"О, смотрите Соню, как она красива!" Olena had yet to speak a lick of English to me. It seemed that as soon as she saw me next to Dimitri all her English had become nonexistent.
She had engulfed me in about 10 hugs in the last 15 minutes. Actually her and all of Dimitri's sisters had followed suit. Every time he had tried to save me that had pushed him away and started talking quickly in Russian to him. He had looked over at me eyes sympathic but I simply smiled at him, letting him know that I was fine. And I really was.
"Mama talk to the girl in English." Sonya walked over prying her mother away from me. Her accent was thick and I had to focus hard in order to understand her. "Please excuse her she's just so excited. Little Dimka here never really had a girlfriend"
"Заткнись бога!" Dimitri stepped next to me again and pulled me away before his mother and sisters could surround me again.
Dimitri and I had waited for them at their house. Abe insisting that he send out a car to pick them up at the airport. Dimitri had started to argue, but Abe had made a great point stating that the reunion would be better behind closed doors. I had thought that would be unnecessary until I had seen and heard them. These woman sure did have a set of pipes on them. As soon as they had spotted us screams had ensued. I tried to keep calm but it had been overwhelming.
Thankfully his nieces and nephew had been quiet, standing behind on the couch away from commotion. I had been able to say hello once before they were again forgotten. It was all so strange to me. I was not use to this many hugs and kisses. Mason loved me, and said he did but we were not a hugging family. Even little Eddie only hugged me on special occasion, or to say thank you.
My sheltered life made it hard for me to really interact in large groups, especially loud and very excited ones. But then again nothing could have prepared me for the storm that was t he Belikov's. I was trying now, by going to parties at the Dragomir's, but even those were pretty tame. What was not tame was the way the Belikov women yelled and yanked me around giving me hugs. And as nervous as I was, I was also happy. They had excepted me just the way I was, now if only I could get them to talk more english to me so I could understand them.
I took it all with a smile though. I knew they were excited. I knew they were beyond happy that Dimitri and I were together. And seeing them happy brought about something in me that had made me feel so good. To them I was part of the family. They did not care about my past, all they cared was that they were part of my life now. That and that I would be in their furture.
"Alright girls, please you're going to scare her away." Dimitri pulled me behind him again just as Viktoria had tried to reach for me. He was trying to calm his family, though it was not really working. "And I would really like her to stay with me." I giggled behind him, and they started to quiet down.
"You're hogging her though Dimka." Viktoria's raspy voice floated through the crowd and she stepped
forward. "I mean you've had her all this time and did not share." Out of all the women her english was the best. She had apparently been learning it since a young age at school.
Viktoria was Dimitri's youngest sister, she was about two years younger than me, and she was gorgeous. They both looked a lot a like. All the Belikov's looked similar with their brown hair and chocolate eyes but Viktoria and Dimitri stood out. And not because they looked like they could be twins. Viktoria was full of energy, and had talked my ear off every time we had talked. Even though she was a demon on speed she was a sweetheart. She was the complete opposite of her brother. Where he had hidden confidence, she wore it proudly.
Without ever meeting Viktoria I knew that we would and could be the greatest of friends. She had the same charming personality as her brother, and that pulled me towards her more than the others. I was more than certain that she would fit in with Lissa and I. If anything her and Lissa would be super close, they both had very similar emotions and moods.
"Well let me get in the kitchen and cook us something up." Olena patted Dimitri's cheek as she passed and he stopped her. There was no need for her to even go in the kitchen.
"No need Mama I cooked it is all ready." The older woman giggled, and I smiled at how adorable she was. She may have been in her fifties but Olena went right along with the younger women of the fmaily.
"Always a good boy." She kissed his cheek as he led her into the dinning room. Dimitri's cheeks flushed lightly with red, and I laughed at the effect his mother had on him. He towered over her but yet she held the power to embarrass her little boy.
"You did not greet me." I was stopped by a hand that felt strange to me. Looking down and up at the person I noticed it was Dimitri's grandmother. I wanted to step back, but thought better of it, there was no need to be rude, even if she scared me.
"I'm sorry. I'm Rose." A smile graced my lips as I was actually very happy to meet her. Dimitri loved his grandmother very much and had told me so much about her. I wanted her to approve of me as well, I may not have known her but I knew her approval was worth a lot.
