Page 22 of Bound By Longing

I head for the door when he says my name. Slowly, I look back at him.

“Mila, this world is full of predators. They’re drawn to innocence. I know I am. Be careful out there.”

Chills spread over my body, though from fear or something else, I’m not sure.

I just know I can’t be spilling my deepest, darkest thoughts to Damien, of all people. I need to be home with my sisters, where I belong.

Wrenching the door open, I hurry through the apartment building until I’m out of it and heading into the night.

Chapter

Five

MILA

Ihave no idea where I’m going. All the street signs are in Russian, and I don’t have my phone to plug in Vik’s or Sofiya’s address.

As I walk the street, I keep my head down, hoping not to draw any attention to myself.

If only things were that easy …

I hear a man behind me speak in Russian. I can’t tell if he’s talking to someone else or me, but I pick up my pace either way. I make it to the end of street when someone grabs my arm.

I whirl around and come face to face with Lev, the man from the nightclub that Damien was not happy to see. His unassuming face is partially hidden in darkness.

“Let me go,” I demand, pulling away from him.

He steps back, smirking, as he eyes me over and says something else in Russian.

“I don’t understand you.”

“I said, why is Damien’s bitch out on her own?”

I flinch. “I don’t belong to Damien.”

“You were at his house. I watched you leave.”

Chills settle over me. Lev was watching Damien’s house. Who exactly is this man, and what does he want? I’d rather not know. Damien’s problems are not my problems.

“I’m just trying to get home,” I say.

“I can help you.”

I don’t like the way he says it. Too eager. I don’t trust this man, just like I don’t trust any of the other men in this city. I’ve been hurt too many times to trust as easily as I did before.

“I’m fine walking,” I tell him and turn around, but I end up bumping into another man. I didn’t even know someone was standing behind me. “Excuse me.” I try to walk past him, but he grabs me and shoves me toward Lev. “What are you doing?!”

Lev chuckles as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me close. “I want to have fun with Damien’s bitch. You’re coming home with me to entertain my friends.”

“Your friends?”

He nods to the man behind me. Another unassuming man. Out of the darkness slip more men—five in total. I’m surrounded.

“Who are you?” I ask Lev. Information is vital. Maybe I can use it to benefit me.

“I’m a man who doesn’t like Damien Petrov.”

“Why?”

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