Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Soon after the steaminess, Dimitri’s alarm went off, and he had to leave. He had to go into the city, make an appearance at the office, and then handle whatever business Bratva people have to handle. I wonder if I should feel lucky to have stayed here, but I wish I could help.
I start a new piece, letting my imagination go wherever it wants to, not thinking about it too much, just letting it flow. I end up sketching the outline of a woman holding a baby. Earlier, when we were half asleep, I’m sure Dimitri said something about me being a mom. I’d be a good mom or something, but maybe I was dreaming.
“Miss,” Yuri says from behind me. Dimitri ordered the butler to stay here, along with extra security around the house. “Miss Petrov would like to speak with you.”
“Sure, Yuri. Thank you.”
It feels awkward having a butler, but when I tried to make a joke with Yuri, he seemed uncomfortable. I cover the sketch with blank paper, not wanting Mila to see it.
When she walks in, I can tell she’s had as little sleep as me. She’s showered, but her eyes are pits, and she has a drawn-out look. She approaches with her hands clasped, almost making me angry at how nervous she seems. She has a coddled princess look, but it’s not fair. Her life is hell. Her brother is trapped. I need to have some compassion.
“How are you feeling?” she asks.
“Not bad, actually,” I say, answering honestly. Maybe I should feel worse, but there’s something so secure, so powerful about Dimitri. I know he’d fight any demons for me. “You must be worried sick.”
She sits on one of the many chairs in the room, staring at the bookshelf as though it’s not there. It’s like she’s watching her own private horror show. “I have to get him out of there, poor Drake…”
“I hope you don’t mind me saying, but that’s a really interesting and surprising name for a Russian.”
“It’s not his real name. Drake is ten, and already he can see through Dad’s crap. He wants nothing to do with him.”
“How can you get him?” I ask. “Without me… I mean.”
“I don’t know,” Mila mutters, rubbing her face. “I don’t even know if he would’ve given Drake up if I brought you. He scares me so much. It’s like I can’t think. It’s like I don’t even know who I am. He can twist me up so easily.”
“Not anymore,” I say. “You’re here now. You’re safe. You’re protected.”
Mila sighs. “Maybe I am, yeah.”
“I want to help,” I tell her, “but it’s like you said. Your dad wouldn’t even give Drake up.”
“Maybe…” Mila bites the inside of her cheek, looking lost. “Could you ask Dimitri? He might listen to you.”
“If they go to war with your dad, even more people will suffer.”
“Is this you speaking or Dimitri?”
I don’t take the bait. “It makes sense.”
“Please,” Mila says. “Can you try?”
I know I made a logical point, but I can’t ignore the emotion in her voice and her eyes. Maybe this is a good example of the deficiency inside me. I can’t put my own sibling in Drake’s place because I never had one. I can’t imagine what it’s like.
“Okay,” I tell her.
I find Yuri on the back porch reading a book. When he hears me, he springs to his feet with his hands behind his back. “Yuri, would you be able to call Dimitri for me?”
“Certainly, miss, though he may be busy.”
Part of me hopes he is busy. I want to help Mila, but I also remember how brazenly those men attacked us in public. What if Mila’s dad takes over, and they do that to more people? What if some of those people are orphans and don’t have a sister or a Dimitri to look out for them? What then?
Trying to force these doubts down, I follow Yuri into the main entranceway. Mila is waiting in the library for me, probably biting her fingernails. Yuri makes the call. “Sir, Miss…” He raises an eyebrow at me, a look of complete embarrassment on his face.
“Meadows,” I tell him.
“… Meadows would like to speak with you.”
He nods, then hands me the receiver, an ornate golden piece. When I first walked past it, I was sure it was an ornament and wouldn’t actually work.
“Don’t sweat it, Yuri,” I tell him. “It’s not like I’ve been here long.”
“It won’t happen again, miss.”
“Lia?” Dimitri says.
“Hey, I’m here.”
“Is something wrong?” he asks sharply.
“I just… I wanted to speak with you,” I reply, chickening out.
“This is a secure line,” he replies. “Say anything you need to.”
“It’s just…” Again, it’s chicken time. “What are you up to?”
I can hear the smirk in his voice. “I’ve just had a meeting with the board. I’ve still got a week or two before people start expecting me to get over my father’s death.” His tone is a bitter irony. I know full well he doesn’t have to get over anything. “Now, Mikhail and I are going to meet with Nikolai.”