Page 93 of The Darkness is Calling

Even if I wish I had heard those words from someone else, I know it is useless to expect anything from a traitor anymore.

A Pakhan does not break his promise. But Artem did.

Oliver, on the other hand, proves to me once

again that he is a man I can rely on. More than that, he gives me hope that together we could have a relationship built on trust and respect. Even if he is not physically present, today he is beside me through a gesture of enormous meaning. He gives me the push of confidence I needed so badly, which, apparently, matters more than a passing passion.

Maybe Artem made me feel good physically, but he abandoned me when I needed him, so he could entertain himself in a club with cheap women. With his mistress.

And I don’t need people like that in my life. I

need stability, and that is something I will not find beneath the roof of the Koronov house.

“I’m staying at Oksana’s tonight,” I suddenly announce, but my gaze goes to Dimitri.

“Hell yes,” my friend exclaims, delighted. “We haven’t had a girls’ night in forever.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” the Russian intervenes.

“I don’t think you are in any position to tell me what to do, Dimitri.” My harsh words catch him unprepared, and he blinks, confused, probably remembering his place. To protect me, not dictate my schedule.

“Pakhan...”

“Is busy enjoying himself with someone else,” I shut down any reply he might have with cold precision. “And he has no right to tell me what to do either.”

I take the bouquet from Oliver while Oksana struggles with the flowers received from the admirers who were there for me tonight.

The ones who matter, who value me even though they do not know me.

On the way to Oksana’s car, I try to think through my next steps, but I know I must start by quickly taking my things from the house of the three brothers before Artem returns from the club where I am certain he is still spending his night.

With that woman.

Without realizing it, I slip in some automatic mode. My expression goes blank, stripped of every emotion, and when I speak, the words come out hollow and tired.

By the time we reach the mansion my pulse has risen significantly. Dimitri gets out of his car immediately and comes to my side, wearing the same expression as before.

“Please, don't leave this place,” he says quietly, but sincerely. “It’s much safer.”

But I ignore him.

I hurry past him, focused only on getting this over with and leaving.

The house is quiet. I hurry toward the stairs leading to the second floor, and silence accompanies me even when I reach Artem’s room, where I quickly gather the personal things I had already moved into his bathroom.

Before leaving the room, I cannot resist my heart, which begs me to look around one more time. Towards the dressing room where I saw him completely naked for the first time, and I walked out blushing with embarrassment. The bathroom where he kissed me after coming one breath away from killing me. And towards the bed where I slept beside him so many times, discovering pleasures I never believed existed.

But all of it was fake.

With tears in my eyes, I rush to my room and take only some of the essentials, knowing I don’t have time to pack everything. The plan is to send someone tomorrow to collect the rest of my things. For now, I only have one bag on my shoulder with my laptop and tablet, and a larger one where I have thrown a few changes of clothes, enough to last me until tomorrow.

I know I can also use Oksana’s wardrobe when it comes to clothes, but my laptop is vital to keep close.

As quickly as I came, I plan to leave before running into anyone.

But when I come down the stairs toward the ground floor, luck is no longer on my side.

“Ekaterina.”