Vera So, who’s Johan? Did he go to West High School? I went there for two years, but I left when I got a scholarship to the prep school,” I say, hoping thatsome grand misunderstanding will reveal itself and I’ll be released from this situation.The man I’ve been walking with for the past twenty minutes glances over his shoulder, then at me.“No, I doubt it,” he says, his expression just as confused and lost as I feel.If this guy isn’t fairground staff, who the hell is he? And why is he wearing a suit?As details begin to come together, I realize that I’ve been allowing a random overdressed man to follow me around a huge fair with no phone. No wonder my mother cried the day I left for college. She knows I have no common sense whatsoever.“Wait, you don’t work here, do you?” I ask, almost too scared to hear the answer.He pauses awkwardly before shaking his head.“Dammit,
Vera I haven’t been shot yet, thank God, but getting kicked in the head has completely disarmed me. I’m shaken, paralyzed by fear, and begging the universe to give me one swiftbullet to the head if I’m fated to die here.The idea of being grateful for a gunshot wound feels so morbid and existential compared to the life I’ve lived so far. All I ever wanted was to live simply, finding a passion in life that would take me all over the world.The world around me is fading in and out, and I’m still incapable of hearing more than the high-pitched whine of ringing in my ears.Every few seconds, I phase back out of consciousness, engaging in a conversation with my mother or grandfather in my childhood living room.Even in these hallucinations, I know something is deeply wrong.Only in my fleeting moments of lucidity am I capable of realizing why.Losing my mind to a concussion in the midst of a sh
Ruslan If I wasn’t positive of my mistake before, I certainly am now.I should have kept my head down, choosing to point her in a vague direction toward any cluster of carnival rides. She would have found it all eventually, and I could have handled this the way I know how to.With raw brute force.But instead, this girl is grilling me as my patience begins to wither.I grit my teeth so hard that they squeak. “There’s a lot you don’t know, and even more that I’m not going to tell you. But I can assure you that, as long as you don’t cause problems, you don’t need to worry about a thing. Do you understand?”She slumps down into her seat even further, holding her head as though she’s been beaten repeatedly with a baseball bat.I didn’t see what happened to her, but it’s apparent that she’s not just overreacting to the loud noise of the shots ringing out.Taking her to the hospital would be a death sentenc
Vera“I still don’t understand why you’d ask me that,” I continue, feeling defensive and slightly embarrassed. “It’s not like my friends had anything to do with theshooting. They’re stupid and selfish, but they wouldn’t do something like that.Now that we’ve reached his preferred location, I doubt he cares about anything I have to say. He’s regained all the power he was lacking before, which is something he’s obviously used to wielding over others.He parks the car at the base of a small hill leading up to the sliding doors of the barn. There’s no house in sight, which means that this barn was likely abandoned when the owners demolished the house.So, now I know he’s a fake businessman and a bottom feeder who hides his contraband in stolen property.What the hell have I gotten into? I was just trying to find Eric and now I’m getting ready to fight for my life.“Get out of the car and follow
Ruslan Now that it’s been a few hours since the shooting at the fair, I figure now is as good a time as ever to call Johan and confront him about blowing me off. I’m hiddenpretty well outside the city limits, so even if he wanted to retaliate, he’d have no idea how to find me.Vera keeps her distance, but there’s something about the way she’s carrying herself that suggests repressed longing. I can’t see her very well, but she’s leaning in my direction with one foot facing me.Whether she knows it or not, she wants to be close to me.I find this contradiction puzzling, even somewhat entertaining, but I can’t pay attention to that right now. Even if I were to give into the temptation of pursuing her in the moment, what good could come of it?I pull up Johan’s temporary number and dial it, unenthusiastic about being forced to speak English in front of Vera.“Ruslan? Where the fuck were you two hours ago?!” Johan
Vera It took long enough for me to fall asleep next to him, especially once I realized that he had fallen asleep first.He must be used to sleeping in compromising situations or something, because I felt like I was struggling to keep my eyes closed the entire time. I spent a significant portion of the night in the fetal position, curled up into myself with my arms in my hoodie.I’m shocked that he trusted me enough to let me sleep. If I were him, I would have forced me to stay awake in order to break down my defenses and extract a confession.The fact that he didn’t even tie me up or anything speaks volumes about one of two things – either he trusts me enough to let me remain free, or the wilderness around here is dangerous enough on its own to keep me contained.I hate to consider the latter option, but given how persistent he is about my involvement in the shooting, it’s the only thing that makes sense.The grey cast
Ruslan"What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I snap, finally drawing myself out of the deep sleep I was rudely awakened from by Vera’s prying hands.She freezes at first, then sits up straight as she prepares herself for a confrontation. “What do you mean? I was just following your lead!” she protests.I can see the fire in her eyes from the night before, taking over her sweet face and challenging me once again. I’ve only been awake for three minutes and she’s already giving me problems.I sit up to meet her gaze, refusing to let her look down at me for even a second. “You’re trying to seduce me to keep me from suspecting you. Do you think I’m a fucking idiot?”She acts betrayed by my accusation as if I have any reason to believe otherwise. “What the hell? No! If I thought that seducing you was going to get me anywhere, I would’ve tried it long before now.”At first, I’m annoyed that she’s being so evasive. How can she
