9. Vladimir
Vladimir
It has been a week since the fundraiser, and yet, I can’t shake her from my mind.
I tried to stay away at first. Forced myself to go about my business as if she hadn’t embedded herself under my skin.
The first day, I ignored the pull. The second, it gnawed at me, an itch I couldn’t quite reach.
By the third, my restraint cracked—I started following her.
Not close enough to be noticed, but close enough to know exactly where she went.
By the fifth day, I knew her routine better than my own.
She wakes early, just after sunrise. Never in a rush.
While the city stirs awake in a slow crawl, she moves with quiet purpose.
I’ve watched her slip out of the hotel they’re staying at—a boutique place in the heart of the city, discreet but elegant.
From there, she and the other women weave through the streets, blending in, becoming part of the tourist flow.
They’ve been sightseeing. Amani, ever the social one, drags them from place to place, soaking in everything like she’s determined to make the most of it.
Raven walks slightly behind, always observing, always calculating.
And Luna? She follows along, but there’s always this distance about her.
Like she’s present, but never fully part of it.
They visit museums, high-end shopping districts, and historical landmarks, but the parts that intrigue me most are the quiet moments in between.
When Luna lingers at the edge of a market stall, fingers brushing over silk scarves without buying anything.
When she pauses at a street musician’s performance, watching but never clapping.
When she sits outside a café in the afternoon, always ordering the same thing—green tea with honey. Never coffee.
That part I can’t figure out. The woman moves like someone who should run on caffeine, but she doesn’t touch it. Instead, she drinks her tea in slow, thoughtful sips, eyes distant, as if she’s elsewhere.
She’s careful. Never takes the same route twice, always aware of her surroundings. Even now, I don’t think she realizes she’s being followed, but she acts like she expects to be. There’s an edge to her, even in the simplest of moments. Like she’s waiting for something.
And I don’t know whether I want to chase her down and demand to know what’s in her head—or keep following, just to see how long it takes for her to notice me.
By now, I know more than I should. I know how she spends her days.
I know the subtle shifts in her posture when she’s irritated versus when she’s simply lost in thought.
I know she doesn’t like crowded spaces, preferring the outskirts of a group.
I know that, despite all her sharp edges, she has a softness in the way she looks at the world when she thinks no one is watching.
And I know that this—whatever this is—is not going away.
The realization settles deep in my bones as I watch her now, sitting outside another café, hands wrapped around a delicate porcelain cup, lips slightly parted as she blows on her tea. She looks calm, but I know better. Luna doesn’t do calm.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I sigh, glancing at the screen. Dimitri.
I already know what he’s going to say.
With one last look in her direction, I answer.
“I’m on my way.”
Three days later, I sit in a dark corner of the club with Konstantin and Dimitri, my eyes scanning the crowd.
The club buzzes with activity, but my attention is solely on her.
One of my men is stationed discreetly near Luna and the other women she is with, texting me updates about her whereabouts.
Dimitri leans forward, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "You’re spacing out again, Vova. Should I be worried, or grab some popcorn for this little Luna obsession of yours?"
I roll my eyes, trying to ignore him. "You talk too much, Dimitri."
Konstantin, sitting quietly across from us, barely acknowledges the conversation. He’s brooding, as usual. "Still thinking about the woman who nearly killed us?" he mutters, shaking his head.
I glance over at him, a sly smile creeping onto my lips. "I bet if the tall, perky one from the group had done it, you wouldn’t be complaining as much."
He grunts in response, folding his arms, but not before his neck and cheeks flush red. His reaction is almost too telling. There’s something deeper there—a mix of respect and annoyance.
We’re not often put in a position where we’re not the ones doing the taking.
Before I can tease him again, my tail texts me an update. I glance down at my phone, but before I can react, Dimitri snatches the phone from my hand, jumping to his feet dramatically.
He whistles as he runs around the room, clearly enjoying himself. "You got it bad, Vlad!"
I don’t move, watching him with mild annoyance. "Give me that, Dima.”
He grins, holding the phone just out of reach. "Hey, do you think the tail can get a pic of Raven? That would be a nice little addition."
I snatch the phone back with a growl and put it away as if nothing had happened. The smile on my face is gone, replaced by the usual calm intensity.
Dimitri leans back in his chair, clearly intrigued.
"So, what’s the plan?" Dimitri asks, eyes glinting. "Are you just gonna keep staring at her from a distance like some lovesick puppy? Because, believe me, that’s not gonna work."
I grin, the plan already forming in my mind. "No. I’ve got something better. I’m going to trap her. Luna's tricky, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve."
Dimitri raises an eyebrow. "You do realize she almost took your shoulder off, right? And your leg?"
I wave him off, not bothered. "That was just a mistake. She won’t make it again."
Konstantin cuts in, his voice dry. "You sure about that, Vlad? I don’t think two blades lodged into my body would be seen as a mistake.”
I meet his gaze, unbothered. “I love a challenge. What can I say?”
Dimitri laughs, clearly enjoying the idea of a challenge. "So what’s your brilliant plan? You gonna stalk her like a creeper or try to catch her off guard again?"
I ignore him, focusing on the task at hand. "No. She’s too smart for that. I will get close to her, close enough that she thinks she’s in control. And then, I’ll strike."
Konstantin shakes his head, his skepticism still evident. "You’re playing chess with an assassin, Vlad.”
"I know," I reply, my grin widening. "But that’s exactly what makes it fun."
Dimitri leans back in his chair, clearly amused. "I’ve never seen you like this before. You’re obsessed, Vova. Obsessed."
"Call it what you want," I say, standing up and walking to the window. "I know exactly what I want. And I want her. I want Luna."
I turn back to face them, the thrill building inside me. "She’s mine now, and it’s about time she realizes it.”
With that, I pull out my phone, texting my tail with a full smile on my face.
Dimitri leans in and murmurs with a smirk, "Nothing good can come of this when he smiles like that."