“Vidar, it has been a long time. You look as handsome as ever and is this your wife?”
Somehow, he found the courage and will to move forward.
“Is it really you, Stina?”
“Yes. Yes, it is.”
She moved forward and gave her brother a hug. But it felt empty, hollow somehow. There was no love there. Perhaps it had been too long.
“I came here to take you home. I thought… I have searched for you for so long.”
“You needn’t have bothered,” she said coldly.
“I don’t understand. What has happened to you? What happened to your friends?”
“They all found their way out in the end. I don’t see them now but I know at least two of them are married and happy while another died of an overdose after the Russians got her hooked on cocaine and the fourth was murdered. I was lucky. I was only in that world for a year.”
“Why the hell didn’t you call me? Didn’t you hear about our parents? They were looking for you? Why didn’t you tell us? They died…”
Stina pursed her lips.
“I never got on with Mum or Dad. You know that. Besides, you were the favourite. You always were, little brother. They didn’t have much time for me. They threw me out of the house because of my partying or don’t you remember? It sounds like you have a distorted view of our family life.”
“They looked for you and never gave up.”
“No doubt because they felt guilty. They didn’t give a damn when I was left to walk the streets because they had thrown me out. I spent two nights in the park alone before I had somewhere to stay. I know they wouldn’t have done it to you.”
Vidar stared at her.
“They told me you had left of your own accord and gone to work in Bergen. I always found it strange why you left so suddenly even after you came to say goodbye to me that night.”
“I remember. You were only twelve and I was sixteen. I am sorry to ruin your memories, little brother, but our parents weren’t what you thought they were.”
He said nothing. Too much in shock. Fallon rested her head against his arm to give him comfort and support. He stared at Janis still holding Stina’s hand lovingly, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.
“Why are you with him?” He felt his brotherly protectiveness rile.
“Because I love him.”
“But look what he does.”
Janis grinned.
“It is just one of the games we play together. She watches me play and I watch her. It keeps our marriage fresh.”
Vidar shook his head.
“I want you to leave with me, Stina.”
“No.” She gave an incredulous laugh. “My life is here with Janis. I don’t want to go anywhere with you. I will always love you, little brother but I don’t want to be in your world. That part of my life is dead now. I don’t want to relive it.”
Janis stood and moved in front of his wife to shield her as Vidar shook his head again and walked towards her as though to take hold of her arm and take her with him.
“You heard her,” Bukelis said, a warning in his tone. “I think it is time you left.”
“I am not leaving without her. She doesn’t belong with someone like you.”
The Latvian stepped forward ready to fight but Stina pulled him back.
At that moment, two men entered the room. Janis’ security men.
“I think you better take your beautiful wife and leave before I have you thrown out.”
Vidar felt Fallon tug on his arm.
“Vidar, it is time to leave. There is nothing you can do here.”
The Billionaire glanced up to see another two men entering the room and relented. He wouldn’t be able to take them all on and drag two women from the room no matter how versed he was in martial arts. He pointed at them both.
“This isn’t over.”
“It is, Vidar. I don’t want to see you again,” Stina told him.
“And I will make sure she doesn’t as long as that is her wish,” Janis finished.
Vidar took hold of Fallon’s arm after a last look at Stina and walked her out of the room and the Manor House never to see his sister again.
Chapter 9
It was midnight when the car reached the dock. Vidar had spent the car journey in silence unable to contain his anger and not wanting to verbally take it out on Fallon. She had once covered his hand with hers when he rested it on the seat. Fallon’s delicate touch had been comforting but at that moment he had wanted to be alone and had removed it, preferring to look out of the mirror. He supposed he was sulking like a little boy who could not have his way but he had spent so many years rehearsing the reunion between himself and his sister and it had all been for nothing. Now that Stina had been found, Fallon would leave him for sure as well and he would be completely alone in the world. He couldn’t blame her. He had taken her from her own life and forcibly made her part of his own. Now she was a free woman. It was only a matter of time before she voiced the assertion but to his surprise she said nothing.
When they reached the dock, he escorted her aboard and stopped in the lounge wanting to pre-empt her.
“I suppose this is the end of the road for us, Fallon.” He was unable to look at her as he spoke. “Thank you for your help. I will keep to our bargain. When we dock in Bergen I will have the jet on standby to fly you to wherever you want. I will get the divorce papers sent to your new address,” he told her in a non-committal cold tone expecting her to agree and confirm that was what she wanted. But she was quiet, prompting his
