Page 93 of Gilded in Blood

These past few weeks in New York, being cooped up, unable to go out, unable to see my family, have taken their toll. Right now, I can pretend for a few hours that there’s no danger, no Michael, no one trying to hurt me or my family.

I text Sarah to let her know where we are. She shows up not long after, and the second she sees me, she squeals and pulls me into a tight hug.

“Oh my God, you’re here!” she says, squeezing me. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were coming back!”

“It’s for safety reasons. I'm only back for my presentation.”

We pull apart, both grinning like idiots. She glances over my shoulder at Kirill, who’s standing a few feet behind us, eyes scanning the room.

“So, he's still your bodyguard?” she asks, lowering her voice a little.

I nod. “Yeah.”

She leans in closer, whispering in my ear while looking at him. “But the way he’s looking at you… it’s like you’re more than just a job.”

I smile, unable to hide it. Sarah’s eyes widen.

“Wow, you bad girl. You’re sleeping with your bodyguard?”

I laugh, shushing her. “Keep your voice down. He can hear you.”

From behind us, Kirill’s deep voice cuts in. “Yeah. I can hear you actually.”

Sarah looks like she might faint. Her mouth opens and closes a few times before she manages a weak, “Oh my God.”

I grab her hand, laughing. “I’ll tell you all about it later. But right now, I just want to dance.”

I pull her onto the dance floor, and we start moving to the music, swaying our hips, laughing like we used to. It feels freeing. For a few minutes, I let myself forget everything else.

Sarah leans in close while we dance. “Wow. The way he is looking at you right now… if looks could kill, I’d be dead.”

I glance over and see Kirill watching us, watching me, with that intense, possessive look that makes my stomach flutter.

I smile at Sarah. “Oh, don’t worry. He’s just being cautious.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Are you going to tell me what’s really going on?”

I hesitate, then shake my head. “It’s best if you don’t know. But yeah… something is going on with my family.”

She doesn’t push. She just squeezes my hand and keeps dancing with me, letting me have this moment of normalcy.

Kirill

I watch Milana and her best friend dance from the edge of the floor, arms crossed, eyes never leaving her for long.

The way she moves, free, happy, lost in the music, has me completely enamored. She’s glowing under the flashing lights, laughing with her friend, her body swaying to the beat like she’s finally letting go of everything that’s been weighing her down.

I like seeing her like this but I can't let my guard down.

My eyes scan the crowd constantly, checking faces, exits, shadows. I didn’t want to be here. We should be back in the hotel room where it’s safer.

But when she looked at me with those eyes and told me she’d been locked up for weeks, that she needed to breathe, I gave in.

She has me whipped. Wrapped around her little finger. And the worst part is, I don’t even mind.

Just then, I notice a guy standing near the bar. He’s been watching Milana and Sarah for a while now. At first, I brushed it off as some prick admiring her.

But the way he’s looking at her is different. Focused. Calculating. My gut twists with that familiar warning.