Page 33 of Keeping My Enemies Closer: Pt. 2

“Oh, there’s no ‘claiming’ about it,” she chuckled.“Kasimir is out of his mind over you, and while that’s quite a bit of responsibility that you have with that, I’m happy for him.”

“So, what is it that you wanted to tell me?”

“I’m the one who killed your uncle,” she answered, and she delivered the news so effortlessly, like murder was part of her daily routine.“Instead of driving me home like Viktor had instructed, Armen had driven me to the docks, and the second that I realized what was happening, I shot and killed him before he could kill me first.”She let out a deep breath as she readjusted herself in the seat.“Since Kasimir is determined to marry you, I thought that it’d make things easier for you if you knew that he wasn’t the one behind your uncle’s death.I’m also hoping that the information will make it easier for you to love him back.”

I digested that information before I said, “Even though I know that I don’t have much of a choice in marrying Kasimir, it does help to know that he wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger,” I admitted.“So, thank you for that.”

She gave me a terse nod before adding, “He also won’t be dealing with Marcelle, so you don’t have to worry about the man you married getting off on torturing women.”

What?

“Wait...what do you mean?”I stammered.

Aurora cocked her head a bit.“Kasimir won’t be the one questioning Marcelle.It’ll be me.”

As soon as her words registered, I could feel my eyes widen in disbelief.“But...but you’re pregnant.Eight months pregnant.”

She just grinned.“I’m aware.”

I could feel my head shaking in denial.“So...how...I don’t understand.Why would you be the one to question Marcelle?I mean...Viktor is allowing this?”

“Viktor has learned how to pick his battles,” she replied easily.“As for being pregnant, other than my water breaking while I’m questioning her, there shouldn’t be any issues.Both Viktor and Kasimir will be there in case anything unexpected happens.”

“Mrs.Korolev, you can’t do it,” I practically begged.“It’s not worth the risk.”

“Firstly, my name is Aurora,” she replied, giving me permission to use her first name.“Second, there is no risk, Zoya.Marcelle Jenson is no threat at all.”

My chest felt tight at the very thought that Aurora Korolev had gotten pulled into this.“Is it because she’s a woman?”I asked.“Is that why you’re doing it?”

Aurora shook her head.“Actually, no.I’m doing this because I’m the one in charge of our prostitution trade, and the auction was my idea.So, with the auction being my baby, I took great offense that Marcelle approached you with the idea to take Montana Hughes’ place.”

My stomach dropped heavily.

“So...so, what about me?”I asked hesitantly.“I’m the one-”

She put her hand up to stop me from talking.“You agreed to the opportunity out of reasonable desperation, which I completely understand,” she said.“However, it was Marcelle who had come up with the plan to dupe us, and I don’t take kindly to anyone trying to make a fool out of me.”She readjusted herself again, and I could only imagine how uncomfortable being eight months pregnant was.“Truth be told, had I not been pregnant, and had things not become complicated between you and Kasimir, I would have already strung her up by now.”

That had my head rearing back in surprise.“Oh...”

Aurora let out a deep sigh.“Zoya, we all understand that you’re not from this life, and so no one is expecting anything out of you that you’re not comfortable with.No one is expecting you to start carrying a gun in your purse or start torturing people on the weekends.”

I let out a choked cough, the air in my lungs getting stuck.“Uhm...”

“I’m just saying that no one is expecting anything from you other than to just be you, whatever that may look like,” she said, smiling softly.“Don’t overthink it.”

After a few seconds, I said, “It just...it’s a lot to get used to.”

“It is,” she agreed graciously.“Just don’t be afraid to talk to Kasimir about whatever it is that you’re feeling, even if you think that it might set him off or hurt his feelings.Honesty and loyalty are more important in this life than love is, and that is something that you’ll really need to process for a successful marriage.”

“I understand,” I replied quietly, slowly but surely learning what I needed to.

“I hope you do,” she said before standing up, and it wasn’t until I stood up to help her that I realized why our little heart-to-heart was over.

Viktor Korolev was here.

“Are you finished?”he practically barked from the doorway.

Aurora just rolled her eyes at the man.“You really need to get a grip.”