Sofia
You’re important to me, Sofia.
Miron’s words repeat over and over in my head as I try to sleep. It’s no use, as I’m too wired from our conversation and the news he broke to me.
Father summoned him here so that he could break the news to me, knowing I wouldn’t mouth off to Miron. Thank God he did, as Miron isn’t going to allow him to sell me off like that.
Father has never given much thought to my wellbeing. He has always kept me at arm’s length. When I was little, I used to try and call him Dad, but I’d get punished. He told me to call him father or sir.
He laughs whenever Yerik harms me, and even so, I’ve tried to love them as my only living family. Signing a contract to promise me to Dima- a rapist and sadist-is a new low. One that makes me realize how blind I’ve been this entire time.
I assumed that Yerik and my father were keeping up appearances as bratva leaders. They couldn’t treat me softly, as it’s not expected. However, this proves the opposite. They don’t and never have cared for me in any way.
Miron tells me he will protect me, but I don’t know how. I want to believe him and trust him-the man I’ve loved since I was a teenager. The man I’ve saved myself for, hoping beyond hope, that one day he’d look at me the way I look at him.
When Miron told me he wasn’t going to let my father give me to Dima, hope flooded me. I’d hoped his actions were fueled by the same feelings I
have for him. I thought for a moment that is where the conversation was going, but he was as stoic and dutiful as he ever is.
He told me he cared for me, but it’s no doubt as an uncle would care for a niece. I hate that is how he sees me, no matter what I do to get his attention. He even seemed unaffected by the lack of clothes I wore in front of him earlier, proving how unattracted to me he is.
He wouldn’t want a girl like me-too young and immature. Even as I try to tell myself that, my heart doesn’t want to believe it. It clings to a tiny bit of hope.
All I can think about is seeing him in the morning. I glance over at the clock on my side table, sighing when I see it’s only one o’clock in the morning. The bag he told me to pack is packed and hidden in my walk-in closet.
My father won’t have the decency to face me until later tomorrow afternoon. At which point, I’ll be long gone with Miron. The thought excites and scares me. Miron may be sovietnik, but him snatching me away will make him a traitor to the brotherhood.
The danger he will put himself in is beyond anything I can ever imagine. My father will kill him if he tries to stand in the way of Dima and me. The thought of any harm coming to Miron makes me sick to the stomach. He is everything to me, even if he doesn’t know it.
I shut my eyes, trying desperately to fall to sleep. The quicker I sleep, the sooner I will see the man I’ve secretly loved.
My eyes flicker open as there is a clink at the window. I jump out of bed and rush over to the window, peering out. My heart skips a beat and I stumble back noticing a ladder.
It’s not until Miron’s face appears at the window that I relax. He signals for me to open it, and I do so quickly, lifting it to give him enough room to get inside.
“What are you doing?” I whisper, wondering why he’d sneak back in at this time of night.
He grunts as he lifts himself in through the window. “Coming to rescue you.”
I shake my head. “You didn’t say anything about breaking in.” He stands to his feet, towering over me.
I swallow hard at the stern look he gives me.
“Your father knows I don’t like the arrangement he has made. I can’t risk him catching on.” His jaw tenses as he turns away from me. “Are you packed?”
“Yes,” I breathe, dashing toward the closet and grabbing my large carryall.
His eyes widen at the size of it, but he never said to pack light. “Is it too big?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I’ll be able to handle it, but I’d hoped you would have packed a little lighter.”
I shrug. “You didn’t tell me how we were getting out of here.” As the daughter to the pakhan of the Los Angeles brotherhood, I’ve been used to getting whatever I want.
Sure, my father and brother don’t treat me well, but money has been no object in my life. I’m used to being able to buy as many dresses, shoes, and handbags as I want. This case holds everything I favor, but it’s nowhere near to a tenth of the stuff I own.
Miron approaches me and grabs the handle of the carryall, brushing my fingers as he does. A bolt of electricity pulses through my veins the moment his skin touches mine.
I draw in a sharp breath and meet his gaze. It sets me on fire the moment I look into his hazel eyes. If I didn’t know him better, I’d say there was a spark of lust. Within moments, it’s covered up with that cold, hard stare.
I can’t help but let it fuel that tiny ember of hope blazing deep within me. No matter how hard I try to stamp out the idea of us, I never can. It takes one kind glance or smile from him to have it rekindled.
He picks up the carryall and shrugs it onto his shoulder, before walking toward the window. “I’ll go down first. Once I’m at the bottom, climb the ladder.” His hazel eyes meet mine, and I feel it right to my core.
I nod my head, relishing the idea of being alone with him soon. Perhaps there’s a chance for us once we are free of my father, if he feels the same way I do. I watch out of the window as he slowly descends, my large carryall slung over his shoulder. It’s impossible not to admire his muscles in his tight, fitted shirt as he strains against the weight.
