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“Vadim, why?!”
“Because I think that bastard is the man who murdered my parents.”
He seems dazed, stunned by what he just said. Stunned by the words he just spoke out loud. A tear rolls down his cheek and carves a path to his clenched jaw. His handsome face is now distorted by anger, and his gaze burns with a deep, visceral hatred.
I finally have my answer.
Almost thirty years after the tragedy that robbed him of his childhood and his innocence, Vadim has come face-to-face with his tormentor.
And now that Vadim has Monkov in his sights, who knows what he might do to him?
45
Alma
Once again, it’s the same daily grind: traffic, work, drama, sleep.
Vadim hasn’t stopped for a second since he came back to Paris. Obsessed with tracking down Monkov, he has little time for me. The CEO of Skylight Pictures—and likely murderer—occupies all his thoughts. I can’t blame Vadim for wanting to avenge his parents, but secrets are creeping back in between him and me. He doesn’t tell me anything about his comings and goings, his disturbing meetings with equally disturbing men, or the phone calls he gets in the middle of the night, but apparently it’s all to protect me.
From what, though?
I’m dwelling on this when Basile joins me in front of Dragons Élysées. My brother is in an unusually cheerful mood and laughs when he nearly slips on the thin layer of ice covering the frozen sidewalk. We don’t agree on much, but right now we resemble two giddy, overexcited kids, eager to try out the Asian restaurant reputed to be one of the most unusual in Paris.
Basile opens the door and lets me walk into the giant aquarium first. I look down and watch fish with shimmering, orange and gold scales glide below the blue-lit glass floor beneath our feet. It’s mesmerizing.
“I have one hour for lunch, not a minute more!” Basile informs me as he sits down at our table.
“Same. I actually have a meeting with my boss at 2 p.m., so I win the contest for who’s in the biggest hurry!”
“And here I thought you all just pretended to work at your movie company.”
“Do you really want me to get started on the work ethic of real estate agents?”
We exchange polite, strained smiles.
“No, I do not. Let’s talk about something else. Hey, Lily told me you’ve been sleeping at your place a lot lately. Trouble in paradise with your millionaire?”
“Only thirty-two years old and you’re already talking like our dad. Tragic. Vadim—that’s his name—is very busy right now.”
“Oh, really? Why?”
“Why is none of your business, you nosy weasel, but he’s got a surprise planned for me tonight.”
He laughs. “Ooh, finally! A date with your elusive boyfriend?”
“If you’re interested, I’ll give you a debriefing right after. Do you want the juicy details or the spicy ones?”
He grimaces. “Neither, thanks.”
We make peace just long enough to enjoy the dim sum we share, listening to the peaceful sound of water trickling in the fountains near our table. I catch myself watching my brother, surprised by how calm he seems. Our lunches usually consist of nothing but verbal wrestling matches.
“Basile…” I chirp playfully in a sing-song voice, wiggling my eyebrows.
“What?”
“You seem different.”
“In a good way?”
