Chapter 95 Chapter 95
CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE
Irina
I walked down the hospital corridor with my baby bundled in my arms.
The nurses had tried to stop me.
"Mrs Volkov," one of them said. "The baby is not ready to leave yet."
"I do not care," I replied coldly. "I am his mother. I am taking him."
"But the paperwork..."
"I will handle it later," I interrupted.
I signed whatever forms they shoved in front of me.
Then I took my son and walked out.
The guards at the entrance tried to stop me too.
"Mrs Volkov," one said. "Boss Dimitri gave orders that you are not to leave."
"Move," I said firmly. "Or I will scream that you are kidnapping me."
The guard looked uncertain.
"Please ma'am," he tried again. "Just wait for Boss..."
"Move!" I shouted with surprising strength.
Other people in the waiting room were starting to stare.
The guard reluctantly stepped aside.
And just like that, I walked out into the cold Moscow night. My baby was wrapped in hospital blankets.
I had no coat. No bags. No plan.
But I could not stay in that world of violence and blood anymore.
I have my son now, and we both deserved better.
A taxi pulled up and I climbed in quickly.
"Where to?" The driver asked.
"I..." I hesitated. "Just drive. I will tell you when to stop."
The driver looked at me strangely in the mirror.
A woman with a newborn baby and no belongings. But he started driving anyway.
I held my son close to my chest. He was so tiny and warm. His little breaths were steady and peaceful.
"What have I done?" I whispered to him. "Where are we going to go?"
I was surprised at myself for leaving Dimitri.
My first love.
The man who had saved me countless times. The man who said he would protect me forever.
But I could not ignore what I saw anymore.
The violence in his eyes when he hit Alexei. The satisfaction when he said Alexei might have amnesia.
He was becoming the very thing he claimed to hate.
He was becoming like his brother. And I could not let my son grow up around that.
"Miss?" The driver said. "You need to tell me where we are going."
"I know," I said. "Just keep driving for now."
I looked out the window at the dark streets of Moscow.
Where could I go?
I had no family. No friends outside the mafia world. All my life had been controlled by powerful men.
First my parents' debt collectors. Then the various households I served. Then Alexei.
Now Dimitri.
I was tired of being controlled.
"Turn left here," I said suddenly.
"Where are we going?" The driver asked.
"The train station," I replied.
"You are leaving Moscow?" He asked
.
"Yes," I confirmed.
The driver nodded and changed direction.
Twenty minutes later we pulled up at the station.
"How much?" I asked.
Then I realized I had no money.
"I..." I started. "I do not have..."
"It is okay," the driver said kindly. "You look like you need help."
"Thank you," I whispered.
I got out and walked into the station.
It was late but there were still people around. Some were sleeping on benches. Others were waiting for night trains.
I sat down on a bench near the ticket counter.
My baby started fussing.
"Shh," I soothed him. "It is okay. Mama is here."
But I did not know what to do next.
I had no money for a ticket. No food for myself. No formula for the baby.
What was I thinking, leaving like this?
"Excuse me," a voice said.
I looked up.
A man was standing in front of me.
He was young, maybe thirty years old. He had kind brown eyes and a gentle smile.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"I am fine," I lied.
"You do not look fine," he said. "You look like you need help."
"I do not need anything," I said defensively.
"I am not trying to bother you," the man said. "I am a doctor."
He pulled out an ID badge.
Dr. Andrei Sokolov. Moscow General Hospital.
"I was just getting off a late shift," he explained. "And I saw you with the baby."
"So?" I asked.
"So that baby looks very young," he said. "Too young to be out in the cold."
"He is my son," I said. "I can take him where I want."
"Of course," Dr. Sokolov said gently. "But he needs to be warm."
He took off his coat and wrapped it around my baby and me.
"There," he said. "Better."
I wanted to refuse. But the coat was warm and my baby had stopped shivering.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
"Are you running from someone?" He asked.
I looked at him sharply.
"I am a doctor," he explained. "I have seen many women in your situation."
"What situation?" I asked.
"Abusive husband," he said simply. "That is why you are running."
"No," I said immediately. "He never hit me."
"Abuse is not always physical," Dr. Sokolov said.
"I just need to leave Moscow," I said finally.
"Where will you go?" He asked.
"I do not know," I admitted.
Dr. Sokolov sat down beside me.
"I have a sister in St. Petersburg," he said. "She runs a shelter for women."
"A shelter?" I repeated.
"For women who need a fresh start," he explained. "No questions asked."
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked suspiciously.
"Because you look like you need it," he said simply.
I studied his face.
He seemed genuine.
But I had learned not to trust anyone.
"I do not even know you," I said.
"My name is Andrei," he said with a smile. "Now you know me."
Despite everything I smiled a little.
"I am Irina," I said.
"Nice to meet you, Irina," Andrei said. "Now let me help you."
"Why?" I asked. "Why do you want to help me?"
Andrei's face became sad.
"Because nobody helped my sister when she needed it," he said quietly. "I want to help you so you don’t end up like her."
I looked down at my sleeping baby.
What choice did I have?
I had nowhere to go. No money and no plan.
"Okay," I said finally. "I will go to your sister's shelter."
"Good," Andrei smiled. "The next train to St. Petersburg leaves in an hour."
"But I have no money for a ticket," I admitted.
"I will buy it," Andrei said. "Consider it a gift."
I smiled, feeling embarrassed.
He walked to the ticket counter.
I watched him buy two tickets.
Two tickets?
"You are coming too?" I asked when he returned.
"I have the day off tomorrow," Andrei explained. "I will take you to my sister's shelter."
"You do not have to do that," I said.
"I want to make sure you arrive safely." He replied.
A part of me was suspicious. Another part was grateful.
We waited together for the train. Andrei bought me food and formula for the baby.
"You are very kind," I said.
"I just do not like seeing people suffer," Andrei replied.
The train arrived and we boarded. I held my baby close as we settled into our seats.
"Try to rest," Andrei said. "It is a long journey."
I closed my eyes but I could not sleep.
I kept thinking about Dimitri.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
Fourteen missed calls and twenty-three text messages from Dmitri.
I turned the phone off.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Andrei asked quietly.
"No," I admitted. "But I have to try."
The train started moving. Moscow was disappeared behind us.
Just like that, I was leaving.
Was this the right decision? I don't know.
I looked out of the window at the darkness.
And it feel like I had left my heart behind?
My phone buzzed again even though it was off.
Or it wasn't my phone.
I pulled it out from my pocket. It was a tracking device.
A small black chip.
Dimitri must have put it there.
I looked at Andrei.
"Can you open the window?" I asked.
"Sure," he said.
I threw the chip out into the night.