Page 24 of Vendetta Vows

"And?" She gives me a knowing look.

Despite everything, a blush creeps up my cheeks. "And the way he kissed me... it was like the world stopped spinning for a minute. Like I was safe."

I sigh deeply, the pleasure of the memory immediately tainted by what followed. "I just wish it ended differently."

Hannah pulls me into a fierce hug, her arms wrapping around me tightly. I sink into her embrace, letting myself be held, the tension in my shoulders finally starting to release.

"Your secret is safe with me, Aurora," she whispers against my hair. "I promise."

She pulls back, keeping her hands on my shoulders, making sure I'm looking directly at her. "Now go get some sleep. You're exhausted. I'll keep an eye out tonight and check social media. See if anyone tries to doxx you."

"You don't have to."

"I want to," she says firmly. "You don't have to do everything alone anymore."

The lump in my throat makes it hard to speak. "Thank you," I manage to whisper.

8

RUSLAN

ONE WEEK LATER

It'sthree in the morning, and I should be anywhere but here.

Yet here I am.

I've become a shadow in the night, watching her apartment from my car—windows tinted, engine off.

I convinced myself this is necessary. A protective measure. I made Sienna Voss delete that photo and ensured her career dried up faster than spilled vodka on hot pavement. Simple enough when you control half the production companies in Hollywood through various shell corporations.

No one fucks with what's mine.

Not that Aurora is mine. Not yet.

The gossip rags have been having a field day. "Mystery Woman Tames Russian Wolf." "Ruslan Dragunov's Secret Lover." "Hollywood's Most Eligible Bachelor Off the Market?" I don't give a shit what they say about me. But Aurora...

Artyom's background check on Aurora came back suspiciously clean. Almost as if she materialized in California seven years ago out of nowhere. The only record of another Aurora Castellanos was a girl out of Washington State.

At first, I thought that was the answer I'd been looking for.

But after a week observing her and some more digging, I knew that the only thing these two Auroras shared was a name. Nothing more.

I take another sip of now-cold coffee and shift in my seat.

Her fear of being seen had gone far beyond the desire for privacy. A review of the security footage after that night showed me that she ran into the bathroom and then fled from its window.

Everyone has secrets. But hers seem to terrify her.

Every day now, I've caught a glimpse of her in her window, like a ghost behind the glass. Each time I see her, I can't help but drink in her silhouette.

A delicate brushstroke against the curtain.

Even at this distance, I can recognize the telltale way she tucks her hair behind her ear. A gesture so small yet distinctly hers, and it makes my chest tighten.

The first time I saw her in that window, she approached carefully, scrunching her nose slightly as she peered into the darkness. For a moment, I dared to think that she could sense me watching.

Zarechka. My little dawn. Glowing even in the darkness.

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