Page 64 of Bound By Longing

“Good maneuver,” Mikhail admits.

“Thanks,” comes Damien’s reply.

“What are we going to do?” I ask. “Those men won’t stop coming after me.”

“We need to get everyone to a safe house, including Viktoriya and Aleksander,” Mikhail says. “Then I’ll go out and hunt those bastards down.”

“I’m right there with you,” Damien says. The two men share a respective nod.

“I have a safe house outside of the city. I’ll tell you where it is.”

The rest of the drive is silent. I keep sneaking glances at Damien, but his gaze is focused on the road. I told him I couldn’t be with him if he couldn’t commit. It hurt so much to say, but it was the right thing to say. I was taught to hold to my beliefs, and I’ll take my beliefs with me to my grave if I have to.

We arrive at the safe house—a quaint, cottage-like house in a row of other cottage-looking houses. We’ll blend right in.

We hurry inside to make sure Lev can’t find us.

“We need to call Vik,” I say.

“I’ll do it,” Sofiya offers.

“No. It’ll be better coming from me.” I call her, and she answers on the first ring.

“Mila?”

“Vik, we’re ok, but we had to leave.”

“That’s good.” There’s a tension in her voice.

“Lev, Dimitri, and Vlad came after me again. I’m with Sofiya, Mikhail, and Damien. We’re at a safe house. You and Aleksander should get over here.” I rattle off the address. “Just to be safe.”

“All right. We’ll come. But, Mila, one last thing. I’m sorry for keeping you locked up. It wasn’t right. I just want you to be happy.”

“Why does it sound like you’re saying goodbye?”

The phone immediately cuts off. I stare down at it for a moment before I realize it. “Vik’s in danger.”

Sofiya hurries to my side. “What? How did you know?”

“She apologized to me. Vik never apologizes. And then she hung up. I gave her the address.”

Mikhail inhales deeply. “Which means if she’s in danger, then Lev and them have her. They have our address. We need to leave again.”

“I have a safe house as well,” Damien offers, but Mikhail hesitates. “Come on. It’s not a trap. It’s safe and secure. We need to leave now.”

“No,” Sofiya says. “We need to save Vik.”

“And I need to get you to safety,” Mikhail tells her.

“I’ll go to Vik,” Damien says. “I’ll save her and Aleksander.”

I frown. “But you don’t like Vik.”

“That doesn’t matter now. I’ll do my part. Mikhail, get them to the safe house. I’d ask you to come, but I know you won’t leave your wife alone.”

“All right. Come on,” he tells the two of us. Sofiya starts to follow him, but I plant my feet on the floor.

“No.” My one word is loud in the room. “I want to go with Damien. I want to help save Vik. She’s saved my life before. It’s only fair I return the favor.”

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