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“No, you can’t go. It’s not safe.”
“Mikhail, I have to go home. I can’t lose everything I’ve been working for. I have a plan. Besides, I can handle whatever she throws at me.”
“If you insist, then I will take you.”
“No. I don’t need you to come with me.”
”It’s non-negotiable. I’ll take you home. And I’m going to have eyes on the house at all times.”
She stares deep in my face for a long time. At some point she must realize that I’m serious because her shoulders sag a bit when she whispers, “Okay.”
She collects her stuff and we head down to the parking lot and get in my car. We stay silent the whole time we drive. When we pull up, I order, “Stay here.” I get out and run over to her side so I can open the door for her.
When she gets out, I give her a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll come get you tomorrow night to take you to dinner.”
”Mikhail, I come with a lot of baggage.”
”I don’t give a fuck if you come with a whole luggage store, you are mine. I will come by tomorrow night and we will go to dinner. Do you hear me, Ella?”
”Yes.”
”I will text you later, but if anything happens, text me.”
”But you don’t have my number and I don’t have yours.”
”Are you sure about that? Check your phone, baby girl.” I tell her with a wink.
Ella pulls out her phone and giggles. Patting my chest she says, “You are something else, Mikhail.”
“You have no idea.”
Her eyes are drawn to a window in the front of the house when she says with a hint of fear in her voice, “I better go.”
She leaves me standing there as she disappears into the house, I just stay there… staring. Worrying. Even with all my self assurance, power, and connections, I have a bad feeling about letting her enter that house.
sixteen
Ella
Iwalk into the house with a sense of dread sitting in my stomach. I close the front door as quietly as possible, so I have a moment to get my bearings before I see any of them. I didn’t tell Mikhail but the text I got from my step-mother was not warm and fuzzy. In fact, it scared me a bit. I can still see it in my head as plain as day,
Step-Mother: Ella get your ass home. If you aren’t here in one hour you will never see your father again.
Making my way up the stairs to my room, I can hear my heartbeat in my ears. I’ve never stayed out like this before. I push the boundaries but not like this. Something about Mikhail made me bold. Made me forget that my life is a wreck, and that I don’t even have ownership over it.
When I make it up to my room, I finally let out a breath. At least in this room I have some type of safety, surrounded by the things that help me feel grounded. Things that bring me happy memories of a family that loved each other.
Until I see my step-mother sitting on my bed. She has a stern look on her face. Staring at me, looking deep down in my soul. I’ve always hated that about her, it’s like she can see your weakness right away and use it against you.
I don’t even attempt to move.
Looking me up and down with disgust, she sneers at me, “Are you a whore now, Ella? Were you out all night spreading your legs?”
I bristle but I don’t bother addressing it. I can’t take her bait. If I do, my plan will go up in flames, so I calmly answer her. “I’m sorry that I was out all night without letting you know step-mother. I was with Suri.”
She stands up from my bed looking at me. “I thought you were smarter than lying to me Ella. I know you weren't with Suri. I saw who dropped you off. Do you even know who he is?”
I just keep staring at her, staying silent and keeping my mask in place. I can’t let her know that she is getting to me. She lets out a humorless laugh, “Of course you don’t know who that is? You naive girl. That’s Mikhail Sokolov, the heir to the Bratva. A notorious playboy. He’s ten years older than you and will use you up and spit you out.”
