When the IV runs dry, I take it out and check Ariana’s vitals. Her blood pressure is normal, and there’s color in her cheeks.

Sitting back down, I let out a sigh, and then I wait for the sedative to wear off.

When you wake up, it’s you and me, Malyshka.

No more lies.

Chapter 33

ARIANA

Coming to, it feels like I’ve been run over by a freight train. I let out a groan, and turning onto my side, the bed smells like a mixture of fresh laundry and Demitri. I push my face into the pillow and take a deep breath.

I don’t want to wake up.

Then the silence gets through to me. There’s no buzz of city life. Just absolute silence.

Maybe I finally died. A girl can hope.

Slowly my mind clears, and then I remember someone grabbing hold of me. I shoot up, my eyes flying open and darting over my surroundings.

My body jerks when I see Demitri sitting on a chair next to the bed, his eyes dark on me. He looks freaking angry.

For a moment, I can only stare at him, drinking in every inch of him.

“Ariana,” he growls, his features carved from granite.

“Uhm… hi.” I glance around the room again and recognize it. “We’re at the island?”

Slowly Demitri nods, and his voice is cold as ice as he says, “I kidnapped you. Again.”

“Oh.” My tongue darts out, and I wet my lips. “Why?”

Demitri leans forward, the movement predatory. “You didn’t take care of what belongs to me.”

“Huh?”

I push the covers back, but then he snaps, “Don’t fucking move. I swear I’ll tie you to the damn bed.”

My eyebrows shoot up. When I open my mouth, he shakes his head to silence me. “I’ve been watching you, so don’t even try to lie to me. Why the fuck did you leave?”

I open my mouth again, but then Demitri says, “Lie to me, and I promise, I will put you over my knee and spank the insanity out of you.”

My eyebrow pops up again.

“Why did you leave?” he demands.

“I… I… wasn’t –”

“Don’t dare say you weren’t sure of your feelings for me. I heard you say you love me. Try again. This time the truth.”

My shoulders slump, and I rub a hand over my eyes. I have no more strength to fight Demitri. I swallow hard, my mouth dry. “You almost got killed because you were distracted. If I weren’t there, you wouldn’t have gotten shot.”

Demitri slumps back in the chair, and placing his thumb beneath his chin, he presses his knuckles against his mouth.

He stares at me until I begin to fidget with the covers, and then he stares some more.

Finally, he nods. “I was distracted watching Yuri drown in his own blood, and I was worried about you and Alexei not getting along. But it didn’t happen because you were there. If anything, I’m alive right now because of you.”