[DIMITRI]I answer the call right away. It’s from one of my men on guard around the building. I had left them a text to find out if they saw something strange in the past few hours. Texting them is the only way to contact them, as they are meant to be as subtle as possible. But if they have any info
“Tati doesn’t know!” she suddenly shrieks and clings to me again. “Uncle Dimitri, get me Mommy, please! Mommy will know.”And once again, I find my anger settling into worry and dread.What the fuck is happening here?I feel a hand on my shoulder. When I turn to see Igor, he signals me to step aside
[DIMITRI]“I do not know,” the old man who owns the grocery store grumbles, not showing even a bit of curiosity when I ask him about his son. “I’m his father, but he rarely tells me anything. The kid is good for nothing. Always getting into trouble.”I sigh, rubbing a hand down my face. This is bull
[NADIA]“I can’t believe it’s almost been a month since we saw each other. How have you been? And where have you been? You didn’t even reply to any of my texts. I was so worried, you know? I even asked the other kids, but they also didn’t know anything about you. But anyway, I’m just glad you’re fin
[NADIA]I am not in a clubbing mood. I don't know what made me say yes to her, but I should have stuck with my gut and told her no. This place is overcrowded, and there are so many sweaty bodies everywhere that I have to navigate through them with care not to bump into anyone.The music is also so l
[NADIA]Splash!The cold water feels like a slap to my face, and I flinch as my head whips up to face the attacker. My hair sticks to the sides of my face, and I can barely make out anything because my vision is so blurry.I was drunk earlier, but now the alcohol in my system has turned into panic,
[NADIA]Tears roll down my face because I don’t know what else to do.Never in my life have I felt so helpless.When I was little and our parents passed away, my brother was my biggest hope.When our uncle kicked us out, tired of feeding two extra mouths, my brother was still my only hope. No matter
[NADIA]Ten minutes later, I find myself in a cage, locked and left to be picked up when it’s my turn to be sold. I sit in the corner, hugging my knees close to my chest, hoping against hope that someone will come to save me. But I’m not sure if there’s anyone left who gives a damn if I live or die.
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