Page 77 of The Virgin I Desire

“With all my heart.”

My grandmother stared at me. She pursed her lips and frowned before speaking again:

“He's not the man I wanted for you. I admit that I am very afraid of what might happen when you go to Russia, but I have faith in the blood that runs through your veins and in your power to control the situation.”

“Thank you, grandma.”

She opened her arms, and I stretched out to snuggle into them. I laid my head on her chest, and she hugged me tighter. We stayed like that for a while until she pulled away and held my face to look at me.

“Know that your decision will have many consequences for everyone, and you will have to deal with them.”

“I know.”

“I'll think about how we can talk to your father.”

“Thank you, grandma.” I smiled.

“Now go take a shower and wash your hair. The men in this house are good trackers and they better not even imagine what you were doing in the early hours of the morning. I will provide you with a pill. Until this situation is resolved, it is best that you do not appear pregnant.” She got up from the bed and took a step towards the door.

“Can you bring me some ointment too?”

“Did he hurt you?” She opened her eyes wide.

“No, but we haven't stopped and I'm still getting used to it.”

She shook her head no, but ended up laughing, which relieved me.

“Ah, youth! I miss the time when I needed ointment for being sore.”

I laughed at my grandmother's comment and grabbed clean clothes to shower when she left my room.

Chapter thirty-three

Returning to Moscow without her always left me with a bad feeling. I had too much power and yet I continued to hide, it was very uncomfortable. Being the Pakhan should mean that I would have the world and everything else I wanted, but I was having to act cautiously around Pietra, I just didn't know how long I could continue like that.

“I want an answer, Sergei!” I raised my voice to the counselor, making his eyes widen.

“We are looking for whoever is behind the attacks, sir, but I still don't have any information. Maybe if you share with me what you've been hiding, I can help you better.”

“I told you there's nothing you need to know.” I slapped the table, making him take a step back. “I'm sure that my hidden activities are not causing the attacks. It's an internal enemy that I need to find and eliminate.”

“It's possible that it's influencing and you...”

I gritted my teeth, growling at him and Sergei stopped mid-sentence. No matter his insistence, I wouldn't confide in him my relationship with Pietra until it could be official.

Whether I was going to make an alliance with Italy or not, it was better to prevent my enemies from knowing my interest in her. I could deal with some people trying to kill me, but I wasn't around all the time to protect her and if there was one thing I didn't want, it was for Pietra to be hurt in some way.

“I want the head of whoever is trying to act against me, and I want it soon.”

“It could be any leader from all over Russia.”

“Then find him before I do it myself and take your head for treason.”

He swallowed hard at my threat and turned momentarily pale. He opened his mouth a few times, intending to say something, but ended up saying nothing.

“Leave!”

“Yes, sir.” He nodded and closed the door behind him, leaving me alone in my office.

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