God Of Desire

unexpected encounter

Anastasia :

As the car slowed to a stop near the main gate, two familiar guards stepped forward, halting the vehicle before it could go further. I lowered the window, giving them a small wave, but their hands remained firmly on their weapons. Already tense, my irritation flared. With a swift motion, I stepped out of the car, the urgency clear in my tone as I snapped, “открой эту чертову дверь” (Open the fucking gate.)

The guards exchanged a glance but didn’t move, one of them shifting uncomfortably as he replied in Russian, “Извините, мисс, но мы не можем его впустить. Это приказ вашей матери, Посторонним вход воспрещен.” (Sorry, miss, but we can’t let him in. It’s your mother’s order,no strangers.)

I clenched my jaw, glaring at them. “Знаешь что, у меня все равно нет времени на твою чушь.” (You know what, I don’t have time for your bullshit anyway.)

Turning to Madden, I softened my expression slightly, switching back to English. “I’m sorry for the trouble, but thanks for the ride.”

Before I could take another step, he reached out, his hand catching my arm gently. “I can stay if you want me to.”

I shook my head, offering a small, grateful smile. “You don’t have to.” Without another word, I turned on my heels, striding through the gate as it creaked open, leaving Madden’s gaze lingering on me as I disappeared inside.

As I stepped inside, the familiar scent of smoke filled the air, and I spotted Val, his sister Veronica, and Saint...
Sophie’s older brother...each with a cigarette in hand. They all turned at the sound of my footsteps, and Veronica was the first to break away, rushing over and pulling me into a tight hug.

“Ana, I missed you,” she murmured, her voice tinged with sadness. Veronica was Val’s younger sister, older than me, but we shared a close bond despite our rare meetups, usually reserved for family gatherings. She studied fashion in Milan, making our encounters fleeting but meaningful.

When she pulled back, I managed a small smile. “Your hair’s longer, Nica.”

She returned my smile, brushing a lock behind her ear. Just behind her, Saint nodded, his usual stoic expression softening slightly. “Long time no see, Nastya.”

I nodded back, keeping my emotions steady. Val stepped forward, his face unreadable as always. The tension in the air felt thick, and we all shared an unspoken understanding of what this moment meant.

“Were you there?” I asked Val, matching his serious expression.

He shook his head, frustration flashing in his eyes. “They didn’t let me tag along. Said it was a stupid mission.”

I sighed, but before I could say more, Saint cracked his neck and interjected, “They’re fine. Both took shots to the shoulder, but they’re resting upstairs.”

As I turned to head up, I almost ran into Uncle Killian, who seemed preoccupied, about to make a call. He looked up, his expression softening as we greeted each other.

“Your dad’s stable,” he assured me quietly, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before nodding toward the hallway.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I pushed open the door to my dad’s room. He lay in bed, looking slightly pale but alert, and my mom was beside him, worry and exhaustion etched into her face. Seeing her like this broke something in me. I crossed the room in a few steps, pulling her into a tight hug, letting the relief and fear I’d been holding in finally settle as we embraced.