Vera I feel like I’ve been possessed by something vicious and hungry.The logical part of my brain is screaming at me to stop, to end this before it escalates into an inescapable web of turmoil and heartbreak.But if it’s only once, why should I deprive myself?My body is raging for someone to fuck me good and hard, and there’s not a doubt in my mind that this man is going to do that for me.He picks me up, pressing me against the wall behind me as I wrap my legs around him. He’s so much bigger than the other men I’ve been with in the past, and I’ve never felt so fragile in my life.The tension of his muscles rippling under his shirt is a grim reminder of how much stronger he is than I am. Even though this should be a major point of apprehension for me, it turns me on even more.His breath is hot against my neck as he presses his cock into my naked pussy, and he struggles to free himself from his pa
Epilogue 1 As we step off the private jet, my heart flutters with excitement. Las Vegas—the city of lights, the city of dreams— it is the perfect destination for our wedding, a place where magic and passion intertwine.Nikolai had arranged a limousine to take us to our hotel. As we drive down the Las Vegas strip, I am amazed at all the lights and scenery. Nikolai takes my hand and tells me, “You’re going to be my wife.”I blush; it still feels like a dream. “I never thought this would happen, especially after everything we’ve been through.”Nikolai smiles and squeezes my hand. “You’ve changed my perspective on relationships. I never imagined feeling this way about someone. You’ve become the most important person in my life.”Tears fill my eyes as I tell him, “I never thought I would find someone who accepts me for who I am, flaws and all. With you, I feel safe and cherished.”Nikolai leans in and whispe
Nikolai Once we arrive at the compound, I guide Adalina upstairs to our bedroom. My gaze lingers on her, and I feel a shift in my heart. It feels lighter, no longer burdened. Leaning in, I press my lips against hers, my arms encircling her waist. She responds eagerly and wraps her arms around my neck.In that moment, everything else fades away as I surrender to the overwhelming passion, I feel for Adalina. This intense connection is unlike anything I have ever experienced before, and I can no longer deny or ignore these feelings.As we part from the kiss, I express with conviction, “You’re mine. You belong to me. And I belong to you.”The next morning, I find out which hospital Gwen Vincenzio was taken to. As I enter the ICU waiting area, I spot Paul sitting with a few unfamiliar faces. Bobby is absent, most likely at his wife’s side.“Paul, how is Gwen?” I inquire.Paul rises from his seat an
AdalinaI haven’t spoken to anyone, not even my father, in two days. The only people I have seen are my father’s bodyguards bringing me meals on a tray. My face, arms and legs are covered in dark bruises. The wedding gown will hide most of them. Except for the ones on my face. I refuse to cover them up, I will wear them proudly and show the world what my father does to me behind closed doors.I get ready for my wedding day alone. No makeup artist, no hairstylists, nothing. No reception, no family—just a quick church ceremony. No photographer, no flowers, no bridesmaids. I slip into the wedding gown and style my hair. I do not wear the wedding veil; I want my face to be seen. I am ready to embrace what lies ahead in my future.The two days in solitary confinement have given me time to think. Time to plan. I will marry Mario and sleep with him on our wedding night. I have to in order to keep Delphina safe. When Mario is not around, I will access the email, information, new identities, a
AdalinaI awaken abruptly in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat. It was a nightmare, a terrifying vision of Maxim and the horrible things he had done to me. Then, in the twisted realm of my dream, Maxim transforms into Mario, intensifying my fear of what he could do to me. I get out of bed and splash cool water on my face, attempting to calm myself.Gazing into the mirror, I see how tired I look. My face is pale, and I have dark circles under my eyes. The urge to escape from this place, from Mario and everything he represents, overtakes me. Yet, the thought of Delphina taking my place stops me. After the wedding, I must find a way to flee from Mario’s clutches, taking Delphina with me. Despite Nikolai’s lack of love and the heartbreak he caused, he provided me with the means to escape Mario, my father, and the mafia. Nikolai shattered my heart, but I will forever be grateful to him. Even though I will never see him again.Returning to bed, I fall back asleep…I dream I am walk
NikolaiThe first thing I do when I get back to the compound is find Tatyana. I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I had waited to confront her until Adalina was gone.Tatyana is sitting in the kitchen at the island bar sipping a cup of coffee. She is dressed down today in jeans and a shirt. She looks disheveled like she hasn’t gotten any sleep. Now that Adalina is no longer here, I can let my dark side out. I grab Tatyana’s throat with one hand and apply pressure. She needs to know that I am no longer playing games with her.“I just have one fucking question.” I get right in her face as I squeeze her throat.“Nikolai, what are you doing? Let go of me!”“Have you been working with Maxim? Did you help him kidnap Tatyana?” I am furious.“No. Nikolai, of course not!”“I am going to torture Maxim for answers, if he so much as hints that you two are working together, you are fucking dead!”“Nikolai, I swear on my loyalty to you and the Bratva that I would never betray you.”
