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My best friend pulls me into a tight hug and presses a kiss on my cheek. “I’m sorry, Ra-Ra.”
Hearing her call me by the nickname she gave me when we were kids has the tears spilling down my cheeks. I lose the fight and sob in her arms, an unbearable ache crushing my heart.
Abbie holds me tighter while brushing a hand over my hair. “I’m so sorry, Ra-Ra. Shhh. I love you.”
It takes minutes before I can regain control over my emotions and stop crying.
Abbie pulls back and locks eyes with me. “He’s an asshole.”
I shake my head. “He was perfect.” I close my eyes again. “I can’t believe he’s bratva.”
Abbie stares at me for a while, then her gaze narrows. “So what if he’s bratva?”
A frown forms on my forehead. “What do you mean?”
“Fuck this war and what people think.” She shrugs carelessly. “If you care about him, and he cares about you, then go for it.”
My shoulders slump, and I almost start sobbing again. “He doesn’t care about me.” I shove a hand at the windows, and we both look down to where the three friends are still talking. “He hates me. He said when he gets the chance, he’ll kill me.”
Suddenly Misha’s head snaps up, and he looks right at us. Our eyes lock, and like all the times before, I feel the intense attraction and my stomach flutters.
He stares for a moment longer, then he starts to walk away until he’s out of my line of sight.
“That was not a man who hates you,” Abbie says. “You both just stared at each other like you did that night at the club before all hell broke loose. The attraction is still there.”
I shake my head as my heart shrivels. “Not from his side. All I saw was hatred.”
Misha Petrov.
I can almost feel his arms around me.
Closing my eyes again, I try to fight the memory, but after years of dreaming, it pops into my mind without much effort.
The way his mouth felt on mine. How amazing he tasted. His palm against my cheek. His words of strength and comfort.
The attraction.
It was real. Wasn’t it?
Chapter 7
Aurora
After having another good cry, I have to shove all my emotions in a box so we can get ready for our dinner appointment with Director Koslov and his wife.
Abbie leaves to go to her suite, and as the door shuts behind her, I think, ‘Will I see Misha tonight?’
It takes a lot of effort to shove the thought away as I walk to my bathroom. I pour myself a bath and add my favoriteDiorbath bomb and pearls. Once the air is filled with my favoriteBlooming Blossomsscent, I strip out of my clothes and sink into the warm water.
Placing a damp washcloth over my eyes, I inhale deeply, praying the soft floral scent will help me relax. I don’t want to be an emotional mess at dinner.
I try to focus on the balmy feel of the water but fail miserably as my thoughts turn to Misha.
Misha.
I can’t stop thinking about his name. It feels surreal finally knowing it after two years.
I replay this afternoon in my mind, unable to reconcile the aggressive bratva enforcer with the man I dreamed about for so long.
