Page 54 of Savage Surrender

How could she get word to my father, though?

It hardly mattered, anyway. The damage was done. Someone had talked somewhere, and the word spread.

My fleeting hopes for a future with Viktor felt further from reality now. As I took a seat on the top floor, where he and I had done the deed, I fought back angry tears and tried to think up a new way out of this dilemma.

25

VIKTOR

Itold myself to stay away from Irina’s apartment building because it would be the easiest way for someone to notice me there. She’d be under surveillance of some kind, and I didn’t need my face showing up on any Petrov footage.

Now, that had to change.

Now, I had to take all the steps that I could to make sure she would be all right.

I parked at her building, worried that Igor Petrov would punish her for losing her virginity. I didn’t know anything about the man, only whatever any other Mafia brother did. What I was fully aware of was the fact that she never mentioned him. Never spoke of a parent or family at all, just that they were “influential”.

If she was fond of him, even just a little, that would show in her attitude and personality, wouldn’t it?

Mindful of the ice on the sidewalk, I jogged toward the entrance of her building. Before I reached those doors, though, I heard the crunch of snow off to the side. I slowed, ready to attack orhide depending on who was coming. That was how tense I was. That was how fully my mind had shut down to brace for ugly confrontations.

I told Irina that I wanted to fight to make us happen, and this very well could be the moment where I would prove that.

Sticking to the wall around the corner, I stayed out of sight as two Petrov guards walked by. “She’s a pain in the ass,” the shorter man complained.

“Eh, soon, she won’t beourpain in the ass,” the other said.

I narrowed my eyes, furious that they’d talk about her like that.

“How so?” the first asked.

“The Boss will make an example out of her,” the second replied, chuckling.

No. No, he will not.I refused to accept that.

Since they were walking away from the building, unhurried and just moving along, I doubted they were leaving Irina in the apartment up there.

But where else could she be?

If those guards sounded annoyed by her, she had to be feeling the heat. Rurik said “everyone” knew that I’d claimed Irina, that I’d been seen out with her. That meant her guards would know, too. With people ganging up on her or giving her a hard time, she’d be threatened and upset.

She’d want to feel safe.

I backed up then broke into a run for my car. I knew exactly where she would be.

The library.

She said she went there late that one night because she wanted to feel safe. I had to hope that would still be true today.

After I drove to the closest parking lot near the huge library, I got out and hurried inside. Just like the last time when I looked for her here, I checked every floor. I shouldn’t have been surprised to find her on that top floor again. It was a quiet oasis of glass walls and thousands of books on cases arranged in something like a maze.

Unlike that last time I sought her out here, I didn’t slow down and appreciate the slow buildup of tension in stalking her down the aisle. I almost ran, aiming a direct path for her seated at a chair near the windows.

Gray clouds hung fat and low outside, almost as if the sky were pressing down on the roof and walls, ready to snap them all under the pressure.

With her feet under her, she slanted over the armrest and hugged her knees, staring out at the bleak nothingness out the window.

“Irina.”

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