Part 22 (1/2)
”That a boy.” He slapped his shoulder, and then his dark eyes lit on me. ”And this is the missus?”
I stood since everyone else was, and they were looking at me.
”This is Regan,” Gage gestured to me.
Nikolai reached for my hand and slowly brought it to his lips. ”Its my pleasure to meet you.”
His lips lingered on the back of my hand, his eyes running over my body.
”Thats enough.” Gage patted his shoulder, and Nikolai broke away with a laugh.
”Cant blame an old man, I barely see pretty girls in here. And she is a looker. You chose well.” He stepped back, not hiding the fact that he was checking me out. ”She looks like her mother. Olli warned me as much, but the similarities are striking.” He turned his focus to Gage as he took his seat. ”For your sake, lets hope shes better behaved.”
I gripped the back of my chair, muscles rigid with anger.
”Sit down, doll.” Nikolai barely glanced to me as he gestured to the seat. Then he spoke directly to Gage, ”Weve got a lot to catch up on. But first, lets deal with what she came here for.”
Gage pulled out my chair for me, talking me down with his eyes before he took his own seat.
”Regan didnt grow up with family, and were looking for any connection we can find.”
”Well, Angela never talked to me about family. She didnt talk about her past at all. h.e.l.l, I didnt even know she had a kid till it was too late.”
Too late. I sat up in my chair, fingers digging into the edge of the seat. I wanted to block out that part, but I wanted to ask more, too.
”You didnt know anyone from her past?” Gage slid his hand to the table, finger tapping slightly as he asked. He didnt buy it either.
Nikolai leaned back, raising his chin as he spoke. ”I did a background check on her. She had a grandmother, but she wasnt anyone, probably dead now, and Angela never talked about her. Im sure you could find that information easy enough.” He cleared his throat, looking between the two of us like he said all he could.
I knew about the grandmother, even met her once. But she kicked out Angela when she was young and didnt want to claim me once Angela killed herself.
”Once you knew there was a child, did you ever find out who the father was?”
He shook his head. ”Its like I said, we never talked about it.”
”Then why did you have me bring her here if you knew you had no information?” Gage leaned forward, a demand in his tone.
Nikolais lip curled as he laughed, a sound that grated on my nerves. You could hear the spit gurgling in it. ”I wanted to see her. Knew I may not get the opportunity to otherwise.”
”Son of a b.i.t.c.h,” Gage spoke low, but Nikolai laughed louder.
Gages shoulder tensed as he sat back. ”Well shes going now. Come on Regan.”
”Wait.” I raised my hand, forearm braced on the table. ”Who was Jared?”
Nikolai c.o.c.ked his head, looking at me. ”Jared? Why I dont know pretty thing, who was he?”
”Regan-” Gage tried to warn me, but I kept going. I wouldnt mention his mom or say where I got my information.
”I heard you fought with Angela about Jared one night, that she dated Jared before you. Do you know his last name?”
”I dont even know his first name. Jared? And I fought Angela, your mother, about him? When?”
”At the restaurant she worked at.”
Something pa.s.sed through his eyes, maybe understanding, maybe a memory. ”Ah, before she worked for me. Hmm, maybe I do remember some jerk off hanging around too much. Jared? Maybe.”
”Thats it? You dont know anything else? Or maybe you can give me another name, someone else I can talk to?” I felt defeated. I had tried not to put too much hope in this, but the little I had was ripped away.
”You think that guy could be your Dad?”
I shrugged. I didnt know anything.
”Well then, you have my apology. Neither of them f.u.c.kers deserved it. Not Angela and not him. But you, Ill apologize to you. Im not above that.”
”For what?” It was Gage who spoke my thoughts that couldnt pa.s.s my throat.
”Well, she wont be able to ask-whats his name? Jake?” He waved it away. ”That man interfered too much. It was a problem. So I solved it.” He leaned back, spreading his hands open, palms up.
Gage gripped my leg. ”So thats a dead end.”
Nikolai really laughed then, loud and throaty, flecks of spit flying on the table. His hand slapped down. ”Thats one way to say it, kid.”
Gage sat up, turning to me, s.h.i.+elding me from the man opposite us. ”Im sorry.” His low voice made the other words a reality.
”Thats sweet.” Nikolai nodded to us. ”But Ive only got a little time left, and I need to speak with you alone, Gage. The doll has to go.”
”Okay. One minute.” He stood up, pulling me with him.
The door to the room opened and Gage walked me out side of it. His hands rubbed my upper arms. ”Are you Okay? I can talk with him another day. We dont have to stay?”
”No, its fine. Get it over with. Ill wait in the car.” No emotions reached my voice or me. I extended a steady hand for the keys. I was blank and controlled, but I wanted out of this prison.
He paused for a moment, but I walked off with the guard after I had the keys, and he walked back into that room.
We made a few turns, went through a few doors, and thats when I finally paused to notice. ”This isnt the way we came in,” I spoke aloud.
”Were almost there.” The man spoke, slowing his walk beside me. ”Its right up here.”
He stopped at a door similar to the one Nikolai was in, my heart about burst when he slid his key in. I stepped back, but he gripped my arm, pus.h.i.+ng me through the now open door. It slammed shut as I spun around to get out. I banged repeatedly on the metal door, arm vibrating as the sound ricocheted around the room.
”Sweetheart.”
I froze at the sound of his voice, ice sliding down my spine.