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“Ana, we’re not,” I say. “At all or ever.”
“You’re so fucking stubborn,” she hisses at me.
“I took your virginity,” I say quietly, just blurting it without thought.
She stiffens, and I frown. “Did it hurt? Are we OK?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she stands up. “I’ve lost my appetite.”
I throw some bills on the table and wave off the server. “Ana! It does matter.” I go after her. “Ana, stop. We need to discuss this.”
“It didn’t mean anything.” She whips around and stands inches from my face, although I’m looking down. “The sex didn’t mean anything. Losing my V card didn’t mean anything. We’re not an item. We’re not a couple. You’re the hired help. A hitman I’m paying for, and one that I happened to shag.”
I feel like a knife has been plunged into my gut and turned.
We drive back to her house in silence, and as she’s about to get out of the car, I grab her arm. “You don’t do anything without running it by me, or I tell Alessandro and Ivan your whole plan.”
It’s a threat, but I’m angry.
She yanks her arm away and hisses at me, “No man holds dominion over me, not anymore.”
She slams my car door shut, making me wince slightly, and I watch her storm into the house.
God, she’s beautiful.
And so fucking dangerous.
Chapter 19 - Anastasia
Having finished church and arrived at my babushka’s restaurant, I hold onto Roman as Tori excuses herself to assist with the food.
She is such a good wife, just falling into line.
I bounce Roman on my hip. He is hyper-focused on playing with my hair. I feel someone approach, and I glance over my shoulder to see my father standing just behind me.
“Papa!” Roman exclaims with a giant smile.
“Ana, you barely said anything to anyone at church. This juvenile behavior must come to an end.”
I turn my head so he isn’t in my line of vision at all, and he sighs. “Ana, you’ll have to talk to me sooner or later. I love you. I will always love and protect you because you are my baby girl. You will learn to appreciate that one day.”
“As a father, I love you, but as head of the family, you should be teaching me how to be a leader so one day I can take over from you. If you won’t teach me that, I will teach myself.” I raise my chin defiantly.
“Watch yourself, Ana. You need to know your place in this family,” he says with a low, threatening tone as others start arriving.
“It’s you who should watch out for me because I am more powerful than you think,” I say, trying to sound confident.
I feel him lift Roman from my arms and look into his eyes. “You’re too immature to be a leader, so my first piece of advice is to grow up.”
I step away from him. “Since you want to treat me like a child, I will sit with the younger people in the room.” I walk away, knowing my father is fuming at the turn of events. I won’t let him emotionally manipulate me.
I go to where Kira and her husband, Miguel, sit with their children. I sit opposite them and smile.
“Hi, Ana. So nice of you to sit by us for once,” Kira says sweetly. I love her to pieces. She’s so kind-hearted.
“Thank you,” I say. “I thought it was time to sit by more warm-bodied people.”
“You mean younger people,” Miguel chuckles. “Which is not always a bad thing.”
