The Crescendo (The Musical Interlude) (12 page)

We don’t stop moving until we reach a black sedan parked out back where Alek orders Jacob, “Take her back to the hotel. Do not leave her side until I return. Understand?”

“You got it, boss,” Jacob answers, reaching for my arm.

Panic stabs at my chest. “No. I’m not leaving you.”

“Yes, you will. I need to make sure Adriana and Mother made it out fine. I can’t watch my back and yours, too.”

“But—but… I—”

“Erin, do as I say. Please. Just this once.”

“All right,” I whisper, my voice caught in my throat.

He gives me one last quick kiss, the touch of his lips on mine easing me right away without completely erasing the terror raging inside me each time I think of leaving him while he runs back into a place that could very well be a trap.

“I’ll take care of her, boss,” Jacob says, easing me away from Alek before ushering me into the car.

After getting situated inside, I turn around and search the area for Alek, but he has already disappeared; the touch of his kiss still lingering on my lips.

Erin

Alek doesn’t come back to the hotel until sometime after midnight, his extended absence firing up the anxiety inside me which causes yet another asthma attack. I can’t take all of this secrecy between Alek and me anymore, so I make plans to confront him later that night after he returns.

I’ve had some things on my mind that have been nagging at me ever since the spider incident, and I need to get them out in the open; even if it means resorting to something drastic like what I’m about to suggest to Alek. In the end, ensuring his safety means everything to me, no matter what I have to sacrifice.

Walking through the door behind Tanner, Alek glances at me and then rushes over to where I’m standing, pulling me into his arms and holding on to me extra tightly as though this might very well be our final embrace. It is almost as though he can read my thoughts, and considering everything else phenomenal about him, I wouldn’t hesitate to add psychic to his list of qualities as well. Finally, he pulls back and acknowledges his faithful servant, Jacob, whose company I must admit was more of a comfort than an annoyance on this night more than any other one.

Both he and Tanner fill their accomplice in on the details of what has happened after Alek ran back into the building. After the Nature Boys leave, Alek pulls me down on the couch and embraces me again. We stay silent that way for the longest time, our breathing the only sound in the room. I can feel the tension in his muscles and something else, too. None of it matters; all that counts is that my Maestro has returned to me and is safe.

Pulling back, he stares into my face, making me cringe inside the tiniest bit because the dark look I’m getting right now feels that intense.

“What’s going on with you, Alek? And don’t give me the late night rehearsals story again because it’s so not going to work,” I begin, meeting his gaze.

Sighing deeply, he says, “Sergey’s in Italy. He had the nerve to resurface after all these years. We don’t know where he’s hiding out or why.”

“Do you think he did this?”

“No. Yes. Fuck it, I don’t know.” His beautiful, hybrid eyes have taken on a distant look, and I can tell he’s conflicted. “That beam landed on Mikhail’s troupe.”

“Is Mikhail...?” I can’t bring myself to finish the question. Alek’s mother and Mikhail have had this on again, off again relationship going on for months now, so I’m sure this news must be truly bothering her.

“No. However, I’m fairly certain he’ll wish for death once he awakens,” Alek responds, his gaze locked on mine as he lets his statement sink in. “The beam fell on his back. He’s paralyzed from the waist down.”

“Oh, no,” I gasp, covering my mouth. “Has anyone called Nikolai?”

He scoffs a light laugh. “I’m sure Kolya knows by now. Although, we still have no clue to his whereabouts.” His face hardens.

I don’t understand Nikolai’s actions. Since he’s been gone, Alek has fallen into a state of mild paranoia and mood swings, focusing all his attention on making sure Jacob and Tanner stick by my sides at all times while he disappears for even larger amounts of time after he ends rehearsals. Yet, our performances have not once suffered and media sharks, people like Ciara Golino, are itching to peel our lives apart for the sake of a story. Sam has the unique ability to keep the reporters at bay, however, so I’m sure Diabolique’s image will go untarnished by tonight’s events.

“It’s been so long since your father and mother have been together. Do you think he’ll still be jealous after all this time?” I ask, unsurprised by anything Alek’s father might decide to do, considering he’s the man responsible for a large portion of my heartache and inferiority issues.

