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Everything around me felt almost nonexistent.

Once I had screamed my lungs out until they burned raw, I had nothing much left to give.

No response.

Not even a head nod.

I was almost out of focus, feeling everything blur into nothing around me.

Meanwhile, Sevan didn't hesitate to spring into action.

She wanted us out of Moscow immediately.

For a few reasons.

Starting with the threat Nerissa made.

We have seventy-two hours, and I am not giving up my well-deserved power.

So we need time to game plan.

We also need to plan for a possible ambush by Nerissa, so leaving Moscow prevents that.

Also, we need to keep Arina and Yuri—and even my right-hand men away from this massive fucking mess.

We keep them heavily guarded, thanks to Ettore who seems to be on our side until it no longer benefits him.

Meanwhile, we were on a private plane to god knows where.

Or Sevan knew where—and probably mentioned it to me.

I just did not listen.

I only remained seated on the couch with her, resting my head in her lap as she calmly played with my hair.

Sevan had given up trying to speak to me, knowing it was the last thing I wanted to do right now.

And I didn't bother responding to anything she said.

So she let me be, focusing on a game plan that would put us steps ahead.

I just focused on zoning out—away from my thoughts, away from reality.

There were instances when I would have to eat or get up to use the bathroom but each time it felt like I was only a bystander in my body.

Like I wasn't the one controlling my actions.

I felt entirely out of touch—unable to really react to anything.

Even at the private island we seemingly landed at.

Normally, I would be at least a little shocked that Sevan randomly had this.

But I am not.

I simply got off the plane, glancing around the tarmac and smelling the saltiness of a nearby beach.

The ride to the house was very odd.

We sat in a car called a... Jeep?

Odd name.

It was free of doors and a roof which was annoying at first.

But then it began to feel freeing almost.

Especially with the wind blowing so prominently through my hair.

Unlike the two mansions I had seen in Colombia, this one was unlike either of them.

It was smaller.

More... modest.

It was still beachfront and had this sparkling infinity pool.

But the house itself had only two bedrooms and an open living area.

It was almost peaceful?

Like the less space we had the safer I felt.

Nothing was unaccounted for.

And the wood floors and glass walls displaying every inch of the ocean around us only made it that much more beautiful.

The remote-controlled shades also ensured that the glass walls wouldn't be too invasive at night.

Private island or not, I would like the shades to be down.

Given our current circumstances, I do not wish to be purely out in the open.

"Zi," I heard her voice from behind me.

I hummed in acknowledgment, not bothering to glance away from the ocean waves rushing in at the powdery sand.

Which felt perfectly warm under my feet.

I am not a beach person, but perhaps this might be an exception for me.

Maybe it is because it is secluded.

Or the fact that I am here with Sevan.

I think it is both.

"Where's your head at?" Sevan asked, and I could suddenly feel her presence stop behind me.

Along with her arms that she secured around my waist from behind.

"Nowhere," I mumbled, my voice barely audible over the waves.

I briefly closed my eyes as soon as Sevan pressed her lips to my shoulder left partially exposed by the flowy tank top I wore.

"It's okay to be upset, Zinovia," Sevan assured me, resting her head on my shoulder.

"I am not," I immediately said, refusing to give that topic any more of my energy.

It already took all the energy I had.

I have nothing left to give.

"You were," Sevan emphasized.

My eyes unconsciously fluttered back open, "I was," I whispered, not bothering to shut down her previous observation.

"You don't talk about your mother," Sevan pointed out, not bothering to beat around the bush.

I let out a deep sigh, "I have nothing to say about her," I said, staring out at the endless ocean, "She died while giving birth to me so I have no memories or stories to tell you," I explained better.

And it wasn't like that affected me.

I never knew her so how can I mourn her?

It was more about letting go of the idea of having a mother.

Of being a daughter to a woman.

I am only a daughter to a man.

And as a child, it was hard to see other girls my age with their mothers.

I clung to any older woman I met, naturally wanting to create a reality where I had a mother.

But eventually, I let it go.

I embraced the fact that I am a daddy's girl and that I had the most powerful man in Russia doing tea parties with me.

"We are very big on loyalty, Sevan," I spoke again when Sevan remained quiet almost for a reason.

Like she was waiting for what else I possibly had to say.

"My father was big on loyalty and it is just..." I trailed off in search of a stronger word than upsetting.

Because that sounds too weak for my liking.

"It is disappointing that he slept with other woman so quickly after my mother's death," I spoke again, nodding at my choice of words, "I did not know her but I do know they were married and he could have had decency to wait longer before doing that," I said, letting out a deep sigh as soon as I heard the irritation my words were laced with.

"I agree," Sevan didn't hesitate to say, focusing on every word I spared for her.

