Page 27 of Marked (Russian Sinners 1)

We had a good spot, a dark alley cleared at our backs. We ensured it ourselves. There was an exit route that we secured over the last two days and nobody knew about it. We made it ourselves with a drill and hammer. It was hidden behind the wall and went through the twelve inch stone wall. It was just big enough for us to crawl through it.

I hovered over the small woman dressed all in the black, traditional folklore dress. With her wrinkled hand, she grabbed mine and kept flipping it back and forth.

I was so tempted to roll my eyes but didn’t want to disrespect the woman. If it would make it easier, I’d give her money just to leave me alone. But the gypsy women, witches locals called them, were famous for not taking charity. Unless they sold you something, anything, they refused to take the money.

“Anything?” I asked impatiently.

“Hmmm,” she murmured. Jesus, just get on with it woman! Say some bullshit and be on your merry way.

I glanced around again to ensure not to miss our lead.

“I got it, Dimitry,” Nikolai assured me.

He kept an eye out. He knew how important this was. We had one shot and one shot only to eliminate these fuckers so we wouldn’t have to go down this damned road straight to hell. We were probably already going to hell but there was no need to get there faster.

One thing I didn’t know when we joined Boris’ organized group but I learned it really quick. Once you got into rússkaya máfiya, there was no getting out. It was for life. So if we would be in it for life, it would be under conditions that I would make. Boris wouldn’t know it until it was too late. First and foremost, I keep my brothers safe. Then we’ll take over Boris’ organization. It might take years, but sooner or later I’d take the reins.

“You crave a family,” she announced and my head snapped back to the old woman. I watched her, my gaze unwavering. She lifted her dark eyes and met my eyes knowingly. One heartbeat of unspoken wishes, the ones I never allowed myself.

I quickly pushed the ridiculous notion away. It was nonsense that I was even letting her read my palm.

I pulled my hand out of her wrinkled grip and handed her coins with my other hand.

“Here is your payment,” I told her. “Thank you for your service.”

“There will be a woman,” she continued, as if I didn’t just dismiss her. “Unless you keep her, she will be your undoing. She will bring you to your knees. Without her, your knees will turn raw. With her, you will worship her and have the family you so crave.”

What a fucking rubbish!

I lifted my eyes and spotted the fuckers we came to take off the face of the Earth.

“Go inside, woman,” I warned her, my eyes locked on the men that would die tonight. “And don’t come out until it’s safe.”

In my peripheral, I noticed her following my gaze. She understood what was about to happen and quickly scooted away. That night we killed the top men of the Lebanese crime organization and a silent warning was sent back to others. If they didn’t keep their distance, they’d end up the same way.

I shifted my thoughts back to the woman who laid next to me. I never gave those words nor the old woman another thought. Although now looking at Anastasia laying next to me, I had to wonder. It had been less than twenty-four hours and the pull was quickly bringing me to my knees.

Would she be my undoing?

Chapter Twelve

Anastasia

Iwoke up with a dry mouth and rays of sunshine beaming through the windows. I thought back to last night and felt a bit embarrassed. But there was nothing I could do about it. It happened and I couldn’t undo it.

Sitting up, I looked around the room. Dimitry was gone, although his side of the bed was still outlined with the spot he slept in. My hand went to it, and I could feel the warmth from his body there. He stayed with me all night.

He makes me feel safe.

Whatever his story was or how my father made him become part of this mess, Dimitry made me feel safe. He was my best chance at surviving, physically and mentally. Now how weird was that? A man that oozed with power and danger made me feel safe!

Someone knocked on the door and it opened. Dimitry stood there, looking at me with those grey eyes and I felt like he was seeing every inch of me to the bottom of my soul. It made me wonder what he saw. A mess of a woman that needed her family’s protection, a woman with a wealthy family behind her, or did he just see me.

My eyes gazed over his tall frame. He wore a dark pair of jeans and an untucked white button down shirt. There was no denying it, he was hot as sin.

“Morning,” I spoke first.

I wasn’t a shy person but for some reason knowing he saw me at one of my vulnerable moments, made me feel shy. His gaze on me made me squirm, nervous he’d seen too much of me.

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