Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“Your mom just fell asleep.”
“Really?” He sniffles.
“Correct.”
“But…but you said she was spending a long time on a trip. Does this mean the trip is over, Papa?”
“It is, Malysh.”
“And she’ll be here every day?” His voice breaks as hope soars in his huge eyes.
My attention slides to her motionless body before I focus back on my son. “Every day.”
“Promise, Papa?”
“Promise.”
“You always keep your word.”
“I do. She’ll see you tomorrow, all right?”
He turns his head away, huffing. “I won’t see her.”
“Are you still mad at her?”
“Aren’t you, Papa?” He sniffles and wipes his tears with the back of his hand. “She left without saying goodbye.”
“But she’s here now.”
“I still won’t see her.” He stomps up the stairs, his small body emanating more energy than a kid twice his age.
He definitely has his mother’s temper.
Still carrying Lia, I approach the entrance and I click the intercom that connects with Kolya’s radio. “Come inside and make sure Jeremy goes to sleep.”
“Yes, sir.”
I take her upstairs two steps at a time and head to the master bedroom. When I place her on the high platform bed, I allow her head to fall softly on the pillow.
She doesn’t stir as I slowly remove her shoes and put them at the foot of the bed. A few cuts cover her ankles and the soles of her feet are rough to the touch. They’re also cold, so I lay them on the bed and pull the duvet up to cover them. When I maneuver her to remove her coat, she still doesn’t show any reaction.
I hold her hands in mine and stare at the blisters that shouldn’t be on her skin. They’re freezing, too, as if her brain still thinks she’s sleeping on the streets, in dirty, cold parking garages.
Lifting her palms to my mouth, I blow on them until they’re warm enough, then slide them under the covers. I’m about to make her more comfortable when a knock sounds on the door.
I pull the duvet to her chin and take one last look at her face. “I’ll be right back, Lenochka.”
After stepping out, I slowly close the door behind me, making sure not to make a sound.
Kolya is standing in the hall, his frame blocking my view and his brow furrowed.
“Is Jeremy asleep?”
“Yes, but he was stressed.” He pauses.
“If you have something to say, say it, Kolya. I don’t have all night.”
“He seemed scared after he told me that…well, his mommy fell asleep while standing.”
At least he believes she fell asleep.
“Sir.”
“What?”
“May I speak freely?”
I raise a brow. “When haven’t you?”
“This isn’t right.”
“This?”
“All of this.” He motions with his head at the closed bedroom door. “Her here. Now.”
“Is Yan bitching to you?”
“No.”
“You don’t have to protect him, Kolya. You’re spoiling him.”
“This isn’t about Yan and you’re well aware of that.
“Let me worry about things here while you keep an eye on what’s happening in the rest of the brotherhood. We cannot be left behind.”
“We won’t, but she…”
“Stop talking about her, Kolya. It’s done. She’s here and that’s that.”
“She fainted, sir.”
“How would you know that?”
“People don’t just fall asleep standing. I’m not Jeremy.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“What if she—”
“Kolya,” I cut him off, my voice hardening. “Drop it.”
“This could backfire.”
“I said to stop fucking talking about her.”
He gives me a disapproving stare, one that says, ‘you’re fucked up and I regret being by your side for thirty years,’ but he knows not to test me in circumstances like these, so he nods and leaves.
I unbutton my shirt on my way back to my room.
This will be a long fucking night.
9
Winter
“Lenochka.”
I mumble in my sleep, my head feeling heavy and painful, as if a hammer is rummaging through it.
My breath is cut off.
I gasp, only to be met by something…soft? My eyes snap open and I find myself on my stomach, my face nestled against a pillow.
Long fingers undo the zipper of my dress and slide the cloth down my body.
For a second, I’m so disoriented, I don’t even know where I am, let alone what’s happening. I shouldn’t be sleeping on a bed, and not just any bed; this one is warm, soft, I pick up the scent of mysterious wood and rich leather.
Reality kicks back in with a tumbling force that keeps me gasping for air. I came with Adrian to his house. After I saw his son, I had a visceral recollection of my daughter and then…what?
What happened after that? Where am I?
More importantly, what’s going on right now?
Air clashes against my bare skin, forming goosebumps. The dress is gone and I’m only wearing a strapless bra and the lace panties Emily gave me earlier.
My shoulders snap into a rigid line as sweat covers my brow. I’m terrified to look behind me and see the look in his eyes right now. If I do, I’ll be trapped and driven to the point of no return. However, abstaining from looking at him doesn’t diminish from his sheer presence or the overwhelming heat he emanates. It radiates off my skin like flames licking it—or death kissing it.