A louder gasp escaped me. “She didn’t!” I growled. “The bitch!”
He kissed my forehead. “She did, but I don’t think she meant it. It was only after she found out I didn’t want to marry her that she got nasty. I think she expected we would have Lidiya together, raise her together, and stay friends. When I told Irina that I wanted the baby but not the marriage, her father went to plan B. Told us that Irina would have to terminate the pregnancy if she were to remain husbandless. I told them they’d do that over my dead body.” He huffed out a harsh breath. “I paid them a lot of money to prevent Irina from getting an abortion. I moved her in here, hired Mirella to care for her, and to make sure she wouldn’t harm the child. As long as the money kept coming, Irina’s father, Igor, remained happy with the situation.”
“Why?” I asked. “Why did he want you in his firm? Didn’t he know you refused your own father’s firm?”
He nodded. “Yes, he knew. Igor Alkaev was a part of Chaos. He worked under my father. He knew all too well that I wouldn’t join. He tried to force my hand because he knew how well my family had benefitted from my knowing the stock market like the back of my hand.”
My brows rose. “You have stocks?” Then they furrowed. “Wait. Just how rich are you?”
His body shook silently. “Rich enough to provide for my child. She will never want for anything.”
“Okay, so he wanted you because they’re hard on money.”
He shrugged. “Far as I know, they’re extremely well off.”
Bastards. “Just greedy then.”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. It’s how the rich stay rich, mouse.”
Some people were rotten to the core. “And now?”
“I pay them money they don’t need, and Irina doesn’t disappear with my daughter.” His voice came out a growl. “It makes me so angry. She moved to another state just to spite me. Just to make things difficult, so I couldn’t see my Lidi.” He spoke quietly, “I hate her.”
I didn’t blame him. He was right to hate her. He told the story of a girl who was a victim to her father’s cruel antics. I didn’t buy it. She went along with it knowing full well what she was doing. Irina Alkaev was an asshole.
“I miss her,” I stated, realizing full well I was not helping. “I miss Lidiya.” Lev didn’t say a word, just ran his warm hand down my arm and back up. “She has a home here, Lev. She belongs here.”
He lightly pinched my chin, forcing it up to look him in the eye. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” I whispered immediately, because I did trust him.
He planted a soft kiss to my lips, speaking against them, “Then trust me.”
His words caused a shiver to go down my spine.
It sounded like he had a plan.
It sounded like a promise.
Chapter ThirtyThree
Lev
“Mina,” I whispered into the dark.
With her back to my front, she fit me perfectly. No one had fascinated me like this little creature.
My Mina. My mouse.
She said she loved me. She seemed sincere. I wanted to believe her.
I did believe her.
Her light grunt told me that she was falling asleep fast. My arms around her waist tightened a little. I never wanted to let go. “I don’t know what love is,” I started quietly. “But if I could love anyone…” I pressed a gentle kiss behind her ear, pulling her close. “I would love you. Very much.”
I didn’t know how to be what Mina needed, but I vowed to try my hardest to be a man she would be proud of. The thought of disappointing her made me anxious.
She had faith in me. She believed in me.
Disappointing Mina was not an option.
Chapter ThirtyFour
Mina
My eyes fluttered open and I was greeted by Lev’s handsome face. I smiled, stretching. “Don’t you ever sleep?”