Page 10 of Bound By Hate (Born in Blood)

I sigh and throw a look at Gleb. “He insisted on coming. We tried to leave before he could come, but well, he’s here now. Just make sure Mikhail will protect us this time.”

“I will,” Sofiya promises.

Gleb meets my eyes and smiles in a way that makes me hate him more. I turn away from him, ready to begin my life again in Russia. It feels one step closer to losing everything I worked so hard for. My dance career. If I couldn’t cut it in New York, I definitely won’t be able to make it work in Moscow.

When I step through the front door of Mikhail’s penthouse, I’m struck by the number of people there.

“You’re throwing a party?” I ask.

“I had this event already in motion,” Mikhail tells me. “I couldn’t change it just because you were coming.”

Looking around, I take in all the faces of the men present. Because that’s the thing—it’s all just men. I remember Mikhail’sparties. They were usually just attended by men, which always made me uncomfortable. All those eyes on me, and none worthy to even look in my direction.

“Sorry about this,” Sofiya says, pulling us to the side. “I asked him if he could change it, but you know Mikhail. Once he has something planned, he sticks to it. I’m just glad he agreed to let you both come back.”

Gleb saunters up to us. “Are you girls all right? Tired from the trip?”

Sofiya raises her eyebrow at “girls.”

“We’re talking to our sister now,” I tell him.

He doesn’t walk away.

“I think what my sister means,” Sofiya says, “is that we’d like to talk alone, if you don’t mind.”

“All right. Just be careful.” He joins the fray of men and, fortunately, leaves us alone.

“He’s something else,” Sofiya says.

“You can say,” I mutter. “He’s so insistent on treating us like we’re children. He thinks he can find me a husband.”

“I take it you haven’t found a husband yet.”

I flip my hair over my shoulder. “No man is good enough. Trust me. I’ve met with a few, and all of them were utter disappointments.”

Sofiya opens her mouth, closes it, then shakes her head. “Never change, Vik. Never change.”

“I’m worried Gleb might force us to marry someone we don’t want to marry,” Mila says. “He says he’s not like Boris, but … I’m not sure.”

“Well, you’re here now,” Sofiya says to her. “Mikhail will make sure you’re safe. Whatever Gleb is up to, he can’t hurt you here.”

“You said that before about Boris, but he still found a way to kidnap you and almost kill me,” I remind her. “I’m not sure anywhere is safe.”

Sofiya doesn’t answer because she knows I’m right. When you’re a woman stuck in a world full of powerful men, you will never be safe.

I go into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Champagne is being passed around, but I’m not about to get drunk in a house full of men. I have standards.

Mikhail is in the kitchen, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge. He glances over at me and nods. “Viktoriya.”

“Mikhail.” I open the fridge and grab one for myself. “So … nice to see you again.”

“Being polite this time. How novel.”

“Don’t you know? I’m always polite.” I stare at him harder. “I have to ask, Mikhail. I need to know you will protect Mila and me. I know you love Sofiya, but Mila and I don’t have anyone else.”

He takes a sip of his water. “I know. I also know you and I haven’t always gotten along. As long as you don’t try anything stupid, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”

“You say that, but you invited us into a house full of men the second we got here. How can I know for sure?”

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