Tatiana’s Pov;

I was a hundred and one percent sure that Father would be angry at me.

What I did at the party was not behaving at all.

In fact, it was far from it.

I was expected to go in there, sit still and out of reach. Like a princess in a glass box placed only for entertainment.

The metallic handle of my room door felt like freedom in my hand as I twisted it open and dashed inside, not hesitating to close it behind me.

I rushed over to my dresser. The girl in the mirror stared back at me with the same intensity I gave her.

My heart pounded against my chest, and I could hear the ‘badum, badum, badum!’ of it ringing in my ears.

My veins pulsed, fear leaving its venom in my spine.

I knew what I had felt in the party. Eyes.

I wasn’t sure whose, but I knew someone was watching me.

I could feel the malicious intention right through their gaze.

It made me feel… trapped.

So I did the only thing I was capable of. I ran.

Soft violin music carried on, soaking the ambiance in a façade of calmness. The sound fluttered upstairs, but not as loud.

I gripped the bodice of my dress—but I could hardly hold the material as I struggled for a way to get the damn thing off me.

Olga wasn’t near. She possibly didn’t know that I had slipped away from the party.

And now I was stuck in the hideous gown.

I took a minute to breathe. But then my eyes flew wide to the mirror, and my breath clogged my throat.

I heard the heavy thumping of boots on the polished floorboards in the hallway.

My heart plummeted all the way to my stomach.

Could it be that the person I sensed at the party had followed me here?

I tensed, my guts tightening.

Working a huge lump down my throat, I paused my breathing—as if the sound would alert the intruder.

I stood stiff, listening.

The footsteps stopped just outside my room.

And the unease that swamped me was life-threatening.

Shadows filtered in through the small space beneath the door, the dim light pouring in making it appear faint.

However, it didn’t move. It just stood there.

From the shoes’ making, I instantly knew they belonged to a man.

I quietly walked over to my gigantic canopied bed in search of my phone, but I couldn’t find the damn device when I needed it. Well, I didn’t use it that much, and most of the time, I was unaware of its location.

Only my writing pad sat pretty, right where I had left it.

But it wasn’t going to help now.

I glanced over at the door, and the shadow was still there, glaring at me. Mocking me.

My shaky fingers flew to my mouth, muffling a scream that threatened to slip out.

Seconds passed. It was unmoving.

And I did the craziest thing.

Slowly, I inched forward. Every step felt like a death sentence.

And when I stood right in front of the door, a tremor of trepidation crawled through my spine, anxiety eating up my courage.

At a snail’s pace, I pushed my shivering fingers forward. The slow clicking of the handle intensified my paranoia.

The door pulled open, inch by dreadful inch, until it reached its limit.

Mild light crawled in from the hallway.

And right there was an empty space.

Huffing out the breath I had withheld.

“Did… did I imagine it?” I whispered.

I could swear someone was right there. I began to doubt my sanity.

Then, I heard a series of footsteps approaching, and a yelp escaped me.

I flung my eyes to see who it was, only for my fear to be replaced with dread.

It was my father.

His Sovietnik by his side.

And I found myself suddenly praying for a serial killer attack instead.

I backed further into my room, leaving the door open.

He stepped in. Grim eyes on me—I must have looked pathetic to deserve the scowl he flung my way.

“Why didn’t you do as I instructed?” he bit out contemptuously.

My lips parted, but I lacked what to say. Not like he would believe me.

“She did, actually. I’m a witness.”

My eyes shot to Vladimir, going round at the sides.

The Pakhan—my father—merely nodded.

I adjusted my glance to him again, trying to gauge his expression.

“Did you behave?” he questioned me, his voice hard as granite.

This time I made haste to reply. “Yes, Dad.”

He slightly tipped his head towards Vladimir.

The action made my heart sting with hurt.

He didn’t believe me—his own blood.

“I wouldn’t say eavesdropping on the Brigadier is behaving,” Vladimir tattled.

I felt my chest constrict.

This old prick. I thought he was on my side—for the first time.

I swallowed, my brain processing through thousands of ways to defend myself.

He continued. “However, thanks to that, we figured something the men were hiding from you.”

My father nodded curtly.

I found myself inhaling deep, waiting for a verdict.

Would I be sentenced to the monastery? Or perhaps, somewhere more… controlling?

Oh God. Before he opened his mouth, I wanted to beg him to let Mother come with me this time.

But I couldn’t drag her into my mess.

So I succumbed. I lowered my eyes from his, courage waning.

“What you did, Tatiana, was dangerous.”

I nodded.

“Those men are dogs in human skins. They might have sworn their loyalty to me, but in their hearts, my position is envied.”

I wanted to look at Vladimir at that last statement my father had made, but I kicked against it.

One would think his lectures stemmed from a place of concern.

I smiled to myself mockingly.

They did not.

I heard his intake of breath—something he did when he was about to drop a bombshell.

So I held mine.

“You’ll be going to Sicily first thing at noon tomorrow. My friend will be glad to receive you.”

I threw my head up—so hard I must have snapped a bone. But I didn’t care.

I felt like the room was spinning… my world was upending.

“Rugiero?” Vladimir asked him, his beady eyes squinting in confusion.

Seems he wasn’t the influence of that decision—it made me feel a little better.

But I didn’t care. I ignored them both as I could barely register my shock.

Father looked at me, grimacing at my reaction.

“You heard it yourself. St. Petersburg isn’t safe for you any longer,” he growled.

Since I had known him—recognized him—those dark eyes had never been soft toward me.

I had always pondered what my fault was.

If we didn’t have a resemblance, I’d doubt I was his spawn.

“This is for your protection, and you know that. The Vrionis are dangerous.”

A single tear slid down my eye.

And with that, my fate was sealed.