[ANASTASIA]For the next few days, I hardly bump into Ivan. Even if I do catch a glimpse of him, it’s only in passing.I try not to be bothered by it. I mean, why should I? I should be happy and content that he is minding his own business instead of making my life harder. I’m happy with my kids, and that’s all that matters.But, stupidly enough, I can’t help but steal glances at him. I tell myself that it’s only for my own sanity and because I would hate to be surprised if he tried to approach me suddenly. But more often than not, I can tell it’s a lie that I can’t even sell to myself.I hate myself for it. I really do. But it bothers me irrationally that he’s beating himself up for what happened—the abduction attempt, that is. I can tell because it happened before, and his reaction back then was exactly the same.I still remember the night when he brought me home after rescuing me from the warehouse where I was held captive. hey demanded Ivan surrender and come alone if he wanted me

[ANASTASIA]I can’t breathe.His arm, snug just below my breasts, holds me so tightly from behind that I’ve forgotten how to inhale like a regular person since last night.It’s dawn now and I haven’t slept a wink. He might not have forced himself on me like I assumed he might but that doesn’t justify the way he occupied my bed like he owned it.Fine. Perhaps he did own this technically, but it’s my room for the time being, dammit. How could he just storm in and sprawl over it like an eagle with its wings spread wide?He’s everywhere on the bed. Everywhere. Not a single spot remains untouched by his scent. It’s practically infused in every inch of the space. It’s as if this place was never truly mine.Ugh. I hate this. I hate this so much.“Ivan!” I groan out of pure frustration. I can’t take this anymore. I want my bed. I want my sleep. I want my life. “Wake up! Don’t you have work to do? People to kill? Or whatever it is that you do?”He remains unfazed, still holding me tightly from

[ANASTASIA]“Tatiana. Ivan. Come on. Time for bed.”“Nooooo.” Tati whines, hugging the blonde-haired doll close to her chest. “Mommy, can’t we play a little longer? Pretty please?”I give her a gentle smile, appreciating her adorable attempt to delay bedtime. “Sweetheart, it’s already late, and you need a good night’s sleep. We can play more tomorrow, I promise. Now, say goodnight to your dolls and let’s get you tucked in.”Tati pouts but eventually relents, placing the doll on the small table next to her bed. “Okay, Mommy. But tomorrow, we play a lot, okay?”“Deal,” I agree, ruffling her hair. I turn my attention to Junior, who has been glued to the video game he bought from the mall since the moment he got his hands on it. Boys and their games. Huh.“Hey, same goes for you, buddy,” I call, trying to get his attention away from the screen. “It’s bedtime, baby. You can continue your game tomorrow.”He grumbles but saves his progress and turns off the console. “Fiiiiinnne.” He rolls hi

[IVAN]“Here goes the last one,” Dimitri says, tucking his gun back into the holster and watching his handiwork with dark amusement in his eyes.And Ana calls me sick. I scoff. The things this man could do to a human being are beyond imagination. Even I can’t match his barbarity sometimes. Not that there’s some sort of competition.On the ground, before his feet, two dead men are crumpled, the bullet wounds in their heads and over their hearts. A halo of blood beneath their lifeless bodies.I huff out a smoky breath and look up at the gloomy sky. It’s been a quiet and cold night for the most part, but then I get a call from Dimitri, saying I’m welcome to watch if I fancy seeing the last mole in our organization go down. I was more than thrilled to accept it. With this piece of shit gone, the gang finally got rid of any loopholes that my so-called mother could take advantage of.I should have done this years ago, but I naively thought that after our last face-off, she would know better

[IVAN]“What is boarding school, papa?” Tati asks, breathless, as she comes running downstairs with her little yet energetic feet.My eyes quickly find their way to Ana, who seems busy moving around the kitchen. She must have discussed the school matter with Ivan Jr., and my little mischievous daughter must have overheard.I pull her up on my lap and kiss the top of her head. “It’s a school, sweetheart, but where you also stay for the entire school term.”“So does that mean Ivan Jr. gets to live in the school?” She asks innocently, but I can guess there’s something else going on and not just curiosity.I put her on the table, facing me. “Not in the school, sweetheart, at the school. But yes, that’s right.”Her eyes tear up. “Papa, I wanna go to the boarding school too. Please.”From my peripheral view, I notice Ana pausing and tensing up.But let me be honest here. Tati’s request really caught me off guard, just the same. Though it shouldn’t have been as surprising. When I was younger