Page 13 of Shadows of the Past
He looks at me, not responding, but I sense from his expression that I can continue.
“I need a pregnancy test.”
I know Martin didn’t use protection, and while the risk of disease is there, my first thought is to ensure I’m not carrying that monster's child.
His gaze turns ironhard, and I almost drop my eyes but don’t. Not because I’m not ashamed, but because it wasn’t my fault.It wasn’t your fault, Julia!
A few seconds pass, and then his voice cuts through the air in the room.
“Who?” A single word, but one that holds a promise.
I don’t know this man, but somehow, I feel that the name I give will never breathe again.
“Martin. He’s one of Rogelio’s men.” I see him nod, and there’s something in his eyes, a mix of compassion and understanding, though I can’t quite name the feeling.
“I’ll take care of it. We'll need to figure out how to get you a birth control implant,” he says, and my eyes widen.
“You said you wouldn’t do anything to me.” And now my voice is slightly indignant. I trusted him.
“You don’t need to fear me, Julia. But there are other men here, and I can’t guarantee you’ll always be safe. Better to be sure.”
Something in his confession both calms and alarms me. At least I wasn’t wrong about him, though the thought that anyone else could try to force themselves on me makes my vision blur.
“I’ll go find you some clothes and whatever else you need. Close the door behind me. Don’t open it for anyone, understood?”
I nod silently and watch him head for the door.
He wears a black leather jacket that stretches across his back. He’s not overly muscular, but the way his muscles are defined under the leather suggests he's physically fit.
“Julia, do me a favor. Scream for one minute.”
Chapter 7
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Maksim
I’ve made a mistake. For five years, I’ve been trying to put the pieces together to destroy the monster that has invaded every thought, every pore, every shred of reason in me.
Everything was going well until Julia came along, with eyes warm as honey, and made me almost ruin everything.
I hope you’re happy, Vera. I’m making the same mistake all over again.
She’s been raped.
He won’t escape justice for what he’s done. I’ll make sure he feels every ounce of pain he’s caused her.
“I hear you got a new toy,” Aleksandr’s voice echoes from the top of the stairs.
Another idiot I’d love to slowly cut into pieces until every saint has me on their black list.
I ignore him because, just like with Ivan, nothing bothers my “cousin” more than talking to the walls.
Aleksandr is a few years older than me, with blonde hair and brown eyes, making us as different as night and day. The only thing we have in common is our hatred of Ivan. Even there, we’re not on the same wavelength.
What I feel for my adoptive father goes beyond hatred; it’s the need to see life drain from him, to hear him screaming. It’s visceral.
Aleksandr, on the other hand, hates him because Ivan won’t name him his successor. But in terms of personality, they’re not far apart.
