Chapter Four: Trapped In Tough Spot

Anastasia's POV

The sound of multiple heavy boots echoed through the hall plunging the entire room into silence, before Donovan spoke again.

“Stand down,” he ordered my father's guards with a calm tone, but it carried a weight that made even the bravest and most loyal of them hesitate. “Your duty for the evening is finished. Go home.”

The men exchanged glances, with uncertainty painting their expressions, all of them turned to mother who gave a silent nod of approval and their body relaxed.

They quietly lowered their weapons, gave a bow and exited the mansion at once.

I wanted to scream at them for leaving us, but my words got stuck in my throat as two strangers…Donovan's men, led someone into the room.

The colour drained from my face.

“Papa!”

He stepped forward, tied, gagged, but unharmed, still in his three piece suit that I had personally picked out for him this morning. His gaze met mine, filled with anger, but then they softened, like he was trying to reassure me.

Donovan raised a hand lazily and his men obeyed his unspoken order.

They untied father gently, making sure not to touch or hurt him. He crossed the wide living room floor, with his head raised high and straight to mother's side.

She didn't react, but I could see her eyes glistening with tears.

Just how long did she know he was held captive? And how did they even manage to get their hands on him?

I wondered, but knowing Donovan, I wouldn't get the answer until this entire issue was solved.

However, I was not relieved, infact my uneasiness became worse. If Donovan had gone this far, it was only to prove that he controlled the ground we stood on.

And the fact my parents still didn't know what kind of life I lived made my stomach twist even more, because this bastard might run his mouth and ruin everything for me.

I was ordered to take a seat beside Donovan, close enough to get a whiff of his soft cologne. My hands clenched into a fist on my lap, but father's calm expression just silenced all protest.

I was powerless.

“This is better,” Donovan said, leaning back into his wine glass between his fingers. “Now we can speak properly.”

The conversation began quietly, like nothing had happened. Father's voice remained gentle, even though he insulted Donovan between his words and swore to take revenge for his stupid behaviour.

“You said this deal was made five months ago. That was around the same time you….” His eyes narrowed, “....chose to be a coward.”

I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood.

Donovan's smile was infuriating, and it was more unbearable when I heard him chuckle. “Yes, and it's the best decision I ever made.”

Father's jaw tightened, “So this is about the Vasilevs.”

“Of course,” Donovan replied. “Boss sent me to take his wife home, as well and have a little talk with you,” he smiled, “...the syndicate still rises, with or without your interference if you're worried. Importation, drugs, weapons…we are moving faster than anyone anticipated. Your role remains the same though, Keep the family's name clean, the authorities blind. As long as you do that, your daughter has nothing to worry about.”

Mother's grip on father's arm tightened, “And if the authorities push back?” She asked, “You know we are not deeply involved with the Vasilevs neither are we as strong.”

“They won't,” Donovan said, with a tone laced with arrogance. “They're terrified already. If the marriage is concluded, your family becomes permanently bound with us. Isn't that right, Vincenzo? Six months without interference or questioning from the bureau is enough proof right?.”

Father sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Yes, there have been no issues.”

“Father, mother,” I called gently, finally deciding to speak up. “I want to know what is going on, what marriage did I agree to? And what does it have to do with….” I looked at Donovan in disgust, “..him.”

Mother smiled, “Do you remember the contract marriage you agreed to not long ago?” I nodded and she exhaled. “Well, it's with the Vasilevs.”

I nodded, totally understanding why, since I already agreed to it, it wasn't a big deal. But the problem was, who were the Vasilevs? And why was Donovan here instead of them?

I opened my mouth to ask the question outloud, but a single gunshot got me flinching in my seat.

I watched father sigh out with frustration and mother tense up in her seat, while their gazes moved to the door. The entire room fell silent, save for the sounds of shoes from the hall outside.

The doors to the mansion creaked open slowly and a man stepped inside. Light blonde hair, silvery blue eyes that were oddly familiar. He had a gun held tight in one hand, with smoke still curling from the barrel.

Behind him, one of Donovan's men was clutching his bleeding arm, with a blank expression.

“Forgive me, Vincenzo,” the man said with slight bow. “For being so discourteous.” He cast a quick glance at the blonde who smiled and handed over his gun to him. They exchanged a few hushed words before he finally left, leaving a trail of blood across the floor.

The blonde smiled brightly and it almost seemed like his presence lightened up the room in the living room.

“This is alot better,” he said. His voice was deep, not as deep as Donovan's, but it was quite attractive fitting his face and it carried a playfulness that chilled me to the bone. He placed his hand on his chest and bowed. “I'm sorry for being late.”

Mother and father both smiled and offered him a seat, which he ignored. Instead he walked over to where Donovan and I sat, smacked him hard across the neck before settling beside me.

“Donovan sure does his best, but I couldn't resist meeting my bride myself.”

My heart hammered against my ribs.

The word bride coming from Donovan was enough to make me throw up, and now this weird guy too.

He turned his gaze to me, tilting his head slightly, “Anastasia…Mikhailova,” he let the words roll on his tongue like he was tasting it, and something about that felt really familiar too. “You're even lovelier than I imagined.”

I held my breath. There was something about his eyes that made me feel very uneasy. The way it glimmered with delight, sweetness, but despite that the pressure from just sitting beside him would be enough to crush a bone.

He leaned closer, finding my hands before I could react, and he raised it to his lips, “I should have come earlier to take you home, please accept my deepest apologies.”

As he raised my hands to his lips, while I sat there totally dumbstruck, a black bandage around his arm and the small cut at his throat made me freeze, but I forced myself to ignore it, brushing it off as a coincidence.

Without thinking twice, I withdrew my hand and quickly rose up from where I sat.

His eyes narrowed, “Is anything the matter?”

I frowned, “I'd appreciate it if you keep your distance, please.”

“Anastasia….”

“Papa please,” I cut him off, “I don't know this man and even though he is supposed to be my husband I can't just let him touch me.”

As Father opened his mouth to reply, the blonde guy chuckled, drawing all our attention back to him.

“Anastasia…I don't like getting provoked as it doesn't end well. However, I'll respect your decision, now let Donovan escort you to my car while I talk with your parents.”

“I'm sorry, I must have stuttered earlier,” I paused and turned to face him properly. “I refuse to go anywhere with you, or that bastard.”

The blonde guy just stared blankly. For a moment I was relieved he hadn't snapped, but his hands slipped into his pockets, and he pulled out a remote that made mother gasp loudly.

“What is that?!” I yelled at the top of my voice, failing to hide my anxiety.

He simply smiled, “it's nothing,” he pointed at father who was sitting still in his seat. I didn't notice anything strange, aside from the fact he was sweating. Just as I turned back to the blonde, I saw a red dot at the side of his head.

My eyes widened, “Father…”

“My snipers are positioned everywhere, and I just need to notify them with a push of this button and they'll shoot,” he smiled sweetly. “Do not blame me for this, your defiance and stubbornness is the reason I had to resort to this, my love.”