Episode 77

Gavril

I stood in the driveway until I could no longer see the taillights of the car that carried Naomi away. I felt sick to my stomach at what I had just done, hoping that I had made the right decision in sending her away.

Of course, it was the right decision to get her away from the danger, but I should have taken her myself.

“Fuck,” I breathed, shoving a hand through my hair and forcing myself to turn back to the house. I thought that when she left, I would be able to breathe a bit easier, but right now, I didn’t feel like it at all.

I felt like part of me had just left in that car.

“Pakhan?”

Looking up, I found Ivan standing at the entrance, concern on his weathered face. “What is it, Ivan?”

“Anatoly will watch over her,” he said softly, as if he could read my thoughts. “She will be safe. We will make certain that she is.”

I drew in a steady breath. “Thank you, Ivan.” The old man was one of my trusted few, and while I wouldn’t normally take that sort of conversation from just anyo