Page 7 of Between Power and Passion

With a sly grin, I feint left and cut right, easily evading Nikolai's clumsy attempt to steal the ball. My heart races with exhilaration as the goal comes into view.

"You'll never catch me!" I taunt over my shoulder.

Piotr barrels toward me, desperation etched on his face. I brace myself for the impending collision, planting my feet firmly in the grass. At the last second, I dummy the ball between his legs, leaving him to crash ungracefully to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

Peals of laughter erupt from my teammates as Piotr rolls over, clutching his knee with an exaggerated groan. "That's not fair, Dmitri! You're too good!"

I reach down to help him up, my chest still heaving from the sprint. "Maybe you should spend less time chasing girls and more time practicing, eh Piotr?"

He swats my hand away with a scowl, but his eyes sparkle with mirth. "Just you wait. I'll get you next time."

I turn sharply, and my foot connects with the ball in a powerful strike. It soars through the air perfectly... until it veers off course, smacking into a nearby tree with a dull thud.

"Watch it!" a feminine voice rings out in protest.

I whip around to see the ball rolling away from a young girl seated beneath the tree's shade. A large book lays at her feet, the pages ruffled from the impact.

Shit.

My friends erupt into raucous laughter and hoots. "Nice one, Dmitri!"

"Time to put those famous moves to use, eh?" Piotr calls out with a suggestive wink.

My face burns with embarrassment as I give him a sharp look. Steeling myself, I jog over to the girl.

"I'm so sorry about that," I start, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly. "Guess I don't know my own str—"

The words die in my throat as she looks up at me with stunning emerald eyes. Loose dark curls frame her delicate features, and full lips quirk upwards in an annoyed look that roots me to the spot. I stand there, utterly transfixed by her beauty. Those emerald eyes seem to pierce right through me, rendering me speechless and immobile. She brushes a curl from her face.

"You've destroyed my book," she says flatly, gesturing to the crumpled pages scattered in the grass.

My mouth opens and closes wordlessly as I drink in her flawless features. The gentle slope of her nose, the fullness of her lips, the way her dark lashes frame those captivating eyes—it's as if she stepped out of a Renaissance painting.

She arches one perfectly shaped eyebrow expectantly. "Can't you talk? Or are you just gawking down at me like a fool?"

The annoyance in her voice finally jolts me back to reality. I scramble to find the words, any words, to respond. But my mind is a tangled mess, overwhelmed by her radiant beauty.

She scoffs and rolls her eyes, clearly unimpressed by my slack-jawed staring. With one fluid motion, she gathers her book and stands before straightening her skirt.

"Asshole," she mutters, brushing past me without a second glance.

I watch helplessly as she strides away, my heart pounding in my ears. The scent of her perfume, an intoxicating blend of roses and vanilla, lingers in the air around me. I can't tear my eyes away as she disappears into the distance, her dark curls bouncing with each purposeful stride.

A firm slap on my back snaps me back into the present moment. I turn to see Piotr grinning at me, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Nice one, Dmitri," he chuckles. "I've never seen you so flustered around a girl before."

I open my mouth to respond, but he holds up a hand, shaking his head.

"Don't even think about it, my friend. That's Valentina Makarov you were drooling over."

The name sends a jolt through me. Valentina... it suits her beauty perfectly. I rack my brain, trying to place the familiar surname.

Piotr must see the confusion on my face because he lets out a hearty laugh. "Makarov? As in Sergei Makarov's daughter?"

Of course—Sergei Makarov, the most powerful and ruthless crime boss in all of Moscow. A shiver runs down my spine as I remember the stories of his brutality and viciousness.

Piotr claps me on the shoulder, his expression suddenly serious. "Listen, Dmitri. If you value your limbs staying intact, you'll go the other way whenever you see that girl coming. She's off-limits, you hear me?"

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