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“Good.” He nods, breaking eye contact and turning to leave. “Dinner will be brought to you. I will return in the morning with Nikolai. Use this time to settle in.”
As the door closes behind him and locks, I’m left fuming in my luxurious new prison. As soon as I’m left alone, I bolt around the room, examining windows and doors. And just as he said, there’s no way out. The windows are barred, and the only other door leads into a windowless bathroom. Beautiful like the rest of it, but equally inescapable.
Shit.
I’m locked in here. A shiver runs down my spine, and I wonder if this man might be more dangerous than the ones I’m running from. Is it possible that by seeking safety here, I’ve thrown myself into a den of wolves?
I pause, staring at the ornate mirror above the fireplace, taking in my reflection. My rich auburn hair frames my face, deep brown eyes searching for answers. Could I have made a grave mistake?
“Snap out of it, Scarlett,” I whisper to myself, shaking my head. “You’ve survived worse than this.”
But have I? How can I tell when I don’t even know what or who I’m up against? As I think about the secrets hidden behind those off-limits doors, my curiosity battles my fear. What does this man have to hide? And what might he do if I were to find out?
Either way, I must prepare myself for the task at hand – navigating the treacherous waters of Anton Ulianov’s world…and the fastest way to escape it.
Chapter 9
Anton
The clock in the hallway chimes as I return.
It’s been twelve hours since she arrived. Twelve hours that I’ve had this woman beneath my roof. And it’s been intolerable. I barely slept last night thinking of her in that bed. Those soft, sweet curves so near…
“Stop it, asshole,” I tell myself every time the thought comes. This is about Nikolai. He needs company and someone to take care of him. And Scarlett is perfect for that role. I knew it the moment she entered my house.
I knock once on the door, then turn the key in the lock.
“Remember now, you are to be polite at all times,” I remind my son. “And keep our history to yourself. Do you understand?”
He nods at me, his expression serious. I push the door open to find Scarlett staring out of the barred window. She spins around as we enter. Her face is mutinous, but her expression shifts as she sees my son. I know the resemblance to me is uncanny. He has my eyes.
“Scarlett, meet Nikolai,” I tell her, leading him toward her by the hand. “Nikolai, this is Miss Scarlett. She will be taking care of you.”
“Hello, Nikolai.” Her smile is warm. It doesn’t extend to me.
“Zdravstvuyte,” he greets her shyly, gripping my hand tighter.
“Is that Russian?” she asks.
“Da,” says Nikolai smiling back at her.
I ruffle his hair. “Nikolai is fluent in both English and Russian. His French is coming along too.”
“Very impressive,” she says as if genuinely intrigued by my child’s intelligence.
“Thank you,” Nikolai mumbles, his eyes darting around the room, seemingly taking everything in. She hasn’t brought much with her, apart from a battered duffel bag, but still, she’s made an impression on the place. She fills it.
Fuck, I’d like to fill her.
I’m trying not to eye her hungrily, but it’s not easy. It’s been too long since I had a woman in my bed. And Scarlett isn’t just any woman. The memory of her scent is mingling with the reality of her presence. Lush and ripe; she makes me think of sunshine and roses.
“And what else have you been learning?” she asks him, shooting a glance at me. I’ve told her that she’ll be expected to tutor him as well, so it makes sense that she’ll want to know this.
“Many things, Miss Scarlett,” he murmurs. “Papa has been teaching me history. And my numbers and letters.”
“Nikolai has started to write,” I say, realizing that my voice is colored with pride. Who could blame me? My son is bright.
“That’s very smart, Nikolai.” Scarlett nods as if she means it. “And do you like to draw?”
