Page 11 of Savage Reign

I sigh, but a smile creeps onto my face. “Fine. I’ll live in a small, sunlit apartment above a café in Berlin. I’ll be part of an amazing dance company, spending my nights and weekends performing. In my spare time, I’ll bike through the city, exploring and wandering through art galleries and quaint little bookstores. All without a bodyguard,” I add because, hell, this is my dream life scenario.

I turn to Alex. “Your turn.”

He sits back, a thoughtful expression settling over his face. “I’m going to live in a beautiful flat in London’s Soho, close enough to walk to the theatre district. I’ll land a leading role in something big—a musical or maybe one of those classic dramas. My nights will be spent at the pubs with the rest of the cast and making out with all the cute boys.”

Daria snorts. “And how is that different from your life now… minus the very expensive real estate?”

Alex elbows her, but she just grins. “All right, your turn, Miss Hollywood.”

“I’ll find a little place in the Hollywood Hills, one of those old art deco apartments with a view of the city. I’ll land a role on the next big Netflix series opposite some super famous and hunky actor, who I’ll also be fucking on the side.”

“I love that for you,” I deadpan.

We’re all quiet for a minute before Alex speaks up. “I’m going to miss you two.”

I swipe a napkin across my mouth, setting my sandwich down. “I can’t believe that after this week, we go our separate ways.”

Daria and Alex exchange a look. “And that’s why we have something planned for after the final performance,” Daria says, leaning toward me.

Alex rubs his hands together. Okay, they definitely have something up their sleeves.

“And that is?”

“I got us VIP tickets to Soundsystem.” When I stare blankly at Daria, she rolls her eyes. “It’sthehottest nightclub in Moscow right now. How do you not know this?”

“Because I don’t go to clubs.” It’s not like I don’t want to go out and have a good time, but constantly being trailed by a bodyguard puts a damper on that kind of fun.

“Well, get ready for a legendary night. Without him.” Alex nods toward Sam, seated across the room, his attention on the door like he’s expecting an ambush.

I snicker. “Good luck with that. Wherever I go, he goes. That’s kind of the point.”

“Oh, come on.” Daria pouts. “I get that a bodyguard is part of your life, but you deserve one night of freedom. I can’t imagine you’re a high-profile target.”

“And he’s a total killjoy.” Alex wrinkles his nose. “Always giving you a dirty look if you dare to have a second drink.”

They’re not wrong, but Liza and Roman have drilled into me that I could be a target if someone wanted revenge on the Syndicate. It’s unlikely, but not impossible.

“I don’t know, guys. Liza would kill me if something bad happened.”

“Well, you’d already be dead, so who cares?” Alex bats his baby blues at me, fully aware of how persuasive he can be. “Come on. It’s our last night to have fun before we all go our separate ways.”

“It’s a bad idea,” I murmur, but with less conviction.

“Bad ideas are the best ones,” Daria adds. They both stare at me expectantly.

I know it’s reckless, that I shouldn’t take a chance, but it’s my grad night, and I refuse to miss out on a night to remember with my friends before everything changes. “Screw it. I’m in.”

They both squeal and clap their hands, but I shush them, motioning with my head toward Sam.

Alex blows out a breath. “Speaking of which, how are you going to get rid of broody Sam over there?”

I drum my fingers on the table in thought. “The fire escape is the only way.” I’ve never climbed down the narrow ladder before—it’s four stories, after all—but with a guard stationed out front of my building, I don’t have a choice. “It’ll drop me straight into the alley.”

“Then it’s settled. We’ll pick you up around the back of your building. Get slutted up and prepare to have some fun.” Daria grins. “Maybe you’ll even meet a sexy guy and do something crazy like, I don't know, have a one-night stand?”

“One thing at a time,” I joke. “I’m sneaking out—let’s not jump to sleeping with someone whose last name I don’t even know.”

My friends love to tease me about the fact that I've never had a one-night stand. Yeah, I’ve gone on dates. I even managed to lose my virginity to a guy I briefly dated last year, a rigger on the backstage crew. I was attracted to him; he was cute and funny, but... I don’t know. The chemistry wasn't there.

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