10. Emily
10
EMILY
I hate to say it, but staying with Zara and Dimitri has been amazing. Not only is it closer to campus, so I don’t have to get up so early, but the bed in the guest room is the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in.
I thought having a man break into my apartment and try to kidnap me would leave me a quivering mess who barely slept a wink, but it’s been the opposite.
I’ve slept like a baby.
But that might also be due to sitting through a full day of classes, followed by several hours of entertaining twin toddlers every day for the past week.
My brain might just be too exhausted to think about the guy that is still out there.
Dimitri assures me he has everything under control, and while I trust him, I can’t help but wish some progress would have been made by now.
If only because I’ve felt like someone has been following me, and I feel like I’m going insane.
It might just be a feeling, and nothing more. After all, a guy literally tried to kidnap me. I’m entitled to feel a little bit paranoid.
But the feeling always intensifies when I’m alone, and it’s really starting to freak me out.
While I carry a can of mace with me, and I could easily use my keys as a weapon, I can’t help but worry that it won’t be enough to fight this guy off. He’s easily twice my size, and I’m sure he could snap my bones without exerting much effort.
I wouldn’t stand a chance against him, and that scares the absolute crap out of me.
All I can hope for is that the threat of Dimitri being part of the Koslov Bratva and my father being a retired cop is enough to keep him away for the time being.
I don’t dare tell Zara about any of this, because I know she would never let me leave the penthouse. It’s a miracle she’s even allowing me to go to class by myself. I would have thought I’d have one of Dimitri’s lackeys following me between classes like Nina had with Yakov, but so far, I’m still free to roam about the city by myself.
At the time, I was grateful for the freedom, but the more days that pass, the more intense the feeling grows that someone is watching me, and I wish I had some hulking great man glued to my side just in case.
I’m walking back to the penthouse after my last class of the day when the hair on the back of my neck stands up, and my skin breaks out in goosebumps.
I stop dead in my tracks and glance over my shoulder.
It’s four o’clock on a Friday afternoon, so the streets of New York are packed with tourists and corporate junkies. If anyone was following me, they could easily disappear into the crowd, which only makes my heart rate spike.
Surely, I’m safe surrounded by so many people?
Then again, if someone were to just snatch me and put me into a car, would anyone even notice? Or care?
I’m getting more and more paranoid by the day.
= I shrug off my backpack and root around in the front pocket for my mace, just to be on the safe side.
What’s freaking me out more is that this isn’t the first time this happened today. I was heading to the library to study with Jana, and I could have sworn I saw someone duck into the bushes.
I almost laughed, considering how completely ridiculous it all is. I feel like I’m the main character in some cheesy horror movie.
The day before that, it was when I was sitting underneath my favorite tree, eating my lunch like I do most days. There’s plenty of people who hang around that area at lunchtime, particularly in the summer, so I brushed the feeling off.
But now, I’m feeling eyes on me wherever I go.
And to make matters worse, if someone is following me, I’m making it all too easy for them, considering my routine is pretty much the same every day.
Maybe I need to switch things up and try to shake him off…
Trying to ignore my racing heart, I continue walking along the street with my can of mace in hand. I’ve also stopped listening to music when I walk so I can be more aware of my surroundings.
And if anything does happen to me, both Zara and Dimitri can track my phone, so hopefully, they’ll be able to find me.
“Don’t think like that, Emily,” I scold myself as I quicken my pace.
My phone buzzes with a message, and I can only assume it’s from my sister asking me what time I’ll be home again . Even though she can track my movements, Zara still insists on having me message in case someone stole my phone.
And if I take longer than five minutes to reply, she calls me. And if I don’t answer straight away, I might as well be dead.
When my phone buzzes with an incoming call, I bite back a groan of annoyance and pull it out of my pocket.
But the caller ID on my phone isn’t Zara. It’s my dad.
I sigh as I slide my thumb across the screen. “Hey, Dad!”
I cringe at how fake my enthusiasm sounds, but I’m hoping my father doesn’t notice.
“Hey, sweetheart. How are you feeling?”
“Uh…”
“Are you over that horrible bug yet?”
“Oh, yes, the stomach bug.” I glance over my shoulder again as my skin prickles. “I feel much better, thanks. I think it was just a forty-eight-hour thing.”
“Christ, I love those kids, but they’re little germ magnets.”
I laugh, though it sounds forced. “Tell me about it. How are you?”
“Oh, I’m fine. Keeping busy.”
“How are the guys down at the station?”
“They’re good, though the new chief is completely useless.”
“Maybe you should take the job.”
My father might have retired five years ago, but he’ll never stop being a cop at heart. He still heads down to his old precinct most days to consult on cases as well as lend a hand when the guys are understaffed.
And sure, he keeps busy with all the volunteering work he does with underprivileged kids, but I’m pretty sure he should just bite the bullet and admit he hates being retired and go back to work full time.
“Don’t tempt me. Where are you anyhow? You sound out of breath.”
“Do I?” I didn’t realize how fast I was walking, but I’m only five minutes from the penthouse, and I’m eager to be back within the safety of its walls. “Just getting my steps in.”
