[IVAN]I followed the car my men described to me—the one with Ana inside—and those despicable men who dared to touch and take away what’s mine. There’s no place on this earth where I won’t hunt them down and kill them for this audacity alone. It’s now on me to relieve this mother earth of their undue existence and release some of her burdens.Fuck! They are so dead. They should have thought at least a million times before doing something so outrageous. But they didn’t. And now I can’t be held responsible for how their lives might turn out from this point onwards.When I heard someone had abducted Ana, despite all the heavy yet discreet security around us, I saw only red. The pounding, pulsing, and ever-deepening red made my blood boil and my heart race at a lightning pace. The last time something like this happened, it took Ana a whole month to forget about it and return to normal—to move on. I had sworn never to let that happen again. But I failed.Dammit! How could I? I should have
[ANASTASIA]Darkness. Fear. Confusion.The last thing I remembered was receiving an unknown text in the middle of the movie back at the theatre. I had assumed it to be from Nikolai. He was the only one I had texted that very morning, hoping to get some kind of word from him so he could help me find a way to get the hell out of Ivan’s prison.But I couldn’t have been more wrong.Instead of Nikolai, I was confronted by two men with guns in their hands. Despite all the security and Ivan’s men all around us, they managed to sneak their way in and take me hostage.I don’t know what to think anymore.Has Ivan gone weak? Or is someone inside his organization working as a mole for someone else? How else would you explain my current predicament? How could just someone grab the wife of a mafia boss and make her a hostage?I’m not worried about Ivan. Or at least, I tell myself that he’s a big guy who can very well take care of himself. The ones I’m growing worried sick about are my kids. I hope
[IVAN]“She’s fine, Mr Volkov. You can rest now.” Lena says and I feel my chest tighten as the memory of an unconscious Ana flashes in front of my eyes.I clench my fist and slam it into the wall. Hard.The skin splits and blood trickles down my knuckles.Not that I give a damn.I can’t believe someone had the guts to lay a hand on my Ana. To waltz into my territory and try to snatch my wife. My Ana!There’s only one punishment for idiots like that.The two guys involved already got what was coming to them.But there’s still one more out there, and I’m itching to get my hands covered in his blood.Just when I feel like I’m about to lose it, my phone rings. It’s Dimitri.“The only thing I damn well want to hear is that you’ve got him,” I growl into the phone, pacing my office like a frenzied beast whileLena watches silently with a concerned gaze.“We do,” he says, and finally, I suck in a sharp breath of relief.“You know where to bring him. I’m on my way.”I slam the phone down and w
[ANASTASIA]“Momma, how did you get hurt?” Tatiana asks, pouting, and trying her best not to jump on the bed and hug me like she always does. She sways on her legs, hands locked behind her, her wide-eyed innocence radiating pure adorableness.I smile, or at least I try to, and pat the bed. “I just had a bad fall, baby. Mommy is fine.”My little girl’s eyes brighten at the gesture, and she rushes to my side. But just when she’s about to hop up, someone in the room growls, and she slows down, glancing over her shoulder at Ivan Jr. The two of them exchange a silent conversation before Tati finally drops her tiny shoulders and carefully slides her butt up the bed, letting out a dramatic sigh.I cannot help but narrow my eyes at Junior. “What’s up with you two?”Junior doesn’t speak. He merely drops his gaze to the floor and stays in the corner of the room, like he has been since he came up to check up on me.I know I should talk to him about what happened. Tatiana is little, and she can’t
[IVAN]“Five minutes! That’s all you have.” I hang up and slam the phone down, seething.I grab the half bottle of rum on the table and pour myself another glass.That’s when Ana walks in, reluctantly so. I put my tumbler down and look away from her, glaring at the wall instead. “What the hell are you doing here? Go back and rest! I have everything under control.”She stays quiet, though I feel her eyes on me and everywhere.I assume she would leave. She never liked dealing with me when I was pissed and the truth was, I didn’t want her anywhere near me either. I wasn’t a good person when I was angry.I was restless, annoying, and undeniably dangerous. Add a little alcohol to my rage, and you get what they call a volcanic eruption. Ana always knew better and left me alone. And truth be told, I preferred it that way. My anger was mine to deal with. I could simmer down when things were back in control, but right now, I felt anything but in control.Some fucking bastard out there was smug
[IVAN]“But I already said everything I know,” the man cried, tears literally streaming down his face like the pathetic loser he was. Although he looks good with fear in his eyes this time. He now knows that he messed up with the wrong person. That this mistake he made this time would probably cost him his life.Good. I like to watch people regretting their actions. I like it when they beg.I lean back in my chair and look around. After Dimitri called and informed me that he was coming here to hand me the information about the abduction himself, I got out of the office and came back to the tool shed. This is the last place Ana and the kids would venture since it’s practically hidden from plain sight. The snow does the job well, but the trees surrounding the property also make it harder for it to stand out.Besides, it’s an old shed that I never cared to renovate. However, with Ana and the kids at home now, I don’t want to bring business to home. I have made that mistake once and ended