"Yeva." Her eyes so similar to Dimitri's, just like all the Belikov's, studied me. I could not help but feel the force behind her stare.
I cringed away slightly at the intensity. It was clear that along with her age Yeva had a lot of wisdom. Dimitri had told me about how growing up she had always given him advice. Advice that he always followed, claiming that she was always right. I had laughed at the thought, but seeing her now I knew why he listened. I knew that I would listen to her.
"Watch out for the close ones my dear. Usually those just out of sight are the ones causing trouble." A shiver ran through my body and I stood there frozen. Had she really just said that to me.
What was this woman telling me? I had so many things to fear, god why would she add to that. Was she talking about life in general, or did she know something I did not. I sighed and watched her walk away, giving me a small smile, one I could no longer return. I had let my guard down thinking now everything was fine, fear coursed through me. I was a fool to think things would end so easily. The call Abe got the night before should have kept me on my toes. He was thrown off by it, and I should have been to. The old man and I were going to have to have a talk, and soon.
After a few hours of non stop talking with the Belikov's Dimitri and I headed home. It had been tiring but it had been worth it all to see the smile on Dimitri's face. The moment they first stepped into the house it was like Dimitri was complete. He stepped forward and forgot about me for a little bit. But I did not mind one bit. He had waited long enough to have his family back, and the reunion had brought tears to my eyes. And this reunion was long awaited. Something had kept this family apart, when they deserved to be together. What frightened me was that Abe and Dimitri had not been able to figure out what that something had been.
"Sorry about them." Dimitri although apologizing was smiling at me. "They can be a little overwhelming at times."
I laughed at him but waved it off. Yes, they had been overwhelming, had screamed in ways I never knew a person could, but I really did like them. They were so happy and caring. I felt a bit of envy towards Dimitri. Though at the same time I was happy he was able to have something I had not been able to have growing up.
"I really like them Dimitri. I wish my family had been as excepting of you as they were of me." He reached his hand over the console and took my fist in his. He worked at it until he opened my fingers and laced them together.
"Don't worry about it Roza. It's getting better. Everything is better. And it will continue to get even more so." I looked at him studying the way the smile met his eyes. He truly believed what he was saying, maybe I was worrying for no reason.
Walking through the door of our cabin was an amazing feeling. It was odd to think that this was our home. I really loved the little cabin. It was our own little paradise. I had never felt at home until I moved in with Dimitri. The cabin was a place that brought me peace, and I knew it brought the same to him.
"I think I need to give you a massage Miss Hathaway you seem tense." His hands massaged my shoulder and my head rolled back and landed on his chest.
"Mmmm that feels good." He massaged a little harder and then his hands left my shoulders to push my hair aside.
"You know what else could feel good?" He spun me around his lips meeting mine before I could answer.
It was always nice to know that he was usually thinking the same thing I was. I never grew tired of having his lips on mine. Every kiss with him was powerful and passionate. This was what truly being in love with someone felt like. We didn't need sex, though it was quite nice. No our lips against each other was all we needed for the other to see and feel the love we had.
"I love you Dimitri."
"I love you Roza."
The next day I had the day off. I had no time recently to hang out with Lissa, but I had made sure today I would make time. I still had questions to ask her. I needed to know why she was so hostile towards Jill. Every time she had come into the bakery she had shot her death glares. Jill would go out of her way to say hello, but Lissa would act like she was not even there. Something that set off millions of alarms in me. Lissa was never anything but polite.
"I sometimes worry about how much you think." Lissa's soft voice was whispered into my ear as I jumped slightly at her closeness. I really needed to start paying more attention to my surroundings.
"It's what I do. I think. And over analyze everything." She moved back and we both set to enter the mall.
Of course to Liss a shopping trip was the perfect way to start a girls day. I rolled my eyes remembering how she had told me I could use some new shirts. I already had plenty seeing as she seemed to like to dress me up like some barbie doll. I tried to stop her, but she was a force to be reckoned with. Like always I just went along with it just to make her happy.
"I heard it can give the thinky ginkies." I looked at her sideways. Confused yet again about her made up words.
"And what in gods name are the thinky ginkies." She gave a light laugh and looked over my way.
"Its like when you think too much and your mind jams up." She pointed to her temple and looked at me like I had lived in mars my entire life. I could not help but laugh. She started towards a store and I gathered my wits.
