40

Alessio

I was sixteen when Leif told me about my parents' affair. That was the gritty part of my past he wanted to leave for last.

He told me my father would see my mother every time he had business in Russia.

I never saw him, or them together, but I'd had suspicions long before I was twelve. I remember her acting like she did whenever she had a new man in her life.

The last time they saw each other was serious.

Serious enough for my mother to tell me who I really am and who my father was. She wanted me to meet him.

That was mere days before she died. I remember us speaking about it over breakfast that day, then by nightfall we were on the run.

Mira continues crying so I reach for the box of tissues at the end of the coffee table. I give her the whole box and when she takes out a wad of tissues, she breaks down.

"I'm so sorry." She dries her tears and tries to compose herself. "I promised myself I wouldn't fall apart. Especially when I knew in my heart it had to be that. What else wou