Chapter 22

Samara~

It'd been a little past four when I'd finally woken up, and though I'd slept well, since my sleep pattern was still in a bit of disarray, I still felt off and a bit lethargic. My body also ached, but I'd been expecting that after the way that Avgust had lost himself with me. If I had any shame, I'd be complaining about it, but I couldn't bring myself to lie that loudly to myself.

At any rate, it was close enough to dinnertime for me to feel the pangs of hunger, and it occurred to me that I hadn't eaten in what felt like days. Granted, there were many other things to complain about, but at the end of the day, a girl still had to eat.

So, after dressing in one of Avgust's button-ups and a pair of sweats that I'd had to roll up for hours, I looked ridiculous, but that wasn't going to stop me from searching the house for my host or his kitchen. After that, I planned on speaking with Avgust about some proper clothing.

As I made my way down the stairs, I heard voices and gave a silent thanks that I didn't have to search long for someone to help direct me to the kitchen. Even if it was just some of Avgust's guards, even they had to know where the damn kitchen was, right?

Following the sounds of conversation, it didn't take long to distinguish who the voices belonged to, and even if I were deaf, I still know Avgust's voice anywhere. In fact, I'd also recognize Maksim's because he always spoke like he'd just smoked a carton of cigarettes. It also hadn't taken much to recognize that they were talking about me, and I wasn't above eavesdropping on the enemy if I could.

"So, what's the plan, Avgust?" Maksim asked him, his voice sounding a bit frustrated.

"You're overreacting," Avgust calmly replied.

"Am I?" Maksim snorted. "I mean, are you going to marry her?"

"Of course, I am not," Avgust immediately retorted, and I felt his words like a kick in the chest.

"Oh, okay," Maksim drawled out. "So, then you're just going to let her live here forever, and tell your wife and children what, exactly? I mean, I understand that your position and money will have a lot of women willing to put up with a lot, but that cannot be the plan, Avgust. I cannot see you, your wife, your children, and your mistress all living here like some big, happy, delusional family."

Oh, God…Avgust was married.

"Do not be ridiculous," Avgust replied, his voice still calm and sounding reasonable.

I could hear some glass clinking, and it didn't take a rocket scientist to deduce that Maksim, Avgust, or both men were fixing themselves a drink. Since I'd woken up alone, I had no idea what Avgust had been up to earlier today, but it was apparent that one or both of them needed a stiff drink for this conversation.

"Then what are you going to do with her?" Maksim asked. "Do not forget, she is not here voluntarily, despite what went on in your bedroom last night."

"That is enough, Maksim," Avgust replied, his voice taking on a different quality, the one that I imagined made him the Pakhan that he was today.

"Of course, Pakhan," Maksim drawled out sarcastically, and if he were anybody else, Avgust would have put a bullet in his head already.

Finally, Avgust said, "I think you are worrying too much, bratok. No matter what has transpired between Samara and I, the facts of her situation have not changed. Her sister is still a liability, and Samara will remain here until I say otherwise."

"So, I am expected to believe that nothing has changed?" Maksim huffed.

"Then perhaps you would like to join me at Erato's tonight," Avgust suggested, and my chest felt heavy again. Having worked in a gentlemen's club, I knew about the other preferred establishments in town, and Erato's was basically a strip club without the poles. "Would it ease your mind to see me fuck someone else? Perhaps that would help you sleep better."

"You know what would help me sleep better?" Maksim retorted. "Finding Louie Manziel and Klive Simpson. That's what would help me sleep better, Pakhan. I prefer that headache over who is warming your bed at night. Especially, when we both know that Samara Andreev would just as soon drive a stake through your heart as kiss you."

"You are not wrong there," Avgust chuckled.

"Fine," Maksim sighed, actually sounding tired for once. "I'll let you handle Samara, but do not say that I did not warn you, Avgust. You're playing a dangerous game with that woman, and your history with her makes her unlike all the other women in your life."

