[IVAN] “Mommy, why can’t I come with you?” Tati cries her heart out, tears streaming down her little face as we all get ready to leave, to drop Junior to Kazan, for his school. “I want to come with Mommy. Mommy, please.” Ana holds our crying daughter tightly in her arms as she kisses her small fac
“I know,” I say as I pat his head gently. “She’ll get over it.” “She won’t,” he mumbles, sighing, slipping hands in his pockets. “Something about things that far up in the sky scares the hell out of her. I don’t know why, though.” “It’s just an irrational fear. Everyone has their own.” “Whatever,
She’s a vision in white. With her soft curls loose over her shoulders. Her white overcoat makes her look like an angel that has just fallen from the heavens above. But there are dark circles in her eyes that she had tried to hide behind the makeup, and I probably have them too, only because neither
[ANASTASIA] “Do you like your room?” I look around the dorm room Junior has been assigned, ensuring that everything is as it should be. I mean, everything is well-placed and in perfect condition, but I still can’t help but worry. What if there’s something missing? What if there’s something he’s sc
“Mom, I can take care of myself. Besides, Dad gave me his number too. In fact, I have Lena’s number as well as Uncle Dimitri’s. He specifically told me to ring him if someone or something needs to be taken care of. Don’t be shy, that’s what he said, word for word.” “Dimitri did what?” I can’t belie
Nikolai waited for Alvin for almost two hours in the local bar he usually frequented with his lady friends. Alvin, the man known for having all kinds of sensitive information about the underworld, the man who might give Nik something to work with so he could do something to protect Ana before time r
Alvin licked his lips, his gaze roaming Nikolai’s body once more before he sat back, crossing his arms against his chest. “Everyone needs answers, Nik. The question is, how much are you going to pay for it? Because as you can see, I have a certain way of living and I need to maintain it, so… If you
[ANASTASIA] “Shit! I forgot my purse,” I gasped while reaching for the backdoor of the car. My hand drops to my side, but when I turn to look up at Ivan, who’s just about to get into the car, he sighs and gives me a hard, knowing look. I know exactly what he’s thinking. Our first day in Kazan whe
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