“This is how we are going to do this,” she spoke quietly but it didn’t hinder her demand. “Anything that concerns me, I want to know. I don’t need anyone making decisions for me.” She took a deep breath. “I can’t make informed decisions if I don’t know all the facts.” She turned her eyes to Sergei. “If something happens to Scarlett, I will kill you,” her voice was calm, and I had no doubt she meant it. She loved her friends and they were like sisters. Kind of like Sergei, Nikolai, and me. “I never killed a person but I’ll make an exception this time.”
I had to admit, Anastasia Manciatti was a fucking turn on when she was pissed off. She slowly walked over to Sergei, both Nikolai and I watched her unsure of what to expect next. And that was not a feeling we were familiar with.
“And as soon as you are able to move without passing out, you will go save her,” she continued. “If there is a scratch on her, it will be added to the debt you owe me.” She put her hands on each of the arms of the couch as she got into his face. “Because Sergei-” she paused and I had to hide my smile because she was no longer a damsel in distress. She was a goddess out for blood. “I plan on giving back to you everything I received over the last two weeks under Boris’ men.”
Sergei, the idiot bastard actually smiled. “That’s fair, and I’ll take all of it without a complaint, Anastasia.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek, causing Anastasia to blink in confusion. “Scarlett is safe.”
“How do you know?” the three of us asked Sergei the question at the same time.
“Because I had my men kidnap her.” He watched Anastasia sheepishly.
Sergei was really going for getting his balls chopped today. Anastasia observed him quietly, waiting but then she chuckled softly. This conversation was certainly going differently than what I was used to.
“Oh, you are so fucked, Sergei.” Anastasia’s eyes never left my brother. “Because once Scarlett finds out, hell will freeze over before she forgives you.”
A fleeting doubt crossed Sergei’s face but he wouldn’t be deterred. “She’ll see I did it for her own good, to keep her safe.”
She scoffed and straightened out. “Believe what you will.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket and handed it to him. “I want to hear her voice.”
He shook his head. “I’ll call from my phone. It’s safer.”
She nodded, it didn’t matter to her how he called her as long as she got to hear her friend’s voice. Sergei dialed up the phone and told the man on the other line to give the phone to Scarlett.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Anastasia
Itook the phone from Sergei, a small apologetic smile on his lips. I was furious with him but at the same time just a little bit grateful. It was a peculiar mix of feelings. It was actually smart that he ensured he got to Scarlett before Boris’ men did. Eventually, they would have used her for a bargaining chip. I still didn't want to see him nor talk to him. I couldn’t easily forgive that he was the one that kidnapped me and handed me over to Boris’ men. Like my life didn’t mean a damn thing!
“Scarlett?” I spoke into the phone.
“An- Anastasia?” Scarlett stuttered as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Hearing her voice was a huge relief. “How are you calling? Aren’t you kidnapped?”
“No, not anymore,” I told her, not wanting to go into too much detail. “Are you okay?” I asked her, eyeing Sergei. I kind of wished I could punch him really hard now.
“Yes, but how did you know who to call? Where am I?” her questions made sense and I glared at Sergei.
“It’s a long story and you’ll hear it soon,” I retorted dryly. “It seems you were kidnapped to be kept safe by one of the men that Dad hired. Please don’t ask for logic here.” I rolled my eyes at Sergei annoyed. “So you are kind of kidnapped but not really. More like tucked away in a safe place. Did they scare you?”
“Hell no, although they pissed me off more than anything. Between you and I, this is like the nicest kidnapping ever, although I will kill whoever did it.” She didn’t sound terribly upset. I had to smile imagining how that would go over when she found out it was the guy she fell head over heels for in St. Petersburg. “Are you okay?” she questioned me in turn.
“My kidnapping wasn’t that nice,” I told her. “I met your dream boy though.” Nikolai and Dimitry stifled their laughs at my last words, covering it up with a cough. My eyes snapped to them, but I continued talking to her. “Actually, he is an asshole if you want my honest opinion.”
“Oh my God! Is he the one that kidnapped you?” she screeched in disbelief.
I knew if I told her he was indeed the one that kidnapped me, Sergei wouldn’t stand a chance with Scarlett. Yes, what he did was horrible, but when he explained it the way he did, I guess I could understand it. Although I was still furious at him. He earned a point by trying to protect my best friend.
“No, he’s not the one that kidnapped me,” I told her, locking eyes with Sergei. Surprise flashed in his brown eyes but I wasn’t doing this for him. I was doing it for Scarlett. “He is part of the good guys helping... I guess.” I couldn’t resist adding the last bit. “He wanted to make sure Boris’ men didn’t get to you as well. It’s a long story. I’m fixing him up, and he’ll come to get you soon. Two days maximum.”
“Fixing him up?”
‘Yeah, he was shot.” Scarlett’s exhale came through the line and I was sure she was imagining all kinds of things. “Don’t worry, he’s not dying.” I couldn’t resist adding, “Although he might wish he was.”
“Thank God.” I heard Scarlett sniffle through the line, and that confirmed I made the right decision not to tell her Sergei was the one that delivered me to Boris’ men.
“I have to go but just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Are you sure you are okay?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.