"Hey I got a question for you?" She was already looking at a rack of clothes, pulling out shirts and shoving them in front of me. Apparently buying me shirts was first on the list.
"Yea, shoot sister." She put the green shirt back and picked up a red one, held it to me and a sparkle lit her eyes as she put it over her arm and walked to the next rack. Shopping with her always turned into what can we buy Rose trips. It was even worse when she had planned on it before hand.
"I was wondering, you know I could not help but notice... that you umm.. you don't like Jill. Why?" As soon as Jill's name left my lips Lissa looked down at me and her demeanor changed. I could literally feel the air around her get cold, this was not something she wanted to talk about.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She turned abruptly and nearly walked into a display.
"Come on Liss. I'm not stupid. You know you can talk to me, and tell me anything." She spun around and studied me.
The action kind of pissed me off, she was waging whether or not she could trust me. I thought we told each other everything, why would she doubt telling me something now. When had Lissa started hiding things from me. Better, when had she started not trusting me. She had always been so open with me, it was hard to think of her not telling me something. Most of the time she told me more than I wanted to know.
"Maybe we can get lunch and talk about it then." I nodded agreeing just to make her happy. She bought the clothes and led me to the Cheesecake Factory that was in the mall. After ordering and sitting in silence for about 10 minutes I broke the silence.
"Liss. Is it bad? You have me worried." She wrung her napkin in her hands, and when her eyes met mine I saw some sadness. But I also saw something in her jade eyes that I had never seen before, anger.
"Mom and dad sat me down about two months ago, claiming they had something to tell me." She sighed loudly and sat back in her seat her shoulder slumping. "To make the story short my father admitted that he had cheated on my mother." I gasped and Lissa looked up, wearing that sad look.
"Apparently the woman got pregnant. And after I don't know like 15 years showed up demanding he take the role of father." Her voice was bitter and disgust was clear in it. My mind was still reeling. Her father Eric had been nothing but the perfect gentleman. Him and Rhea were what I thought to be the perfect couple.
"What does this have to do with Jill?" As soon as the question was out, my mind made the connection. "No fucking way?" Lissa only nodded to confirm. How could this be? I had known Jill for years now. But then again those telltale jade eyes should have clued me in.
"The lady lived here before. But moved away for a year and suddenly came back, demanding money, and anything she thought would make up for lost time. More like she's a money hungry bitch. She just wants what come with daddy's status. Her job of sorts took her away. And then suddenly she came back and wanted all this stuff. She works for some ass wipe in New York. If you ask me she's some kind of spy or something." I had no idea what to do with all this information. I felt like I was missing something.
"Is Jill demanding things too?" I could not imagine Jill being anything but nice. Her innocence something I always loved about her.
"No I mean, I suppose she's been nice. But I mean come on she has to want something. Or is doing something for her mother. No one, and I mean no one can be that fucking nice. She's tried to like hang out with me, and ask me questions. I mean what the hell does she want from me." She sat back quickly and crossed her arms.
I was even more confused than before. It sounded like Jill was just trying to be nice. Just trying to get to know a sister she never knew she had. But how could I tell Liss she was over reacting. If I voiced my thoughts I was sure she would freak out and start yelling at me. I was her friend and I was suppose to be on her side. But I knew Jill, I liked her very much. She was a sweetheart and I was sure she would never do anything bad, even if her mother was no good.
Another thing that got me was what she was saying about Emily, Jill's mother. I had met her plenty of time and she too seemed so sweet and bubbly. I could not picture this money hungry monster that Liss was describing to me. Emily would never want anything like that. Did something happen in New York that had changed her mind. There had to be more to this than either of us saw.
"I'm sorry Liss, I can only imagine how stressful this is." I reached over the table for her hand, one she gave me quickly.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just I don't know was so angry." She blew out air causing her bangs to blow upwards and land in her eyes.
"It's fine. But umm maybe.." I stopped and rethought what I was about to say. "Maybe Jill isn't the bad one. I mean people can have bad parents and be good." Her hand flew out of mine and I saw the rage build up inside her.
"Rose how could you say that. She's the daughter to that bitch. You are what you are raised to be. And I am sure Emily has raised her to be as vile as her." She looked around the restaurant, nearly bouncing in her seat.
