Ruthless Saint

XXXV

MIKA MALIKOV

I knew it was a bad idea the minute it crept in my head. I wasn't usually keen to following bad ideas but somehow this one nagged into my mind and took control of the wheel, ignoring common sense.

I snuck a glance at the sleeping man on the bed. He was on his stomach, his lower body covered by the thick comforter and the sober expression on his face.

        I held my breath as I slid the phone from underneath him. One glance towards the phone screen and I knew I was doomed.

        It was locked and it wasn't one of those facial recognition software but an actual passcode.

        I didn't know what combination of numbers he could have possibly used but a thought popped in my head.

        I didn't process it, but my hands were moving across the screen, acting on pure impulse. Our wedding date. It couldn't be.

        My jaw nearly dropped when it worked. I was on the hunt for his messages and found what I was looking for. Pavel.

        I pulled up his contact information and drafted a quick message.

        I was tempted to look through the rest of his messages, but I shut down that side of my brain and slid the phone back under the pillow where I found it.

        Two hours later and I found myself in Zelenograd. It was a city with green landscapes and a high buzz of technology. It was where Alessio was staying.

        I told myself I wouldn't see him because I didn't need to know but something had changed.

        I didn't know what it was, but I was suddenly curious about what he knew about Mischa.

        It was supposed to be a quick run to the city and back to Moscow. I hoped Mischa wouldn't be awake by the time I got back.

        It was around midnight right now. We'd fallen asleep on the couch watching a telenovela and somehow, I found myself on the bed, wrapped around him.

        It'd been a struggle to slip out of bed and an even bigger struggle to leave because I knew if he found out what I was doing, alone in a city without any protection, he would lose his head.

        And worst of all, if he found out I lied about Alessio, I didn't know what he would do.

        Mischa Malikov was capable of a lot of things but killing a woman wasn't one. And I hoped it wouldn't be.

        I stood in front of Alessio's hotel room. He was staying in a luxurious hotel in the city, and it'd take a glance when I reached the front desk for them to direct me towards him.

         Apparently, he'd been expecting me.

        I held my breath as I knocked on the door. By the second knock, the doorway opened revealing the man I once thought I would be walking down the aisle to.

        He looked the same as when I last saw him at Rocco's wedding with the addition of a beard.

        We hadn't gotten to talking at the wedding or anything other than a quick perusal because Mischa stared him down with every walk he took towards me.

        I couldn't admit it was good to see a familiar face here in Russia even if it was Alessio.

        "Mika." A soft smile.

        "Hi." I breathed as he pulled me into a hug. I melted into his chest, accepting his hug for a brief second. He felt warm and smelled like subtle hints of sandalwood.