Run,she mouthed and that is exactly what I’d done.
I ran and ran until my lungs burned, until I was wheezing from the sensation in my lungs. Darkness was all around and occasionally the light of the moon would highlight the trees around me.
That fear while I ran made my ears ring. But when I reached the point of exhaustion and was forced to walk or risk just passing out, it was almost worse. Each breeze through the forest created so many sounds; it made my fear unbearable. Each crack of a branch, owl hoot, leaf shuffle under my feet made me jump and adrenaline pump through my veins.
I shoved the memories out of my mind and focused on now. I had avoided those memories and triggers from those memories, getting lost in the forest amongst other things, for the past fifteen years and here I was hiding in one.
I stood up and started walking away from the house. It was stupid I know, but as soon as I reached the edge of the clearing that surrounded the cabin, I paused. The old demons played around my mind and made my fear amplify as I debated stepping foot into the line of trees. Instead of the forest noises, all I heard was the wild beating of my heart and buzzing in my ears.
Taking a deep breath, I focused on my breathing. One deep breath, then another, and another. With each deep breath I took, the buzzing in my ear slowly eased.
Yes, I needed to focus on now. Help Olivia and Scarlett. Dimitry saved me. I would save them.
Chapter Twenty-One
Dimitry
Anastasia must have not realized she sat by the open window and her voice trailed over to us during her conversation with her father. Every emotion lingered in her voice, each word that left her lips. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out she was worried about her friends, wanting to help them. She really was beautiful inside and out. She was the light in contrast to my darkness.
Nikolai and Sergei both looked disturbed hearing her conversation. Sergei clenched his fists and ground his teeth so hard, I was sure his jaw would snap any second. A bad feeling nudged at me as I watched him.
What got him so pissed off?
I kept watching my best friend, my youngest brother of our group. He was just as tough as Nikolai and I, just as ruthless… but it was hard for both Nikolai and I not to feel protective of him. We cared for him while we were growing up since he was the youngest of the three of us.
Fuck, I realized he was getting attached to Anastasia. He liked her... very much. From the moment he saw her, he liked her. As she worked on his shoulder yesterday, in his delirious state he flirted with her, but now I could see he was enthralled by her.
She was mine,I wanted to shout to both of them.
Abruptly, I stood up and both of my best friends’ eyes snapped to me. With a jerky nod, I left them behind. If it was anyone else, I’d beat their face into the ground, but Sergei was the closest thing I had to a brother. Both Nikolai and Sergei were my brothers.
Damn it!I stepped outside, and my eyes searched for her. Both of the guards roamed the parameter and we had many more throughout the woods ensuring we didn't get another surprise attack. Next time, we might not be so lucky.
I followed the gaze of one of the men and spotted Anastasia. The guard kept his distance but kept her safe nonetheless.
She lingered at the edge of the woods, her back turned to me. The curve of her butt was just the right size to fit into my palms. My cock twitched at that thought. The way her body responded to me this morning pleasantly surprised me. It was natural, passionate, and honest. Anastasia Manciatti didn’t hold back.
When her father reached out to me to save his daughter, he must have known his daughter had a way of enchanting men. There was no question about her beauty. It was the unusual type of beauty that had you holding your breath.
I wondered how much her father despised having her around a man like me, ruthless and without scruples. Not that I could fault him for it. He wasn’t wrong for wanting to put me away with Boris. We were both criminals, just in a slightly different way. Her father was truly desperate to allow a man like me to be her main savior, especially considering his history and almost losing his daughter to Boris Jovanov. Truthfully, I was no better.
By this time, I was mere feet away from her.
“Anastasia,” I murmured softly, not wanting to scare her.
As if she sensed me, she slowly turned around and our eyes locked. Her eyes sparkled like emeralds under the brilliant sun, tears she held back glistening in them. We watched each other in silence, and with each second around this woman, I was brought to my knees.
Just like the gypsy woman predicted.
My heart wanted her. She deserved better than me, more than me... but I was too selfish and ruthless to let her go.
Mine.
“You said you’d teach me how to shoot.” There was resolution in her voice. I wished she’d tell me exactly what was going on in that pretty head of hers. She raised her chin, determination in her voice. “I’m ready for it.”
The hard resolution in her voice should have never been there. Not with this compassionate, caring woman. She wanted to save people and the world, but instead she was sucked into this world full of guns, violence, and blood.
Truthfully, she was pulled into it long before I came into the picture. Maybe we were meant to cross paths and she truly belonged to me.