I’m not sure I’m truly prepared for this-being alone with the man of my dreams. It’s going to be impossible to keep my urges in check.
Miron gestures for me to follow, meeting my gaze.
I swallow hard, realizing that my fear of heights doesn’t help this situation at all. After trying to syke myself up, I force myself out of the window and onto the ladder.
Heights may not be my strong suit, but I can do this. I make sure I don’t look down and move slowly down the ladder. When I make it to the ground, Miron places his hands on either side of my waist.
It’s enough to try my whole body into an inferno of heat. “Wait here,” he whispers into my ear.
I watch as he grabs the ladder and carries it over to the hedging that borders the house. He places it behind the hedges, making sure it is out of sight.
The longer we can keep the fact I’ve escaped hidden, the better. Miron returns to my side and says nothing.
He grabs my hand and leads the way from the house quickly. The bag I’ve packed is heavy, but he doesn’t show any signs of struggling as he carries it over his shoulder.
My stomach twists with both desire and fear. If we get caught, my father will have Miron executed. They may be close, but he wouldn’t accept an act of disobedience like this. My father is unforgiving, and he would feed Miron to Amari without much thought. A shudder runs through me, as I know for he would make me watch.
It makes getting away safely critical. A snap of a twig breaking has both of us freezing to the spot. Miron drops my hand and carryall, pulling out his pistol, which has a silencer fitted.
The reality of what we’re doing hits me more keenly. If someone sees us, Miron will kill them. There’s no other option. The thud of footsteps gets nearer and nearer as we remain semi-hidden by the thick trees and bushes around us.
Miron grabs my arm and forces me behind him. My father has the grounds patrolled regularly. A shadow creeps closer, and the moment the guy comes into view, my heart sinks.
It’s Vlad, one of my father’s men. He’s a good guy and one of the youngest brothers in my father’s outfit. I wait and hold my breath, hoping that he doesn’t spot us.
He walks on, stopping briefly and glancing in the opposite direction. I watch as he continues to walk, grabbing his radio and speaking into it. “All clear on the west side. I’m coming back around.”
As his footsteps disappear into the distance, my whole body relaxes. “Fuck, that was close,” I say.
Miron doesn’t speak. Instead, he holds a finger to his lips.
I realize we’re not out yet. Anything could go wrong between now and getting the fuck off my father’s estate. He’s a paranoid man, and as a result, he has guards patrolling all hours.
Miron tugs me down a small path the opposite way to the front gate. I don’t question him, knowing he must have another exit. He is one of the smartest men I know. The path winds into the forest on the edge of the estate.
I shiver as we enter the darkness, wishing we didn’t have to go this way. As a child, I used to hate it when Yerik forced me to go in here. He knew how much it scared me and found it amusing. As I remember the horror of being lost in here, I stop in my tracks.
Miron grabs my hand. “What’s wrong?” he breathes.
I shake my head. “These woods… I…” I can’t find the words to explain to him. It would make me look weak and pathetic.
“Look at me,” he says, setting his hands on either side of my waist. “Trust me, Sofia. I will protect you.” The blaze of heat in his eyes, coupled with his words, makes me melt.
I nod my head, and he let’s go, entwining his fingers with mine instead. We move together through the thick canopy. A crunch of leaves up ahead has us both freezing again.
Can’t we get a break?
Miron yanks me down to the ground with him, holding me close. We are pressed together, lying still on the ground. Our hearts seem to beat together as we wait for the person to walk on.
Miron’s wraps his fingers around the hilt of his pistol.
I swallow hard. Miron is accustomed to killing. This is his life and part of what he does.
The musky, masculine scent of him surrounds me, along with the dank, damp earth. I savor the moment, enjoying the feel of his body pressed against mine. If we don’t make it out alive, this might be the only time I get to be this close to him.
Miron chuckles gently, nodding his head. “Deer.”
I glance up to see a family of deer trotting obliviously through the forest. “Beautiful,” I say, getting to my feet and staring at the animals.
My father loves to hunt beautiful creatures like them. I hate how brutality plays such a huge part in every aspect of life for him and my brother.
“Come on. We’re almost there.” Miron grabs my hand again, and we move further.
After a few more minutes of walking through the forest, we come to a small barbed fence. It’s already cut in one place. An old Chevy is parked on the other side. Miron found this way in and trekked through the forest to get me, which is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.
He throws my bag over the fence before following through the hole. “Come on,” he says.
I glance back once into the darkness of the forest. It’s crazy what we’re doing, but there’s no turning back now. Miron is my only hope. We’ll never be able to return. I don’t know what the plan is, but all I want is to be with him forever.