“What are you doing? What are you planning to do?” He sounds terrified. My back is turned to him, but I can tell he’s ready to piss his pants. “I’m going to help you retain a certain memory.” I pick up a huge pair of scissors. He sounds more frantic. “Look. I told you what I know. I swear on my ch
[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 y
Since the moment I got the gun in my possession, I have been feeling silly inside. As if I can’t wait to try it and see where I stand with it. If I even deserve to have something so dangerous and if I can really protect myself and my kids if need be. Grabbing my coat, I step outside into the chilly
*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
[ANASTASIA] For the next few days, I hardly bump into Ivan. Even if I do catch a glimpse of him, it’s only in passing. I try not to be bothered by it. I mean, why should I? I should be happy and content that he is minding his own business instead of making my life harder. I’m happy with my kids, a
His response doesn’t come right away, so I busy my hands and brew a coffee for myself. It’s a cold night like any other in the past few days, and it doesn’t help that it’s only going to get colder according to the weather forecast. I move to the couch once the coffee is ready and put the mug on the
[ANASTASIA] Of course, I won’t go. The choice seems as simple as it was logical. Under no circumstances was I about to walk into the lion’s den myself. I wasn’t crazy or suicidal. I valued my dignity as much as my life. So, of course, given the obvious choices, I head to my room instead. I mean, w
[ANASTASIA] I can’t breathe. His arm, snug just below my breasts, holds me so tightly from behind that I’ve forgotten how to inhale like a regular person since last night. It’s dawn now and I haven’t slept a wink. He might not have forced himself on me like I assumed he might but that doesn’t jus
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
[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.”Dimit
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 l
[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
Lena presses her lips together tightly, the color draining from her face until it looks almost lifeless.For a long moment, she doesn’t speak. The silence stretches between us, thick and suffocating. I can feel my heartbeat in my ears, pounding relentlessly, echoing my fear.Why the hell is she taki
[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
[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 m
[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
[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, w