Hidden Monsters (Volkov Bratva #4)(13)

That was what this was about? He’d though Mishca had forgotten about that little incident.

“I need you to do something else for me. Tell Alex to stay at the penthouse while we’re gone. She’ll be more secure there.”

“I thought I was supposed to stay away from her? You know since she doesn’t need my type of ‘shit’ in her life.”

Mishca had been right about that, but he didn’t even know the half of it.

“Yet I trust her with you more than anyone else. Don’t make me regret that decision.”

Letting his humor fade, he regarded Mishca seriously. “If you thought for a second that you would, then you wouldn’t be assigning me to her.”

Luka was one of the few people who knew the truth about Alex. Most saw a spoiled little girl who was desperate for somebody’s attention, but Luka knew what Alex had lived through as a child, even if she hadn’t outright told him.

Mikhail was too busy with the Bratva to be a proper father, and Anya…well, there hadn’t been a parental instinct in her body, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have expectations, some that were almost too much for a child to live up to.

Alex was still trying to shake that influence off, but that was years of conditioning that she would have to rid herself of.

“See you when you get back,” Luka said over his shoulder as he headed for the door.





5

____





10 years ago…

Her heart thumped painfully in her chest, strands of hair sticking to her sweaty neck and forehead as Alex finished another set of spins, dropping down from the tips of her pointe shoes, turning to face her mother with a brilliant smile.

For the last three weeks, she had been working tirelessly on her routine for her very first audition with a similar company based in Paris. She might not have been able to pronounce any of the names of the people she’d be performing for—it had taken her entirely too long to remember that her instructor’s name wasn’t Mr. Grey—out she would make sure that she was perfect for it.

“That was awful.” This sentiment came from Anya sitting in a chair across the dance studio, hands folded primly in her lap.

She didn’t believe in wearing jeans—an idea that she passed on to Alex—and despite present company, she wore a dress that would have been inappropriate if not for the long fur coat she wore to combat Manhattan’s chilly weather.

Unlike the other mothers who came in to observe on the other side of the glass, Anya dressed as though she were on her way to New York’s Fashion Week, but that could have also been because most of the girls who came to this particular studio were brought in by nannies or drivers. Anya didn’t believe in hiring maids, or any females for that matter, though Alex never understood why.

Today was Alex’s third solo practice for the week, and if she were being honest, she was exhausted, both mentally and physically. But until she reached Anya’s level of perfection, she would continue until her feet bled if necessary.

Alex’s instructor, Mr. Grey, noticeably grimaced though this expression was lost on Anya as she was too busy frowning at Alex. Trying not to let her frustration show, Alex resumed her starting position, waiting for the pianist to begin again.

Legs braced, she started, trying to ignore the feel of Anya’s eyes on her as she moved, wishing that she could lose herself in the movements as she had when she was alone in this room. By the time she finished, her chest heaving with every breath she took, she had waited for Anya to speak, knowing that she couldn’t say anything negative. This time, she hadn’t missed a step. But Anya just gathered her things, blinking once at Alex to convey the only message she had to give.

It was time to go.

Disappointed, Alex thanked Mr. Grey. She could see the pity in his eyes—even he wasn’t this hard on her—but turned away before he could give her any words of encouragement. That would only embarrass her further. She followed Anya down to the idling car, slipping into the back and staring out the window as they started off.

“Do not embarrass me again.”

Alex never could understand how an error on her part would embarrass her mother, but even still, she nodded. She would find a way to be the best there was.

No matter what.





6

____





Free





Though her memory of that night was still hazy, Alex found her way back to the compound, this time a little more sure of herself. Snow was easy enough to find, seated at the bar with a girl standing between his legs, her arms wrapped around his shoulders. Neither noticed Alex’s approach until she was upon them.

“Snow?”

His gaze snapped to her, that grin of his spreading as he looked her up and down, rudely pushing the girl to the side as he reached for her. “Didn’t think you’d be back so soon.”

Neither did she, but even after just one time, she already missed the high that his pills had given her. “Do you have a second?”

“For you? Plenty.”

He hopped down, grabbing her hand as he led her through the back hallway toward his room. Alex ignored the curious glances sent in her direction.

In his room with the door closed, Snow slipped his arms around her waist, drawing her closer as he leaned down to kiss her. Frowned, she turned her head, pushing against his chest.