Into the Flame by Christina Dodd Read Free Book Online

toward the hall. ‘‘But that’s how it’s done, so get used to it.’’

    In their rush to leave, the two boys got stuck in the doorway; then Jasha caught up with them and shoved them out.

    Zorana laughed softly.

    Konstantine shut the door behind them and came back to her. ‘‘So it is a fine thing that we have a daughter?’’

    Zorana looked down at the baby.

    She didn’t remember giving birth to this tiny creature.

    But there was no other baby, and this one held her tiny fist against Zorana’s breast and sucked with such strength, love rose in her like a tide. Zorana cupped the soft head nestled against her arm. ‘‘Firebird Maryushka, did you say?’’

    ‘‘Do you like the name?’’ Konstantine sat on the mattress beside her.

    ‘‘I like it very much.’’

    Chapter Four

    Hostility, pain, and bitterness mixed like poison in Firebird’s soul. ‘‘Is that really what happened?’’

    Zorana’s remembering smile faded, and she turned her gaze away.

    ‘‘Firebird! Don’t talk to Mama that way,’’ Jasha rebuked in that familiar big-brother tone.

    But he wasn’t her big brother, and she didn’t have to put up with his patronizing ways. ‘‘Why not?’’ She looked right at him. ‘‘She lied to me before. She always told me this dramatic story of the storm and the drunk doctor and how he fell over and how Miss Joyce saved the day and delivered me. . . . Now it sounds as if Miss Joyce didn’t deliver me at all.’’

    ‘‘Excuse me.’’ Zorana stood, fled toward the bathroom, and locked the door.

    The silence that followed would have oppressed Firebird . . . if she were a part of this family. Which she wasn’t.

    ‘‘If you want to abuse someone, daughter of mine, abuse me. Your mother told me the truth. I did not believe her. I believed it was the drugs.’’ Konstantine’s voice was low and steady, quite unlike his usual bellowing.

    More than anything, that informed Firebird how truly angry he was. That and his clenched fists. But also he was concerned about his wife, and hurt that Firebird had been so cruel. He looked between the corridor where Zorana had disappeared, and Firebird, sitting on the floor clutching her little boy, and his lids sagged over his troubled brown eyes.

    ‘‘All right,’’ she mumbled. ‘‘I’m a jerk.’’

    ‘‘That’s for sure,’’ Rurik said.

    Maybe these people weren’t her family, but she loved them. She loved Zorana.

    A big, hot tear spilled onto her cheek.

    Konstantine, Jasha, Adrik, and the strange guy all glared at Rurik.

    ‘‘Nice job,’’ Adrik snapped.

    ‘‘Like you all weren’t thinking the same thing.’’ Rurik looked beleaguered.

    ‘‘Yeah, but we’re smart enough not to say it,’’ Jasha said.

    ‘‘I didn’t know she’d cry,’’ Rurik said.

    ‘‘She always cries,’’ Adrik said.

    ‘‘How would you know? You haven’t been around for seventeen years. And I do not!’’ Firebird tried to suck back the tears, which had the unfortunate side effect of making her sob and hiccup at the same time.

    Aleksandr patted her cheek and glared around the room. ‘‘Stop. Mean boys!’’

    ‘‘Enough.’’ Konstantine snapped his fingers at his sons, then gestured at Ann and Tasya.

    Her sisters-in-law swooped in, kneeling beside Firebird.

    ‘‘Don’t pay any attention to that idiot man of mine.’’ Tasya had electric blue eyes, a dark head of curly hair, and a sharp brain that matched Rurik’s. Passing Firebird a tissue, she said, ‘‘Here, blow your nose.’’

    Firebird blew. ‘‘I yelled at Mama.’’

    ‘‘The drugs . . . and those people . . . Zorana didn’t know or she would never have . . .’’ Ann hesitated.

    ‘‘Accepted me as hers? Ever stopped searching for her real baby?’’ Now that Firebird’s tears had started, she couldn’t stop. She hugged Aleksandr.

    He squirmed and protested, ‘‘Mama, don’t squish!’’

    ‘‘Mama’s sorry.’’