Chapter 36

POV Tatyana

Six months later

The months and days passed quickly, and Camila has been helping me a lot. After the big change and the end of the requirement for Colt’s to marry within their own, I finally realized that Samuel was willing to change everything. However, I need to remain hidden. Not killing my father was the biggest proof that he is truly in love with me. Every hour I spend away from him makes my longing grow. I wish I had the chance to tell him I’m okay.

My belly is showing now; yesterday, my little sprout of arrogance kicked all night. I stop in front of the mirror, gently running my hand over it as I talk to the baby.

“Hi, son or daughter. Soon, we’ll be together, and you’ll meet your dad. I bet when Samuel finds us again, his life will change.” My heart aches with the longing I feel for the arrogant man.

Iurih was right; no one searched for me or imagined I could be at his house. He promised to find a doctor so I could have at least one appointment and check on the baby. Since I arrived here, I got rid of my phone, and all I want is to hear Samuel’s voice. A crazy idea quickly comes to mind, and I wonder if it could work.

“I could sneak out, but would anyone find out? I need to talk to Samuel,” I think.

“Camila, come here, please!” The blonde approaches the door, concerned.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes, I wanted to know if you have a wig?”

“A wig? What for?”

“I need to talk to Samuel, and I’ll make a call from a public phone.” Camila looks at me, doubtful.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave here!”

“It’ll be quick, I promise to be careful, please!”

“All right! I have a wig. One day I had to help in a theater play and ended up keeping some as souvenirs.” Camila goes to the bedroom and soon returns.

She hands me a box, and I examine the options. I pick a wig with red strands and put on clothes different from my usual ones. Once I’m ready, I head to the street and find the nearest phone booth to the apartment. I dial Samuel’s number, and as soon as I hear the first ring, my heart immediately starts racing, and my hands become shaky and cold. Nervousness courses through my body, but everything stops when I hear his deep voice on the other end of the line.

“Hello, who is this?” My eyes fill with tears, and I begin to cry silently.

“My love, is it you… is it you, Tatyana?” I let the tears flow uncontrollably.

“Tell me where you are, and I’ll come get you. I miss you.” I control my tangled emotions and finally manage to answer him.

“I miss you too…”

“Oh, finally, Tatyana. I can’t sleep, waiting to hear your voice, any news from you. Don’t do this to me anymore. You need to come back to me. Everything is changing, I swear!”

“I love you. I just wanted to hear your voice and tell you I love you.”

The phone goes silent, and I hear a breath filled with sadness.

“I love you too!” I quickly hang up before he can tell me to come back, and without thinking, I end up returning to him.

***

POV Samuel

Tatyana hangs up the phone, and my heart bleeds for not having been able to say everything I wanted to. Receiving a call from her had been my wish since the day she fled the mansion. I won’t lie to myself and say it’s been easy. The truth is, I haven’t been sleeping, and each day is a greater and more relentless torture.

I remember her face and the sensation of having her body in my hands. I recall her shameless kisses and how I felt when her lips explored mine. Tatyana has always been a strong storm, the kind that arrives, destroying everything and leaving chaos in its wake. That’s how she left my heart—completely in disarray. I feel shaken, frustrated, and desperate to understand this insane feeling that takes over my senses every time I try to reach for her with my arms and she’s not there.

Her defiant attitude, her irreverent tongue, her small hands, her rosy lips that loved to tease me—if that creature only knew how much her absence has been killing me inside, she would never have left.

I quickly call Ruslan, who handles technology and tracking for the Mafia.

“Ruslan, I need you to trace the location of the last call I received.”

“Of course, one second, boss!” Ruslan types, and after five minutes, he reveals the location.

“It’s in the city center. I’ll send it to your phone. Do you need one of the men to check the place?”

“No need. I’m busy here, but I’ll ask John to take a look.”

“Sure, talk to you later, boss.”

I end the call and dial John’s number. Leading the Mafia often demands all our time, and ever since Tatyana disappeared, I’ve been using every tool at my disposal to find her. Today, I’m stuck in a meeting with the senator, searching for any clue about Pavel. He’s an influential man with valuable information about secret locations. My father was a strategic leader during his years in command. He built a fleet of allies, and of course, like all powerful men, he has his own secret plans. I know he must be in a difficult-to-access location and out of reach of any existing radar.

John answers the call as I send him the address.

“I need you to check this address immediately!”

“What’s at this address?”

“That’s what I want to know. If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking you to check it. I got a call from Tatyana, and Ruslan traced it. I’m on the other side of the city, and by the time I get there, she won’t be there anymore. Be quick and look for any sign of where Tatyana might be.”

“All right, I’ll be there in a few minutes!”

I end the call anxiously but mask it to avoid showing weakness to the senator. After all, I hold command over much of the government in my hands. The Bratva in Russia already controls many sectors, and I need him to reveal something that will help me find Pavel.