Chapter 10
NATASHA
Ishifted my weight from foot to foot, biting my thumbnail as I stood in the cool night air. Another glance at my phone brought me no new information. I heaved a sigh, shifting my gaze to Stefan who leaned against the car, his dark clothes almost blending into it.
“Call her.”
He glanced at me, his chiseled features tightening as he shook his head.
“Stefan…fine, I’ll do it.”
Without a word, he crossed to me, ripping the phone from my hands. “Nyet.”
My nostrils flared. “She can’t shut me out like this.”
“She knows what she is doing,” he answered. “We will wait until she contacts us.”
I flung my hands in the air as I paced on the side of the deserted road. Annoyance curled my fingers into fists, and I stretched my neck. Being spirited away from any threat wasn’t always the blessing it seemed.
I knew my sister could handle herself, but it didn’t mean I didn’t worry nor that I didn’t wonder what was happening.
Finally, my phone rang, and I raced toward Stefan, my eyes wide.
Without showing me the display, he swiped to answer it, pressing the phone to his ear. “Da.”
I pressed my lips together, hating the way my sister’s compatriots behaved at times. He offered a curt nod before he ended the call.
“Time for us to go.” He handed my phone back to me, motioning to the others in the detail that it was time to go.
I climbed in the back of the car, unhappy with the lack of explanation.
Stefan slid into the passenger seat in front of me. I peered around it, poking his shoulder. “Where are we going?”
“To your sestra,” he said.
My heart raced a little. “At the hotel?”
“Nyet.” He murmured an address to the man driving in our native Belvarian, telling him to stop a block away.
I arched an eyebrow as I spotted the location on the navigation screen. It looked like we were going to Alex and Ava’s house.
If that was the case, was I simply to return to the house and slip inside? What had happened after I’d been whisked away?
With no information forthcoming, I drummed my fingers against my thigh. We made our way back toward the beach, the car slowing to a stop about a block from the destination. I recognized the other big homes that surrounded Alex and Ava’s.
Stefan slid from the car, his gaze darting all around as he silently searched for threats before he pulled my door open.
I fluttered my eyelashes, my annoyance brewing inside me as my feet hit the ground. “Well?”
Without a word, he tightened his fingers around my arm, leading me toward the house Kyle had taken me to earlier.
We cut into the neighboring yard, keeping to the shadows before we cut toward the back of the house. My sister appeared on the balcony, and my heart dropped.
How had Nadia gotten into this house? My jaw tightened as Stefan cupped his hands, preparing to boost me higher.
I stepped into his hand, and he pushed me up toward the railing where my sister grabbed my hand, tugging me upward.
With her help, I climbed over the railing. “What is going on?”
“I neutralized the threat.” Nadia shrugged nonchalantly.
“What does that mean? What did you do?”
“I got you back into this house. Your doctor came searching for you. Don’t worry, I didn’t let on that you weren’t…you.”
My jaw tightened, my nostrils flaring again. My sister and I had swapped plenty of times, but Nadia and I weren’t the same people. Most of the time no one knew, but we’d had no preparation for this one. What if she’d said something that would have made Kyle suspicious?
Had Nadia just played along, or had she completely undermined me? She’d never understood how delicate situations like this could be—how a single word, a single misstep, could crumble something I desperately wanted to hold onto.
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“Fine. Just try to keep a low profile until it’s time to go home. It won’t be long, so enjoy the time you have here.”
She swung a leg over the railing. “Oh, and I can see the appeal. Your doctor’s cute. But don’t get too enamored, moya sestra, it can’t work.”
I bit my tongue, wanting to retort. I was sick of people telling me what to do, how to live my life, and what was acceptable. When I’d kissed Kyle earlier, I’d enjoyed the freedom and the feelings it had stirred inside me.
Had Nadia destroyed that for me?
“Don’t get too close, Natashka,” she said before she dropped from the balcony, landing with cat-like grace.
With a wave, she and Stefan disappeared into the night, leaving me alone.
I stood for a moment, listening to the waves crashing against the beach below before I returned into the bedroom and changed my clothes. As I stared out at the rolling sea, my mind returned to Kyle.
He’d been looking for me. The news both warmed my heart and frightened me. Had Nadia made certain whatever connection we felt was diminished?
I pressed my lips together, rising. I had to find Kyle and determine how much damage my sister had done.
With the door cracked, I peered into the hall. He’d told me where his bedroom was earlier. I slipped from mine, making my way to the next hall and down to the door at the end.
No one answered when I knocked. Was he already asleep? I hesitated for a moment before I twisted the knob and opened the door, peering inside. Empty.
With a sigh, I pulled the door closed and shuffled down the hall. Before I made it to the end, Kyle appeared, rounding the corner as he ran his hand through his hair, his features defeated.
“Kyle!” I called, my stomach twisting as I assessed his reaction.
“Nattie,” he answered, seeming surprised. “Hey.”
“Hi,” I said as we closed the distance between us. “I was looking for you.”
“Is everything okay?”
I bobbed my head. “Yes, I just…thanks for coming to find me.”
His lips parted, his features pinching. He seemed confused. I struggled not to roll my eyes. Whatever Nadia had said to him must have been enough to make him question everything. I’d have to work hard to get things back to normal after this incident.
“Yeah, of course. Umm, look, Nattie…” He shook his head, his hands falling on his hips. “If I overstepped, I’m really sorry. I just…I felt like we had this connection, and I know it’s way too early for me to be saying this kind of stuff–“
“I feel it too,” I answered, my heart beating faster. I could never be this free in Belvaria, so I planned to take advantage of this.
