Page 73 of Unleashed

Suddenly, another memory surfaces, like a snapshot from another life I once lived. Honest to god, if I didn’t believe in reincarnation before this, I sure as hell do now.

My brothers—I remember a few names now.

Mikhail. Viktor. Lev.

My heart aches.

Their laughter echoes around me as I reach for a slice of chocolate layer cake. My mother, her gentle smile lighting up her wrinkled face, cuts me a piece and tugs my hair. “Had them make your favorite,” she says, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”

I blink, and the memory slips away like a fading dream.

“Anissa?” Zoya looks at me with concern. “Would you like a piece?”

I nod, not trusting my voice. If I talk, I’m going to cry. Rafail’s intense gaze sweeps over mine. Wordlessly, he brushes a thumb across the top of my hand. Reassuring me. Leaning in, his breath is hot at my ear. “Do we need to go?”

I swallow the lump in my throat and force a smile. “Not until I have that cake, please.”

A commotion sounds out the window, and like they did at home, in the kitchen, every damn one of them comes to immediate attention. Rodion is the first to get up, pushing away from the table so fast his chair hits the floor. I stare, my fork suspended over the cake, as Rafail snaps into commander mode. Even his uncle and grandfather look immediately to him.

“Semyon, guard the door. Matvei, go with Rodion. Gleb, you stay here. Yana, scan the outer perimeter on surveillance and see what the fuck is going on out there.”

As everyone runs to obey, he leans in close to me and slides an index finger under my chin, bringing my eyes to his. “You doexactlywhat I say.”

I nod, both terrified of whatever’s happening and confident he’ll take care of me. Of all of us.

“Could be anything,” his grandfather says to me, leaning in to take a sip of his coffee. “Someone cut someone else off. They had heated words. Some idiot hit another guy for flirting with his girl. People do dumb things all the time.” He doesn’t need to supply the rest of his sentence because I already know. They don’t have the luxury of assumptions.

And yet… this all feels familiar, just like it did before. The shift from lighthearted memories to being on guard, ready to protect each other, doesn’t exactly catch me off guard. It’s second nature now and hints at a past I can’t remember in detail, but one that’s not very dissimilar to the present.

Yana speaks first. “They’re here for us, Rafail.” She’s on her feet, her phone in her hand. “The Popov family is here for you.” Her eyes go straight to his. “And they’re looking for you.”

Chapter 21

RAFAIL

My first stepis to make sure Anissa’s safe. She follows me with wide eyes, but she doesn’t look surprised or anxious. No. A sudden turn of events isn’t outside her experience at all. She’s ready for my command, which could range from anything to duck for cover under the table or catch the Glock 19 that I bought her midair and take a stance at the door.

She knows.

There’s more to Anissa than I’ve thought, and I aim to find out what.

The door to the small room we’re renting flies open, Rodion and Semyon in the lead. Behind them, Popov walks in alone. He stands tall with a lean, athletic build and an air of authority that makes most men cower.Mostmen. Not me.

He meets my gaze. “I need a word, Kopolov,” he snarls as if he’s barely holding onto his temper. He’s cold and merciless, a forceto be reckoned with in the Russian underworld. Anissa’s eyes are comically wide as she stares, hidden behind me.

I grin at him and clap him on the back. “Jesus, it’s good to see you, brother.”

Popov grins back at me. “As it is you. I’ve heard you have someone to introduce me to.”

I pull Anissa out from behind me proudly, my hand on her lower back. “Anissa, meet Roman Popov, eldest of the Popov family just north of Moscow. He likes to make a dramatic entrance.”

“So it’s true,” he says as if to himself. “I needed to see it with my own eyes.” Popov is well schooled in the art of a poker face, but even he can’t help the brief look of shock he quickly hides. His lips brush Anissa’s knuckles so briefly, I almost keep my temper fully in check when his wicked eyes glint at me.

“Welcome, Anissa. It would take a strong woman to withstand the likes of this motherfucker.”

I grunt at him and pull out a chair. “Join us? We were about to have dessert.”

Rodion and Semyon stand guard by the door. “He didn’t come alone, brother,” Semyon says quietly.

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