Page 3 of Darkest Game (The Dark Mafia #3)

Chapter Two

Irina

T he party takes place at Mikhail’s house since that’s the safest place to be.

I know Natalya wanted to plan a party somewhere fancy but Mikhail and Nico don’t want anyone knowing that Denis is gone and we’re under their protection.

In time, they’ll let others know. In a transitional time, it’s better to not take too many risks.

The guests at the party include my family and a few trusted business partners of Mikhail and Nico. Their number one guys who they know won’t spill the beans on everything.

Even though it’s not a large party – only around fifteen people in total – it still feels overwhelming to me. I’ve been locked up in my room for most of the past two years. Being around people again is making me a little woozy.

I stand next to Natalya in a soft pink summer dress as she gives a speech, welcoming me and Ana back home.

“Me and Sasha have been fighting hard for our sisters for the past year and now we finally have them back. I’m so proud of Irina and Ana for making it through the challenges they faced.

They never should have had to go through with them in the first place.

But I’ve learned that this life is a dark one.

I know it was in part because of our mom’s strength that got them through those tough times.

” She smiles at Tatiana. “Thank you, Mom. For being a rock to us. You always have been. Thank you for getting our sisters through that. And welcome home, Irina and Ana. Cheers.”

We all take a sip of our drinks. Mine is just water. I was offered champagne but I wanted a clear head for tonight since I knew the party would be challenging for me.

“How does it feel knowing you can dance with your sister again?” one of Mikhail’s men asks Natalya. “I heard that you both dance ballet.”

Natalya offers me a warm smile and I try to smile back.

It’s not that I’m not happy. I am. I’m just…

tired. A part of me longs to be left alone in my room after how long I was in my room for years.

Another part of me knows I need to be present for the party.

It’s good for me. And I don’t want Natalya to worry over me any more than she already has.

“I can’t wait to dance with Irina again,” Natalya says. “But in time. There’s no rush.”

“You sure you don’t want to perform something for us now?”

Everyone looks at me expectantly.

“You don’t have to,” Natalya says in a low voice so only I can hear.

“No. It’s fine,” I lie. “We can dance.”

“We’re not even wearing the right outfits for it,” she says to the other guests. “Some other time.”

Mikhail places his hand on his business associates arm and draws his attention away, changing the subject.

“Thank you,” I say to Natalya.

“No worries. I could tell you didn’t want to dance. It’s been a while since you performed in front of anybody. I figured you would want to get back into lessons again. Re-train your skills.”

“I would like that. But will Mikhail let me? I know he wants to keep me here for my protection.”

“Just for a little while. But in a few months, you could think about getting back into it. And in the meantime, I could help you. We could dance together when we’re not in front of a crowd.”

“That would be great. Thanks.”

She frowns and gently touches my arm. “Are you ok? You seem… out of it.”

“I’m tired,” I confess. “I haven’t been around so many people in so long.”

“Should we not have done this? I feel terrible if I’m making you uncomfortable. I just wanted to celebrate with you.”

“I know you did. And I’m not angry. I just think I’m going to go outside to get some air.”

“Ok. But don’t go far. Mikhail has guards around the place so you’ll be safe. But still be careful.”

I don’t want to be surrounded by guards any longer.

Denis kept guards that kept us locked up.

I don’t say any of this to Natalya though.

She’s so happy to just have me back that I want her to focus on that.

I want her to be happy after all the worry she experienced being unable to save me and Ana.

She couldn’t save Sasha when she married Nico.

Though, one glance at Sasha and Nico across the room tells me that they’re happy together.

He has his hand protectively on her low back and she’s leaning into his touch.

They like each other. Love each other. Mikhail and Natalya feel the same way.

I observed them all day, giving each other small touches or little glances and smiles.

There’s an easiness about them with each other.

I’m so happy for both of my older sisters that they found love with their husbands. I would never wish anyone to be forced into a marriage forever with someone they hated.

Yet, I can’t stop this strange feeling inside my chest. Almost like… jealousy? I want to be truly content like they are instead of feeling this anxiety in my mind.

I practically run outside and suck in a large gulp of air. It’s so nice to smell fresh air. My bedroom at Denis’s house was on the bottom floor so I was never allowed to open my window for fear I’d escape. And Denis never allowed us outside – once again so we couldn’t escape.