Adalina My heart is pounding in my chest as I hide underneath my covers. I can’t stop thinking about everything Nikolai said to me. I knew what was coming, but I didn’t want to hear it. I couldn’t bear to see the look of finality in his eyes.His voice echoes in my ears, repeating, “Adalina… We can no longer be together. I don’t have feelings for you. I have to let you go.”With those words, my heart shatters into a millionpieces.“Why?” I whisper to myself, seeking answers that maynever come.Tears stream down my cheeks as I plead, “Please, Nikolai, don’t do this. I can’t live without you.”I sob uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the realization that Nikolai is leaving my life forever.Nikolai Adalina spends the night and the following day in her room. She doesn’t speak to anyone. Osip brings her meals. But she barely eats anything. I leave her alone.
Adalina It’s almost 5:00 p.m. when I wake up in Nikolai’s arms. We made love three times, and he was surprisingly gentle and loving. As he continues to sleep, I quietly make my way into the bathroom for a quick shower. I borrow his bathrobe, which hangs loosely on me. I quickly comb my hair, though it’s still a bit messy and almost dry. My eyes are still red from crying, and I dread the nightmares that may haunt me about Maxim.Exiting the bathroom, I find Nikolai pulling on a pair of grey sweatpants. His body is flawless, with well-defined muscles and sexy tattoos. I love the trail of black hair that runs from his stomach to his groin. I take him all in as he pulls on his sweatpants.Nikolai notices my admiring gaze and smirks. I walk over to him, and he puts his arms around me.“Feeling better, Zayka,” he says, planting a tender kiss on the top of my head.“Yes, thanks for not putting that ankle brac
Adalina I watch in horror as bullets whiz past my head, instinctively covering my ears to shield myself from the deafening sound of gunfire.I watch in awe as Nikolai takes down each man with incredible precision, his movements fluid and graceful. Of course. He is an assassin. I don’t know how long the gunfight lasts, but it feels like hours. Eventually, the shooting stops, and I peek out from behind Nikolai to see what’s happened. Maxim is still lying on the ground, unconscious, and Nikolai’s men are all standing around, looking relieved.Nikolai The gunfire stops, and I turn to Adalina, she is shaking and crying, but she is unharmed. I feel a wave of relief wash over me. She is safe.“Is it over?” Adalina asks, her voice barely above a whisper.“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” I whisper as I stroke her hair. “You’re safe now.”Adalina clings to me, burying her face in my chest. “Thank you for saving me.
Adalina As I wake up, my head throbs, and my eyes feel heavy. I lie on a bed in a dingy motel room, and the air is thick with the smell of stale smoke and cheap cologne. Maxim sits next to me, his gaze fixated on my face with a sinister look in his eyes. I immediately shut my eyes, pretending to be unconscious, afraid of what he might do next.“I know you’re awake Adalina. Open those prettyeyes.”I open my eyes but don’t look at Maxim. The room isdimly lit by a single lamp, casting shadows on the walls and on the old and mismatched furniture. The lumpy bed I am laying on has faded floral sheets that have not been changed in a long time. The walls are yellowed and peeling, and the carpet is threadbare and stained.Maxim strokes my head with his hand. “Don’t touch me!” I exclaim as I pull away.“Now, now, Adalina. Don’t be like that. I know you’re no longer a virgin. I know you and Ni