"How are you feeling?" Mark kisses her stomach. Each lingering kiss makes Tammy's stomach cramp with anxiety and self-hatred.

So many answers run through Tammy's mind. She is confused, confused about what happened. She is angry, with Alexei for playing with her emotions. A bitter taste is in her mouth as she leans back against the headboard. Tammy lets out a dejected sigh, this time isn't Alexei's fault. She fully wanted this to happen and she did find pleasure in it.

"I'm not ever going to go home, am I ?" Tammy says aloud.

Something within knows it, at this moment. Her life is upside down. Her life is never going to be the same and it only hits her right now. Tammy feels her nose burn and hates that she can feel ready to cry again. She feels so helpless and alone. No one cares about what's best for her, not even herself.

Mark looks at her and for a moment he seems panicked but covers it quickly. "Why do you keep talking about that?"

"If you haven't forgotten, I'm here to save my father's life. I'm not your girlfriend, I'm collateral. I'm the help, and now it's been months and I'm finding this life more real than my real life." Tammy doesn't want to sound angry knowing it's going to cause an argument but the bitterness seeps into her tone.

Mark stares at her with his eyes narrow and he's mad. "Is this life so bad? I take care of you. I haven't sold you. I haven't made you help with anything."

"You don't get it." Tammys tears of frustration fall. Hot angry tears and embarrassment that Mark is seeing her cry.

"Then tell me so I can!"
Mark's voice is dripping with concern and he cups her cheek with a delicate touch.

Tammy takes a deep shaky breath.
"That I didn't see my life ever being 'I have offers to sell you but I don't. I never saw my life like this and it's not easy just adjusting to so much uncertainty. Even whatever this is between us, it's uncertain."

Mark catches Tammy as she turns to whirl out of the room. Mark places his forehead against hers. His eyes closes a moment as though he were silently praying.
"Tammy, it would be a lie to say 'I'm sorry but you have to believe me when I say this wasn't my plan either and that it isn't easy. "

Tugging her wrist lose she makes a face of exhaustion. "No, you've just had guaranteed control of my future and well-being. Nothing to be sorry for on your end. "

Once outside, the fresh air makes Tammy instantly break. The nearest seat by flowers is where she sits in misery. Will it have been better to allow Mark to kill her father? She is completely drained by all the toxicity in her life. She covers her mouth to calm the sobs as she thinks of Alexei and Mark. She is tired of being around people that don't understand her and want to use her.

She is beyond tired of the insults, whispers, and side-eyes. Tammy wants to scream and yell for her father ever getting in bed with the Mafia. She hates herself for leaving the closet that day. Everything is so real to her now. She is in between two dangerous men that she didn't truly know. Neither one is going to let her go back to her former life. Tammy is falling apart and losing control of her mind, body, and life.

"Shhh, it's alright."
Angela's soft voice brings Tammy back to her surroundings.
"I cry sometimes too. "

Tammy wipes her eyes as Angela sat next to her.
"I'm sorry you have to see this. "

"Don't be, everyone always hides things, hides things from me ."
Angela is wiping her tears with a bitter face.
"Sometimes it just all feels so heavy. "

Tammy noticed the beautiful ebony face with glossy lines beneath her eyes.
"Is everything okay, why were you crying?"

Angela sighs. "I have this friend, and I really like him, but he's older and he isn't ever going to like me. He's dating this girl and when I asked him, he lied."

Tammy nods "Maybe he didn't mean to lie, maybe he just really didn't want to lose you as a friend or maybe he isn't dating that girl."

Angela nods she seems to feel better. "You think it's possible he isn't dating her?"

Tammy nods. "Does your friend lie to you any other time?"

Angela thinks for a moment, not too long. "No, he doesn't lie to me. Sometimes he hurts my feelings because he won't lie. Maybe you're right. Maybe he isn't dating that girl and I need to apologize for going through his phone. "

Tammy laughs. "You went through his phone?"

Angela laughs. "Lucas probably thinks I'm crazy. I shouldn't have done it but in my defense, he always lets me have his phone. I just saw some messages between him and her and I jumped to conclusions."

"Well, in the future, respect your friend's privacy and also accept this guy wants to be your friend. Believe me, men are better off as friends and not more." Tammy thinks about Mark and Alexei."

"What about my dad?" Angie asks in a timid voice.

Tammy laughs. "Your father is a fucking asshole."

Angela seems a little sad. "You think he's an asshole?"

Tammy snorts. "I know he is."

