Page 34 of Bound By Hate (Born in Blood)

“Not even if he ends up hurting Mila?”

I open my mouth to fire off a retort when Mikhail enters the room. “What’s going on?” he demands. “I heard shouting.”

I ignore him and look at Sofiya. “Get out of my room. Now.” She doesn’t move. “Now!”

“Don’t scream at my wife,” Mikhail growls.

“It’s ok,” Sofiya says, looping her arm through Mila’s. “We’re leaving.” I can feel Sofiya’s judgmental eyes on me as she leaves the room with Mila in tow. Mikhail shoots me a glare, then follows after them.

All the fight leaves my body, and I slump onto the bed. No one is going to take away what I deserve. Not Sofiya. Not Mila. And most definitely not Mikhail.

Not even Aleksander, who’s ugly face I can’t stop thinking about.

I run into the bathroom and bend over the toilet, pushing my fingers down my throat and forcing vomit to come out of me.

The moment I’m done, I feel better.

I feel right.

Because everything will be all right.

Chapter

Six

VIKTORIYA

Things are tense when I come down for breakfast the following morning. Sofiya refuses to talk to me while Mila keeps her distance. Mikhail ignores me, but that’s not unusual. He can’t stand me.

As for Gleb, he’s the only one who seems happy to see me, which I’m not sure I like.

“Good morning, Viktoriya,” he says warmly.

“Hi.” I grab my plate from Diana and sit down at the table. Scrambled eggs. The sight makes me want to throw back up again. I push the plate away. “I know you’re not happy with me,” I say to Sofiya.

“I’m just eating my breakfast,” she responds.

“I’m marrying Gleb. I made my decision. You can’t punish me for that.”

Gleb looks between us. “What’s going on?”

“They’re in an argument,” Mikhail explains. “One in which I am not happy with Viktoriya.”

“What’s new?” I say.

He throws me a glare before standing up. “I have work to attend to.” Resting his hand on Sofiya’s shoulder, he asks her if she’ll be all right.

She nods. “I’m fine.”

With a final stern look in my direction, Mikhail takes off.

“Mila,” I say. “We should go practice.”

“I’m not in the mood today. Sorry, Vik.”

My mouth drops open. “But you need to be ready. The performance is in a few months. You need to have your steps down perfectly.”

“No. That’s what you want.” She gives me a sad look before standing up. “I’m going to my room. Please don’t bother me.”

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