Forbidden Fantasies

Let's start anew(1)

KIRA

I didn’t lie when I informed Rhys I would be visiting a loved one in hospital today, but I withheld the fact that it’s a discreet clinic and said person is the former head of the Bratva, who is believed to be dead. If Rhys knows of my relationship with him, I won't live long enough to explain myself. The Bratva are his enemies, and I’m not taking any chances. Staying by his side will wade off anyone trying to kill me, but only if Rhys doesn’t discover my true identity.

So, although I don’t believe he has any reason to be suspicious of me, I drop by the nearest hospital and wander around for an hour before going to Kristof’s.

“Are you sure no one saw you?” Kristof hands me a glass of water as I sit on the couch.

I grab the glass and gulp down its contents, letting the cold water soothe my parched throat. “I was careful; don’t worry.”

Kristof is right to be skeptical. No matter how cautious I am, there could always be a tiny tidbit I overlooked, and that will lead the enemy right to where I am. If he found me here, I’m not the only one whose life would be at stake. Father’s secret location would be discovered, and Kristof would be punished for helping me hide him.

“How is my father?” I ask.

“He woke up. Did I forget to tell you?” Kristof acts surprised, making me roll my eyes.

“How were you going to inform me? Via a fire opal?” I tease. We never communicate by phone or email unless necessary, and even then, we don’t use our own devices.

“Telepathically.” He winks, leading the way to the basement.

Just like he said, Father is awake, staring up at the ceiling. I hurry to the side of his bed, carefully taking his hand. “You woke up.”

“Killing me isn't that easy. I don’t know why you were worried,” he taunts with a voice so frail that my eyes sting. I have always regarded my father as the invincible head of the Bratva. Even among the Petrov family, he was perceived as bloodthirsty and merciless, never revealing the slightest hint of weakness, no matter the circumstances. Yet here he is, in a secret hospital, unable to breathe without the help of the machines he is hooked on.

I bring his hand to my cheek. At least it’s regained some warmth now, and his face is no longer so pale. There’s finally a glimmer of hope that he will recover.

“What happened?” Father asks.

He is talking about the m******e and what became of it. If I lie and pretend everything is alright, he will not buy it. “Everyone thinks you are dead. Grisha has been turning the world upside down trying to find me.”

Again, it’s not the complete truth. Grisha already knows where I am, or at least he knows the rundown apartment I lived in. Throwing that rock in my living room as a warning is so much like him. The jerk wants me to know he could kill me any time he chooses to, and I should be grateful to be alive.

Father sighs, patting my hand with his. “Is that why you look so different?”

I nod. “I have a new identity too; I will not let him find me, I promise.”

For the next several minutes, we are both silent. I know what Father is thinking. He wants to go back and teach Grisha, that traitor, a lesson.

On the other hand, I don’t want him to. I hold his hand in mine, squeezing tightly. “It’s only the two of us left, Father. Why don’t we take this as a chance to start anew?”

Father doesn’t say a word, but that’s enough to answer me. He doesn’t want that. As soon as his strength returns, he is going after Grisha.

Oddly, I’m glad he’s still too feeble to get out of bed.

I spend some time with him, talking about mundane topics to take his mind off what happened. I know he will soon start thinking about what happened to Mother and my brothers, and it will be devastating even if he doesn’t show it.

Hours pass, and it’s late in the afternoon by the time I leave Father’s side. He fell asleep a while ago after Kristof changed his IV.

Kristof follows me out of the basement, and I use the chance to give him the check I brought.

The man glances at the check and then at me like I’m an alien.

"It will not bounce, I promise," I tease.

"Do you think I’d worry about that?" he counters.

Of course he wouldn’t. If it were up to him, Kristof would take care of Father without ever taking a penny in return. But I hate owing anyone, and can't possibly let him put his life at stake without so much as compensation.

"Rhys is treating you well, I suppose?" he asks, slipping the piece of paper into his pocket. "If he ever bullies you, let me know."

I laugh at his serious expression. "You sound like you’d be willing to chop off his head if I told you he was mistreating me." I refrain from mentioning what an asshole Rhys is, figuring I still need him alive. "And no, he doesn’t treat me any different from other employees. His former executive assistants earned pretty much the same amount as I do."

Yeah, let’s hide the fact that I’m currently living in a multi-million apartment complex owned by his friend.

I’m about to leave when Kristof places a hand on my shoulder. "Kira, you don’t have to keep giving me all your money, and you know that."

I suck in a breath. "If Father were in a normal hospital, I would have had to spend much more. This is the least I can do and besides, I kept some for my personal needs. Don't worry about me."

He disregards everything I just said, inching closer. "There are other ways you can repay me."