"I was kind of hoping you two would like each other. That I wouldn't be the only black one anymore. "
Angela looks at her shoes shyly.

Tammy's heart broke. "Awww sweetheart, I don't have to be with your dad to be around or to care about you. "

Angela nods. "Promise?"

"Promise" Tammy smiles at the young teen. "Cmon, let's leave and go to a movie and ice cream. Can we leave? Would anyone stop us?"

Angela's eyes went wide.
"Really?! Omg, we are going to get in so much trouble."

"Can we leave or not?"
Tammy playfully raises an eyebrow. How much more trouble could she personally be in?

Angela grins and she grins back. "Yeah, I have a way but you can't let my dad know anything. Imma text Lucas to send me some money.

Tammy raises an eyebrow. "Imma needs to hear a little more about Lucas, he balling like that?"

Angie playfully rolls her eyes. "He's older and a rich kid, so he has some money to spare. Plus, he likes to keep me out of trouble so he'll like hearing I'm going to the mall with an adult."

Tammy extends her hand.
"Let's give 'em hell kid, we are going to have a day for ourselves."
***********************************

"Ice cream first and then the movie." Tammy smiles warmly as Angela says this.

Angela is a great kid.

She has learned a lot about what is going on in Angela's life at school. Tammy knows about Angela's best friend Raphael and she knows about her boyfriend Jeremy. Angela is intelligent and creative. For Alexei to be such a weirdo, his daughter seems fine. At least from what Tammy can see, she still can't shake the feeling that the teen is hiding things.

The ice cream parlor is huge. Tammy has never seen so many flavors and topping. She ends up ordering French vanilla ice cream, with two bananas, caramel sauce, and pistachios. It came in a boat-shaped waffle comb. The first bite tastes like heaven.

Tammy hadn't been able to pick her food in months. Mark has become so repressive. Any freedom leftover is taken by Alexei. It has been a while in Russia. Being in such a foreign place was a lot on its own.

A lot of things seem to only begin to hit Tammy today.

"I'm so glad we left out today."
Angela beams. Angela has double dark chocolate chunk ice cream.

"Me too, this is the most normal things have felt for me in a while. "
Tammy took in a deep breath.

She did feel very much relaxed than she had since coming to Russia. She even is beginning to believe the whispers and stares have more about Mark and Alexei than her being black. The family is kind of famous. She's happy to be somewhere without a camera in her face.

"Hey, can you tell me the truth about how you got caught up with my family? " Angela does have Alexei's mannerisms.

Angela is going to be a heartbreaker. She did the involuntary lip-bite that her father does. It is so crazy how much Angela does act like him. It makes Tammy think about Alexei and how he may not be happy to find out he took his daughter off his estate without permission.

Tammy sighs. "My father got money to start-up business from your family. This was all before I was born so I never knew. Mark and I came to an arrangement. Then, I came here with Mark because he said so."

Tammy went back to eating ice cream.

It is best to leave out everything with Alexei and everything x rated with Mark. Angela didn't need more reasons to see her father in a dark light. Although maybe it would be best for Angela to go back to her school. Things are weird in the family right now and Tammy did often wonder if it is safe for Angela to be here. Tammy also worries if Alexei will truly be the father Angela needs. So far, she felt Angela has opened up and is becoming less shy the more time they depend together.

"I was kind of wondering what things are with you and Mark. Sometimes, I think my dad likes you." Angela looks at her with a wide-eyed look. Angela is hopeful that Tammy will like Alexei.

Tammy snorts. Her lower body is still sore from the sex in his office a few days ago. She is still confused and angry. "I think your dad may not like me as much as you think. "

Angela cut her off. "But what if? Just what if he did like you?"

If this is Alexei liking me, he's more fucked than I think, Tammy thought. She ate more ice cream to delay answering. She tried not to think about Alexei but things just didn't make sense about him. She still didn't know exactly what he is looking for her to report about Mark. She never is involved in Mark's business.

"Angela!" A young man approaches their table. It is the boy from the Instagram comment, Raphael, Angela's best friend.

"Ralph!" Angela smiles at the boy accepting a hug from him.

"Oh Hi, Angela's mom." Ralph waves and smiles charmingly at Tammy.

Tammy is ready to deny the title when she just recognized in Angela's eyes pleading. "Um er hi...young man."

Ralph beamed. He has straight milky white teeth. His smile is dazzling against unapologetically moisturized bright skin. He looks like a model in the face but Fresh Prince Carlton in his button-up, bow tie, slacks. And Malcolm X glasses. His waves are fresh and lined up like Drake.

