Page 27 of Twisted Prince

“No. Of course not. He… we…” I swallow hard, trying to find my voice. “We might have slept together last night.”

“But, Mel, that’s amazing!” Annie gasps. “I knew he had feelings for you, and I thought you might never want to let him in, even though I see the way you… look… at… him…” Her excitement dies, her voice trailing off as she seems to realize she’s gotten carried away with shipping me and Gleb too soon. “But you’re leaving because you don’t want to be with him?”

“That’s the thing, Annie. I do want to be with him. I want to be with him so badly it hurts. But the more I trust him, the easier it will be for him to control me. I’m falling into the same trap I always do. I keep handing my life over to domineering men like my father and my uncle. And every time, they end up taking advantage of me. They use my attachment against me. If I let it happen again with Gleb, one day, I’ll wake up and find myself in another cage because I was too afraid to take my freedom when I had the chance.” My voice breaks, and I press my lips together to stop my emotion from escaping.

“Oh, Mel. Gleb’s not like that,” Annie assures me, her brown eyes worried. “He would never force you to do anything you don’t want.”

“You didn’t hear him this morning. When I told him I couldn’t stay in this house…” I shake my head. “He won’t let me leave.”

“He’s just trying to protect you,” she insists gently.

Scoffing, I withdraw my hands from hers and stand. “That’s where it always starts, Annie.”

She’s a sweet girl, and Annie’s endured more than her fair share of terrible experiences, but she doesn’t know the ugly truth about the world. Not like I do. Some women don’t have to find out. And for her sake, I hope she never does. But that doesn’t make it any less true for me.

That’s why I have to get out.

If I don’t leave now, I might not have the strength to leave when I need to.

The truth is, I’ve never been in more danger of losing my freedom than I am now.

Because my feelings for Gleb are something I’ve never experienced before. And unlike the traps I’ve fallen into in the past, this one could easily be a prison of my own making. I won’t help him put a cage around me. It doesn’t matter what reasons he gives me. It doesn’t even matter if he really believes his reasoning. I don’t want to take the chance and find out too late that I’m wrong.

Right now, I’m free, and I know my feelings for Gleb could easily lead me down a path I don’t want to explore. So I’ll find my own way. Even if it’s a more dangerous road.

“You’re really not even going to talk to him before you go?” Annie asks, tears glistening in her eyes as I start to pack again.

I shake my head. “I can’t risk it. He might do something to stop me.”

A long silence stretches between us, broken only by the soft sniffles that issue from Annie.

“I’m going to miss you,” she murmurs finally.

Heart squeezing, I pause to meet her soft brown eyes. “I’ll miss you too.”

I cram the last few items of clothing into my duffel bag. The last thing I pack is my manila envelope of headshots and modeling pictures. Many were damaged during our abduction, but I saved enough to make a decent portfolio for wherever I end up. Hopefully, I can find another big break in a different city.

Taking care not to rip the folder or bend my pictures, I zip the bag closed and look around the room. I don’t have many worldly possessions. Most of what I do have came from Pyotr and Silvia when they helped the girls and me get back on our feet. I’m leaving behind a few of my bulkier outfits because I don’t have the space to pack them in my bag.

I’ll just have to replace them when I get where I’m going and find a new job.

“Do me a favor?” I ask as I sling my bag over my shoulder.

“Sure. Anything.” Annie stands, offering me a smile despite her watery gaze.

I hand her my cell phone because I have no doubt Gleb could track me with it and bring me back in an instant. Then, separately, I hand her the sealed envelope I’d intended to leave on my bed. “Give these to Gleb when you see him?”

Annie nods. “Of course.”

“And… don’t tell anyone else I left.”

“You’re not going to say bye to the girls?” The hurt in her voice suggests that I’ll be committing a major offense.

“Will you tell them for me?” I ask gently. “Later, once Gleb finds out I’m gone? I just need a day or two head start. And you’re the only one I trust to keep my secret.” At least, I hope she can. Not that I expect her to lie for me. And I have no doubt Gleb will question her when he finds I’m gone. But hopefully, he’ll be too busy with Veles business to realize I’m missing before I make it out of New York.

“Okay,” Annie agrees with a nod.

Biting my lower lip, I pull the fragile girl into a tight hug. “Thanks for being my friend,” I murmur.

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