my best to evade him for a decade while he stalked me and killed every boy and man who expressed any interest in me.Said evasion ended when he stormed my brother’s compound with a small army, abducting me and forcing me to marry him.Oh, and I’ve just learned I’m pregnant with his child and have brain cancer.
Yeah, I’m not telling her any of this.“Just visiting Geneva to see the sights, et cetera.”
She nods sagely.“Getting in all the travel before the baby comes, huh?”
“Something like that.”
Her gaze drops to my left hand, where Alexei’s ring is still adorning my finger.“You’re married?”
“Hmm-mm.”I transfer the ginger candy to my other cheek.
She cocks her head.“Where is your husband?”
Probably out looking for me.And before long, he’ll find me, bringing my impromptu escape attempt to an end.
I take a deep breath.This is it.This is my chance to ask Birgit for her phone so I can call my brothers and get the ball rolling on an actual escape.Except… I would be endangering them.I mean, I know my brothers can more than take care of themselves and have the resources to fight off whatever my husband throws at them, but still, Alexei is ruthless, and he’s demonstrated that he’s willing to go to insane lengths to get me.Orwaswilling.Either way, I can’t risk more bloodshed on my behalf.
“He’s…” I pause because I honestly don’t know what to tell her.“We’re temporarily separated,” I finally improvise.
“Ah.”She gives my stomach a sympathetic look.“I see.”
“It’s… complicated.”
“Uh-huh.”She meets my gaze.“I just got out of a ‘complicated’ relationship myself.The asshole cheated on me while my mom was in hospice.So if you want to talk or anything…”
