Page 25 of Bound By Longing

With a deep inhale, I force my body to move. I close my eyes and let the ingrained dance moves come over me. Ballet was never a safe space for me because I was only doing it because my sisters did it, and it was expected of me. I don’t even know what my passion is. I’ve tried drawing and writing and acting. None of them are me. I don’t even know myself, and the thought fills me with a crippling loneliness.

Because my eyes are closed, I don’t see the person that trips me. One moment, I’m dancing, then next, my shin hits something, and I’m on the floor. The men laugh. When I open my eyes, I see one of Lev’s guys pull his leg back toward the couch. He tripped me, and now, they’re all laughing at me over it.

I remain glued to the floor, unable to move. Physically, I’m ok. I’ll bruise, but nothing serious. But psychologically, I’m not ok. Fear overtakes my brain, and I’m frozen in place.

“Get up,” Lev growls, nudging me with his foot. I spy a lamp on the side table. If I were Vik, I would have grabbed it and smashed it over Lev’s head, consequences be damned. I’m just too scared to do anything, and because of that, not only does fear course through me, but so is shame.

“Get up.” Lev grabs my arms and hauls me to my feet. “Dance.”

I remain frozen, even when the front door bangs open and another man enters the room.

But this is a man I’m not exactly afraid of, though I probably should be.

It’s Damien.

DAMIEN

The moment Mila left my penthouse, I knew something bad would happen. I haven’t gotten by in this life without surviving on my instinct.

I waited for a few moments before following her outside. Except, I didn’t see her right away. It was so dark outside.

But then I heard her scream. When I managed to find her, I saw her getting thrown into the trunk of a car. Lev’s car.

I ran back to my house, grabbed my car, and drove to Lev’s place. The thing is—Lev has been messing in my business for months now. He’s just a petty criminal looking to earn more.

And now he has Mila.

Now, I burst through the door—he never bothers with security, making it easy for me—and see Mila.

I take in the scene before me. Mila is on the floor in the middle of the room, looking like a deer in headlights. I’m not sure why I went after her. She doesn’t mean anything to me.

And yet, here I am.

“Damien,” Lev says, quickly backing away from Mila. “What are you doing here? I assume you’re here for your bitch?”

“I’m here for Mila. Don’t get in my way, Lev. You won’t like the outcome.”

His hard swallow is visible. He knows I’m a better fighter than he is. All his men know. They’re just small-time criminals looking to hurt a woman, whereas I’ve grown up in the big leagues.

Lev doesn’t stop me when I gently grab Mila’s arms and guide her away. “What did I say, little bitch?” he calls out. “You mean something to him.”

I let Mila go, storm over to Lev, and punch him in the face. His men stare at me in shock. Then I grab Mila’s arm and get her out of the house.

“Are you ok?” I ask once we’re in my car and driving back to my home.

She stares at me for a long moment. “You saved me.”

“I wasn’t going to let Lev have his way with you. I’m not that much of an asshole.”

“You saved me,” she repeats, sounding full of disbelief.

I don’t look at her as I continue to drive. Looking at her would be admitting I saved her, and I had no reason to save her. She means nothing to me.

She doesn’t say anything more as we reach my apartment building.

“You should come back inside with me,” I tell her. “You’ll be safe there.”

“Why did you save me?” she asks before I can leave the car.

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