"Liss, I'm sorry I did not mean to get you upset. But Mason raised me a certain way, and honestly me and him couldn't be anymore different." I tried to catch her eyes but she would not look at me. "Liss I'm sorry. I just have known Jill for years. She was nice and friendly. And still is. Maybe you should give her a chance."
I had definitely said the wrong thing. Liss sprung out her seat and started gathering her things. At first I was too shocked to move. What I had said had been the truth. I honestly thought she was over reacting. I knew Jill, there was no way she was the bad guy here. How could she not see it? Was she so caught up in what her father had done, to see. Did she think Jill was to blame?
"Liss where are you going?" She was rushing to the exit after throwing some money on the table. "Liss come back." She stopped and turned around rage in those once gorgeous calm eyes.
"I am leaving Rosemarie. I thought you were my friend. But I see I was wrong." Without another word she stalked away leaving me with my mouth hanging open. What the fuck had just happened. I feared what this meant for our friendship.
If I did not talk to Lissa on a daily basis we texted. We never spent more than a day without contact. It had been that way since we had exchanged numbers nearly eight months before. She had come into my life in the same fashion that Dimitri had. I had never expected to meet people like them. I never thought that eight months later they would still be in my life, and I would care so much about them. That was why when a week went by and she would not answer me back I felt heart broken.
I would go into work every day hoping she would stop by to at least see Christian, but she never did. Even after work when Christian and I would train, she never came. The first couple days I said nothing to Christian but after a week, I asked. He had given me a sad smile and had informed me that Liss had told him she wanted nothing to do with me. He was playing with fire by just being around me. But she knew better than to ask him to stay away, it was hard since we worked together.
When Christmas was only a couple weeks away, and I was close to 2 and a half weeks without talking to her I broke down. Dimitri had to hold me in his arms as I cried. I had no idea why Lissa would do this to me. I had been there for her no matter what. I loved her like a sister, and I felt betrayed that she would do this to me. Even though it hurt I kept on with everything I had to do. I could not let her bring me down.
"Jill can I talk to you?" Jill had been humming a Christmas tune to herself as she decorated the green and red holiday cookies.
"Yes, of course." She sat up straight and her jade eyes glistened. Now I knew why she had reminded me so much of Lissa.
"Can I ask you a personal question?" Jill nodded nervously but let me ask on. "Do you know what's going with you mother and Lissa's family?" Jill's eyes darkened and she looked around, a tear slid down but she wiped it quickly.
"I never... I never asked for this. I told my mother I was fine, and to not mess with their family. But she said I deserved it. She said they came from money and I could get whatever I want, whatever she wanted. I swear Roses I don't want that. I want them to be happy. I'm the reason they are mad. And Lissa... Oh god Lissa hates me so much Roses." Her old nickname for me slipped out and I could not help but stepping forward to hug her.
"I know Jill, I'm sorry." Loud sobs left her lips as she clung to me.
"The society keeps telling her she should get what she deserves, but even I don't know what that is anymore. I just want this all to go away. My mother never use to be like this. She changed when we moved to New York." I grew stiff in her arms. There it was again. The society. Did Emily work for them? And why would they care about her personal life.
I was about to ask Jill more but the door squeaking caught my attention. When I looked over I saw Avery with wide eyes. She had obviously been ease dropping and did not like what she had heard. Before I could confront her she ran out to the front again. I was going to follow her but Jill's soft sob made my attention go back to her. I could not leave her standing there so sad. I would deal with Avery later.
"Its going to be alright Jill OK?" She looked at me not at all convinced but nodded. "Maybe I can help you if you can help me?" I could not let the chance go by. I walked to the door to see that Avery had run behind the counter again and was out of hearing range. I did not trust that girl at all.
"Of course you can help. But how am I suppose to help you?" There was a determination in her eyes that I had never seen before. I smiled at her and she gave me a wet smile back.
"The Society, do you know anything about them?" Jill's eyebrows knotted together, and she looked hard in thought.
"I mean I've heard my mom talk about them. And honestly they don't seem nice at all." She shook her head and her bottom lip pouted slightly.
"Ok, seeing as I have to work on my own relationship with Lissa, maybe we can both get her to see that it's not your fault. And in return, I just ask for whatever information you can get from your mother about the Society. Without getting in trouble, or caught." The twinkle was back in Jill's eyes.
