Chapter 16
Konstantin
“Mr. Volkov, here are your tickets.” Salvatore instructed sternly, handing me an envelope that he retrieved from the inside of his breast pocket.
“Your train leaves this Friday.” He sat across from me, his eyes slowly moving across the room, calculating the movements of those surrounding us.
Adjusting the collar of his pristine, Italian-tailored brown suit.
Which made no damn sense when he picked an outside cafe to meet up at.
It was the peak of noon, when the rise of the sun was at its most powerful, the heat increasing by the hour as the laughter of children playing football in the street filled up the air and the influx of bypassers was the highest. On top of that, we sat out in the fresco seating, drinking a cup of cappuccino and espresso.
Opening it, I noticed the two tickets tucked inside. One of my brows instantly rose up, knowing they had been watching me and Blair. But why?
“Is something to your dissatisfaction?” His question was an inciting trap to fall for.
I tossed the envelope aside on the table, leaning back into my chair, my leg shaking. “Why the extra ticket? I’m alone.”
His eyes that nearly replicate my own are tensely observant. “Well, perhaps you wanted to take someone with you?”
“Why is it any of your business?”
“It’s not.”
A vein struck against my forehead, nearly crushing the tickets in hand. “Cut the crap. Either you or Aleksandra has been watching my every move.”
“There’s no reason to fret; she's only looking out for your best interest.” He unnervingly stated it, yet his gaze showed no emotion, indeed wanting to deceive me.
“And what would she know about that? About my wants and needs?”
“Nothing yet. Men like us are simple creatures, and the existence of one woman halts the world and makes everything in it insignificant.” Salvatore said all I needed to know.
One scoff leaves my mouth with a bad taste. “She’s watching me.”
“She’s watching your back, as are your enemies.
” His statement was a judgment. His eyes were critical, as if this was about life or death.
“There’s no time to wonder. You’re either in or out.
But you know the risk you run once people hear of your escape.
So choose Konstantin. Be with Aleskandra, or risk dying.
Your choice.” He rose from the chair, pushing it in as he ran a hand over his suit before he buttoned it up.
No, this bastard couldn’t just leave me like this.
My hand fell on the table, catching his attention as I asked, “Why do you trust her so much? How has she gained that?”
“She didn’t. She simply protected what I loved the most.”
“And what would that be? What is the most precious thing? A wife?”
“She’s dead.”
“Then your daughter?”
“Shut up.” His pristine calm composure broke into pieces, his jaw tightening at the thought.
Check. Mate.
Honestly, it wasn’t that hard to guess. In our world of bloodshed and violence, the most precious thing we could find was a lover, and more than having one another were children. And we would do anything to preserve and protect them. Holding on until the very last breath.
“So a precious child that means the world to you. That’s how Aleksandra got you to be her dog?”
“Watch your mouth, boy.”
“Why should I? Why the fuck would I care about you, your daughter, or Aleksandra?”
“It’s not just about her!” He spat out. “It’s about you.”
“Me? What the fuck do I have to do with any of this shit?” I cursed as a mother walking beside us gasped, covering her child’s ear.
The pair reminded me of Blair and her little Ollie as I swore to reduce the foul language in front of kids so I would be prepared for when I met the kid.
“Let me remind you that your mistress came to me, not the other way around.”
“Only because you’re the only one who knows what happened that night in Dargsus and the secrets that lingered beneath the Bratva’s facade.”
“I never asked to be involved. Hell, I’m trying to run away.” I hissed, hating that I had to explain myself to a total stranger.
He planted his palms on the table, closing in as his face was nearly in mine.
“That’s the thing, you don’t have to run anymore.
You can have everything back. You can have your life back.
You can be safe. You finally have everything you dreamed of and deserve.
” His intonation, while rough at first, rose with bearing concern.
What is wrong with this man?
I don’t know Kon, but it sounds like…
Like?
Like he cares for some goddamn reason.
What? What are you even talking about?
Look, there’s just a feeling I can’t shake about this guy. He feels so familiar, but we’ve never met him.
Sure as hell we haven’t. Anything I see, you see too?
Fuck, I don’t know. Figure this out yourself. Do something for once.
My head spun in circles. “Who are you? Why do you care so much about me?”
“This is not the time nor the place,” He gazed over his shoulder and at every exit, nearly paranoid. “You shouldn’t know where you come from nor who your parents—”
The mention of my past brought me to lean forward, bringing my arms on the table. “What do you know about them? What do you know about my past?”
He ran a trembling hand over his chin. It was only then I noticed a bracelet replica of mine, but it held the colors blue, green, red, silver, orange, and purple. “I’ve said too much already.”
No, I needed to know. I had to know. “Salvatore—”
“We’ll talk about it once you leave.” He hesitates to continue. “That’s if you leave.”
He said as he turned his back and left, walking into the street filled with a large crowd, becoming seamlessly like any other person until he disappeared completely, leaving behind a storm of unanswered questions.
My brain pulsated, wondering about the grueling process.
Wondering if I’d ever truly be free?