Page 96 of Silver Sinner

He nods. "I did. After what happened with your car and Maddie, I grew… alarmed that something could happen to you and I wouldn't be able to get to you in time. So I wanted to keep an eye on you the best I could."

I sink slowly into the stool against the counter. "Is that how your men knew to come when Amy and those men broke into my home?"

Pierce nods. "I had placed a shadow on you just to keep an eye. It was that necklace that helped me track them."

It starts to piece together in my mind. "And that's how you found them and killed Trik's cousin."

"Yes. Not that I knew that at the time."

Should I be angry that he was trying to track me like that? Part of me feels like I should be, that if I heard this kind of story in any other context, then I would be outraged, but here? It saved my life and his. I can't be furious with that. I focus on the tea in front of me. A thin skin has formed over the top, since it's been far too long since I tried to drink it.

One question burns on the tip of my tongue, but asking it feels like an insult.

"Ask me," Pierce says as if he can read my thoughts. "Anything you want to know, anything you need to know… you can ask me."

I lift my eyes to meet him. "Why did it take you six weeks to find me?"

That pain lights up in Pierce's eyes once again, and guilt curls in my gut just from asking.

"Some of it I was kept in the hospital by my brother because I'd nearly died. The rest I spent tearing the city apart for you, but any time I made too much noise, Trik sent me pictures of Madeline like a threat and I didn't know what to do. Then, Moses had an idea that if I pretended he had won, then he would grow bored and Pavel would fast-track the wedding. We studied every single person coming into the country for a week until we caught Anastasia."

That old woman who was going to take Madeline back to Russia. I wasn't sorry to see her dead.

"Once we had her, I had to bide my time, because I had no idea if he would bring Maddie to the church. I knew I couldn't rescue you and leave her behind. So we had to wait and as soon as I had confirmation that you were both there, I acted."

A shudder of emotion rolls through me and I nod slowly. "So… you really are part of the mafia."

"I am. I'm sorry, Layla. I never intended to lie to you. Truthfully, I enjoyed that you saw me as a person and not a criminal, or someone with power. I enjoyed how normal and romantic everything felt with you to the point that… when I saw Trik coming out of your apartment, I didn't fully face the truth like I should have because I didn't want to lose you."

My brow lifts. "You saw him?"

He nods. "I did. And I will never forgive myself for not immediately asking for the truth from you. If I had, maybe all of this could have been avoided. You and Maddie would have been safe from so much pain and… for that, I am deeply sorry."

My lips part as this new information nestles into everything else I've learned. "It wouldn't have mattered," I murmur. "At that point, if you'd asked me anything… I don't think I would have told you the truth. I would have kicked you out and never spoken to you again. We can lament that things might have been different but, looking back, I know I would have resorted to my default and decided you were some nosy old bastard."

Pierce presses a hand to his chest. "Old? Ouch."

A soft smile creeps across my lips. "Truth hurts, huh?"

"A little."

I sigh deeply. "Everyone knows now, don't they? That Trik Barsukov has a daughter."

Pierce's expression grows grim. "Yes."

"Is there a chance… any chance that people will forget?"

He shakes his head. "I wish I could tell you there was. Save for taking her to another country, changing your names and wiping out your existence, people will always know. But if that's what you want to do, I can do that for you. I can make you and Maddie disappear so you will be safe from everyone who knows the truth."

My thumb taps lightly against the cup. "But you won't be there."

His lips part briefly as he hesitates. "No. Unless you wanted me to be."

"You'd do that? You'd give up all of this, everything you've built, everything you are… to disappear with me?"

"Yes." There isn't an ounce of hesitation in his voice, and my heart skips a beat.

"What about your brother? About Moses?"