Page 38 of Scarred (Russian Sinners 2)

“Hello, Olivia.” And just like that my insides melted. His voice was sexy and deep even over the phone.

“Hi there.” He made me feel frazzled, and the calm control I usually used as my defense mechanism didn’t work around this man. I didn’t like that at all. Or maybe I liked it too much.

“Thank you for the pictures.” God, his voice alone was enough to send warm shivers through my body. It was the best kind of heat.

“You’re welcome,” I muttered, while my heart fluttered in my chest. Silence followed, full of unspoken promises. The promises that gave me hope, but also scared me.

“Tasha said she had a great time today,” he started talking when he realized I wasn’t going to add anything else. “She couldn’t tell me enough about all you two have been doing and you just arrived there yesterday. Thank you.”

I felt his gratitude wasn’t really earned by me.

“No need to thank me. We were just doing kid stuff,” I rasped, pondering why I was nervous. I had nothing to be nervous about. I cleared my throat softly before continuing. “Thank you for having my mom and Hilda put in a safe place. And me too.”

“No need for thanks,” he repeated my earlier words. “I want to tell you something but don’t want you to get upset.” My spine quickly straightened, tension soaking into each pore of my body. Something bad happened, I just knew it.

“Okay,” I breathed in, swallowing a lump in my throat. What could it be? Oliver just told me Mom was okay.

“Anastasia is in the hospital,” he started.

Sharp inhale. “I thought you said she was safe,” I asked in disbelief.

“She was kidnapped again but Dimitry located her the same day,” he explained slowly. I wasn't sure if it was because he thought me too fragile to hear it or if he went too fast and I would become overloaded with the information. “She threw herself in front of Dimitry to save his life and was shot. They are now in the hospital.”

“Oh my God,” I exclaimed. “Is she… I want to go see her.”

“I can’t let that happen. It would put you in more danger-”

“I don’t care. I need to go see her.” I couldn’t sit here and hide while my best friend was in the hospital, with potentially a deadly injury.

“Olivia, you’d potentially put her in more danger too.” Now that made me pause. I would not want to do that. “There is a man that betrayed us. I don’t want you to get on his radar.”

“Okay,” I murmured. That made sense. “Do you know what her status is?”

“She is out of surgery,” his deep voice soothed over the phone. “She hasn’t woken up yet and the next few days will determine how her recovery will go.”

The fear raged through me. She was like a sister to me. Life would be so cruel without her in it. We had gone through our highs and lows together. I couldn’t imagine this world without her. What was she thinking throwing herself in front of this Dimitry to save his life?

“Will you let me know updates, please?” I begged him. It was killing me not to go to her.

“I will, you have my word.” I believed his promise. I had a sense that Nikolai kept all his promises, no matter what it cost him.

Shifting it away from Anastasia, I focused on his ward. “Is it safe to take Tasha to a public park again or should we stay in?”

I heard a shuffle and a deep, tired sigh. I could almost imagine him loosening his tie and craning his neck to release tension in his big, strong shoulders. The image had my fingers tingling for the feel of his muscles under my hands.

“I don’t want to hinder Tasha’s happiness and being around other kids,” he replied. He was certainly a devoted uncle and it made me like him more. “But make sure it is never alone. I already told Andrey to double the security.”

“Okay.” I debated if I should tell him about the nudging feeling I had at the park but decided against it. It was stupid to tell him based on no facts.

“How are you adjusting?” he asked. “Do you need anything else?”

“No,” I told him firmly. “You have bought way too many things. Thank you for the clothes and toiletries. I already spoke to my brother about reimbursing you.”

He laughed, a deep rumble of a laugh. “There will be no reimbursement.”

“Well I’m not keeping or using that jewelry.” The words came out without hesitation. “I’m not for sale.”

It always shocked me lately when I found my backbone and stood up for myself. It was pathetic really, because it used to be me. But this man, he didn’t make me fear standing up to him at all. The silence on the line lingered and I thought maybe he hung up. Each second seemed an hour long, and then he finally replied.

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