Page 15 of Your Sharpest Edge
“Unfortunately?” she repeated.
“They should’ve gotten divorced a long time ago, but we grew up without a lot of money and my mom sacrificed a lot so she’d turn the other way when my dad never came home. He was always cheating on her, and there’s a rumor he has another son in our small town.” I sighed, resting my hands in my lap, feeling uncomfortable.
This was one of the only times I’d ever admitted this aloud to anyone, including Coach Santana who was my mentor.. I didn’t like talking about my family because it was awkward, and I felt people would judge my mother for staying with my father.
“But you moved?”
I nodded. “Yeah, to Moscow. Truthfully, I’m not sure even to this day if my father knows if he has another child or not. When we moved, I think my mother thought it would get better, but because my father had to work twice as hard to live in a bigger city, he was twice as horny, I guess?”
Anastasia instinctively reached across the couch as if to take my hands, but quickly drew them back into her lap. “That’s awful, Alex. I’m so sorry you had to experience that as a child.”
I shrugged, trying to brush it off. “It’s fine, but there’s a reason I’m telling you this.”
“Oh?”
“I want you to know that I’m not my parents. I’ve worked hard to be different because I understand what it’s like to see a family torn apart. I would never do that to you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you,” she repeated, this time softly as she looked out the windows.
“But I could also use a friend.” I matched her demure tone.
The corner of one lip twisted into a smirk. “I could, too.”
I sank into the couch, pulling a blanket from its back and tossing it to her. She instinctively wrapped it around herself as I grabbed the remote.
“What do you feel like watching?” I asked.
Her bright blue eyes met mine. “Anything?”
I smirked. “Anything you want.”
“Let’s watchHow to Dealwith Mandy Moore,” she said.
“A romance, huh?” I raised an eyebrow.
She chuckled. “Of course. There’s no other option.”
I didn’t hesitate—I found the movie, rented it, and set my phone aside to watch. And when her soft snores filled the room, I quietly pulled the blanket up around her, no second thought needed.
I heard a rumble of men walking down the hallway as Dirks opened his door.
“Fuck, man. That pussy was so tight.” My captain’s voice filled the empty hallway.
Shit. I leaned over, gently rousing Anastasia. “Wake up. Your husband’s home.”
The title felt like sandpaper on my tongue. Suddenly, I hated that she had a husband, that she belonged to someone else—someone who showed her no respect at all.
“Huh?” she answered in a drowsy tone.
“I fucked her raw, too,” his voice responded outside, and I just hoped to God she didn’t hear that. “If my wife won’t give me a baby, maybe that piece of ass will.”
“Anastasia?” I tried, shaking her a little and pulling down the blanket. “You have to go.”
Although I tried to remain calm and not freak her out, she also needed to leave because being caught here wouldn’t be good.
“Dimitri—” was all I needed to say before she threw the blankets off her and sat up.
“Shit,” she cried.
