Working Out West - Lila Rose Page 0,54

couldn’t stop the fear from rising. My breath became ragged. After all, it was a woman who did the damage to me.

“Nyet, Mama,” Adrik tried.

She didn’t listen. “It is hard knowing others have heard what happened. You are a brave, handsome man who was mistreated by people who should only love.”

My blood froze.

I didn’t want to hear this.

I didn’t want to deal.

I shook my head, lifting my hands. I pressed them against her arms and shook my head again.

“Mama,” Adrik growled.

She ignored him. “It was they who were born wrong. Their minds were corrupted. Not yours.” A noise escaped through my lips. My body vibrated with the need to get away from her words. But her hands slid to my shoulders, her grip tightening a little.

“Mama, dolvol’no,” Adrik clipped, and I felt him move closer.

“Adrik,” his father warned.

Annika said softly, “No mother should hurt their child.”

“Don’t,” I begged.

“Dolvol’no,” Adrik yelled. I heard a shuffle, but I couldn’t look away from Annika.

One of her hands cupped the side of my neck. “She was a monster. She was evil. Know that if you were my son, I would love you with every breath I take.”

“Please,” I choked, tears blinding me as they filled and dropped.

“I would love you, West, because you are none of those things she said to you.”

“Then why?” I screamed. “Why did she do it to me?” I dropped to my knees, and Annika came with me, cradling my head as I bent over, letting the agony take over. “Why would she do it?”

“Because she was never blessed with love. She did not understand what an amazing child she created. She was lost in her own created world of lies and hatred. She was lost, West. But you are not. You are here with us. You are loved. I may not know you, but I already know I will love you, my boy. I will.”

“It’s not fair,” I uttered through cries.

“You are right. It is not,” Annika said softly. “But all we can do is keep moving, keep going, and pray nothing like that happens again.” I nodded and held her tightly as I cried once more over the injustice of all that happened to me.

“Enough now,” Adrik said, his tone harsh. “You are in America, not Russia. Not everyone likes tough love,” he snarled.

I didn’t want him upset with his parents. Even though I felt as if a truck had hit me, I knew I needed this.

Lifting up, I scrubbed at my face and sucked in a shuddering breath. The agony seemed easier to breathe through. I glanced up at Adrik, who stood with his arms crossed, glaring at his parents.

“Adrik,” I said. His eyes flashed down to me. I held my hand up to him. “H-Help me up.” His hand slid into mine, and he pulled me to my feet while Nicholai assisted Annika. I rested my side into Adrik’s front and reached out for Annika’s hand. “I’ll freshen up, but please stay for dinner?”

I could feel Adrik’s gaze on me, but I kept my attention on his parents. Both smiled. Nicholai even seemed proud. He stood straighter and his smile grew.

“We would love that,” Annika replied.

“I’ll just need a moment,” I told them, and with Adrik’s hand in mine, I made my way to the bathroom. Only once we were in the abandoned living room, Adrik pulled me to a stop. Facing him, I looked up into his eyes.

“West, I never knew they were coming or what they would say.”

My heart leaped to my throat, but I pushed on my nerves and rested a hand to his chest. “I know. I… I didn’t expect that type of reaction.” I licked my suddenly dry lips and glanced to the side in thought before meeting Adrik’s intense gaze as he studied my face. “I believe it was good for me, though.”

His lips thinned. “Still, it should not have happened. Not from them.” His jaw clenched. Reaching up, I traced a thumb over his jaw.

“Don’t be angry with them.”

“They upset you. I will be angry with them.”

I smiled. “Not too angry then. I’d still like to have dinner and get to know them.” And by the end of the night, maybe my emotions would settle enough to actually get to know them. “Besides.” I shrugged. “It’ll be my first chance to have dinner with the Russian mafia.”

He laughed unexpectedly even as his eyes widened with shock before he quickly clamped his lips shut. But he chuckled once more. Leaning