“Good for you. Well, I just wanted to call to see how you’re doing and to remind you to check in with your mother. You girls don’t call her often enough, and you know how she worries.”
“Believe me, I know.”
Dad’s deep rumbling laugh sounds down the phone, and I can’t help but smile.
“Speak soon, kiddo. Stay safe.”
“Will do, Dad. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
By the time I hang up the phone, I’m walking past the doorman into the apartment building, and my shoulders sag.
I made it home safe.
Zara is out at Lucia’s place with the twins, and Dimitri is god knows where, so I get a rare afternoon of peace and quiet.
I make the most of it by drawing a bubble bath and soaking for over an hour while I catch up on some of my trashy reality shows on the TV that is built into the wall in the bathroom.
I swear, Dimitri thought of everything when he renovated this place.
By the time I emerge, I find Zara downstairs in the kitchen making dinner.
“Smells good. What are you making?”
Zara grins. “Gran’s famous chicken curry.”
She’s wearing a cute, pink, striped apron that somehow matches her pink sweat set.
“That’s my favorite!”
“I know, that’s why I’m making it.”
“You’re too good to me.” I walk around the island to come and stand beside her at the stove so I can sneak a taste of the sauce. “I swear I might never leave.”
“I’m good with that; it’s nice having an extra pair of hands around.” Zara laughs.
“Speaking of which, where are the twins?” I glance around.
Usually, the place looks like it’s been hit by a tornado, with toy cars and building blocks strewn all over the carpet.
Zara chuckles. “They wore themselves out playing with Vivi. I swear, that girl gives them a run for their money. They passed out in the car on the drive home, but I managed to carry them both inside and put them to bed without them waking up.”
“You should have called. I would have come to help.”
Zara waves a hand to dismiss me. “You help with them enough. You deserve to have some time to yourself.”
I wrap an arm around Zara’s shoulder. “I don’t know what I did in a former life to deserve such an amazing sister, but I’m glad. You’re the best.”
“Yeah, yeah. Hand me the cumin, would you?”
Helping Zara cook dinner is a welcome distraction from the reality of my current situation. She mostly chats about her visit with Lucia and fills me in on all the family gossip, which is fun.
I love being a part of such a huge family with loads of kids.
I can’t help but imagine how amazing it would be if I ended up with Danil. I would officially be a Koslov, and perhaps we could have a child of our own to add to the family…
“Earth to Emily!”
“Huh?”
“What were you daydreaming about?” Zara narrows her eyes at me, and I cringe.
“Nothing, just thinking about a paper I have due on Monday.” From the way my cheeks heat up, I have no doubt she can see right through me.
Zara sets down the spoon and turns off the stove. “Well, you’re forbidden to think about school for the rest of the night. Can you get two plates out of the cupboard?”
I frown.
“No Dimitri?”
“He’s working late, so he said to go ahead without him.”
A thought hits me, and my lips pull up into a huge smile, which only makes Zara frown.
“What?”
“You know what that means? Girls’ night!”
Zara’s eyes light up, and she beams.
“We could watch 10 Things I Hate About You and eat popcorn.”
“More importantly, we could drink Dimitri’s expensive wine.” I pad over to the wine fridge and pull out a fancy-looking bottle of white wine and grab two glasses from the cupboard.
“Oh…that’s okay, I think I’ll stick with water,” Zara mumbles.
I set down the glasses on the counter and turn to face my sister.
“Since when do you say no to wine? Unless…”
“Fine.” Zara rolls her eyes at me. “I’m pregnant.”
“Oh my god, are you serious?” I throw my arms around my sister's neck, the wine instantly forgotten. “Zara, this is amazing news!”
Then I pull away and search my sister's face.
“Wait, this is good news, right?”
She smiles. “It’s a bit of a shock, but yes, it’s good news. I only just found out a few days ago, so it’s still really early days. Please, don’t tell anyone.”
“Of course. I didn’t realize you guys were trying for another baby.”
Zara reaches for one of the plates to dish up the food. “We weren’t, not really. We just decided to not not try if you get what I mean. I didn’t expect to get pregnant so quickly.”
“Dimitri must have some supersonic sperm or something.”
I walk over to the fridge to grab a bottle of sparkling water for her.
“I swear, if it’s another set of twins, I’m sending him right down to the clinic to get the snip.”
By the time we finish eating, my stomach is so full, and even without Zara’s help with the wine, I polish off half a bottle. It’s a recipe for disaster as the moment we put the film on, I can barely keep my eyes open.
The couch is incredibly comfortable, and I find myself resting my head back against the plush pillows and drifting off to sleep.
It seems I fell into such a deep sleep that when I start to rouse, it takes me a moment to realize that I’m no longer on the couch.
Strong arms are around me, and the scent of sandalwood hits my nose.
I frown.
Who the hell is carrying me?
Oh, my god. I’ve been kidnapp?—
Zara’s voice soothes my nerves. “Watch her head on the doorframe!”
“Shh! You’ll wake her up.”
Oh, thank god, it’s just Dimitri.
My body relaxes in Dimitri’s arms, and the moment I’m set down on my bed and my head hits the pillow, I’m out once more.