47

47


Lily woke up to the stream of sunlight against her face. Her eyes fluttered open to adjust to the light when the felt the ache.

Her body was sore in places she hadn’t felt ache in years. The dull throb between her thighs was proof of last night, and despite herself, a small smile curved her lips.

It had felt like forever since she’d been touched, really touched and for one fragile second she allowed herself the indulgence of believing she wasn’t alone anymore.

But her smile was soon robbed off when she turned to face Dmitri and the side of the bed he had slept was now empty.

Lily pushed up from the bed, scanning the entire room from his presence or scent even but the bed was cold.

Her heart raced.

“Dmitri?” She called scanning the spacious bedroom.

She pushed herself up, tugging the thin silk gown around her shoulders, scanning the room for a sign of him, his scent, anything.

Heart pounding, she hurried into the penthouse living room.

Her mother sat behind the kitchen counter with Gio, the two of them speaking in low voices. They stopped the moment Lily appeared.

“How was your sleep, Lily?” her mother asked gently, though her eyes betrayed a hint of worry.

She glanced around one more time before responding.

“Fine.” she whispered, though her voice cracked.

She contemplating whether or not to ask when her next question came.

“Did…did Dmitri leave this morning?”

Gio glance between her and her mom before nodding her head.

“No” They both looked lost. “Did he arrive last night?”

Lily felt her leg weaken.

“Oh.” She forced a nod, backing away. “He left.” She muttered under her breath.

“You okay?” Gio asked.

Lily nodded once and turned to her room, her legs carrying her to her room before her heart gave out entirely. She locked the door behind her, slid down against the wall, and crumbled to the ground.

She locked the door before her, back again the wall as she crumbled to the ground.

He left. Just like that.

“He lied to me. He just slept with me and left.” Her heart clenched at the thought.

She was sure she felt something, he felt something even. So why would he just leave after all that.

Her mind wandered, from his touch to his words.

Her throat closed up, hot tears forcing their way out despite how violently she shook her head. She replayed his touch, his voice, his promises, were they all lies? Had she been nothing but another conquest?

Her hands pressed over her chest as if she could hold her breaking heart in place. But the pain kept leaking through her fingers.

With every thought that passed through her mind, her heart felt even heavier.

Meanwhile, Dmitri’s plane touched down on America soil, the jolt of landing doing nothing to settle the storm in his chest. He had booked the next flight out of the Russia thar night despite the guilt in his chest.

He hadn’t wanted to leave her, not after last night, but he’d had no choice. The longer he stayed, the more she was in danger.

By the time he stepped off the runway, his mask was firmly back in place. No weakness. No hesitation. He slid into the waiting black SUV, Dante already inside with a fresh briefing.

“Fill me in.” He said curtly.

Dante nodded.

“They are still looking for her sir. He’s convinced Lily is still in the States. He’s got men searching, shaking down anyone who so much as breathed near her.”

Dmitri’s jaw flexed. Of course Christian would. That bastard wasn’t letting go until he got what he wanted.

“And Antonio?”

“He has relocated her uncle just like you asked, Christian won’t find him.”

Dmitri nodded, everything seemed to be going smoothly. There was just one more thing that lingered on his mind.

Dante on cue spoke as though he could tell what was on his mind.

“And Damien..” He started. “The spies we sent have reports on some sightings.”

Dmitri turned to face him instantly and Dante handed him a thin folder.

“Where?” His voice was clipped.

“United Kingdom. However, they are still unsure of the identifications sir. Nothing confirmed. But if our suspicions are right… he’s using Christian’s obsession as cover. While Christian hunts Lily, Damien’s making his own moves.”

Dmitri flipped the file open, scanning the photographs, the names, the so-called “deaths.” His gut twisted—breadcrumbs Damien wanted him to find, or mistakes Damien hadn’t meant to leave behind? Either way, Dmitri wasn’t going to sit still.

“Set the meeting,” Dmitri ordered.

“With Christian?” Dante asked carefully.

Dmitri’s lips curved in a humorless smile. “Who else?”

~•

Back in Moscow, Lily was still yet to explain everything that had happened to Gio who had a thousand and one question and a broken heart but Lily wasn’t in any position to tend any broke hearts when she was still struggling from the shock.

All three of them sat quietly in the taxi, until it finally stopped after a thirty minutes drive.

They stood in front of a small country house, Antonio stepping beside them with a key in hand.

“Mr Kalanshivo wants you to have this, Mrs Kalanshivo.” He held out a key jn front of them.

Lily looked at the small key set in front of her and then Antonio, just the name coming from his mouth made her jaws tightened.

After another two hour cry session she’d managed to convince herself—or so she told herself—that she wouldn’t think of him or feel anything for him.

So far, she was failing at both.

She contemplated on taking the key. On one hand she could refuse, go back to America and endanger both herself and her family to the psychopath Christain all in the name of independence or she would stay in a country she knew no where, no one and her family was safe from British psychopaths.

The latter seemed safer.

She yanked the key out of his hands.

“Never call me that name ever again. I am Lily. Lily Hills. A Kalanshivo has no place in my life.”

With that she pushed passed him and headed to the apartment.

Both Gio and her mom exchanged glance, however Gio was first to look away. They still hadn’t said anything about being held hostage and was clueless for mostly.

She slammed the door behind her the moment she entered into the building, heart aching as she fought back her tears.

She was done with anything Mafia for a lifetime.