Chapter Three: Threats

Anastasia's POV

Donovan Leonid, a man who wasn't a stranger, not even an acquaintance, but he was someone my parents knew, and was also my enemy.

A man who had sworn the same oaths I did, bled under the same banners, and then spat on it in the worst ways by joining the syndicates we work against.

The moment his boots crossed the polished floor at the entrance of the mansion with a smile, the atmosphere immediately changed. Father's guards stiffened at the door.

Mother's worried gaze flicked from me to him, and the doctor at another door that led out of the mansion immediately left without a word.

“Why are you here?!”

I yelled at the top of my voice as I descended the stairs. He didn't give an answer, instead, he turned to mother and gave a short bow.

“I asked a question, why are you here?” I hissed. I was furious, even more than I was with the gunshot. “Get. Out!”

His dark green eyes moved over me lazily, lingering too long on my exposed arms that had the bandage, before moving to my bandaged thigh.

And he smirked, totally unbothered by the line of guards now trembling and moving to surround him.

Why the hell were they scared of this bastard?

“Donovan Leonid…..”

“Anastasia Mikhailova.” He said with a smile, before slipping his hands out of his pockets. “That's no way to greet a friend.”

“How dare you show your face here?”

Father’s bodyguards were already shifting into position. They had daggers drawn, guns cocked and aimed, and some had chains. A word from me and they'd drag him out by the throat.

And I wanted that….God, I wanted that satisfaction.

“Throw him out,” I ordered coldly.

“If they touch me, you might actually have to switch locations because of the blood stains.”

I flinched, biting down on my lips, I glared at the guard closest to him. “Who are you scared of, me or him?”

The man gulped down his saliva and stepped forward, tightening his hold on the chain with his hand. However, Donovan only lifted one of his gloved hands, before speaking.

“I'm not here to fight,” he said calmly with his annoying, attractive, deep tone as he glanced at mother who sat silently in her seat. “I'm actually here for business with your parents,” he eyes moved back to me, and I hated the way my body tensed under his gaze.

My expression twisted to disgust. “Like father would want to entertain a traitor like you.”

That cocky smile widened, the same smile that reminded me of how he abandoned the organisation and switched at the most important time. He tucked his hands into his pockets, leaning back slightly as if he owned the place.

“I'm only here for my boss,” he said, then his gaze darkened, “Where is Vincenzo?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but a hand raise from mother got me shrinking back.

“Donovan, can you please accord my husband the respect he deserves?”

Donovan didn't spare her a glance, he simply smirked, “I don't think my boss would like that, but sure ….Now, where is he?”

Mother sighed, “He left early this morning to handle some matters abroad, whatever it is you want to tell him, please tell me.”

I wasn't surprised by how my mother handled the situation. Of course she knew my relationship with Donovan was terrible, despite not knowing why.

Her calmness and brilliance when handling business matters like this made me feel proud.

“Please have a seat,” she added and finally turned to me. “Ana, could you please get us wine or tea?”

I nodded immediately and turned around, but not without glaring at Donovan, with a clear warning to behave himself.

I hurried to the kitchen not far from the living room to avoid missing out on the conversation.

I always wondered why mother always refused the idea of a maid to take care of the house, since we had guards in the mansion . But then, considering the life we once lived before father married her, it was very obvious.

‘It would be nice to hire at least two from the organisation.’

I thought as I left the kitchen, but as I approached the living room, I heard mother and Donovan's conversation.

“If she already agreed to it then why the delay?”

“We cannot offer our daughter out to some mysterious man without seeing him first. I am certain your mother never did this.”

Donovan chuckled, “True but you know how busy he is. Just the night prior, he got attacked and nearly broke my wrist.”

“Serves you right,” I muttered under my breath as I watched him wave his bruised wrist to prove what he was saying.

Mother didn't seem fazed by what she saw, instead she smiled. “Tell your boss we will not sign anything without seeing him first.”

“I'm only here as a messenger and his stand in,” he said with a strange smile as his gaze shifted to where I was. “Oh, you're back.” His smile widened, ”I've come to take you to your husband's home.”

The words slammed into me harder than the bullet had, and mother turned with a raised brow to see I was standing in the corner.

For a moment, the world blurred, from the marbled walls to mother's worried expression, the silence of the guards and Donovan's face. My stomach twisted and I couldn't breathe.

My husband's home? That bastard was lying. He had to be.

I steadied myself and placed the tray and bottle of wine on a stool not far from me, and then I lifted my head, to hide my trembling. “What nonsense are you talking about?” I snapped. “I don't have a husband.”

“Ah…you probably forgot, I'm not surprised.” Donovan made gestures at the guard not too far from him to bring the wine and tray close.

Once he had gotten a taste of the wine he continued. “The arrangements were made long before tonight, a month ago and you even agreed to it,” his gaze shifted to father's study door as if he knew something I didn't then he smiled warmly. “I'm here to escort you to your new home.”

Surely he was bluffing, Donovan could never be affiliated with someone I was going to marry, over my dead body.

I scoffed loudly, with a smile on my face, “And if I refuse or decide to cancel the deal?”

His smile dropped for the very first time, but it didn't take long, as a sweet smile replaced it. It was then the guards at the mansion's gate ran in panting and trembling.

“Then I'm afraid your father will be killed right outside your mansion by my men.”