Page 85 of Scarred (Russian Sinners 2)

I opened my eyes and met my mother’s gaze. There used to be fire there but now it was only resignation. I would become that one day very soon.

“Listen to me,” she started speaking, quickly glancing behind her. “I convinced your dad it was best you take the summer off with Anastasia. He was too scared and agreed. You shouldn’t come back home. Stay and hide in Europe. Run.”

My mother’s words slowly registered in my brain. She wanted me to hide from my father and Malcome. She cared about me.

“What about you?” my voice was hoarse, cracking with each word.

“Don’t worry about me.” She placed her cold lips on top of my hand. “I will be fine. I want you to stay away from your father and that wretched man. Run.”

I couldn’t leave her. I didn’t doubt for a moment that my father would make her endure all the sick and twisted things that Malcome had started preparing me for. It would be a thousand times worse after the wedding day. He said it himself. I couldn’t live with myself, knowing I let my mom endure it on my behalf. She had suffered enough already.

“I can’t leave you,” I whispered roughly, holding back my tears.

“You are not leaving me,” she squeezed my hand. “If I can get away, I will. But please don’t come back.” There was no point in discussing this further, because I couldn’t leave her behind. “Olivia, promise me.”

We watched each other, both of us in our own despair where neither one of us would win. We wouldn’t get a happy ending. It didn’t even have to be a happy ending. I’d settle for a safe ending for both of us.

“Please, Olivia,” she begged, her eyes glistening with tears. She used to cry all the time when I was little. And then one day she stopped, and in place of glistening eyes, they became dull, lifeless eyes.

“Good, you are awake,” my father’s voice interrupted the moment, and my mother instantly froze. “Your mother convinced me to let you go on your summer trip with your friends. When you get back, you shall marry Malcome.”

As if he felt the need to seal his threat, he pressed his palm against my neck. My throat muscles still hurt from Malcome’s torture, and my father knew very well what he was doing.

My mother’s whimper sounded next to me but all my focus was on my father.

“Are we clear?” he squeezed a bit harder.

“Crystal clear,” I barely spoke the words, my throat burning, but I refused to let him know how much it hurt. I hated feeling so helpless, so weak. If I fought for my life, for the right to live free of him, my mother would suffer. If I follow through with his wishes, I would suffer. The only thing I could do was make sure both my mother and I escaped.

“Olivia, wake up,” a familiar little girl’s voice was near me. I could almost place the voice but my brain was too slow, too tired. “Please wake up. You are shaking.”

“Malysh, open your eyes.” Now that voice I would recognize anywhere. Nikolai could make my father disappear, so he’d never hurt my mother or me again. “It’s just a bad dream. C’mon, my love, open your eyes.”

I forced my eyes open and found two pairs of eyes watching me with worry. I had to blink a few times, clear my head to remember where we were. That’s right, we left Nikolai’s house to go north.

“Hey you two,” I muttered tiredly.

“Olivia, I was so worried,” Tasha’s voice wobbled. My heart twisted in my chest hearing the worry in her voice.

“I’m sorry. It was just a bad dream. All gone now,” I assured her. I felt horrible my dreams couldn’t be kept at bay. “Did I wake you up?”

She nodded her head in confirmation. “But that’s ok,” she rushed to convince me. I noticed Ilya and Andrey a few feet away, watching us too, and I silently cursed myself. I knew better than to fall asleep amongst all of them. It was the reason why I insisted on having my own bedroom all summer while traveling with Anastasia and Scarlett. I never knew when my nightmares would hit.

My eyes darted to her uncle’s face. The scar was the stark reminder of his ruthless protectiveness. He might have killed two men this morning but he did it in order to protect me, while my father and Malcome were slowly killing me for their own benefit.

“I’m fine,” I muttered softly. His eyes clearly indicated he did not believe me but I knew he wouldn’t elaborate further in front of his niece. He just nodded.

“We have landed.” His lips touched my cheek, and I relished in his warmth. He felt like a blazing heat against my sweaty, cool skin. Taking my hand, he helped me to my feet, and we walked out of the plane together, Tasha in front of us.

“Tasha, want to ride with me?” Ilya offered. “We’ll go faster and get some ice cream before we get to the house.”

He didn’t have to ask again. Tasha jumped on the offer, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Ilya did that on purpose to let Nikolai have alone time with me to discuss what just happened. We watched them get into a separate vehicle with Andrey and two other security guards, while Nikolai and I took a separate car.

As soon as we got into the car, I turned to Nikolai.

“I’m sorry. I regularly never sleep on public transportation. I didn’t mean to scare Tasha.”

“Olivia, don’t apologize. You did nothing wrong.” His hand took the nape of my head and pulled me closer, his lips meeting mine. His kiss was hard and possessive. Then he pulled back. “When I get my hands on your father, I’m going to kill him. And I will enjoy killing him as much as I will enjoy killing Malcome.”

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