Page 20 of Savage Pakhan

“It’s okay, Alek. I’m not mad. This is how life has been, but I refuse to accept it any longer. And if you’re going to get in my way of that, that’s the only time you’ll be a problem.”

He chuckles, lifting his hands to show his innocence. “It was never part of the plan to get in your way, Mia.”

I smirk, holding in a laugh. “Good. Keep it that way.”

We both laugh, the sounds weak and quiet to show how tired we are.

“We better keep going if we want to make it to the state line before it gets too dark. We make it to the car, we can make it to my safehouse. It hasn’t been used in a while. No one will be there… hopefully.”

I twirl my finger in the mossy earth, swirling the dirt. “When we get to the car I could drop you off somewhere close to your house and I can leave until I run out of gas. You don’t have to come with me.”

His eyes harden. “I’m not letting you go anywhere until I know you’re safe. I could use a break anyway.” Alek pushes himself to his feet, stretching his arm over his head, hissing from the pain. “Come on. Let’s go. If we wait any longer, I’m too nervous we’ll get lost.”

I stand, the pine needles digging into the bottoms of my feet. I flinch when an end of a twig digs into my big toe and Alek is there, swinging me into his arms as if he doesn’t have a bad shoulder.

“You ripping off some of the that tulle made carrying you so much easier. Whose idea was that? I have a feeling it wasn’t yours. This doesn’t seem like the kind of dress you’d choose.”

I peer up at him, his strong jaw clean shaven, showing just how sharp his features are. Alek is a gorgeous man. His hair is a darker shade of silver like it has only recently change from a dark brown.

His hulking frame somehow manages to slink through the woods with ease. As if being stealthy is a habit not a choice.

“No. Not mine.”

“I’m listening.”

“That’s really all there is to it. Do you really need details?”

He stops walking, the sound of a rushing river in the distance. He peers down at me with not one teasing glint in sparkling in his eyes. “I want every detail. No matter how small.”

“Why? It only paints Ivan in a bad light. He’s your son.”

He growls, charging forward again to get us to the state line. “He is no son of mine. Not after I’ve learned in the truth. I have a few rules, Mia. That’s it. For all my men. The most important rule is that we don’t hurt women. We don’t do what he’s done. Blood or not, he’s dead to me. He isn’t painted in a bad light. He put himself there. Don’t give him your kindness anymore. Even when speaking of him. He doesn’t deserve it.”

“He had requirements for the dress. No lace. No beading. A ballgown. Strapless. No train. No veil. A fluffy skirt. Corset back. That’s it.” I rest my cheek against his broad chest, hoping this is the start of a new and better life.

Away from Ivan. Away from my family.

Even away from Alek, no matter how much I hate the truth of that fact.

I’m not sure how long we walk in silence. Alek is slowing down and the sound the of the river is getting closer. He pauses at the edge of a cliff, the water roaring from down below.

“We’re going the right away. We aren’t that far now. We might need to take a break, Da?” He gently sets me on my feet, taking a seat on a fallen tree.

He rubs his shoulder, stretching it above his head. “What’s your dream dress?”

I think back to a dress I tried on in secret. One I knew I would never be able to wear. I can’t help but smile at the memory. I loved how I looked in that dress. It was the dream dress.

Just not the dream guy.

“I can’t wait to hear about it if it makes you that happy. Tell me about it.” He pats the space next to him. “There’s plenty of room on this log for the both of us.”

I giggle, the hem of tulle dragging against the floor. So much debris is caught in my skirt. I can’t wait until I can take this off and burn it.

And I will burn it.

I’ll dance around the flames in celebration.

“It was dramatic. Off the shoulder with a sweetheart neckline. It had bell sleeves that nearly reached for the floor. The entire dress was this beautiful vintage lace with light beading. Enough to catch the light, you know? It formed my body. It fit like a glove. I cried when I tried it on. That was my dress, but I knew if I came home with it, Ivan would destroy it. It deserved better than that.”