Soon.

We go into several shops and I buy some jeans and try on a few low-cut dresses that Adrian shakes his head at. When I come out of the dressing room in a short red dress with a deep décolletage, Adrian glares.

“You’re beautiful, Mommy,” Jeremy says from his position next to his father.

“Thank you, my angel. At least you have the sense to say that.” I run my hand over the soft material, glaring back at Adrian.

“You are beautiful, but you’re not going outside like that.”

“I used to be in ballet, remember? We wore shorter outfits.”

“But you’re not anymore and this is no ballet performance. You won’t be wearing a short dress.”

I scrunch my nose, then mutter under my breath, “I bet you didn’t think they were short when you were stalking me.”

“I heard that,” he says as I turn around and head to the changing room.

Of course, he did. It’s like he has superpowers when it comes to these types of things.

Still, I grin at his tone and the way his gaze keeps following me even as I walk away.

At the checkout, I slip a few dresses between my other purchases behind Adrian’s back. He only hands her his card and doesn’t care for what’s in the bags.

Outside the boutique, Boris offers to take the bags for me. I tell him I’m fine, but Adrian practically yanks them from my hand and shoves them at his guard.

He’s impossible sometimes.

We get chocolate milkshakes and sit on a bench. Or more like, Jeremy and I do. Adrian just watches us with rare satisfaction as we slurp in unison. Soon after, Jeremy says he has to use the bathroom and Adrian takes him, leaving both Kolya and Boris with me outside.

I stare at them. “Aren’t you tired of standing all day?”

“We’re fine,” Kolya grunts.

“You’re really as grumpy as Yan says.”

He lets out a sound that resembles a scoff but doesn’t say anything.

“I feel bad for leaving him at home.” I sigh. “Do you think he’s all right?”

“The doctor said he’s healing and he’s moving, so it should be fine.”

“Maybe I’ll buy him something…”

“Please don’t.” Kolya stares at the bathroom door.

“Yeah, don’t,” Boris agrees. “Unless you want to witness his murder at Boss’s hands.”

I roll my eyes and continue slurping from my milkshake.

“Lia?”

My head turns to the side at the familiar voice. Stephanie, the choreographer from New York City Ballet, walks toward me at a brisk pace.

Boris gets between her and me, his frame shadowing her petite body.

I stand up. “It’s okay, Boris. Let her through.”

He begrudgingly moves and she joins me, her gaze wary as she observes the two guards. I can’t help the smile that moves to my lips at the sight of her. “Hey, Steph.”

“Hey, girl!” She hugs me and I do the same before we pull back and sit down. “Look at you, alive and well. I thought you left the country.”

“No, still here.”

“Married, too.” She points at my finger.

“Yeah. I also have a five-year-old son.”

“Whoa. You changed, Lia. If Philippe were to see you, he’d be weeping. He always said you were his only muse and nothing would change that. He was depressed after…what happened.”

I smile a little. “Have you guys been well?”

“You know, the usual.”

“I saw Giselle’s posters. I wish you guys all the best.”

“Thanks. You can come if you want to…” she backpedals. “Or not. No pressure.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Thinking about ballet still hurts, but I believe I’m at a point in my life where I’m able to move on, even if not entirely.

“You’ll love the male lead for this one.”

I laugh. “What? Ryan no longer leads?”

She frowns. “Ryan stopped leading six years ago. Since you.”

“What?”

“He disappeared the day you broke your leg, Lia. No one knows where he is.”

“Really?”

“We searched everywhere for him and his family even filed a missing person report, but the police couldn’t find a trace of the man.”

Oh.

“So he disappeared after my accident?”

“Yes. At first, we thought he felt guilty, but when we couldn’t reach him, something seemed off. It’s Ryan, after all. He wouldn’t blow a performance, no matter how guilty he felt.”

The arrogant Ryan. The selfish Ryan.

The…Ryan who had a strike with Adrian.

Oh. My. God.

He couldn’t have.

“We have Joel lead now and he’s a darling. He made Hannah shrink her bitch behavior a little. She’s been trying and failing to get to your level. Not to be biased or anything, but you’ll always be my and Phil’s favorite. I know life goes on and all, but it’s simply not the same without you.”

I smile at her, and she goes on and on about how Philippe is making her life hell and how he’s become a grumpy old man.

However, all I can think about is the information she just gave me.

The fact that Ryan disappeared six years ago.

And that my husband is most likely behind it.

14

Adrian

“Stay there, Papa.”

“I will.”

“You don’t have to come inside. I’m a grown-up.”

“You are, Malysh.”

My son grins as his feet dangle from the toilet. I’m in his direct view while remaining outside the stall as he instructed.

“I don’t call Mommy anymore,” he says. “I can do it on my own.”

“That’s a good boy.”

“That’s right. I am. I’m gonna be big as you and protect Mommy when I grow up.”

“And what am I going to do then?”

“It’s okay. You can protect her too.”

Too. As in he’s being benevolent by allowing me into her life. The little rascal is taking after Yan, I swear.

My phone vibrates and I think it’s Kolya, but the very familiar number gives me pause. I do a long sweep of the empty bathroom, then march to the entrance and lock it.

“Where are you, Papa?”

“Right here.” I go back in front of Jeremy’s stall, but keep enough distance so that he doesn’t focus on my phone call.

“Volkov.”

There’s a pause on the other end, the sound of a long stream of water before his signature smooth voice comes through, “Morozov.”

“Did you get the information?”

“No.”

“Then why are you wasting my time?”

I hear a gurgling before Kirill’s strained tone filters through, “This is also important. Hold on…” He switches to English, speaking to someone else. “Hi, I think we understand each other better now. So why don’t you tell me the name?”

Intelligible noises fill his end of the phone before there’s a distinctive plop into water. “Wrong answer, motherfucker.” He goes back to Russian. “So… Where was I?”