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I was walking on air the moment I finished my in-person training, so refreshed from being able to go again.
In good spirits, I was excited to go home and see Nik. To thank him as more mutual trust formed between us. I was surprisingly looking forward to it.
While I wasn’t the keenest about reporting in and having him be aware of my every move, I had no reason to believe it would be that way forever.
He was willing to work with me, and by letting me go back to school in person, he was essentially bridging that gap for us. At the very least, it was a start, and I wasn’t willing to complain.
I felt hopeful again, and I just wanted the bad times to be behind us. If that meant enduring going straight back home again to gain his trust, then I didn’t mind.
There was a chance that at the end of it all, Nik would be more comfortable with me going to school in person full-time, and that was my goal.
It made me realize I could pursue my passion and be with Nik at the same time. I could be married to him and chase after my dreams without being forced to become a trophy at home.
With Nik, I was seeing more of the man I had fallen for that night at the hotel bar, and I didn’t feel quite so trapped anymore.
Walking out of the class with a smile on my face, I took in the campus and felt rejuvenated by the opportunity to be there.
I was certainly in contrast to the other students who looked overwhelmed and exhausted from the workload, but I didn’t mind. I was just grateful for the chance to surround myself with my peers and to feel like my time there had never been interrupted.
As I went down one of the walkways leading to where the driver was supposed to be waiting for me, I looked for the same vehicle, only to find someone standing not far away as they leaned against a blacked-out Range Rover.
Recognition settled over my skin, and when the man lifted his head, I recognized those dark curls immediately.
Lighting up, I was quick to make my way over to him.
“Lukyan!”
A smile moved across Luk’s face as he stood and braced himself for my hug. He chuckled and returned the embrace. “Hello to you too, Anastasia.”
“I haven’t seen you in forever,” I said, blown away to even be near him in person. “You were shorter the last time I saw you.”
“So were you,” he returned with an amused air. “We were both teenagers.”
It had been at least a decade since the last time I saw any of them, given how they stayed in Russia a lot longer than my family did.
Lukyan, Aristarkh, Benedikt, Kir, and Lara were all Levovs too, but while my parents and brothers moved to America alongside Andrei and his group, they stayed behind to run the scene in Russia.
I didn’t hear much from them since the biggest connection my other cousins had to them was through the family business, and I had nothing to do with it.
Still, I used to see them occasionally at family gatherings when we were younger, and Luk was easily one of my favorite cousins. It helped that we were so close in age.
Even though he was twenty-seven now, he still had that boyish charm about him.
“How is everything? And what are you doing in New York?” I asked, more than excited at the chance to see him again.
Luk put his hands in his trouser pockets and wore a hopeful expression. “Ari decided it was time we made our way over here for good. We’ve exhausted our resources back home, and Andrei has given us some territory to work with. We’ll be sticking around for a while, anyway.”
“That’s so exciting,” I said, warmed by the thought of being near more family again. “I’m glad you guys are here. Hopefully, I can see the others soon, too.”
To my surprise, a grave look moved over his features as he seemed to recall something, and he brushed an anxious hand down his face. “Speaking of family, I almost forgot why I even came here. I have some bad news.”
While I didn’t exactly want anything to bring down my good mood, I had to know. My curiosity got the better of me.
“What is it?”
Luk forced out a breath. “One of our new warehouses was hit, and your husband was involved. During the shootout, Ari captured him and brought him in to be questioned. He was only spared because of your association, but Ari and Andrei aren’t happy.”
I could feel the color draining from my skin, and that panic shot through me without a second thought.
