Deceitful Lies by Brook Wilder
Chapter 52
Paige
I can’t face what Andrei has done. I know they are both dead because I hear an awful howl as I run toward the house. He’s ruined all our lives. Emma is gone, and I can’t leave this place. He’ll never let me, not after what he’s done.
Sonya hurries down the staircase, carrying a suitcase from Eva’s room. Her breathing is labored as she hurries toward the door. She’s in no state of mind to drive, especially not in this rain.
“Sonya, don’t leave.”
“Why?” She scowls at me. “So Vasily’s son can shoot me too?”
Vasily’s son … It’s the only time I’ve ever heard her refer to Andrei like that.
“You can’t drive in this,” I explain. “You can hide here.”
“He has keys to all the rooms.” She pauses by the door. “I warned him he would turn into his father. But this? Even Vasily would never have done this.” Her lips tremble as she starts to cry, but when I try to touch her, Sonya yanks away.
“I do know what it feels like,” I try to explain. “I lost my mother. She died thinking I thought she was a terrible person.”
Sonya swings open the front door. “Is that supposed to make me feel better? Does that make it okay? It happened to you, so I should be okay with it? He murdered my parents in front of me. He is Vasily’s son, through and through.”
“Sonya.” I follow her outside. “You’re too upset to leave.”
“Is that what you tell yourself?” She glares at me. “He does something unspeakable, but you make excuses so you have to stay? I’m not waiting for him to come in here. And if you had any sense, you’d leave too.”
I reach to grab her shoulder, but Sonya shoves me away. I lose my balance and desperately grab for something to keep me from falling down the front stairs. But the surface is too slick from the rain. I can’t catch myself, and the concrete races up toward my face as I scream.
Sonya doesn’t turn back. She jumps into her car, and the tires spin wildly as it flies out of the gate.
I hold my stomach, wincing from the pain. I hold onto the bump that’s barely started to show. I try to roll onto my side, but a sharp, jabbing pain prevents me. It hurts too much to move.
I cry out in pain, wondering if my baby is okay.
The open door attracts Vanya, and he calls out for help. Soon, I’m surrounded by hands on me as they try to help me up. I wince as I’m lifted to my feet and into a nearby Rover.
Andrei returns. He holds my hand and shouts at the guards. They try to calm him, but he lashes out, threatening to shoot them all if I’m hurt.
Dmitri calls him, and they get into the front seat. The storm passes, and I listen to the rain tap the roof as the Rover drives into Two Rivers.
I regret my decision to stay. I held out for hope, but it never came. If anything, everything is worse. I try to make peace with what has happened to me.
Sonya’s words echo in my head. He does something unspeakable, but you make excuses so you have to stay.
She’s right. I’ve been a fool this entire time. I’ve spent all this time looking for a silver lining in every darkest cloud.
And now, I might lose my baby because of it.
As the Rover drives up to the ER, I pray softly and make a solemn promise.
If my baby survives, I will leave Andrei and never look back.
