Page 14 of Claim

Wincing, I peel off my base thermal top. At least the negative temperatures are good for something. It helped to stem the flow of blood.

I’m picking the dried bits of tissue from around the worst wound when I hear a droning sound.

As it gets louder, I look around frantically, but can’t find the source of the noise.

“Mikhail.” A tiny voice comes from the sky above me. “I have Drago heading to these coordinates.” The drone drops to my field of vision, and Enzo’s tone clears. “Are you hurt?”

“Not bad. I’ll live,” I grunt.

“I’m going to guide them in. Glad you survived the crash. The plane didn’t.” He doesn’t give me a chance to respond before elevating into the darkness.

That’s too bad, I liked that one.

If I can get Anastasia back, I’ll buy a new one.

It isn’t long before a heavier motor works through the trees.

A blacked out SUV appears, and a giant man with dark paint on his face climbs out.

“Mikhail? Drago.” He beats his chest before coming up, holding out his hand. “Let me help you into the truck.”

I’m still not sure if I should completely trust him, but he did get me Alexei.

If the worst that happens is he’s turning me over to my father, I’ve prepared for that.

I won’t be taken alive.

CHAPTER 4

ANASTASIA

I thinkthe old freak is really going to go through with it.

The days start to run together. I can only keep track by the stilted formal dinners that Ivan insists I attend with him, and the haggard old woman who comes in to fit me into the most hideous wedding dress I’ve ever seen.

“How can you work for him, Stella?” I finally ask her as she makes the final adjustments. “He’s making me do this against my will.” Maybe if I find her heart, she’ll help me.

“Hush, child,” she admonishes me, the wrinkles on her face deepening into a frown. “Don’t you know it’s worse to be on his bad side? Ivan runs this region. You’ll be the second most powerful woman here.”

“All this bullshit to not be first?” When my arms wave she tries to tug them back down. “Who’s above me? Does he have, like, another wife or something?”

Ow. She poked me with a pin.

I bet she did that on purpose.

Bitch.

“You need to wise up and learn to keep your mouth shut before he cuts your tongue out,” she hisses.

“Oh, you’re just jealous because you’re too old for his taste.” My chin rises with disdain.

I can tell.

She’s hated me from the moment she saw me.

“Don’t be an idiot. He’s using you for a bigger game, and trying to hurt people I care about because of it.” Her wrinkles deepen as she scowls. “You’re too stupid to understand, and I don’t have the patience to draw it out with crayons.” She stands, poking the last of the pins into a small cushion on her wrist. “Take it off. I’ll come back tomorrow for more alterations.”

What is she talking about?

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