Page 25 of Marked (Russian Sinners 1)

My hands shook so badly as I covered my face, trying to get a grip. It had been so long since I’d had nightmares. The memory was so raw and fresh again.

“It’s not a big deal,” Sergei mumbled. I must have made him feel uncomfortable but I just couldn’t stop the shaking.

Dimitry’s hands wrapped around me. “Do you remember what was the dream about?”

Yes.

“No,” I answered instead in a low voice, unable to look at any of them. “My head hurts. Do you have aspirin?”

“I’ll go get some,” Nikolai offered and pulled Sergei along.

With them gone, I was finally able to look at Dimitry. “Did I hit you?”

“No,” he assured me in a calm voice. “Are you alright?”

I took a deep breath. “Yes, I am so sorry,” I apologized again. “It’s been a long time since I had a nightmare.”

“It might help to talk about it,” Dimitry offered but I couldn’t take him up on it.

“I’m good. I’ve forgotten most of it anyhow,” I lied.

“Okay,” he replied in a tone that indicated he didn’t believe me.

“Here, I got you some aspirin and water.” Nikolai came back at the perfect moment.

I held out my still trembling hand and he dropped two pills in my palm, then handed me a glass of water. I swallowed them with the water, working to avoid both of their eyes.

“Go back to sleep,” Dimitry ordered me and I met his grey gaze.

I didn’t want him to leave, but then I was scared for him to stay and potentially witness another incident. I should have expected the nightmares to come back with all the triggers that have been happening in my life over the past two weeks. My mind slowed down and my thoughts became harder to grasp.

With my eyes drooping from exhaustion, I met his gaze. “I feel weird.” It was hard to get those three words out.

“It’s aspirin with sleeping aid,” Nikolai commented. “So you can get some rest.”

“Oh, okay.” That was good, maybe I’ll get some rest and a dreamless night. I closed my eyes on a sigh and muttered in a soft voice, “Thank you for saving me. Whatever the reason.”

My head back on the pillow, I opened my eyes again. Neither one of them had moved from their spot. Dimitry was still next to me on the bed and Nikolai stood on the other side of the room.

“Will you stay?” I thought I moved my lips to ask the question but I couldn’t hear my voice and sleep slowly took me under.

“Yes, I’ll stay.” Dimitry’s voice was far away but it gave me a peace as the world disappeared from my mind.

Chapter Eleven

Dimitry

Istudied Anastasia’s sleeping face. Her peaceful form was deceiving and I was starting to see layers of her she was eager to hide. Her courage was undeniable; she stood her ground when in confrontation. But underneath it all, there was also vulnerability and fear, a need for safety.

What the hell caused her to get so shaken up? She looked more in distress from her nightmare than her kidnapping.

“We need to find out the missing puzzle piece here,” I told Nikolai in Russian. “There is something the attorney didn’t tell us.”

“I will.” There was not an ounce of doubt in Nikolai’s voice. It was his speciality. “You don’t believe it was a nightmare?”

“No.” I glanced at Nikolai. “Do you?”

“No.” Nikolai studied Anastasia’s sleeping form. “There is a price on the black market for any group or individual that captures Anastasia Manciatti.” He spoke in Russian, keeping his tone low. “The price is significant. One hundred million Russian rubles.”

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