I never knew I would miss the smell of fresh air so much. A sob escapes me as I suck in a breath. Clamping my hand over my mouth, I lower myself to my knees and let myself cry.

Cry for happiness, cry for relief, cry for pain that I endured for years. I just cry for it all.

“Irina?” It’s Ana’s soft voice behind me.

I push myself to my feet and wipe my tears away. “Ana. What…”

“I saw you come outside. I thought we could have a second to talk. We haven’t really since we came here.”

“Yes. Of course.” I wring my hands together. I know I must look like a mess with my tear stained eyes and the curls in my hair coming undone.

“This is all so new,” she admits. “Being here. This party.”

“I thought you were excited for the party.”

“I was. I am. But I never got to be a teenager.”

“You’re only seventeen, Ana. You still have time.”

“And you’re only nineteen. You do too.”

“What are you saying?”

A secretive little smile dances on her lips. “I’m saying that we get out of here. We sneak off to some nightclub and dance the night away.”

“Why would we do that?”

“So we can have some fun and not be stuck at this stuffy party. I want to live a little. Don’t you?”

“I mean… yes. But I have no desire to go to a club.”

She rolls her eyes. Never have I been reminded so much of Ana being a teenager than in this moment. “You were always so boring.”

“Ask Sasha if she’ll go with you. You two were always closer.”

“Sasha won’t understand. She’s been living her life with her husband for the past year. But you and I? We were prisoners to Denis for two whole years. We can understand each other. Let’s go have some fun.”

Slowly, I shake my head. “It’s too dangerous. Ana. Mikhail and Nico have enemies. Denis had enemies. If we were spotted…”

She huffs, dropping her head back. “You were always so boring.”

“I’m being rational. I’m being safe. As long as we play it smart, we’re safe. But running off to a club is not playing it safe, trust me. In time, you’ll be allowed to have more fun. You were even allowed champagne tonight. Make the most out of it.”

“Then why aren’t you?”

“What?”

She motions at me. “You’re out here, all alone, crying to yourself. Why aren’t you making the most out of it?”

Because I still want to be left alone, despite being alone for the past two years . But Ana will never understand this. She’s always been extroverted and desperate for friends.

“I am,” I force out. “Now, just give me some space, ok? Go have fun at the party. Make the most out of it. And don’t do anything stupid tonight, Ana. Please?”

She looks like she wants to disagree but she eventually nods. “Fine. I won’t do anything stupid. I’ll be good. I’ve just never understood you, Irina. Why don’t you like to have more fun?”

“Our ideas of fun are different.”

With a huff, she heads back inside. I try to not let my sister’s words sting.

We haven’t always gotten along with how different we are.

There were times in the past – before Denis came into our lives – when Ana would make fun of me for being shy and not having many friends, including the other dancers at my studio.

She’d always say, ‘why is it so hard to be friends with them when you see them every day?’

I never had an answer for her.

I would go to the studio and talk to the other dancers politely but I never went to any of their houses for sleepovers or spent any time with them outside the studio.

I’m not sure why I didn’t. I just… didn’t.

It’s not like they were mean to me. In fact, they were always nice and yet, I would still struggle to push myself to socialize. It’s just not natural for me.

I take a few more deep breaths to steady myself, knowing I need to head back inside before anyone wonders where I am.

And that’s when I hear someone grunt from the other side of the house.

A grunt of pain. With a frown, I head in the direction of the sound.

When I turn the corner, I see that one of Mikhail’s guards is on the ground, a knife sticking out of his throat.

And standing above the man is another man dressed all in black. A ski mask covers his face.

My throat seizes up and my body freezes. My brain knows I should call for help but I can’t get the words out. Fear has me locked in place.

The man pulls out his phone and looks at something on it before looking back up at me. “Are you Natalya or Sasha?”

I can’t speak.

“You look like them but…” He glances back down at his phone and then back up at me.

Run, I tell myself. Yet, I can’t make myself move no matter how desperate I am for it.

“Fuck it,” the man says. “You’re one of them, yes? Fine.” He runs at me and before I can move, clamps his hand over my mouth. “If you scream, I will cut you. Now, you’re coming with me.”

That’s when my body finally moves.