Page 90 of Cruel Knots

“Stuff that people leave behind.” He says with a shrug and walks away, leaving me with more questions.

While he gathers helmets and gloves from a nearby cabinet, I pull on the jeans.

The fabric is coarse and itchy against my skin. Wearing them without panties worries me about contracting infections but I fasten the button and pull up the zipper. This is my first opportunity to step out of the manor and I’m not going to waste it.

Coming closer, Mikhail places a helmet on my head and secures it. “Let’s go.”

My excitement wanes as I suddenly realize we aren’t going to be taking a car. Feeling apprehensive, I follow Mikhail until he chooses a yellow-bodied motorcycle.

“You’re going to be cold,” he says, sweeping his gaze over me.

“I’ll be fi—”

Shirking off the leather jacket he’s wearing, he hands it to me. “Roll up the sleeves and it should be fine.”

“What about you?” I ask, inhaling the scent of leather and fresh citrus.

“I’ll sneak out Leo’s jacket,” he says with a mischievous wink.

The gesture makes my heart pound heavily. My cheeks warm and for the first time, I feel like I’ve been transported to the past.

The fluttery feeling in my belly reminds me of a time when we’d all been happy. Mikhail and his brothers always made me feel good for no reason. Just being around them had me blushing and blurting funny, embarrassing things.

A sharp, whistling tune jolts me out of my memories. Mikhail is back and securing the zipper on a tan leather jacket.

“Ready?” he asks, lowering the visor on his helmet.

“Uhh—”

He grins, his silvery eyes shining with humor.

“I’ve never been on a bike before,” I mutter.

“It’s no big deal,” he says, gracefully mounting the bike. “Hop up and hold onto me tightly.”

I mimic the way he climbs the bike but end up realizing my legs aren’t long enough to mount it in one graceful swipe. Mikhail holds the bike steady as I clumsily sit behind him. My fingers tightly grip his broad shoulders.

“Hold me like this,” he says, breaking my hold on his shoulders. He brings my arms around his waist and makes me clasp my hands. “Hold tight.”

A gasp escapes me as the bike shoots forward. The bike hums underneath me as Mikhail maneuvers through the rows of cars and bikes. A shutter in the distance automatically rolls up, bringing in gusts of cold breezes inside the garage.

Mikhail speeds up, shooting through the gap in the door.

My arms tighten around him as cold air whips past me. The helmet and jacket protect me against the chill as we move through the barren empty grounds.

The main gates are quite far from the manor. Thick woods and rising hills surround the property, concealing the Volkov Pack’s lair from the world.

Gazing ahead, I catch the first glimpse of the gates. They’re tall, thickly enforced slabs of steel. The walls on both sides are several feet tall, making it impossible to climb over.

Armed guards patrol the area. Escaping this part of the estate would be impossible even under the cover of night. Bribing these men would be the only way to enter the Volkov estate without their master’s invitation.

I think of the three men in the underground cellars who took Callum’s money and allowed his mercenaries to enter these grounds.

Despite his cruel ways, Leon’s rage is justified. This is their home and these men are responsible for protecting it. Breaching their trust in exchange for money counts as betrayal.

The bike speeds through the gates, bringing us out onto a narrow dirt road that spirals through the woods. My hold on Mikhail tightens as the bike bumps over the uneven path.

Soon, the trees surrounding us grow sparse, giving me a glimpse of an empty road in the distance. The bike speeds up, almost flying through the deserted highway.

---