[ANASTASIA]“What are you scowling about?” I ask Ivan Jr., once Tatiana exhausts herself completely and falls asleep on my lap. Junior, on the other hand, has been staring at the book in his hands, sitting on the couch across the bed.He looks up from the book, shaking his head. “Nothing.”“Are you sure you want to lie to me?” His expression changes. He frowns. “I’m not lying.”I let out a long sigh and put Tatiana under the covers. She sleeps soundly, not aware of the conversation around her. Good. I don’t want both my children to wear worried faces when their parents are here to handle everything—when I’m here to worry about everything that needs to be worried about.I leave the bed and sit on the couch next to him. I can sense his gaze on my leg as I limp a little. But, of course, I try to act as if it’s no big deal. I put my arm around his shoulders and give him a gentle squeeze. “What’s wrong?”“You’re hurt.” He says. It’s not a question but an observation. I know what he’s think
*A FEW HOURS AGO*A convoy of sleek black cars pulled up one by one outside the old Volkov palace. The loud screech of their tires cut through the cold air, grabbing the attention of both guards and servants who glanced up to see what was happening. The weak sunlight struggled to break through the gloomy grey clouds, giving the day a more ominous vibe than it was meant to have.Ivan Volkov stepped out of the car and paused for a moment to simply marvel at the grandeur of the site. He had been born here, spent his entire childhood running and hiding around this place. However, as he grew up, these same halls and expansive rooms began to feel like cuffs and shackles, binding him. If there was one thing Ivan Volkov could never stand, it was being lied to or manipulated. This place was the embodiment of the two things he hated the most.Dimitri Alexeev, his right-hand man, showed up behind him, his scarred face as unreadable as always. “We’re good to go whenever you’re ready.”Ivan gave a
After our fourth round of pure, wild sex, I have nothing left in me. Every ounce of energy drained, I barely manage to pull the sheets over myself before sleep claims me.When I wake hours later, the room is dim, the soft glow of my bedside lamp casting long shadows on the walls. My body feels heavy, sore in the best way possible.And then I see him.Dimitri—freshly showered, fully dressed—sitting at my study desk, casually flipping through my books like he owns the place. Like he hasn’t just spent hours wrecking me.I prop myself up on one elbow, my voice hoarse from sleep. “Seriously? You had time to shower and invade my personal space?”He doesn’t even look up. Just smirks as he turns another page. “You were dead to the world, milaya.” His fingers trace the edge of a textbook. “Figured I’d entertain myself.”I groan, burying my face in the pillow. “You’re insufferable.”He chuckles, low and rich. “And yet, you keep letting me in.”That’s actually true.I shake my head and pull myse
[NADIA]“You’re here?” I say into the phone, clutching my books tightly to my chest as I glance around. “Where?”“Outside. Meet me when you’re done with your classes.”A wide grin spreads across my face, excitement bubbling inside me. “Oh, I’m done. And even if I wasn’t, I’d still run to you.”Dimitri chuckles—that deep, rich sound that always makes my skin ripple with want. “Can’t wait to see you. Come soon.”The call ends, and I quickly excuse myself from two classmates who wanted to discuss something about today’s lecture. Rushing down the corridor, I nearly bump into a few students, barely dodging them in my hurry. Thank God no one gets hurt as I half-run, half-speed-walk through the massive glass doors.And then I see him.Dimitri stands outside, leaning casually against his car, dressed in a dark suit that only makes him look more devastatingly handsome. His brown hair is styled just right, accentuating the sharp planes of his face, and those piercing dark eyes are locked onto m
The Ivan I know is strong. Unshakable. Even in the worst situations, he carries himself with a quiet, effortless confidence that makes you believe nothing could ever touch him.But the man lying in this hospital bed, surrounded by beeping machines and the sterile scent of antiseptic, looks nothing like that.His skin is pale, almost sickly under the fluorescent lights. His face, usually so sharp and alive, is slack, lips slightly parted as if he’s lost in a sleep too deep to wake from. Bandages wrap around his head, a stark contrast against his dark hair, and an IV snakes into his arm, keeping him tethered to life.A terrible, suffocating weight presses down on my chest.This is wrong.Ivan doesn’t belong here. He belongs anywhere but here.For a moment, I just stand there, with my back pressed tightly against the door, like it’s the only thing keeping me upright. My pulse thunders in my ears, and I force myself to take a step forward. One. Then another.I don’t know what I expect whe