"Despite what I may or may not feel for Samara, I'm no fool, Maksim," Avgust replied. "Unlike many, I learn from my mistakes, and I'd be stupid to believe that Samara is any different than she was fifteen years ago."

I couldn't listen to their conversation anymore.

I didn't want to hear how marrying me sounded ludicrous to Avgust's ears.

I didn't want to hear about him screwing other women.

I also had no desire to hear about his wife and kids, which made me the other woman, something that was enough to make me dry heave.

As I left to go find the guard that Avgust had assigned to me last night, I felt stupid for never considering that Avgust might be married with children. I mean, why wouldn't he be? He was the Pakhan of the Russian Bratva, and family had always meant everything to him. It'd made sense that he'd marry and have children to ensure that his legacy lived on. It was the height of arrogance to believe that he'd been in love with me enough to sacrifice his entire future. Avgust had always been a practical man, and he'd always spoken of having a family, even when we'd been teenagers.

When I finally found Viktor, he was outside, patrolling the driveway up the property, and I never thought that I'd be so happy to see one of Avgust's men. He felt like a lifeline as my heart had no business feeling broken over what I'd overheard. If anyone's heart deserved to be broken, it was Avgust's wife for him not honoring his vows. Worse than that, he'd told another woman that he loved her, and that other woman had believed him.

"Ms. Andreev," Viktor greeted. "What are you doing out here?"

Though I didn't relish manipulating the man, I knew that I had no choice if I was going to get out of here. "I'm ready to return."

He cocked his head a bit. "Return where?"

"Back to my cage." I deliberately used the word ‘my' to help sell the story. "My wounds have been tended to, and Mr. Kotov is satisfied that I am well enough to return to the research facility."

"He did not mention you returning to the facility to me," he remarked, his brows furrowed with suspicion. After all, he'd only met me for a few seconds last night, so he shouldn't trust me.

"Well, you can call or go ask him, but he's in a meeting with Mr. Barychev, and they're behind closed doors," I semi-lied. "I'm not sure if it'd be wise to interrupt them for something this simple." Before Viktor could question me some more, I added, "Mr. Kotov also mentioned that you will be the one responsible for my dietary needs, so I think that makes you still assigned to me, even if I am in my cage."

"I think I should speak to the Pakhan first," he replied, still eyeing me.

"Of course," I quickly rushed out, seeming agreeable. "However, he told me that he and Mr. Barychev were headed to Erato's after their meeting, and I'd hate for you to bother him when he's obviously busy with more important matters." My heart started beating faster with each semi-lie out of my mouth, but I needed this to work. "At least, that's what he explained to me when he informed me that you'd be the one taking me back to my cage when I was ready."

"I still think I should speak with Mr. Kotov first," he insisted. "This direction should come from him."

I pinched my brows, looking up at him. "Did Mr. Kotov explain to you who I was?"

"No, he did not," he admitted. "He simply said that you'd been assigned as my charge."

I let out a deep sigh, pretending that I was on his side. "My sister witnessed something that she wasn't supposed to have," I told him. "I'm…I'm the insurance that she won't speak of what she saw."

His face softened a bit as he gave me a terse nod. "That makes more sense."

"The only reason that Mr. Kotov saw to my wounds was because he did not want them getting infected," I went on. "If they did, then I'd be no good to him. I could easily die, and then he'd have no leverage against my sister." I let out another dramatic sigh. "Of course, if you'd still prefer to bother Mr. Kotov with matters of a prisoner, then I understand."

Viktor gave me another nod, then asked, "Do you have all that you need?"

I gave him my best pathetic smile. "I'm a prisoner of the bratva, Mr. Galkin. I'm lucky to have what I've got on."

Without another word, Viktor escorted me to one of the many black SUVs, and neither of us said a word as he drove me back to the research facility. While that wasn't how I wanted to spend the rest of my days, living in that cage by myself was more preferable to being Avgust's mistress. It'd be different if I didn't still care for him, but I did. I did, and he was married to someone else.

God, I'd been such a fool.