Page 59 of Bratva Prince
“What are you doing here?” I asked. “How did you find us?”
His eyebrows creased and he glanced around nervously. “Well, don’t be mad, but I kind of… told your dad. When you didn’t call me back or show up to the hotel, I started freaking out. Seriously, Giorgios had to slap me to calm me down.”
I burst into laughter at the image, but Viktor’s face remained serious.
“No joke, you can ask him. I had a red mark all day. I mean, I knew his hands were strong, but damn. Anyway, we contacted the local authorities and they checked security cameras, but they never saw you after you left that morning. Oh, my God, Willow. I thought you’d been kidnapped! After a week of finding nothing, I broke down and called your dad. I know you don’t like him and I’m sorry, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
Resting a hand on his shoulder, I assured him, “It’s alright, Vik. I know you were only looking out for me. Thank you. I owe you so, so big right now.”
His face relaxed a bit knowing that I wasn’t mad at him for telling my father. He knew I didn’t like my dad, though he had no idea just how deep that hatred ran. But one question was still brimming to the surface.
“How did you find us?”
Viktor's hands swung around as he spoke. “Once your dad was involved, he used his connections to send out boats all over Crete, Santorini, and when nothing came of that, he sent boats to Italy, and eventually here.”
“Where are we?” I asked, not even sure which country this uninhabited island was in.
“Somewhere near Croatia.”
Ivan snapped his finger and shouted, “I called it! Iknewwe were near Croatia. Man, I’m good.”
I shook my head, laughing to myself. “Alright, cool it, Mr. Ego.”
Viktor eyes us, a knowing expression crossing his face. I cocked my head, quirking an eyebrow in question, but he just smiled and matched my expression.
We boarded the yacht and the man took us to Croatia. Viktor lent Ivan his phone to make a few calls and Ivan booked a private jet back to Greece—which Viktor was more than happy to ride in a private jet. Within a few hours, we were in Crete once again.
Giorgios was waiting for Viktor, and when they saw each other, Viktor ran into his arms, giving him a long kiss. I smiled, happy my friend found love on his trip.
Which left me wondering,what about me?Had I too found love?
I mean, Ivan and I hadn’t actually said it, but I felt it was implied in the way we cared for one another, the way we’d made love in a cave after admitting our feelings. I didn’t need him to say it to believe it was true.
There was a moment on the island when I asked him to stay by my side, and he’d said yes. But we’d never discussed what would happen when we got back to Crete or Moscow.
Where did that leave us now?
I had no idea…
When I opened my mouth to ask him, I was quickly silenced at the recognition of a familiar presence.
“Willow, darling, I’ve been so worried.” My father ran up to me, wrapping his arms around me in an embrace. My arms hung limp at my sides. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” Tears filled his eyes and he sobbed into my hair.
Fake. It was all a show he put on for those around him. I could see those crocodile tears from a mile away, though I knew him better than anyone else here. To the outside world, he was a concerned father reunited with his daughter. It would make great publicity; I’m honestly not shocked at all.
But to fake concern, after I’d been missing for a month?The nerve!
“Come on, honey. Let’s get you back to Moscow. Your mother’s been worried sick.”
I pushed out of my father’s arms and walked up to Ivan, staring at him, pleading with my eyes for him to ask me not to go.
But he didn’t.
“Willow.” My name rolled off his tongue in a way that sent flutters through my heart and butterflies through my belly. “I need to tie up a few things here in Crete before I go back to Russia. But when I get back to Moscow, I want to see you.”
The butterflies were replaced with a disappointment that sank into my gut, making me feel sick all over again.
A part of me wondered, was he telling the truth? Ivan had never lied to me—aside from when he tricked me onto the jet—but even then he told me the truth of his plans.
