The drive to the resort is beautiful, winding roads offering glimpses of pristine beaches and lush jungle. But I barely notice the scenery, too preoccupied with the growing knot of anxiety in my stomach.
When we arrive at the hotel, Uncle Viktor makes a show of checking us in and escorting us to the Presidential Suite. It's undeniably impressive, a sprawling space with a large master bedroom, two smaller bedrooms, and three luxurious bathrooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a breathtaking view of the ocean.
"Well, what do you think?" Uncle Viktor asks, spreading his arms wide. "Not too shabby, eh?"
My mother makes the appropriate noises of appreciation, but I can see the strain around her eyes. She knows something's wrong, too.
"It's lovely, Viktor," my father says stiffly. "Thank you for your... generosity."
Uncle Viktor grins, but there's something sharp in his eyes. "My pleasure, brother. After all, we didn't need all this extra space anyway. Enjoy your stay."
With that, he's gone, leaving us alone in the cavernous suite. For a moment, we all just stand there, the silence thick with unspoken tension.
Finally, my father clears his throat. "Well, let's get settled in, shall we? It's been a long day."
We disperse to our respective rooms, but the uneasy feeling follows me. As I unpack, my mind races with possibilities. What's going on between my father and uncle to make them so tense? Why the last-minute change of plans? And why can't I shake the feeling that something terrible is about to happen?
There’s a coiling heat in my stomach that has nothing to do with waking up alone in a bed that had a man in it last night.
I'm halfway through hanging up my dresses when there's a soft knock at my door. "Come in," I call out, expecting Alina.
To my surprise, it's my mother who enters, her face drawn with worry. "Natalia, darling," she says, perching on the edge of my bed. "Is everything alright? You seem distracted since we arrived."
I pause, considering how much to reveal. "I'm fine, Mama," I say finally. "Just tired from the trip, I guess. But... is everything okay with Papa and Uncle Viktor? They seem tense.”
My mother's smile is strained. "Oh, you know how brothers can be. Always some little disagreement or another about something small and petty. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."
But I can see the lie in her eyes, the way her hands twist nervously in her lap. Whatever's going on, it's more serious than she's letting on. Serious enough that I think she wants to talk about it.
"Mama," I say softly, sitting beside her. "What's really happening? You can tell me. I’m not a little girl anymore.”
She looks at me for a long moment, conflict clear on her face. Then she sighs, her shoulders slumping. "I don't know all the details," she admits. "But your father... he's been worried about something. Late-night phone calls, hushed conversations. And now this sudden change with Viktor..." She shakes her head. "I just hope he knows what he's doing."
I want to press for more information, but something in my mother's expression stops me. She looks tired, worried in a way I've never seen before. So instead, I just take her hand, squeezing it gently. "It'll be okay, Mama," I say, trying to infuse my voice with a confidence I don't feel. "We're all together. That's what matters, right?"
She smiles, some of the tension easing from her face. "You're right, of course. My wise girl." She pats my cheek affectionately. "Get some rest, darling. Things always look brighter in the morning."
As she leaves, I can't help but wonder if that's true. Because right now, the future looks anything but bright.
The rest of the evening passes in a haze of forced normalcy. We have dinner in the suite, the conversation stilted and awkward. My father barely touches his food, his eyes constantly darting to his phone. Uncle Viktor doesn't join us, citing some vague business commitment.
By the time night falls, I'm exhausted, more from the emotional strain than physical fatigue. I say goodnight to my family and retreat to my room, hoping that sleep will clear my head.
But as I drift off, images of Luka flash through my mind. His intense blue eyes, the feel of his hands on my skin, the way he looked at me like I was the only woman in the world. I fall asleep with his name on my lips, tossing and turning in my cold lonely sheets.
A scream pierces the night, jolting me awake. For a moment, I'm disoriented, the unfamiliar surroundings throwing me off balance. Then I hear it again—my mother's voice, high and terrified.
4
Natalia
My heart racing, I stumble out of bed, nearly tripping over my own feet in my haste. I burst out of my room just as Alina emerges from hers, her face pale with fear.
"What's happening?" she gasps, but I don't have an answer.
We both heard the scream, but that was all. Now, the hallway is drenched in an eerie silence that pools at my feet like black sludge. I feel the weight of it slowing my step, even as my heart beats faster and the panic in my veins pushes me along.
We scurry towards our parents' room, the sound of our mother's sobs replacing the silence. I throw open the door, and the sight before me makes my blood run cold.