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Groaning, I raked a hand through my hair, messing it up even more. “That’s another long story.”
“It’s that guy, isn’t it?”
“Did Mom tell you what the police said?”
She huffed again, only answering after a prolonged silence. “I don’t think they told her anything. Freddy said he saw FBI agents over there, but he’s an idiot, so I don’t know if I believe that.” Dead Russian criminals? I’d believe it. Sasha probably had his own agent tracking him as we spoke. “Why don’t you come over?” she continued, sounding peppier than a minute ago. “I’ll order food. We can have aLord of the Ringsmarathon.”
My stomach rumbled at the thought of dinner, but Sasha’s direct order put the brakes on that plan. “Maybe tomorrow night,” I lied.
“Itisthat guy! You’re blowing me off for him!”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then what’s it like?”
I didn’t have an answer becauseIhad no idea. My relationship with Sasha was… complicated, to say the least. Well, it was for me. He, like usual, knew what he wanted and declared it in the most uncomplicated terms possible.
From now on, you are mine.
Whatever that meant.
“I’m worried about you,” Frankie said quietly. “You went through a lot, Roan. And since you seem to have forgotten, this guy was the reason.”
“No, mydadwas the reason.”
“No, Roan.Sashawas. He brainwashed you and now you have Stockholm or some shit. You need to get the fuck away from him and go talk to someone.”
“I gotta go.”
“Roan, wait!”
I hung up on her. Smacking the faucet handle into the off position, I stalked out of the bathroom. I paused long enough to shove my wallet in my back pocket and marched straight out the front door.
In addition to being hungry I was now pissed off thanks to Frankie’s lecture. I knew she meant well, but I also didn’t want to fucking hear it. I’d had enough of people dictating what I should and shouldn’t do. Even if Sasha was the worst decision of my life, it was mine to make.
Since I wasn’t in the mood for vodka or the leftover cabbage roll thingies Sasha made, I headed down the main set of stairs, emerging onto the sidewalk. There was a brewery right around the corner that had my name written all over it.
I was almost to my intended destination when I spotted a familiar face walking down the sidewalk, headed straight for me.
Ivan.
He saw me at almost the same time, despite the fact I did an about-face and lengthened my strides to get away from him.
“You,” Ivan spat. “Stop right there or I’ll shoot you.” He sounded pissed. If his aim was half as good as Sasha’s, I didn’t want to chance it.
Cringing, I turned slowly, trying to force a smile. “Hey man. Small world.” I steadfastly refused to look at his hand, to see which fingers Sasha lopped off.
“Fuck you!” He shoved me hard.
I held up my hands, backing away from him. “I’m not going to fight you, Ivan. Sorry Sasha did what he did, but I had nothing to do with it.”
“Nothing? Nothing!” He looked deranged, eyes bugged out and spittle flying. “Youinfectedhim! You twisted his mind with your perversion. It’s sick.You’resick. Nothing but pedophiles and rapists.”
Shaking my head, I made a face at him, trying to follow the bouncing ball of his logic. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
He said something in Russian, but from the way his gaze was directed he wasn’t speaking to me.
I turned in time to see a short, black stick flying at me, wielded by none other than Yuri. It caught me on the side of the head so hard I lost vision in my left eye. From the sudden rush of warm liquid on my face, I knew I was bleeding. I also knew I had to get the fuck out of there. As soon as I could remember how to move.
