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I guess I’m not as healed as I thought I was, because less than a half hour after I finish dinner, I slip into a restless sleep before it’s even nine o’clock.
The next morning I’m up early at eight in the morning. Need to see Milos again drives me out of my room. I make it out of my room and past Koshka’s. I realize quickly this is a wing of the house as I pass a door open to a home gym. The next door is open to what appears to be an office.
Milos’s brother Aleksander is splayed out in front of his desk on his cell phone; it sounds like he’s playing some kind of game. All that research on the Bratva included a bunch of research on Milos and his family. The moment my eyes are on him, he’s turning to find me.
“Privet,malyshka, such a pretty little thing you are.” He grins wickedly.
I can’t help it, I laugh. “You said the exact same thing the first time I met you more than a year ago. Do you not have another line?”
He might look like a younger Milos; however, he is so very different in a way I cannot even really pinpoint. His eyes are a pretty amber that I’m guessing might go gold, then again they might darken. “I do not usually need more.” He shrugs. “It is also true. You are even prettier than that day. There is something different about you.”
I shrug. “I’m not as fat. I lost almost twenty pounds.”
“Hmm, no, it is not that. You were an appealing chit even then. You are more confident, not as angry as before. These things come with time. Confidence is far more appealing than a loss of a few pounds. I see why Milos has been neglecting work and sleep for you. If I had known you were here in the house, I might have slept here too.” His dark, thick eyebrows wiggle at me.
This time the laughter won’t come. “I’m keeping Milos from work? I’m sorry. I didn’t know—”
“No apology needed,malyshka, it is mainly his sleep that is suffering. I would not be his second if I could not handle business in his stead.” He stands then he’s leaning against Milos’s desk. A soft thump tells me something dropped against wood. “Would you like me to wake my dear brother?”
I’m shaking my head, backing away. “No, I’ll—”
“Kotyonok, are you all right?” Milos is behind me.
His hair is wet as if he has come from a shower. I see it now, bruises are beneath his eyes. He hasn’t been sleeping. I shouldn’t be here. Yesterday was a mistake, nothing could happen. It’s time to end this.
“I want to go home.” The words fly out of my mouth.
His frown is thunderous. “What?” He spots his brother. A flood of Russian comes out of him, too fast for my two semesters of Russian to understand.
Aleksander responds in a flood of Russian just as strongly.
“Stop, please stop arguing. I want to go home. I’m better. It’s time. If you don’t take me home, I’ll figure out a way to go myself. Even if that includes calling Tony Sabatini to come get me.” I turn and walk back to my room.
God, it’s not my room. I have to stop thinking like this.Stop it.I blink back the stupid tears, refusing to let them out. If Milos sees them he’ll exploit them without hesitation. I go into the closet and start packing the clothes into the luggage that appeared yesterday. It’s time.
Milos is silent, I feel his eyes on me hot and angry. “Do you have my bag? It had my computer and books?”
“I have it.” The words are tight.
“Are you going to take me home or do I have to call Tony?” I don’t look up.
“I’ll take you home.”
Milos doesn’t say another word to me. In less than twenty minutes we’re in a helicopter. I hate it. I was hoping he would drive me back, giving us more than two hours and the freedom to talk to each other.
But Milos isn’t even looking at me, let alone talking to me. I’m a bad girl being punished. It doesn’t matter, I can’t be a good girl for him because what I want is Milosandto get my veterinarian degree, and no matter what he said I can’t have both. There is no way to get everything I want.
Sergei is waiting at the tiny airport we land at. He grabs my bags that Peter hands him.
“Celia.” Milos opens the car door for me, but suddenly he’s in front of it. A hand is at my chin, drawing my eyes up to him. I hate the way I can’t fight the shiver running through me at his touch, at the heat of his hard body pressed against me. His thumb runs over my lips—they open instantly for him. “Take care of yourself,kotyonok. Your promise still holds. If you need anything you do not hesitate to call me.” Then he’s gone.
I don’t dare let myself look back as I get into Sergei’s car.
“How are you really,malyshka?” Sergei asks gently.
I’m not proud of the way I burst into tears.
Present Day
