Chapter 5

Are you feeling better? Bianca asked after Lena had finished the soup she had ordered.

Yes, thank you.

Lena, I… I dont want you to feel pressured in any way.

I dont. You deserve an explanation considering how I acted this afternoon.

Who is she? Bianca whispered.

Lena closed her eyes briefly – when she opened them Bianca was in her sight. She was once again struck by how lucky she was. She sincerely doubted anyone in his or her mind would consider the last eleven months of her life, lucky, yet she did.

Never in her wildest imagination would she have foreseen how her life had changed… for the better.

She wouldve laughed if someone suggested that there would come a day when shed look forward to the prospect of changing diapers. To watching a baby sleeping peacefully and knowing when it awoke, that the child would smile in her direction, capturing her heart like no one else – except for the babys mother.

Yes, Lena admitted, Bianca Montgomery captivated her.

It didnt seem possible for anyone to be as innocent as Bianca seemed when theyd first met. Her innocence pulled Lena closer and she was helpless against it.

The longer she was in Biancas presence the more Lenas feelings had changed for her and after a while, Bianca had become more than a mere mark. Bianca was the woman who had done the impossible – making her truly, the most powerful person on earth, more so than Michael himself.

Bianca had managed to blow the dust off Lenas heart, to get around the impenetrable walls she had built to protect herself from ever being hurt. No longer was she hiding it away – to the point where Lena wondered if Bianca hadnt affected her the way she had, would she have ended up like Michael?

Lena shivered at the thought. It wouldve been a fate worse than death.

Bianca continued to stare at her – no longer were her eyes as innocent as they once had been. This was something Lena knew she could not change, ever. It was an everlasting shame she knew she would carry with her to the grave.

Who is she Lena? Bianca repeated.

Holding her hand out, Lena beckoned Bianca closer. Lie with me?

Bianca nodded and slid into bed as Lena moved over to give her room.

I feel the need to hold you, Lena whispered. After Bianca had settled down, Lena placed a kiss on top of Biancas head. I love you.

Looking up, Bianca reached up, bringing Lenas face closer to hers, I love you too, she replied after kissing her briefly.

Are you comfortable?

Im fine.

Twenty years ago, when I was still in Poland, Lena began without preamble. Before I had met Michael… there was Marina. She paused, taking into account what she was going to say next, how it might hurt. She was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

Bianca gave Lena a gentle squeeze. She had a feeling as soon as Lena began talking, that what she heard would be difficult to listen to. Marina wasnt someone Lena had scammed while working with Michael. She was someone who had knowledge Bianca could never possess. She had known Lena as a young woman, untainted by Michaels corruption. Bianca could tell from the wounded tone in Lenas voice, even after all the years that had passed whatever had caused the break up still hurt.

Without having heard the entire story, Bianca had already placed Marina on her, Dont mess with my family, list. It wasnt an extensive one, but Lena was there, taking first place – actually she tied with Miranda, but Bianca no longer thought of one without the other.

Bianca knew she would do anything in her power to keep Lena from being hurt again. She had done enough of that herself to last a lifetime. There was no way she would allow anyone else to do the same – regardless of who it was.

Baby, take your time, weve got all night, Bianca said as she took Lenas hand in hers.

I… I had been out, one afternoon. I didnt want to stay with my mother. We didnt have the same relationship that we do now and I had no idea what she was doing at the time, Lena explained. I felt the need to get away…