Security guards pull me and Dimitri away from each other. It’s in that moment when I realize that Katya isn’t by my side. She’s not anywhere.
“Where’s Katya?” I growl.
Dimitri looks around too like he’s just as surprised as me before a slow smirk crosses his face. “Looks like she ran away from you. You couldn’t make my sister yours. You don’t own her.”
I run past Dimitri and the guards and go outside, searching for any sight of her but she’s gone. Dimitri comes strolling past me, pure smugness radiating off him.
“I am going to get my sister back,” he says. “You will never have her again.”
The thought of never seeing Katya hurts more than I ever thought it would. When I thought she could have died in the pool, things changed between us. I made her mine and she gave herself to me. It started off as possession for her.
But now it’s shifted into something more. Something tender.
I’ve seen Katya afraid. Seen her vulnerable. The urge to protect her hit me the second I first saw her.
I know I care deeply for the woman I kidnapped. And now she’s gone and I have no idea who took her.
“Anyone could have taken Katya,” I snap. “You shouldn’t be so fucking smug.”
“I’m fairly positive I know. But I’m not going to tell you. Have a nice night, Alek.” He whistles to himself as he heads down the sidewalk and flags down a taxi.
A huge fucking hole has been punched into my chest.
Katya
Sofiya gets me back to Dimitri’s house. The moment I step inside, all the anxiety and fears I had all my life come rushing right back. This doesn’t feel right.
I’ve grown in the short amount of time I’ve been Alek’s. And coming right back home feels more suffocating than I ever thought it would be.
“Alek,” I murmur. “I have to get back to Alek.”
Sofiya gives me an incredulous look. “You have to get back to Alek? He kidnapped you, Katya. Are you ok? I’m sure you’ve been through some intense things these past two weeks. Let me help you. What do you need?”
“I need Alek,” I say softly, realizing that I want him more than I ever thought possible. Not because he’s brainwashed me but because he has helped me become the woman I’ve always wanted to be.
“Ok,” Sofiya says slowly. “But Alek isn’t here and he’s Dimitri’s enemy. You should stay here for your own safety. It’s safe here. Dimitri will never let anything happen to you ever again.”
But that’s the problem. I want things to happen to me now. I want tolive.
Yet, how can I tell Sofiya all of that? I barely understand it myself.
Dimitri bursts through the front door, startling both of us. He stares at me for a moment before pulling me into his arms. I can’t deny: it does feel safe with him. Tears well into my eyes and I can’t stop myself from crying. Dimitri clings to me like a life raft and I do the same.
The only thing that was getting between me and Alek was the fact that I couldn’t stop worrying about how Dimitri felt. Now I know he’s happy because I’ve returned to him.
But how can I stay when I don’t want to stay here any longer?
“You’re safe now,” he murmurs into my hair, before letting me go and turning to Sofiya. “You got her out of there. Thank you.”
“Of course. I’m your wife. I’ll always help out family.”
They share a tender smile between them. Love. It’s obvious.
I want that too and I believe I could have it with Alek. I believe I’m already falling for him, even though I know Dimitri will not be happy about it. Which is why I keep my mouth shut right now. I want to enjoy this moment of being reunited with my brotherbecause I know the moment I mention Alek, all hell will break loose.
Dimitri turns back to me. “You’re all right now. Let’s get you back into your room.”
My stomach drops right to my feet. “My room? You mean… my old, hidden room?”
