Everything becomes too much, and my emotions spiral into a devastating mess.

I can’t deal with any of this. It’s too much.

A knock on the door has me jerking, and I turn my face away, pressing my lips together to keep the sobs from escaping. A shameful blush creeps up my neck when I hear the door opening.

“There are clothes in the bag,” Demitri says, and then I hear the door shut again.

I suck in a quivering breath and glance at the bag he left for me. Then, getting up, I go look inside. I pull out a t-shirt and sweatpants. Unfortunately, there’s no underwear, so I quickly put on the clothes, just thankful to have something to wear.

Using a towel, I squeeze the excess water from my hair. Only then do I look through the cabinet. It has everything I’ll need, and taking a new toothbrush, I open the packaging and quickly brush my teeth.

Not ready to face that bed again, I sit back down on the closed toilet and stare blankly at the tiles.

I don’t know for how long I hide in the bathroom until Demitri knocks on the door again. This time he doesn’t come in but just says, “Come eat, Ariana.”

I shoot a scowl at the door.

I hope he chokes on his dinner.

Chapter 6

DEMITRI

Fuck.

Feeling like shit, I leave Ariana’s food on the dressing table and pull the door shut behind me.

When I went to the mainland to get supplies, it didn’t even cross my mind that she would need the restroom.

I’ve felt glimpses of pity in the past. For Winter, Damien’s wife, when she lost her family. For Hailey, Alexei’s younger brother’s girlfriend, after the Polish beat her to within an inch of her life.

But I’ve never felt what I’m experiencing now.

I’m not sure what it is, but it’s not just pity.

Slumping down on the couch, I stare at the state-of-the-art entertainment system across from me.

What am I going to do with Ariana? At the rate things are going, we’re going to drive each other insane long before Alexei gets word from Sergei.

I don’t get along with people, because most of them annoy the fuck out of me.

I’m the worst possible person to babysit Ariana, and it doesn’t help that I’m attracted to her.

Fuck my life.

I let out a sigh, and lifting a hand to my face, I rub tiredly over my eyes.

I’ve changed the mattress and bedding in her room, and she has food, so I don’t have to worry about her tonight. But what the hell do we do tomorrow?

She has questions I can’t answer.

This isn’t going to get better. If Sergei wants us to protect his daughter, it means war with Yuri. If Sergei wants her dead, it means war with the Bratva because Alexei won’t kill her.

I hear Ariana’s cautious footsteps as she comes down the stairs, and I rise to my feet. She glares in my direction and carries the untouched plate of food to the kitchen. “Asshole,” she mumbles under her breath.