Chapter 59

“Vladimir came in with a pipe and hit him in his head. He didn’t die though. When Vlad came to untie me. He attacked him, and they fought then Vladimir killed him.”

“This was reported to Russian Police.” Vlad put in.

But the Agents were in shock but urged me on. “Then what happened?”

“Vladimir freed me from the bed, and I ran…into the freezing cold.” I shook my head remembering. “I was barefooted and half naked…so I almost froze to death. He told me as much then he handed me over to his staff and they took care of me.”

“But he didn’t send you home. Why?”

“He was worried that I would …talk.”

“Talk”?

“About …what happened in the cellar and …his father.”

“What about his father?”

“He…was …the old prince …and …my …buyer.”

“You said Boris’s father…”

I nodded cutting him off. “Vlad found out they were half-brothers that night as well.”

“So, the old prince had his bastard son buy you for...entertainment. Are you sure the new prince wasn’t involved?”

“Very sure.” I growled. “His stupid maids wanted to fight me for him. So, I highly doubt he needed the … ‘entertainment’.”

“So, he keeps you there for a decade. What about your mom? Why didn’t you at least let her know you were alive?”

I turned and automatically glared at Vladimir who hung his head low then I face the Agents as I replied “I tried to…it how she got killed. It was my fault…”

“It was mine.” Vlad put in. “I should have kept you together.”

“How would keeping us together made a difference. It was car accident...She wouldn’t have done it….”

“Trust me Azura, her death you can lay at my door. I was careless…I should have told you the truth in the beginning.”

“Tell me what?”

“I didn’t…I-I …the men that came for you. Came for her. When you ran…they followed you…then they followed me. I was reason she died. It wasn’t an accident. The car swerved off the road and hit her…then they drove over her body.”

“You lied.” I stated. “How could you not tell me?”

“Because I didn’t want to lose you…or Irena. I was afraid.”

“And you wonder why I can’t love you?” I sneered, cutting off all his arguments. He stood straighter, and I was proud that I didn’t flinch, and he walked out.

“Fucking typical.” I muttered under my breath.

The Agents cleared their throat reminding me of their presence in the room.

“You know what…” I declared. “all of this is pointless! What is the purpose of digging all this up? I’m alive. Case closed. My mother is dead, and I can’t go home even if I wanted to. What am I supposed to do? Leave Irena behind? Or take her away from a father that actually wanted to see her born? And if I take her away, what am I supposed to tell her about Vlad. Oh honey, I had to leave the murdering psycho to be free and …be miserable because I miss him too. The big…overprotective jackass that’s willing to turn his entire perfect life upside down so he could rescue me…twice, I might add! And still loves me after I throw his expensive things at stupid head! All of this is just giving me a headache. I don’t want to think about him …or any of it! I just want to go home!”

“Home would be where Miss King? You are in the United States. We can set you and you daughter up in a safe house.”

I shook my head and tears came to my eyes ass I admitted something I didn’t want too. “I’m safer with him.”

“Did he force you into this relationship?”

“Yes.” I cried.

“Did he force himself on you?”

“Yes, because I said no., I wasn’t supposed to say no.”

“You will be safe here…”

I shook my head. “I can’t leave him.”

“Did he say that? Did he threaten you?”

“No. But I can’t leave…I just can’t!”

I paced the room, pulled at my hair and cried. I was being given a clean break from Vladimir, but I didn’t want it. Even when I recalled the time, he raped me, still I couldn’t say yes.

“Don’t worry sweetie.” Agent Lyon soothed. “We’re gonna get you some help. And with time…”

Vladimir re-entered the room and I ran towards him letting all my frustrations out. “You did this!” I shrieked at him as I pounded him with my fists. “You did this to me. Why couldn’t you be nice from the beginning. You asshole! You ruined everything! I hate you! I hate you. I want… to hate you!”