“Really?” His lips parted, his forehead creasing.
I bobbed my head, slipping my hand into his. “Yes. And, uh, I know…things were probably…weird there when you found me at the motel, but I was just a little…surprised that you had come to find me.” I tried my best to cover whatever had happened with my sister.
“Of course.” His features softened as he tightened his fingers around mine. “I told you, Nattie, I feel this strong connection between us, and I want to explore that. And even if nothing comes of it, I want you safe.”
I stared into his icy blue eyes, unable to decide if I wanted to smile or cry. He wore his heart on his sleeve, and I was lying right to his face. He’d hate me for this once he found out.
Maybe I could salvage it, to temper it somehow. But I couldn’t risk telling him anything right now–not until after Nadia made sure it was safe.
“That means so much to me,” I said.
He cupped my face in his hand, his thumb rubbing my cheek. “Hey, umm, I feel like maybe what I said earlier may have scared you a little?”
I cocked my head, my stomach twisting into a tight knot. Had he said something to Nadia?
“You know the thing about how I was glad none of my past relationships worked out because it meant I met you. I’m sorry if that was too cheesy.”
I pressed a hand against my chest, my features melting into a smile. “No, not at all. No, I thought it was…very cute.”
As his gentle touch caressed my skin, I felt a pang of guilt so sharp it nearly brought tears to my eyes. He didn’t know who I really was—what I was—and I was stealing these moments with him like a thief in the night. How long could this last before it all came crashing down?
“Cute, right,” he said, a nervous smile breaking through his worry. “I’ll take it.”
“It was so sweet. I wasn’t scared. I just…things are very complicated with me. And I’m concerned you may be the one afraid.”
“Oh, no,” he said, his eyes widening as he shook his head. “No, Nattie. I get it, okay? I do. I’m fully prepared for all the complicated stuff that comes along with you. I’ll be here for you and with you.”
I wanted to believe him, wanted to melt into his arms and feel all of the safety and security he promised. But I couldn’t risk it yet. There were too many questions I couldn’t answer, too many things I had to lie about.
I wondered if I’d ever be able to tell the truth. If not, our relationship would be short-lived.
As much as he said he was prepared for everything, he had no idea what he was facing. He thought it was an abusive ex. He couldn’t have been more wrong.
“Hey,” he said, tipping my chin up with a slight smile, “I mean it. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
My voice turned a little breathy as I stared into those beautiful eyes of his, that strong connection pulsing through me and making me warm all over. “I’ve never met anyone like you either.”
He chuckled, a little color rising in his cheeks. “I’m sort of glad you think that’s a good thing because…I’m pretty sure you’re going to be really disappointed because I’ve got some crazy stuff in my past.”
I nearly laughed out loud. Crazy stuff in his past? He couldn’t top my past and my present.
He puffed out a breath. “Nattie, I have some weird stuff in my past. And my half-sister, if you meet her, she’s going to tell you all about it. She’s going to paint me in this horrible light–”
I pressed my fingers against his lips. “No. It won’t change anything for me.”
He winced, grabbing my hand in his. “That’s so sweet, Nattie, but…maybe you should reserve that promise until you’ve heard more about me.”
“Tell me,” I said, wanting as much information as I could get about him. I needed his help more than I needed him beside me, but I wanted both.
His features pinched, worry creasing them. “Umm, I’d really rather save this for another time. I’m just…not really a squeaky-clean guy.”
He probably thought the words would turn me off, but the truth was my roots weren’t exactly innocent either.
“Then, we’ll save it,” I answered.
“Thanks,” he said with a smile before he leaned closer, kissing my cheek.
I grinned at him before I pulled him into a fuller kiss on the lips. We parted, and he slid a lock of hair behind my ear. “Do you think you can sleep?”
“I think so. See you in the morning?”
“Yes, definitely. If you tell me how you like your coffee, I’ll have it ready for you.”
I cupped his cheeks in my hands. “So sweet. But I don’t drink coffee. Tea.”
“Tea. I will make sure we have tea just for you.”
“Thank you,” I said with a squeeze of his hands. “Good night, Kyle.”
“Good night, Nattie.”
I skirted past him, heading down the hall. With a quick glance over my shoulder, I grinned at him as he stood there watching me go. I continued toward my room, pushing inside and already missing Kyle.
I stopped short as I entered the room, my heart skipping a beat. “Ava.”
Ava rose from her perch on the corner of my bed. “Hey, Nattie.”
“Is something wrong?”
“You tell me,” she replied, crossing her arms.
I shook my head. “No. Nothing is wrong. I was just talking to Kyle, thanking him for coming for me.”
Ava narrowed her eyes, her finger wagging at me. “If you hurt Doc, I will personally make sure you pay for it.”
She pushed past me. I bristled at the statement, twisting to face her. “I already care a great deal about him. But even so, I’d be careful what threats I tossed out. You have no idea what my circumstances are.”
She cocked her head. I swallowed hard, realizing I should not have launched the counterattack. I had to stop behaving like I did at home. I couldn’t do that yet.
“No, I don’t,” Ava answered, “but I plan to find out exactly what they are, Nattie. Count on it.”
She pulled the door closed behind her, leaving me alone. Frustration boiled over as my fists tightened, my nails digging into my palms. The last thing I needed was Ava outing my situation before I was ready. I had to tread carefully. Very carefully.