Page 70 of Dark Seduction
I love Lev, I really do, and I know he’d do anything to protect us. But it’s starting to feel like the only sure way to stay safe is to put as much distance between us as possible.
It’s a heartbreaking thought, but with each attack, it feels more and more like it’s only a matter of time before one of them succeeds. I can’t let that happen. I need to get out, and I need to do it now, before Lev gets here.
Just then, my phone lights up with a text from him.
On my way.
My heart sinks as I start to formulate a plan. Across the hall, I notice a staff room. I spot some scrubs and a few pairs of Crocs on the shelves. I keep my eyes on the door, waiting for the last person to leave. As soon as they do, I pull the IV from my arm and make my move.
I slip inside, quickly grabbing a pair of scrubs and Crocs in my size before darting into the bathroom to change.
Dressed in my new clothes, I take a deep breath, steeling myself. Then, I quietly slip out of the bathroom and dart back into the room, quickly grabbing my purse and rifling through it to pull out just my wallet and phone. My hands shake a little as I quickly disable the tracking on my phone. I can't risk Lev, or anyone else for that matter, following me right now. I call an Uber, my heart pounding as I realize I could run into Lev at any moment.
Keeping my head down, I weave through the crowded ER, my nerves on edge, every face I pass making me jumpy. I just need to make it out the door without being seen.
A notification buzzes—my Uber is outside. As I make my way to the exit I spot Lev walking in. My breath catches in my throat as he scans the ER. For a split second, our paths almost align, but he doesn’t notice me in the scrubs.
My heart aches as I see him, a part of me screaming to run to him, to explain everything about how I’m feeling. But the stronger part knows this is the right thing to do, for the safety of our child.
With a heavy heart, I slip out the door, the cool air hitting my face as I spot the Uber. I hurry over and slide into the back seat. As the car pulls away, I allow myself a moment to look back. Lev is inside, and I'm out here, forging into the unknown.
As the hospital fades into the distance, I'm gripped by determination. I'm not sure what comes next, but I know I have to keep moving forward—for my baby's sake and mine.
Hours later, I’m tucked away in the corner of a dimly lit, upscale restaurant I've never set foot in before.
In my hand, I clutch the card Alexei gave me, my fingers brushing over the embossed letters nervously. I’m waiting for him to show up, and every second he’s late cranks up my anxiety a notch.
My phone buzzes—a call from Lev. I let it go to voicemail, adding to the growing list of messages I haven't had the heart to listen to yet. It's been six hours since I slipped away from Lev and everything I knew. Now I'm down to the last bits of cash, the rest used to buy some nondescript clothes to replace the scrubs.
I'm utterly lost, with no clear plan, sitting here spending what little money I have on a meal I can't even enjoy. Alexei had texted to say he'd be running late and told me to order whatever I wanted, but my appetite is gone. I pick at the food, my stomach tight with nerves and guilt.
What am I going to do? The question whirls in my mind relentlessly. I left everything behind for the safety of my baby, stepping into uncertainty with nowhere to turn but to a man I barely know and can't fully trust.
As I wait for Alexei, I wonder if I've jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Finally, he arrives. He's dressed in a sleek suit that fits his frame perfectly.
He approaches with a smooth confidence, greeting me with a gentlemanly kiss on the hand that feels more ceremonial than intimate. I don't sense any ulterior motives in his gesture. He slides into the seat across from me and signals the waiter to bring him a glass of wine.
"Eat up," he urges me gently, and oddly enough, his encouragement nudges my appetite back to life.
"I heard about the church, that’s some nasty business." He pauses, giving me a moment. "Are you okay?"
"Physically, yes," I admit. "But everything else is a shitshow and that’s why I’m here."
As I say it, the reality of my situation sinks in even deeper. I'm here, sitting with a man who might just be as dangerous as the situation I fled, looking for protection and answers, or maybe just a moment to catch my breath.
His wine arrives just as he's settling into the conversation, but Alexei barely gives it a glance, his focus entirely on me. He gestures slightly with his hand, encouraging me to continue.
"Go on," he prompts gently. “Tell me what happened.”
I take a deep breath, the words feeling both liberating and terrifying as they leave my lips.
"I left Lev, at least for now. Truthfully, I don't know what I'm going to do."
The admission hangs between us, heavy and real.
He nods slowly, his expression serious. "Someone clearly has it out for the Ivanov family," he says, his tone grave. “Targeting a church filled with women and children is the coward’s way ofdoing things.”