“Sergey doesn’t like to lose or share.” He glances at me, his gaze locking with mine. “Neither do I. That much we have in common.”

Oh, shit.
Why do I get the feeling this conversation is so not going to end well for me? Maybe I should hold off on my suggestion because Alek, although happy to see me at first, has suddenly become wound up as tight as a bull, and I happen to be wearing a red gown underneath my housecoat.

“I’m sure our new agent can handle any bad press,” I say, thinking out loud. “He’s gifted in that way.”

“Ah, yes, him again. You meant to say Sam, didn’t you? After all, the two of you were on a first name basis back in Lafayette.” The tension in the air thickens, his words hanging in the air like icicles dangling over my head, the points aimed at my skull as Alek studies me with narrowed eyes, waiting for my response.

I swallow hard. Other than the drama at the Roma, I can tell something else has happened between the time we’ve left and now. We’re sitting on the couches of the living room, facing each other as though we’re prepping for a showdown.

“Why didn’t you tell me about you and our new road manager’s… full history together?” he asks suddenly, his Russian accent deepening as it filters through his words.

Holy shit!
I’d forgotten all about filling Alek in on those little devils called details of my past life in Lafayette.

“I had to hear this from Mother, since apparently, she and your ex have grown closer over the past few weeks and he has chosen to
confide in her.” Of course he has. What better way to cause more friction between Alek and me than to befriend the queen of chaos herself?

“Everybody knows Mitch. I mean, he’s—”

“Don’t bullshit me right now. He’s the boy who broke you, yes? The one from Lafayette. A man for whom you were once willing to forsake all others, even me at first. It crossed my mind at the hospital that he might’ve been the one, but I didn’t make the connection until after Mother so lovingly told me he’s all but replaced Mikhail in her bed while we were arguing.” Fire blazes in his eyes and I can tell he’s restraining his temper by the way his chest rises and falls, and by the way he clasps his hands together. It’s something he does during rehearsals when his group’s learning a new song and he needs to take a moment to gather his patience while the instrumentalists master the progressions.

“He didn’t break me. Because I found you,” I whisper. Between the widow incident and everything else that’s been going on, my telling Alek about the extent of the relationship Sam and I once shared has honestly fallen to the backburner inside my head. “I’ve been meaning to tell you, but it kind of slipped my mind.”

“It
slipped
your mind?” Grasping a hand full of his hair, he glances away and then turns back to me. He keeps silent. He’s too freaking calm, the quiet before the tsunami. Forget all about the freakin’ hurricane. “Should I be worried?” he asks suddenly. The question ticks me off.

“What? Alek, don’t you dare make this into something that it’s not. You’ve been dancing around our wedding plans for months. Don’t even get me started again on what you did when we broke up.” I’m fanning a fire, though I also know I have a point.

He gives me one of the most sarcastic grins I think I’ve ever seen on his gorgeous face. “Unlike the way you so lovingly chose to not believe in me with the Gina situation. You should know, I happen to trust you with all my heart. It’s Swansea I don’t trust for shit.”

I cross my arms tightly over my chest and stare at the floor, wanting this tension that has become Alek and me over the past couple of months to end. “You have nothing to worry about. Trust me. I have no time for anything scandalous because I’m too busy interviewing people. Why? So I can find out what I need to know about you.” I should probably stop with that statement, but I don’t. “So maybe the next time some creepy note shows up in my dressing room I might be a teeny weenie bit better prepared.”

“Speak your mind, Tsarina Angelo. Feel free to hold nothing back while you’re letting go,” he says in that calm, heavily accented voice that makes me both nervous and a bit angry.

I stand up and start pacing because walking always makes me feel better when I’m doing something that makes me uncomfortable.

I stop pacing, gather all my courage, and say, “Would it make things easier for you if I left Diabolique? Maybe I can move back to Lafayette for a while and take care of Mom.” I inhale and hold my breath.

He winces and lowers his eyes a short moment. When his gaze returns to mine, I almost faint from all the pain, the flames blazing inside his eyes. I can almost feel the electricity flying through the room, and I’m pretty sure the source of those sparks will probably zap my ass. Pained eyes rake over me, his face storming with emotions as he stands up and begins stalking toward me. There is a menacing look plastered across his face, his muscled body a vessel of grace and danger. For each step he takes toward me, I move backward until my back hits the wall.

