Page 8 of Crown of Hate

With any luck, it’ll stay that way. Akim can rot in hell for all I care.

But right now, Akim isn’t the thorn in my side.

It’s Mikhail.

The bastard’s been haunting my thoughts ever since our meeting. Seeing him in the flesh reignited all my hate for the man. But something else has wormed its way in, something so vile I hate myself for even acknowledging it.

Lust.

He was a walking sin. And the way he looked at me, touched me, spoke to me…

Fucking hell.

I hate him with a passion. I need to tattoo that on my forehead.

“Earth to Alya.”

I snap my head towards Sophia, my best friend, blinking like an idiot at her. Her words finally sink in.

We’re at Furry Friends Rescue Shelter, an animal shelter where I volunteer during the holidays. School’s out for a few more weeks, and playing Florence Nightingale to rescue animals is my only escape these days.

“I said, you’re in another galaxy,” Sophia repeats. “You’ve been weird for days. Spill it.”

“You haven’t even seen me in days,” I point out.

“Your texts read like a depressed robot.” She gently deposits a white bunny in its cage and stares me down. “Something’s eating you. What gives?”

I sigh. I have so much on my mind. It would actually be nice to have someone to talk to. But how much can I reveal? “Remember how I told you my dad worked with the mafia?”

She bobs her head. “And then he was killed?”

“Right.” My chest constricts. “His BFF paid me a visit last week. He wanted me to… uh, date someone… someone from the mafia.”

Sophia frowns. “Sounds sketch as hell.”

I shrug. “Totally insane, right? Plus, the guy’s like ten years older than me.”

“Is he hot?”

I nearly choke.

“Sophia!”

“Just asking the hard-hitting questions.”

“He’s… he’s supposed to be my enemy. I’m supposed to hate him.”

“But do you?”

“Yes!”

“So why would your dad’s best friend try to set you up with him?”

“It’s… complicated.”

“Translation: He’s smokin’ hot.”

Mikhail’s smile flashes unbidden through my mind and my stomach flutters.

---