Page 7 of Claimed By the Pakhan

I’m a bad mother for carelessly crossing the road, not worried about my safety. The driver isn’t to blame for hitting me. I’m oblivious to my surroundings, always getting lost inside of my own head, particularly when work is crazy, which is always. If I spent more time seeing the world in front of me and actually applying some common sense, maybe I wouldn’t be in this situation.

I look at the ultrasound, feeling some of the fog in my head shift a little.

“I know where I was living.”

“That’s brilliant news,” says the doctor, offering me a smile. “Your memories are already returning.”

“Downtown Seattle,” I blurt out, word vomiting everything before I forget. “Blueridge apartment building. It overlooks the bay.”

“You mean the apartment block that was knocked down last year?” The doctor raises his brow.

I sink into the bed, slamming my head back into the pillow, defeated.

Raising two children when I’m a stranger to my own mind is a disaster waiting to happen.

“You’ve been living with me,” says Emil.

Perfect fucking time for him to swoop in and take me back to his lair, which I can guarantee has no windows.

“No, I haven’t.”

“Perhaps coming back with me will jog your memory.”

“I’m not going back with you.”

“You’re all cleared to be discharged now,” interjects the doctor. “The address on the system is Broadmoor. We can organize a cab to take you there?—”

“No, not Broadmoor.”

The doctor grimaces. “Then your only other option is to go back with…”

“Mr. Volkov,” says Emil, grinning at the doctor. “Fia will be safe with me.”

The doctor flashes Emil another tense look and heads over to the door. “I’ll give you a few minutes to consider your options,” says the doctor, closing the door on his way out.

I bite my lip, watching Emil pace around the room.

Fuck him for paying me a surprise visitagain.He should come with a warning, so I’d be able to fix up my appearance a little and feel better about myself. Him being here, dressed to the nines, is doing nothing but illustrating how much of a disaster I am.

“The twins will be fine,” says Emil, like he’s saying that more for his own benefit. “I’ll make sure nobody gets to them.”

I frown. “Why are you saying that like I should be worried someone will murder them?”

Emil stops in his tracks, turning to face me. “There’s no need to worry.”

Easy for him to say. He still has his mind… I think. Then again, threatening a doctor with violence suggests he’s on the verge of losing it.

“You have a home waiting for you, Fia.”

“And where is home exactly?” I tug down my gown, covering my stomach.

Emil scoffs. “No need to cover yourself around me, spitfire. I’ve seen it all before.”

My heart thumps, that line between hatred and lust becoming hazy, quite like my mind. I have an excuse to do something regrettable and beg this stranger to fuck me, since I’m out of sorts. Losing your own mind is beneficial that way.

“Answer my fucking question.”

Emil’s mouth tugs in one corner, like my frustration amuses him. “Snoqualmie Falls.”