Page 97 of The Darkness is Calling

His lips move to my cheeks and gather my tears, whispering softly, but threateningly. “Cancel the wedding, dusha moya. You have ten days to come back, or I will come after you. And don’t you fucking dare let him touch you, because at our wedding, you will sign with his blood.”

My heart is pounding hard in my chest, completely lost in his gray and brown eyes, which show me the seriousness of his words. But my soul hurts too much because I am convinced that his madness is trying to drag me into a dangerous game where I will lose everything.

And not only financially.

“Stay away from me, Voron,” I ask with tearfilled eyes, pushing him again with my palms.

This time, he moves out of my way, and I have the chance to get into the car, beside my friend who is staring at me in shock.

“Drive,” I tell her firmly, fastening my seat belt and looking straight ahead.

“I can’t,” she says. “I’m flanked by these tanks, can’t you see?”

I clench my teeth and curse loudly in every language I speak fluently. Then I lower the window slightly toward Artem, who has meanwhile lit a cigarette and is taking a calm drag from it, looking like a man with not a single worry in the world.

“Let me leave, or I’ll get behind the wheel myself and I guarantee I’ll make my own way out.”

“I believe you capable of it,” he says, a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth.

“Then tell them to move.”

“They will not move, dusha moya. These cars will always be near you, for protection.”

With wide eyes, I look at the three terrifyingly dark vehicles.

“I don’t need them!”

“Yes, you do. And you better don’t give them any trouble, or I will come to personally take care of you.”

He takes a step closer, until his face is a breath away from mine.

“I will come anyway, but I have something to solve in the next few days. Be a good girl and don’t make me kill more people than I’m already planning to.”

Then he looks at Oksana, and his expression turns cold.

“If you are truly her friend, make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid and that she doesn’t run from security. You are both in danger,” he informs us without allowing any room for reply, then takes a step back.

As if on command, the cars begin to move.

One in front, two behind, but when we approach the large gate leading to the main road, another identical car joins the first. One of them completely blocks the road, makeing room for us to exit, and then, flanked by cars, we head toward Oksana’s house.

My friend still seems to be in shock.

I expect her to scream, have a breakdown, or start crying, frightened by all the madness I have dragged her into too.

But her reaction is something else.

“Girl! He’s obsessed with you,” she exclaims, hearts in her eyes and enthusiasm in her voice. “This whole thing with the cars is so romantic!”

I’m staring at her as if she has grown another head.

“Are you serious?”

“YES! Ohmygod, if I found a man who can speak to me like that and kiss me the way Pakhan kissed you... I would give up my entire handbag collection for a man like that.”

And I should mention she has an impressive collection of handbags worth more than many would imagine.

If she is considering that kind of option, something tells me I have lost my ally.