No one intervened while I had my crazy moment and Vlad just stood there taking the hits, until I collapsed at his feet. Then he muttered. “Did you tell them I put you in the hospital? Twice. Did you tell them I forced you to marry me? That I forced myself on you. You should hate me. Be happy Azura. You don’t owe me anything.”

“I don’t know how to be happy anymore.” I admitted. “I don’t know what I want.”

“You wanted to be free. This is the way. I will not fight for Irena.”

“What about this one?” I asked pressing my hand to my stomach.

I was jerked to my feet and Vlad asked “What?”

“I may be pregnant.” I pointed out.

“May?”

“I need a doctor to confirm …I was going to tell you…but not like this.”

“Fuck!” Vlad cursed as he released me.

“There’s other thing I need to tell you as well…things Kateya said before they killed her.”

“I need to speak to her privately.” Vlad said expecting to be obeyed.

“That’s never gonna happen again, Your Highness.” Agent Reynolds growled.

“He’s not going to hurt me. He doesn’t want to become his father.”

“Alright…but we’ll be watching.” Agent Lyons assured me before they left.

“What did Kateya say?” Vlad asked once we were alone.

“A lot.” I began. “I’m so sorry for what I did…”

He slashed his hand through the air. “What did she say?”

“The reason she betrayed you …was because of your father.”

“I suspected her hate had to do with him.”

“Wait…there’s more.” I added. “Your father did a lot of bad things…he told Kateya her son would be heir…”

“Boris? Obviously, my father lied to her.”

I nodded. “Actually… he told the truth, but he didn’t mean it the way she thought he did.” Vlad frowned as I told him the tale then he collapsed in the chair when he grasped what had happened.”

“I killed Nicholi!”

“He wasn’t the same after the accident and Mikhail gave him to Kateya and elevated you as the heir.”

“That’s why Father favoured him so much. I thought it odd…my brother was there all along…”

“Being twisted into a monster…according to Kateya. Your father liked that he was just like him.”

“Kateya killed my mother. No wonder she wanted to wipe us off the earth! And Nora, her own family. And you…in a way Kateya was right, my family …is a curse.” He stated then eyed my stomach. “Suppose that is my heir. Do I even want it? I know I don’t deserve it! After all I did to you…” He stood as he declared. “You will take them far away from me. Let them not carry my name. Let the Alexandrovich line die with me.”

“Am I supposed to change my name as well?”

He closed his eyes and I knew he was fighting his possessiveness before he answered softly. “Yes.”

“That’s what you want? For us to go?”

“It doesn’t matter what I want…it’s what’s right. My father was proud of his noble blood …but he never did anything noble to earn it. I will clean the name of my ancestors. And I will make my woman happy.” He said then kissed me on my forehead then he stooped and kissed my stomach. “You shall be better than you father.”

He stood, and I asked tearfully “Who’s going to teach him?”

“His strong mother.” He replied and headed for the door.

“I love you.”

He froze his hand on the door. Then growled as he turned “Do not do this now. Do not do this to me now!”

“I just thought you should know…”

“There is no going back…you cannot change your mind.”

“What the hell did you expect? I’m basically a spoiled princess. You think I’m gonna give that up to live like…a peasant.” I scoffed in my most royal tone.

He grinned wider than I’ve ever seen him, then he picked me up and tossed me in the air as he did Irena. I squealed, and he set me on my feet.

“Say it again.” He demanded.

“No…” I told him with a smirk. “not until we get home.”

Like a solider with his orders, he dragged me out of the room and into the hall where the Agents were waiting. “My Czarina has decided to leave your unfit country and come home with me and bear me many more babies!”

“I didn’t say all that now.” I corrected.

Then he hoisted me in his arms and kissed me. “You will love making the babies!”

Honestly, I had no argument with that.

“You can’t leave here with her! There are crimes that you have committed….”

“Have you forgiven me, Kitten?”

“Working on it…”

“Azura, you have a classic case of Stockholm…”

“Actually,” A voice interrupted “I don’t think she has.”