"I'm sorry to interrupt. So Angela, when are you ever going to be free? I really want to take you to that exhibit of African American life in the Early Americas before it leaves. "
he turns his brown eyes to Tammy. "She'll be safe and everything. My mom said she would chaperone and everything. Can you like talk to your husband about it? I promise I'm a good person. "

Tammy smiled.
"Aww you're so sweet, we will talk to him. "

"Talk to me about what. " Alexei's voice makes Tammy jump a little in her seat before turning around to see him.

A relaxed-looking Alexei appears behind Tammy making her jump out of skin. She hadn't seen him this close up since what happened and it is straight frightening that he has to have tracked them down to this ice cream parlor. Tammy feels her skin flush with embarrassment as Alexei gives her that look that makes her feel so beautiful when she doesn't even try. Seeing him in the broad daylight makes her feel embarrassed like everyone can see what happened in the office.

For once, Alexi is not dressed up. It is odd seeing his light-wash jeans and a white tee shirt. His long and impossibly blond hair is up in a messy bun. He smells amazing like Cologne, soap, and fabric softener. He kisses his worried-looking daughter on top of the head and looks Ralph up and down.

"Raphael Mendoza, it is good to finally meet the little thirsty boy under my daughter's photos. "
Alexei folds his arms looking at the young boy with scrutiny.

"Dad..." Angela seems to start pleading for him not to embarrass her.

"No, it's cool Angela, I got this. I've been waiting to meet you, Mr.Smirnov. Yes, sir, I am Raphael Mendoza and Angela's best friend but I'm not a thirsty little boy anywhere. Now, I respect your daughter on the same level as Lauryn hill. She has a beautiful mind and loves to learn. I'm adopted by a Spanish couple from birth and they always gave me a love for black history and I would love to extend that to Angela. So with your permission, sir, I would like to be the young man to take your daughter on her first black exhibit. "

Tammy laughs at the shared look on Alexei and Angela's faces.
"Carlton got game y'all. " she almost felt like she laughs like Sophia from color purple when she came home. for Christmas dinner and was goofing at the table. She needed this laugh so badly. It's been so long since she's laughed so hard. Alexei just got told by a 15-year-old.
"You're bold Ralph. "

Ralph nods smiling. "It's that black excellence."

Alexei finally speaks. "She will call you for details. However, it will not be straight away because she will be grounded for two weeks. "

Ralph is smart. He knows when not to push further "yes sir, I'll hear from you, Angela. Enjoy your outing and I will see you back at school after break."

Once Ralph is gone, Alexei addresses Angela. "Why would you leave the house like that and come out, without security? You brought Tammy out with you?! Something could have happened to you to the both of you "

He looked at her and Tammy felt her stomach clench. Her thighs clamp together. She felt naked like everyone here knew what happened. Tammy wonders if Alexei is thinking about it too. She can't even feel just drink him in. His large muscular presence. His paleness and his red pouty lips. His bright frosty eyes and his so masculine beard. This is the first time she ever saw his hair up and a man's bun looks so tasty on Alexei.

"Dad, I'm sorry we just both needed to clear our heads. "
Angela looks up with puppy doll eyes and Tammy could see Alexei give in.

Alexei nods. He seems quite understanding and level with his daughter. "Okay, but for this no date with that boy for two weeks. "

Angela fought a smile. "Really dad? Also, it's not a date. His mom will be there and his girlfriend, we are all friends. "

Alexei nods slowly. "Maybe, I am wrong. He may be nice, but I know when a man has more than friendship on his mind. I was his age once and I would never have allowed anyone's daughter to date me. You will take security."

Angela hugs him. "Thank you, dad, thank you."

Alexei looks at Tammy for reassurance. She mouths good job. Alexei brightens and giver her a smile that reveals a simple in the corner of his cherry mouth. She knows enough to know Alexei loves being told he is doing well. He'd handled that fair. She'd expected him to blow up but he has been keeping his anger and control issues in check.

"Okay, so I want rocky road ice cream and what movie should we see? " Alexei looks at the both of them.

"You're staying?" Tammy asks.

"I work too much. When I realized where you two went I thought maybe I should try to have a regular day." Alexei shrugs. He raises his eyebrow looking at Angela who seems very pleased.

Tammy nods slowly taking in Angela's excitement. She silently broods over Alexei's intrusion but also the facade of his attitude. What game is he playing now? Mr. Rough and hard is doing a 360 right now and she doesn't trust him. Tammy couldn't afford to have anything more formulate between Alexei and herself.