Back in the day I had always kept her interest by making constant adventures. Jill like me had been very sheltered, and she always, like me, craved something that would be crazy and spontaneous. No matter what task I put in front of her, she helped me. And I could tell the old Jill was still there. There was no way she was what Lissa thought she was. If anything the problem lay with her mother. A mother that I knew was acting out of character.
"Of course. I'll look into it. My mom is sneaky about it, but she figures I have no interest in her job." Her tears stopped as she was nearly bouncing in front of me.
"Ok then. I suppose we both have a mission." She grabbed me and pulled me again into a hug.
I took comfort in the hug.. She was a good person, and I was going to prove it to Lissa. And while I did that I was going to find out more about this damn Society that I kept hearing about. First with Christian, then with Dimitri. Now Jill had brought it up again. I had never heard anything about it. And when I had searched things online I had come back empty handed. But there was something big here. I just hoped I could figure it out before it was too late.
"Thank you Roses. I promise I won't let you down!" And I knew she wouldn't.
Jill was innocent as could be, but when she set her mind to something she did it. No matter what I sent her after she always found it. Back in the day she would sneak me forbidden candies, help me sneak out, and even be a look out for me. She never half assed anything either. I knew she was someone I could count on. I just wished Lissa could see how loyal and wonderful she was. After everything Jill had done for me, and was about to do for me I owed her.
"Alright let's get back to work, and soon we can both start." I smiled at her going back to my cookies while she grabbed hers again. Her humming just a bit louder now.
After helping Jill out for a bit I decided to go talk to Avery. The fucking bitch had been getting on my nerves. It seemed like there was no where I could go to get away from her. I could not talk to anyone without her knowing who and what I was talking about. I had been wanting to fire her but she had yet to give me a reason that was good enough.
Avery was another mystery to me. One moment she was nice to me, trying to strike up a conversation. Then the next she would snap at me, and give me a knowing glare. There was something about her that made me not trust her. I told Dimitri and he had laughed saying I was truly starting to become paranoid. Maybe I was. But I had to confront her and at least show myself that I was wrong. I just hoped I was wrong.
"Avery can we talk?" She popped her head from behind the counter where she was cleaning. Her eyes were wide.
"Umm yea sure." He voice was a bit higher pitched than usual. Leading me to believe she was scared. I hated to think she was hiding something. I just wanted all these problems to go away.
"Do you have a problem with me? I mean we work together. But you are always following me, watching me. Have I done something that makes you feel the need to spy on me?" She was now breathing heavily, and was shaking her head. The cocky bravado she normal held was long gone.
"No.. I mean spy? Me? No!" I narrowed my eyes at her. Why had the word spy stuck out so much to her. I was about to ask her but the bell rang I turned around with a smile to only have it fall as I saw the other person in my life I could not stand.
"Natasha." Her icy blue eyes met mine and a scowl formed on her face. God what I would do to just scar up that fucking pretty little face of hers. She could also do without that perfect black raven mane. God what I would do to forget everything about her. I could do without the constant reminders of how pretty she was. Even if she was a bitch I had to admit the woman was good looking.
"Rosemarie." God her voice was so fucking annoying. It was like nails on a chalkboard. How could anyone talk to her without cringing.
"Can I help you?" A smirk crossed her lips, and she laughed lightly.
"I'm here to pick up Avery, she's a daughter of a good friend of mine." Suddenly my world spun too quickly.
If Avery and Tasha knew each other, were they up to something? Could they be planning a way to separate Dimitri and I? Before I could think anymore Avery walked from behind the counter and bumped shoulders with me. Her bravado was back and she was now confident as could be. I watched the two leave whispering god knows what to each other. This was not good. My gut was telling me that something was wrong. Very wrong.
Dun dun dun... I know there is a lot happening in this chapter, but that is the way it was suppose to be. This overload of information is going to led to the climatic ending... So what did you think? The Belikov's seem nice eh? Lissa and Rose no longer talking? Because of Jill being her sister? Oh my goodness, who saw that coming haha? The Society has come up again, any guesses about them? And Tasha, Tasha, Tasha, do her and Avery have something up their sleeves? I'm getting overly excited about what is to come with this story! Thank you all again for the love... I really hope you are all not bored? Well until next time! Oh and I plan on having this done before Christmas... I'm aiming for two weeks... SO give me love so I get motivated to write.. Haha