Chapter 39 Anya
I had been avoiding Dmitri all day after what he said this morning.
Your secret is safe with me. For now.
The words haunted me. What did he want? What was his game?
I finished my work late. I was so exhausted and starving. Katya had forbidden me from eating again today.
I hope Vera sneaks some food to my room as usual.
I dragged myself back to my room, locked the door and collapsed on the bed.
Then someone knocked.
"Anya? It is Vera. I brought you food."
Thank God.
I opened the door quickly. But it was not Vera.
It was Dmitri. He had managed to sound like Vera. More reasons to stay away from him.
"Hello," he said cheerfully. "May I come in?"
"No." I tried to close the door.
But he put his foot in the way. "Please. I just want to talk."
"I have nothing to say to you."
"But I have things to say to you." His smile faded. "Important things. About your safety."
I hesitated. "What do you mean?"
"Let me in. I will explain."
Against my better judgment, I stepped aside.
He walked in, looked around and sat on my bed like he owned it.
"You should not be here," I said. "If someone sees..."
"No one will see. Everyone is asleep." He patted the bed beside him. "Sit."
"I will stand."
"Suit yourself." He leaned back. "I know your secret, Anya."
My heart stopped. "I do not know what you are talking about."
"The Pakhan. He has been sneaking into your room at night. I have seen him."
"You are lying."
"Am I?" He pulled out his phone and showed me a photo. It was blurry. Taken from far away, but I could see Nikolai's figure, standing outside my door, wearing his hoodie.
"Where did you get that?" My voice shook.
"I have been watching. I was curious about the famous Anya. The girl who bewitched the Pakhan." He put his phone away. "Do not worry. I have not shown this to anyone. Yet."
"What do you want?"
"Nothing. Just to be your friend."
"Liar. You want something. Everyone always wants something."
He laughed. "Smart girl. Fine. You are right. I do want something."
"What?"
"Information. About the Pakhan. His habits. His weaknesses. His plans."
"I do not know anything about that."
"But you could find out. You are close to him. Closer than anyone else."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I show this photo to Katya. To her father. To everyone." He stood up and walked closer. "And the alliance will crumble. The Pakhan will lose everything. All because of you."
Tears burned my eyes. "You are a monster."
"No. I am a businessman. And this is business." He touched my chin, tilted my face up. "So what do you say, Anya? Will you help me?"
"I..." I did not know what to say.
I was a fool to have given him an audience on the very first day.
"I will think about it." I whispered.
"You have till tomorrow morning to give me a reply. Else the picture gets to the right hands." He said, smiling.
My hands were trembling. I fought hard to stop my tears from falling.
"So, where were we?” He asked cheerfully.
He continued talking, laughing at his silly jokes.
I forced myself to smile. My mind was far from here.
Nikolai might walk in any time soon, if he met Dmitri here…
Then the door burst open.
Nikolai stood there. His eyes were dark and murderous.
I froze. I hadn't heard him knock.
"What are you doing here?" He growled.
Dmitri smiled. "Pakhan. What a surprise."
"Get out." Nikolai's voice was deadly calm.
"Of course. I was just leaving." Dmitri walked to the door and stopped beside Nikolai. "But we should talk soon about your future and hers."
Then, he left, whistling.
Nikolai slammed the door shut and locked it.
Then he turned to me.
"What was he doing here?" He demanded.
"I... he just came to talk."
"About what?"
"Nothing. Just... nothing."
"Anya." He walked closer. "Tell me the truth."
I looked at his face. His eyes were burning with barely contained rage and jealousy.
And I broke.
"He knows," I sobbed. "He knows about us. He has photos. He wants me to spy on you. And if I do not... he will tell everyone."
Nikolai's face went cold. "He what?"
"I am sorry. I did not mean to... I did not know what to do."
He pulled me into his arms and held me tight. "It is not your fault."
"What are we going to do?" I cried into his chest.
"I do not know yet. But I will figure it out." He pulled back and looked into my eyes. "Did you tell him anything? Anything at all?"
"No. I swear. I would never..."
"I know. I believe you." He kissed my forehead. "But we need to be more careful. No more visits. No more touching. Nothing that can be used against us."
"So this is it? This is the end?" My heart shattered.
"No. Not the end. Just... a pause. Until I deal with Dmitri."
"How will you deal with him?"
"I have my ways." His eyes darkened. "He will regret ever coming here."
"Nikolai, please do not do anything stupid."
"Stupid? Me?" He smiled. But it did not reach his eyes. "I am always careful."
"Promise me."
"I promise I will protect you. No matter what it takes."
He kissed me, long and deep, like it might be our last.
Then he left, slipping back into the shadows.
I locked the door and sat on my bed, trembling.
Everything was falling apart. Dmitri knew our secret. Katya suspected us. Mikhail was against us.
And I was trapped in the middle. Unable to escape. Unable to protect the man I loved.
I lay down and closed my eyes. I tried to sleep. But sleep would not come.
Instead, I heard voices outside my door. Arguing and shouting.
I stood up and pressed my ear against the door, listening.
"You cannot do this!" Mikhail’s voice rang. It was shrill and angry.
"I can do whatever I want. This is my house." Nikolai's voice replied.
Mikhail had probably caught him sneaking out of here.
"You will start a war!" Mikhail exclaimed.
"Then let there be war!"
"Over a girl? Over a slave? Have you lost your mind?"
"Maybe I have. But she is mine. And no one touches what is mine."
"She is not yours! She is nothing but a distraction! She is a weakness, can't you see it!"
"She is everything!" Nikolai roared.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Then Mikhail spoke quietly.
"Then you leave me no choice. I am calling a meeting with all the families tomorrow. They will decide your fate. And hers."
Then I heard footsteps walking away.
I slid down the door. My body was shaking.
A meeting with all the families?
This was it. The end of everything.