“You would suggest something like that after everything we’ve been through to be together? I fought death in order to come back to you.”

“I’m not leaving you, Alek. I’m just suggesting maybe taking a little break until we can figure out some things.” Crap! My words came out all wrong. “I meant—”

“I hate to hear that my life is such a fucking burden to you,” he says in a dark voice, his chest heaving.

“That’s not what I said, Alek, and you know it.”

“Maybe Swansea’s mundane existence appeals more to you than a life with the son of a mobster,” he says, his voice deadly and calm, the intensity surrounding him flowing through the room like the sparks that were piercing the air around the stage earlier this evening; but I think Alek’s storm will prove to be twice as deadly as any manmade one.

“No, I—I just don’t want you to worry about me all the time,” I explain, hoping to smooth over what I was trying to accomplish.
Epic failure! You should’ve kept your mouth shut.

Staring at me, he places both hands against the wall on either side of my head and dips his nose into the crook of my neck, his warm breath making me shudder. His very presence is like a jolt of energy, firing up every part of my body as he inhales my scent.

He keeps silent for so long, I start to feel as though I might pass out.

“You want him instead of me,” he whispers in my ear.

“How could you say something like that?”

“But it’s what you meant, yes?”

“Don’t put words in my mouth,” I whisper furiously, feeling anxious because this unpredictable side of him sometimes frightens me.

Alek moves his head back, refusing to look at me now. He’s completely pissed, I can tell.

“Then stop putting crazy shit in my head. Especially when it’s already fucked up enough without the added burden of my fiancée’s insecurities.”

“
Your fiancée’s insecurities
? Right, so I guess that would be the woman who hasn’t been able to get the man she loves to agree to discuss wedding plans in weeks, let alone set a date, right? Maybe I’m not the one who’s caving in to her fears. Maybe a part of you wants to be free.”

Turning away from me, he walks toward the coat closet and takes off his torn suit jacket and dress shirt, replacing them with a dinner blazer and no shirt underneath. His silence is more deafening than any hurtful words he could’ve spoken in response to my callous accusation.

I have royally fucked up.

“Alek, I’m sorry.”

“You should go back to Lafayette for a while. Visit your mother. Clear your head. I’ll send Jacob along with you,” he says without looking at me and then heads toward the door.

Oh, shit.
I so didn’t expect or want this to happen. “Where are you going? Don’t you walk out on me,” I say, anxiety coursing through me. This is what I do, push people away and make them disappear. It’s the story of my life.

“I need a drink. Besides, I’m not the one who considered walking away first.” And on that note, he passes a hurt glance in my direction just before he turns and walks out the door.

♡♥♡♥♥♥

The following Monday I confront Katerina inside her new office in the heart of Milan, a building that has a full view of the Duomo
Cathedral sitting on the opposite side of the plaza.

The long, yellow dress she wears gives her tanned skin a golden look and the food that’s set up on the table she’s fussing over fills the air with the scent of garlic, fish and pastry. It’s a combination that’s mingling with the bottle of floral-scented perfume Katerina must’ve poured over herself before arriving at work today. She looks remarkably composed given the events that just happened only a few nights ago, a catastrophe that affects the man she has been sleeping with. Wait! That would be man number one of the two men she’s been screwing.

Her gaze drifts to me and the smile I get makes me think she’s the best mother replacement a soon-to-be daughter-in-law could ever ask for. I strengthen my resolve to stick to my purpose for coming here. I want to end Katerina’s obsession with controlling her children’s lives... for good.

“Erin darling, good of you to come. Are you here to meet the board of directors? They’ll love you,” she says, coming toward me but abandoning her attempt to embrace me as soon as her gray eyes take in my appearance. “You look well. Red is definitely your color.”

“Thanks. It’s my ‘I’m pissed off and wanna kick some ass’ color.” Of course, sassiness of any type earns the speaker respect in Katerina’s eyes, however I haven’t come here today in order to get her blessing on my outfit. I need to know what bat-shit insane thing Alek has been planning without filling me in on the details. “Look, Katerina, I’m going to get straight to the point. Sam and I are over. Understand? Translation... he’s free to fuck whoever he pleases.”