Page 95 of Marked (Russian Sinners 1)

She must have gotten an inkling of my thoughts because she hugged me tighter. “I promise to keep us both safe too.”

I wondered if she would say that knowing my connection to Boris in my younger days. I should tell her, but I wanted to leave it all in the past. My ghosts and dirty deeds should never touch her light. I’d rather gouge my eyes out then dim her light and spirit.

“Are you ready to sneak out?” she whispered, her eyes glancing around inconspicuously. “Maybe we could take this date to a whole new level.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Anastasia

Dimitry’s bellowed laugh echoed across the terrace and I loved the sound of his laughter. My gut was telling me he rarely smiled or laughed.

“I would love to take this date to a whole new level, milaya,” he said through laughter, pressing his lips against mine. “I’m going to talk to Misha and will be right back.”

“Okay, I’ll go say goodbye to Natasha.” Lifting on my tiptoes, I couldn’t resist pressing another kiss onto his lips. “Let’s hurry up.”

He went to the bar area, and I rushed to find Natasha, standing with her mother and a few other ladies.

“Hey Natasha,” I greeted her and was met with a wide smile from her and her mother.

She took me into a hug while her mom muttered some stuff in Russian. “My mom says thank you for being my svideteli and thank you so much for such a generous gift.”

I patted her on the back, uncomfortable to receive gratitude for a gift that wasn’t from me. “Honestly Natasha, that was all Dimitry.”

“It was both of you. Dimitry wouldn’t have done it, if you didn’t agree to be my svideteli .”

Now her mother hugged me, and I stilled. With a tightness in my chest, I realized it was the first time I was hugged by an older woman since my mother died. Although Olivia’s mom and my mom were best friends, when mom died somehow it was the same time Olivia’s mom lost her will for life. Olivia’s mom could barely offer comfort to Olivia and Oliver, even less me. My throat hurt, like someone had squeezed it a bit too tight. Her embrace felt good, warm like a mother’s hug.

I awkwardly patted her back, scared if I hugged her I wouldn't let go.

“Spasiba.” Then she chatted in Russia but that was the only word I caught or understood.

Natasha translated. “She says,May God keep you safe.And thank you for not judging me for being pregnant.” I gave Natasha a surprised look. I thought nobody knew, so she went on to explain. “I told her and why we couldn’t push the wedding off to do it in our hometown.”

“It really isn't a big deal but you’re welcome. Although I thought spasiba means thank you?”

“The origin of it ismay God keep you safe. But it is used for thank you as well.”

“I guess it makes sense.”

“Do you think God will save you, Anastasia?” Vlad’s voice had all three of us turning to him. He seemed a bit drunk, his words slurred.

I chose to ignore him and spoke to Natasha. “I just came over to say goodbye. Dimitry and I are going to head out. Thank you for having us.”

She hugged me one more time. “I will see you around.”

I gave her and her mother another smile and turned around to take my leave. A few steps in, I realized Vlad was following me.

“Enjoy the wedding, Vlad.” I hoped it would be clear he was dismissed. I didn’t want a drunk trailing behind me.

“Dimitry wanted me to give you the car keys.” His hand extended and seeing Dimitry’s Rover keys, I took them without another word. As I went to turn away from him, his fingers dug into my upper arm. “You want to know a secret?’

Warning bells went off in my brain and a bad feeling crept up my spine. “Not really,” I retorted curt, trying to pull my arm out of his grip.

He paid no mind to my answer. “Dimitry, Nikolai, and Sergei were part of Boris’ group. Did you know that?”

I was sure my heart stopped beating, and all the world ceased to exist. The only thing I felt was betrayal, like an ice cold shower. I searched Vlad’s face for a sign of deceit, desperate for his words to be untrue. But I knew deep down it was true.

Everything Dimitry told me came back flashing in my mind. He told me he was part of an organized crime group but he didn’t say it was Boris’ group. Dimitry’s words from the night I told him I was to blame for my mother’s death, because I revealed to a stranger where we’d be, came back to me. Did he already know that? Was he there? He never mentioned he was part of Boris’ group although he had ample of opportunities. Would I never learn?

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