Especially after my hours of silence.

"And then he lied to me and kept child in the dark," I added, clenching my jaw at the idea of it, "I hate Nerissa very much, but maybe..." I trailed off, drawing in a deep breath as I processed my thoughts, "Maybe in another reality I would not—maybe we would have been close and I would have had sister," I said, struggling with the idea of that kind of life.

What would it have been like?

And how could my father rob me of that without giving me so much as a choice?

No child deserves to be forgotten or hidden out of embarrassment.

"I have an idea," Sevan suddenly spoke, leaning away from my shoulder.

I turned around slightly, "Idea?" I clarified, meeting her dark eyes.

"Let's go for a run," she suggested, gently squeezing my waist, "It'll help clear your mind and fuel your emotions into something else."

I pursed my lips, "I don't know..." I trailed off skeptically.

Sevan still grabbed one of my hands anyway—pulling me gently toward the house.

"Let's just get changed and try it," Sevan said, not backing down from her idea, "If you don't like it, we'll stop."

I lazily raised my brows, "We stop very quickly then," I mumbled as I followed along by her side.

And soon we were in the air-conditioned house where we both got changed into more athletic clothing.

I wore black biker shorts with a matching sports bra while Sevan wore basketball shorts and a compression shirt.

I almost forgot about the objective to run entirely.

But I also wanted to see her sweaty and out of breath.

So I focused.

Sort of.

My eyes still lingered on her biceps—or how her tight shirt outlined her toned stomach.

She is most attractive woman I have ever seen.

No one comes close to her in the slightest.

"Zinovia," I heard Sevan say, snapping me from my thoughts as we slowed down our running.

"What is it?" I questioned almost impatiently, wanting nothing more than to continue running so I could keep staring at her.

"You're not focused," Sevan pointed out, having the nerve to lift up the end of her shirt to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

Blyat.

"I am very focused," I emphasized, reaching for her bicep that I firmly squeezed.

Which made Sevan grow amused, "I can see that," she said, eyeing my face as I continued to admire her body, "Is this at least clearing your mind baby?"

I nodded before I even processed her words, "Very much—I just... I think you should help me clear it some more," I said, my tone holding nothing but insinuation, "We do cardio back at the house."

Sevan raised a brow, "You know, I'm all for cardio," she went to say, watching my eyes roam her body, "But we still have to figure out who the mole—"

"Okay we can uh," I cut her short almost impatiently, thinking deeply about we lure this person out.

Mostly because I want to touch every inch of Sevan's body and it seems I can't do that with her focused on this mole situation.

"No one is aware of our location," I suddenly said, glancing up to meet her dark eyes.

And as soon as Sevan nodded, I could see the realization behind her eyes.

Almost like she could read my mind.

"We leak different locations to different people and see what makes it back to Nerissa," I told Sevan, who had already caught on to my idea.

"Smart girl," Sevan said in approval, earning a hum from me.

"Now time for my reward," I determined, tugging at her arm as I began walking back toward the house.

Which took us close to five minutes to make it back to by the time we ran back down the beach.

And suddenly I had never been more determined to run as fast as I could.

This time around it was Sevan who tried to keep up with me.

Especially with me stripping us of our clothes as we were walking into the house.

Soon I was pushing her into the shower that I turned on and joining her under the water.

Only on my knees.

I happily buried my face between her thighs as she leaned back against the nearest wall.

So much surrounded my senses.

The moans I evoked from her.

The warm water falling on me.

And then the wet warmth against my lips.

I gave into my own desires instead of listening to her body—dipping my tongue past her entrance to taste her fully.

And as I continued to slide in and out of her, Sevan squirmed impatiently underneath me, tugging at my hair to guide me up toward her clit.

But I only fought against her, dipping my tongue inside of her repeatedly until I was finally satisfied.

Then I made my way up to her clit, sucking and flicking it with my tongue as I buried my face even deeper.

This was exactly what I needed after the last twenty-four hours of my life.

And all I could do was bask in every second of it.

Especially when she tensed underneath me, repeating my name over and over again just how I liked it.

Until finally, she relaxed underneath my touch, entirely breathless from what I had put her through.

And I swear I felt incredible—refreshed even as I stood to my feet and leaned up to kiss her lips.

"Perfect reward," I murmured, kissing her even deeper.

Sevan hummed in response, sliding her tongue past my lips and tilting my head further back.

And as the water trickled down onto both of us, I basked in the warmth between us.

How our lips exchanged much more than words could.

I focused on her body pressed to mine.

How her arms held my waist so protectively.

It made me feel like this would all be okay.

Even if my world was tilted and nothing felt like it could restore it.

I knew after we snuff out this mole, it will only get worse.