Page 8 of The Den of Sin
“Do you want the truth, Isabella?” I frowned at his question, watching him lean against the dorm door, his big frame pretty much covering the entire doorway. He casually stuck his hands into his pockets, the cold and hard expression on his face alarming, but my brain refused to register the warning.
“The truth?” The change in him was hard to adjust to after everything. The heated and passionate man from last night that ignited my body was gone. In its place was a cold, ruthless stranger. But even more unnerving was his hate; it went from cold to burning hate.
“The truth, Isabella, is that you were a willing pawn to my revenge. My mother lost her life. Your mother took from a Nikolaev, and we always settle the score. Neither you nor your mother should play with wolves.”
I asked for that one, didn’t I? I had pathetically worn my heart on my sleeve for this man.
It will never happen again. For anyone!
Chapter One
Isabella
Five Years Later
“You look beautiful, babe.” Ryan’s eyes burned with desire, his hands wrapping around my waist. I wore a sleeveless, V-neck red dress that fell down my body, softly hugging my curves. It revealed more skin than I was used to, but it fit this type of party. My hair was up in a fashionable bun that left my neck and shoulders exposed. Combined with red sandals and simple diamond studs, I looked like I belonged at the fancy party. Although, I didn’t feel it.
He looked very handsome too. His tux fit him well, accentuating his slim body and making his light brown hair even lighter.
“You look very handsome.” I placed a soft kiss on his cheek, inhaling his cologne. My body didn’t shiver in lust at his scent nor his body pressed against mine. But he felt comforting and warm.
He nuzzled his cheek against mine. “Thank you for coming with me.”
“Of course,” I murmured. “It is a big night for you. Your first movie role and you are nominated.”
I knew it was important to him, and I was proud of him. His rock band had been on top of all the charts for the past two years. When he was approached over twelve months ago for a movie role, Ryan jumped at it. He was eager to get to the top, and I was happy for him. If only there would be less paparazzi around.
“I know how much you hate the publicity and all eyes on us,” he retorted. “Makes me love you even more.”
I smiled softly at him. He was the first man to actually tell me he loved me. I loved him too; I just wasn’t sure whether it was the same way he loved me.
But he knew me well. He took time to know my likes and dislikes, which made me grow fond of him and slowly fall for his charm. And he was absolutely right. I hated crowds and the publicity, but I knew in order for our relationship to work, it was important that I supported him in his big moments. No matter how much I disliked being in the public eye.
The intercom buzzed and I gave him a peck on the cheek. “Let’s go, my award-winning boyfriend.”
“You don’t know-”
I cut him off quickly. “Have faith.”
Two hours later, we roamed the afterparty. Ryan was taking pictures with his prize, pretty much dazzling with his smile. His acceptance speech was beautiful but made me uncomfortable because everyone’s eyes turned to me. He pointed me out to the entire room, gushing about my support, and it took all I had not to shrink back. Then afterwards, I had to smile through endless photos till I finally snuck away, leaving Ryan to deal with the spotlight on his own.
There were only so many flashes of camera I could handle. To say this wasn’t my scene was putting it mildly. I was an ER physician for Christ’s sake, not celebrity material. I even hated being photographed. I asked myself at least a million times tonight what I was doing here. Crowds and spotlight were my two biggest dislikes. But I ground through it all.
Sipping on my champagne, I enjoyed the fact that nobody was talking to me. Silence and solitude were my best friends sometimes. Leaning against the wall, I observed the scene in front of me. So many fake smiles, fake congratulations, gossiping, laughing, and happy crying. God knew some of the actors had a lot of emotions.
There were faces I recognized from movies but the names escaped me. Every so often, someone would approach me and congratulate me and press a kiss on my cheek. At this point, I felt like I needed a damn shower. I hated familiarity with strangers.
My skin tingled with a familiar sensation that I hadn’t felt in so long. I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to shake it off, but instead of easing, it became stronger. As if on a magnetic pull, I turned my head and that was when I spotted him.
Vasili Nikolaev.
My heartbeat paused, time stilled, and the only thing I was aware of was the towering man across the room with the pale blue eyes of glaciers. The eyes I dreamed about more nights than not. The eyes I have been trying to forget for the past five years.
Pain pierced through me and my pulse resumed, thundering under my ribcage.
It couldn’t be him. I closed my eyes for a brief second and opened them, hoping the image was a figment of my imagination. Or a nightmare.
Praying hard it was just a bad vision, I slowly opened my eyes. But no, it was Vasili. He stood there in the flesh, towering like a dark cloud over everyone else, his strong frame making the crowd part for him without any effort from him. Like a king among his subjects.
