Page 39 of Darkest Love
Mikhail raises an eyebrow. “And you don’t? She’s your wife now. It would do you good to love her.”
“Why do you care?” I ask.
“If you make Ana unhappy, then it will make Natalya unhappy and I don’t want that. So make Ana happy.”
I consider Mikhail’s words on the way to Remy’s nightclub. How can I make Anastasia happy? Nothing ever works.
We arrive at the club and waltz inside like we own the place but after asking around, it’s clear that Remy isn’t here for the night.
“Where do you think he could be?” Nico asks after we leave the club.
“He owns other restaurants and clubs we can check out.”
Mikhail gets a text. The frown on his face says something is wrong. “It’s Natalya. She says that someone is trying to get into the house.”
Fuck. Remy. I know it’s him. He has men watching me. He must have seen us leave and wanted to attack when the four of us weren’t at my home.
Which means… Anastasia is in danger.
Chapter Fifteen
Anastasia
“Are you sure things are ok with you and Adrien?” Natalya asks me after our husbands leave.
I know all my sisters sensed the coldness between Adrien and I.
“It’s… not ideal,” I admit, slumping onto the couch.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Natalya sounds so hurt by the fact that I didn’t tell her my feelings. She’s used to being a second mom to me and my sisters that I know she takes these things personally.
“Because I didn’t want any of you to tell me I was wrong for marrying Adrien. I wanted an adventure but you all told me thatI had to be careful. That I had to stay safe. I didn’t want you to be made to feel bad for my decision.”
“Do you regret it?” Irina asks in her soft voice, sitting down beside me. “Marrying Adrien?”
I think back to the day he put his mouth on me. How good it felt. How, for the first time, I had hope that we could grow closer. Our date at the museum. How it was actually fun just to talk with him.
But Adrien keeps putting space between us and I don’t know how to break through his walls.
“Maybe,” I whisper. “Maybe I do.”
“You can come back home with us,” Mom offers.
“No. Adrien would never allow that and you know it. I’m his wife now. I have to see this through.”
Mom tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. “Even if it’s killing you inside?”
“I’ll be fine, Mom,” I say, pulling away from her. “I’ll be fine.” Maybe if I keep telling myself that, I actually will end up fine.
She opens her mouth to say more when we all hear something. A loud bang against the front door that makes all of us stand up. Even Natalya pushes herself to her feet fast, despite her large stomach.
“What was that?” Sasha asks.
“I have no idea,” I say as my heart pounds fast. Another loud bang on the door makes me jerk back and bump into my mom. She wraps her hands around my arms, steadying me. It’s pathetic but I’m glad my mom is here. I wanted to be a woman so badly but sometimes I’m still just a little girl who needs her mommy.
“We need to know what’s happening,” Sasha says, walking forward without any fear. I need to be brave like she is so I pull away from my mom.
“Ana, no,” Mom says. “Let me go first.”
