“What are you talking about?” Nikolai and Dimitry asked in unison.
“You are the guy who told her we should go to the Russian Orchid.” There was no way it was a coincidence. She described him too and Sergei fit the match perfectly. “You are the only reason we went there.”
There was guilt all over his face, he didn’t even need to confirm it.
“Explain,” Dimitry barked the order, which at least confirmed he didn't know.
I waited but Sergei kept his mouth shut, his expression blank.
So I started explaining, “Scarlett ran into a guy the day we arrived in St. Petersburg. Scarlett wasn’t interested much in sightseeing. By the second day in the city, all she could talk about was the guy she ran into and went out with. The whole week we spent in St. Petersburg she kept sneaking out while Olivia and I were sightseeing. Then when we came to Moscow, he was here too. She was completely-” I cut myself short and anger rose in me, making my hands shake.
“Olivia nor I were interested in the nightclub but she was all giddy about you. She wanted us to meet you so we thought what the heck. She hadn’t been interested in anyone since forever.” I took a deep breath, watching Sergei like I had never seen him before. I recalled my first impression of him. The distinct thought that told me he was just as dangerous. “Why would you tell her to go to that club and then not show up? That was the only reason she wanted to stay behind. She kept hoping to see you again.”
He clenched his jaw so hard, I heard his teeth grind. There was something that lingered on the edge of my mind.
“Stop it, princess,” Sergei spoke softly and then there it was. It came back to me in a flood. That voice, how he called me princess when he carried me over his shoulder the night I was kidnapped.
My eyes widened in disbelief and I snapped. “You fucking bastard.”
Before I knew what I was doing, I lunged at him and my palm slapped him across his face. He saw it coming but he didn’t even move, didn’t try to stop me.
“How could you?” I screamed, my hands balling into fists ready to hit him again when arms grabbed me from behind.
“It was you!” I yelled out, my eyes focused only on him.
Dimitry’s hands wrapped tight around me from behind, holding me in place while I kicked and screamed, cursing at the man in front of me that I healed less than twenty-four hours ago.
“Anastasia, calm down.”
I was no match for Dimitry’s strength but I kept kicking, hoping I hurt them as much as they hurt me.
“Don’t you tell me to calm down,” I shouted, my eyes darting around the room. “Did you know?”
“Calm the fuck down!” Dimitry snarled. In response, I bit into Dimitry’s arm and curses spilled from his lips.
“Fuck!” Dimitry grunted.
Nikolai came in front of me and took my face between his hands, his blue gaze drilling into me and instinctively I stilled. The room was filled with dead silence, none of us moving. I shifted my eyes over to stare at Sergei while Dimitry’s and Nikolai’s focus was all on me.
“She finally remembered,” Sergei spoke up, his voice void of all emotions and his whole posture unmoving while Dimitry and NIkolai crowded me. “She finally remembered who kidnapped her.”
“Sergei, you better explain yourself.” Dimitry was furious, and Nikolai didn’t look any less pissed off.
I couldn’t hold it together anymore, all my strength, fear and terror let loose. From the rage, I went into an emotional, catastrophic breakdown. The tears I had been holding back streamed down my face. My body shook with violent sobs. Nikolai took a step back, giving me space, regret on his face, while Dimitry’s hands were still around me although now it was in comfort rather than restraint.
“Do you have any idea,” my voice quivered, the words choking me as they came out of my trembling lips, “how terrifying it was, night in and out sitting half-naked in that dark, cold room alone. I was sure,” my voice cracked with emotion, “it would end just like that night I watched my mother-” my shoulders shook, while I rapidly blinked tears away.
Sergei paled at my words and I wanted to make him experience the fear I felt through those two weeks, and what Scarlett was probably suffering through.
Oh my God, Scarlett!
Covering my face with both hands, I continued sobbing. Dimitry turned me around, and I buried my face into his shirt as his arms wrapped around me like a cocoon.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Dimitry
Anastasia’s body shook with sobs in my arms, and for the first time ever, I wanted to kill Sergei with my bare hands. I glared at him, his face pale and guilt written all over it. He still hadn’t started explaining himself.