Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 103852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
When I stared at that poster, it took everything in me not to cry. To force myself to turn around and not get caught up in how the world moved along and I didn’t.
I’m sure Philippe and Steph have tried to reach me, but we don’t belong to the same world anymore. They’re in the spotlight. I’m in a gilded cage. And if I attempt to get them involved in my life, I’ll put them in danger with Adrian.
“If it’s of any comfort”—Yan fell in step beside me after I ripped my gaze from the poster—“your Giselle is much prettier and more haunting than hers.”
I hated myself at that moment. Not because I disagreed, but because I wanted Adrian to say those words instead of Yan.
Shaking my head from the memory, I smile as I pour more soup for Mrs. Matthews, an old lady who likes her soup.
She grins at me, then escapes to the farthest table, spilling some of her soup on the floor.
The center where I volunteer is probably the biggest in New York, and we have several hundred homeless people who show up for meals.
I make Yan and Boris help, too. Something that Adrian disapproves of because, as he likes to remind me, they’re there to protect me, not serve food. Whatever. All they normally do is stand there and smoke. They’re better put to use serving food than doing nothing. Though they look a bit out of place with the white and blue aprons strapped around their suits.
They also don’t shy away from calling the homeless out on their bullshit when they steal. Especially Yan. I swear he has zero patience sometimes. When I asked him how the hell he gets along with Adrian and Kolya, he said he doesn’t most of the time and that they’re too ‘stoic’ for their own good. Then he asked me not to repeat that in front of his boss if his life means anything to me.
I motion at him that I’m taking a bathroom break. He abandons the soup, removes his apron, and throws it at Boris before he falls in step beside me.
“You don’t have to follow me everywhere, Yan.” I groan as I make my way through the tables with him hot on my heels.
“Yes, I do, or the boss will have my balls.”
I chuckle at that image. Adrian is really severe and his calm only adds to his ruthlessness. I’ve witnessed how he talks to his men, and although it’s in Russian, I can sense the authority.
“Glad to see you laugh, even at the expense of my misery,” Yan grumbles.
“You’re being dramatic. It’s not misery.”
“Have you seen him? Also, I’m still not okay that Kolya gets all the fun.”
“Isn’t he the senior guard?”
He scoffs. “Senior grump, maybe.”
I smile. Kolya is always giving Yan shit about smoking, and even though I don’t mind it, Yan has already stopped smoking in my company, because of the pregnancy, I assume.
He stops outside the bathroom door in his wide, ready stance and goes to open it.
“I can at least open my own door.” I motion at his twitching hand. “Go ahead, smoke until I come back.”
I can tell he wants to, but his caution is stopping him, so I take the decision away from him. I open the door wide, letting him see the empty bathroom. “See? No one is here.”
After Yan’s watchful gaze checks every corner, he finally nods.
I shake my head before going inside and closing the door.
As soon as I’m in a stall, a shadow follows behind me. I open my mouth to scream, but a gloved hand wraps around my mouth and uses my body to close the door.
“Miss me, Duchess?”
I breathe harshly against Luca’s palm. He’s wearing a black leather jacket and a hat that shadows his eyes. He slowly removes his gloved hand. “Whisper or he’ll hear.”
“What are you doing here? Yan is right outside.”
“I can shoot him if he comes in.”
“No!”
“I see you’re forming attachments. That’s the worst thing to do, Lia. He’s Adrian’s guard, not yours. He’s keeping an eye on you on his boss’s behalf, and won’t hesitate to hurt you if he’s ordered to.”
I know that, but I still don’t want him dead. Yan doesn’t deserve such a fate, even if his boss is a major asshole.
“He won’t come in here unless I take longer than needed,” I bargain.
Luca releases an exasperated breath. “Do you have any idea how fucking hard it is to get you alone? I’ve been trying for fucking months. First, you were hidden away in his black castle, then he put you in a shelter associated with the Bratva, and his men follow you everywhere. This is the first time that tool guard didn’t check every corner of the bathroom first.”
Releasing a long sigh, I murmur, “This is my life now.”