[ANASTASIA]Ever since I woke up after the incident, I have been dying to see Ivan.But now that I’m standing outside his room—where supposedly he had been admitted—, I can’t muster up the courage to push open the damn door.I’m nervous. Terrified. And most of all, unsure.I don’t know if I’m ready to see what lies behind this door.I don’t know if I’m ready to bear the truth either.What if Lena wasn’t exaggerating?What if Ivan is….No! No no no no no. I can’t think of the worst now. I can’t break myself just by imagining what might not be waiting on the other side.I sigh. Swallow. And lick my lips.“What’s wrong?” Lena asks, whom I conveniently forgot for some reason.She stands behind me, probably waiting for me to just rush in.But how am I supposed to explain this hesitation now that I’m actually close to the truth? How am I supposed to explain that I have second thoughts for unknown yet obvious reasons?“I don’t know,” I sigh, wiping the sweat off my forehead, even though it’s
[ANASTASIA]The next time I open my eyes, I’m not alone.Lena sits next to my bed, her hand in mine, her eyes closed, as if she fell asleep while watching over me.For the first time since waking up from my so-called long slumber, I look at her carefully. She looks more tired than I’ve ever seen her. The wrinkles on her face are more prominent, the skin around her neck slightly sagging, and her hair whiter than I remember. It’s as though she stopped taking care of herself, as if in the past two months, she aged by decades.My heart clenches painfully in my chest, so much so that I can’t stop the warm tears rolling down my cheeks.I turn away, wishing more than anything to wake up from what has started to feel like my worst nightmare—the kind of nightmare I never imagined could exist.“Ana…?” Lena’s gentle voice pulls me from my thoughts. I turn back to her and notice how she straightens up, her eyes alight with genuine concern. “You’re awake. Do you need something? Water, maybe?”I nod
[NIKOLAI]Once we finally get to his office, Konstantin takes his seat behind the desk and raises an eyebrow. He looks kind of pissed, but not enough to end me right here and now.He might have the power to do that and carry on with his day as if nothing happened, but I know in my gut he won’t. He made a promise to our parents that no harm would come to me. And if there’s anyone I know who keeps their word, no matter the circumstances, it’s him. My very own, very infuriating brother.“So,” he drawls, leaning back in his chair and propping his legs up on the desk, crossing them at the ankles. “What do you want to talk about?”I don’t sit in the chair in front of me; instead, I start pacing the room. I glance around and find it exactly how our father designed it. Not a single thing has been changed or moved. It’s like walking into a museum of old memories.“I want to challenge Madam Volkova,” I say, almost expecting him to scoff.But he doesn’t. Instead, he tips his head to the side. “Wh
[NIKOLAI]I hang up the phone and stare hard at the ground.“Fuck you, Dimitri!” I growl, clenching the phone tighter and huffing out a heavy breath.The bastard has the audacity to make me responsible for everything that happened to Ana and Ivan. But is it? Am I really the one to blame?I look away, peeling my back off the car and slipping inside.I put my hand on the steering wheel, unable to shake his words from my mind.Shit. If only I had known the consequences of my actions, maybe this day would have never come. Maybe Ana would still be safe, and Ivan would still be breathing on his own, not with the help of some fucking machine.“Fuck!” I punch the steering wheel, growling louder.I turn the key in the ignition and drive away from the motel. I’m not sure if what I’m about to do next is the right choice, but it seems like the only option I have left. I can’t go back to Madam Volkova after my fallout with her, and Dimitri doesn’t seem interested in having me by his side either.I
[DIMITRI]I storm out of the building and light a cigarette, unable to think of anything else.I breathe in the smoke and then blow it out, hoping it will take away the stress pressing on my chest, making my lungs incapable of doing their job.I don’t know what to do anymore. Ana is finally awake, which is good news, of course.But what the hell do I tell her when she wakes up next time and asks the same questions all over again? How do I give her the answers that are sure to crush her?Maybe I’ve developed a new weakness these days—maybe falling in love makes you a fucking weak asshole—but I can’t seem to bear seeing that woman cry. I just can’t.It fucking stabs me right in the throat to see those tears streaming down her face, to see that fear in her eyes that seems to linger around her whenever she asks about Ivan.I take another big breath of smoke and then drop it, crushing it under the tip of my boot.“Fuck!”My phone rings just then. I thank God for the fucking distraction and
[ANASTASIA]“Mommy!”One word, and my heart shatters into a million pieces.Before I even turn my gaze to the door, warmth floods through me, and tears well up in my eyes.My little girl comes running into the room, her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail bouncing with every step. Her eyes are sharp, excited, and filled with so much love. Her face is a canvas of every emotion I’ve ever seen her wear in my entire life.I don’t even realize it, but my arms open on their own, my chest aching to feel her little heart against mine.But just when I think she’s about to jump onto the bed and throw herself into my arms, she stops and stands there with her hands behind her back, her little legs fidgeting as she looks up at the doctor, her small eyes seeking some kind of permission.I suppose the last two months have changed a lot. My daughter, who used to storm in and out of any place she wanted, now suddenly looks afraid of hurting me.Tears race down my face. I wipe them as quickly as I can,