Bloodbound Hearts

Chapter 4: Dimitri's Obsession Unveiled

Dimitri Volkov sat in the dimly lit corner of his study, swirling a glass of vodka in his hand. His mind was elsewhere, far from the silent grandeur of his mansion and the underworld dealings that came with being the heir to the Russian mafia. He hadn't cared about the family business for years. Not since her.

Kacey.

The thought of her name sent a shiver down his spine, a wave of emotions flooding him—desire, anger, longing. It had been eight long years since he'd last seen her. Eight years since she had disappeared from his life without a trace. And yet, not a single day had passed without her invading his thoughts. His obsession with her had grown stronger with each passing year, festering like an open wound that refused to heal.

He stood abruptly, pacing across the room. His footsteps echoed on the marble floor as he glanced at the wall across from him—adorned with photos of Kacey. They were pictures from years ago, some of them from when they were children, others more recent, captured without her knowledge. She had been the only bright spot in his dark world, the only person who had ever made him feel something real. But she had never seen him the way he wanted. To her, he had been just a friend. A childhood confidant.

That had been his mistake. He had let her see him as a friend, nothing more. But Dimitri's feelings for Kacey had never been innocent, never platonic. He had been obsessed with her since the day they met. The way her smile lit up the room, the way her laugh echoed in his ears. He had wanted her from the start, and that desire had only intensified with time. But Kacey had never belonged to him. Not truly. She had belonged to Ivan.

Ivan Romano.

The name alone filled Dimitri with a seething rage. Ivan had stolen Kacey from him, swept her off her feet in a whirlwind romance that had ended with her disappearance. Dimitri had hated Ivan for it, despised him for taking the one thing he had ever wanted. And now, after all these years, Ivan had found her. Or at least, someone who looked exactly like her.

Dimitri smirked, the memory of seeing Kacey at Ivan's estate burning in his mind. She looked the same, yet different—like a ghost of the woman he had once loved. And she didn't remember him, didn't remember anything. That fact only excited him more. It meant she was a blank canvas, ready to be shaped, molded into what he wanted her to be. And this time, he wouldn't make the mistake of letting her slip through his fingers.

He poured himself another drink, his thoughts spiraling deeper into his obsession. For eight years, he had watched her from afar, kept tabs on her life, ensured she was safe. Even after she disappeared, he had used every resource at his disposal to track her down. But someone had wiped her from existence, erased every trace of her. It had taken years of searching, but eventually, he had found her—or rather, he had found her new identity.

She had a new name now. A new life. But she was still his Kacey, no matter what face she wore or what memories she had lost. And now that she was back, he wouldn't let her go again.

Dimitri set down his glass and moved toward a desk in the corner of the room. He opened a drawer and pulled out a small box, his fingers trembling with anticipation. Inside was an old locket—a simple piece of jewelry, worn and weathered. It had been Kacey's, a gift from him when they were younger. She had worn it every day, until the day she disappeared.

He clenched the locket in his hand, feeling the sharp edges dig into his skin. This was his reminder, his connection to her. The last piece of her he had held on to all these years. But now, he didn't need it anymore. She was within his grasp again.

As he stared at the locket, a plan began to form in his mind. He had stayed in the shadows for too long, content to watch her from a distance. But now that she was back, it was time to act. Ivan may have found her first, but Dimitri wasn't going to let him keep her. Not this time. He had waited too long, suffered too much. Kacey was his, and he would do whatever it took to make her see that.

The sound of a knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts. Dimitri slipped the locket into his pocket and turned toward the door.

"Come in," he called, his voice smooth and calm, though his mind was racing.

The door opened, and one of his men stepped inside, bowing his head slightly in deference. "Sir, we've received word from our contacts. The Romano family's new nanny has been confirmed as Kacey Morgan. It seems Ivan doesn't know who she really is."

Dimitri smirked, leaning back against the desk. "Of course, he doesn't. He's a fool."

The man hesitated before continuing, his tone more cautious. "What would you like us to do, sir? Should we take action?"

Dimitri considered the question for a moment, his fingers idly tapping against the desk. He had the resources, the power, to act immediately. But where would be the fun in that? No, this required a more delicate touch. He didn't just want Kacey back. He wanted her to choose him. He wanted her to see Ivan for the monster he was, to realize that the love she had once felt for him was a lie. And Dimitri... Dimitri would be the one to save her.

"Not yet," he said, his voice low and calculated. "We wait. Keep watching her. I'll make my move when the time is right."

The man nodded and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Dimitri turned back to the wall of photographs, his gaze lingering on the images of Kacey. She was his prize, his obsession. He had spent eight years waiting, planning, and now his moment had finally come. He would play the long game, bide his time, and when the moment was right, he would strike.

Later that night, Dimitri sat alone in his study, the only light coming from the flickering fireplace. The room was silent except for the crackling of the flames, but his mind was anything but quiet. He thought about Kacey, how she must be feeling, living in a house that was once hers—though she didn't remember it. How confused she must be, how lost.

He could fix that. He could be the one to bring her back to herself, to show her who she truly was. But first, he had to ensure Ivan didn't get too close. The connection between Kacey and Ivan was undeniable, and despite her memory loss, there was always a chance that she could remember him, remember their past.

No. Dimitri wouldn't allow that.

He had worked too hard to ensure that Kacey was his, erasing her identity, creating a new life for her, keeping her hidden from Ivan's reach. The accident had been the perfect opportunity to separate them, but fate had brought them back together. This time, Dimitri wouldn't let chance interfere.

He leaned back in his chair, the firelight casting shadows across his face as a twisted smile spread across his lips. He knew Ivan's weaknesses, his vulnerabilities. And he would exploit them, tearing Ivan apart piece by piece until there was nothing left of the man Kacey once loved.

In the end, Dimitri would win. He always did.

Kacey stirred in her sleep that night, her dreams filled with strange, fragmented images. A face she couldn't quite make out, dark eyes watching her from the shadows. A voice calling her name, distant but familiar. And a locket, swinging gently from a chain, catching the light as it turned.

She woke with a start, her heart racing, her breath coming in short gasps. The room was dark, the only light coming from the moon filtering through the curtains. She placed a hand on her chest, trying to calm herself. It was just a dream, she told herself. But it had felt so real.

She glanced around the room, half expecting to see someone standing in the shadows. But there was no one there. Just silence.

With a sigh, Kacey lay back down, pulling the covers up to her chin. She closed her eyes, but the feeling of being watched lingered, the strange sense that someone, somewhere, was waiting for her.