Page 49 of Bound By Longing

The only problem is—how am I going to see him? Mikhail won’t let me just walk to his house.

But Sofiya would help me. She knows I’m conflicted. I just don’t want to get between her and Mikhail’s marriage. I would feel horrible if I made him upset with her.

No, I have to do this on my own. But I have to be smart about it. Lev could very well be on the hunt for me again. I need a car to get to Damien’s house safely. Good thing I know where Mikhail keeps the keys.

When night comes around and I hear Sofiya and Mikhail go to bed, I sneak downstairs, grab the keys from the bowl on the kitchen counter, and leave the penthouse. A guard is stationed in the hallway.

“Mila,” he says, surprise obvious in his voice. “What are you doing out?”

“I need to go somewhere. Trust me. I’ll be safe. Please don’t tell Mikhail.”

“He’ll want to know.”

“I know. But I’m not a prisoner, am I? I’m allowed to leave whenever I want.”

He hesitates, and I know I’ve got him. “Well … yes. You can leave if you want.”

“Then I’m leaving. I’ll be back in a few hours. No—longer. If I’m not back eventually, then you can tell Mikhail. I need this. Please.”

His eyes soften, and he motions for me to walk on ahead. “All right. Just be safe. If something happens to you, Mikhail will have my head.”

“Nothing will happen.”

At least, I don’t think it will.

I hurry away before the guard has second thoughts and tries to stop me. I’m down the elevator, through the lobby, and outside within minutes. I can do this. I have to see Damien. The way he touched me, showed me pleasure, still circles through my mind. It’s not fair that he made me feel that way and then just let me go.

He wants me, but he’s not fighting for me. Why? I need answers.

I find Mikhail’s car in the parking garage and, feeling terribly guilty, drive off in it. I remember exactly how to get to Damein’s house, mostly because I haven’t stopped thinking about him since I left.

Once I pull up to his house, I hesitate. Can I really do this? Just barge in and demand answers. Damien doesn’t technically owe me anything.

But I know I deserve answers.

With a quick inhale, I get out of the car and enter his building. I catch the elevator to his floor, then knock on his door and wait. It only takes a few seconds for Collette to answer.

“Mila.”

“Hi, Collette. Is Damien in?”

“He is. Come in.”

The moment I step foot over the threshold, I know I’ve made my decision.

Collette leaves, and a moment later, Damien is there before me. “Mila, what are you doing here?”

“Do you really not want me?”

His lips part, and his eyes widen before he leans against the wall, regaining his cool composure. “Did you miss me?”

“I don’t have time for a flirting game right now, Damien. I want to be real. Serious. Because I’ll be married soon if Dimitri and Mikhail have their way. So, do you want me?”

He stares at me for a moment before answering. “Before I tell you, I want you to tell me something first. I want you to tell me how you feel about your father.”

I stumble back. “My father?” I remember the look of disappointment on his face as he left the ballet the night he died. All because I made a mistake. He didn’t look at me like an angel that night. I was just a disappointment.

And then, he was gone.

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