Dimitry sighed. “Your father told me yesterday that Boris escaped. We believe he escaped the U.S. and is probably in Russia now.”

Tension rolled over me as I watched Anja observe us all. For the oddest reason, I hoped she wouldn’t turn her back on Dimitry. Not only because he was her best chance at survival, but also because she was good for him. And he would be good to her.

“This is how we are going to do this,” her voice was low as she spoke. “Anything that concerns me, I want to know. I don’t need anyone making decisions for me. I can’t make informed decisions if I don’t know all the facts.” Her eyes turned to me and there was a hard resolution in them. Fuck, if she wanted to kill me right now, I would let her. “If something happens to Scarlett, I will kill you.” Her threat surprised me. It proved to me she was close with both of her friends. “I never killed a person but I’ll make an exception this time.” She walked over to me, locking eyes with mine. “And as soon as you are able to move without passing out, you will go save her,” she demanded. Once she knew, she might demand Scarlett be saved from me. “If there is a scratch on her, it will be added to the debt you owe me. Because Sergei… I plan on giving back to you everything I received over the last two weeks under Boris’ men.”

She was too soft. I deserved ten times worse than what she got over the last two weeks under those men. Putting a gun to my head might be too good for me. It truly showed how much better she was than us.

I grinned, a little glimmer of hope booming in my chest. It was stupid and I didn’t deserve it but there it was. “That’s fair, and I’ll take all of it without a complaint, Anastasia.” I leaned over, since she was leaning on the armchair, trying to appear mad. I pressed a brotherly kiss on her cheek and she blinked in confusion. “Scarlett is safe,” I told her.

“How do you know?” All three of them blurted out.

“Because I had my men kidnap her.” It sounded so much worse when spoken out loud.

Anastasia and I watched each other. I waited for her to change her mind and kill me after all. Or slap me. Anything. Instead she chuckled, amusement in her eyes.

“Oh, you are so fucked, Sergei. Because once Scarlett finds out, hell will freeze over before she forgives you.”

Shit, that’s what scares me.But I wouldn’t admit that to her. I could barely admit it to myself. I have been lying to her since the moment we bumped into each other.

“She’ll see I did it for her own good, to keep her safe.”

Fuck, I hope she would see my reasoning. Because I wasn’t sure if I saw it anymore.