Page 32 of Beautiful Beast

He looks between the gate and me as he shifts in his seat. “I’m going to have to call Mr. Koslov and get his permission. I can’t open the gate without it.”

“Surely you can make an exception this one time. I’m his wife.”

“I know who you are, Mrs. Koslov. But I still need Mr. Koslov’s permission.”

“That’s fine.” I look into his booth and notice a button on the desk that surely must open the gate. The second the guard looks at his phone to dial Erik’s number, I lung into the booth and press down on the button.

The gate starts to open.

“Wait!” he says as I slide through the tiny gap in the gate and make a run for it.

My head start is minimal. The guard will call Erik, and he’ll come after me in his car.

Trees surround me as I run down the road. That’s my only play. I dive into the woods and use the cover of the trees to help hide me.

It only takes a few minutes before I see Erik’s car coming down the road. He’s going slow. Looking for me.

I move farther into the woods and keep running. I don’t really have a plan. I just need to know if Nadia is safe.

My foot slams into a root, and I fall face first onto the ground.

All my momentum is gone. Just like that.

Erik’s car stops, and he gets out and comes right toward the section of woods I’m hiding in. I scramble up and get behind a tree.

His footsteps are loud as they crunch on leaves. “Anya, I know you didn’t get far. Just come out. It’ll be easier for you if do.”

My entire body is frozen.

Erik gets closer and closer until he rounds the tree and sees me. “There you are.”

And I run.

He quickly catches me around the waist and pulls me flush against me. “All you had to do was wait for tomorrow, but already, you’re disobeying me. Why?”

“Because I need to see my sister. I need to know she’s all right!”

“Why wouldn’t she be all right?”

I go silent.

“Anya? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing.”

“Anya!”

All the fight leaves my body, and I slump against him. “My father likes to hit me.”

Erik goes still for a long moment before letting me go. I turn to face him. Having my back to Erik is not a good feeling.

“He hits you?”

“All the time. And I’m worried he’s doing the same to Nadia. I tried calling her, and she’s not answering. I need to know if she’s all right.”

Erik studies me with his dark eyes, and I feel like I’m on display at a museum. “You really care about her. Your sister. You’re worried.”

“I am. There. Now, you know my secret. You can use it against me. You can hit me all you want for lying. But I need to know Nadia is safe. That’s what I care about most.”

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