Chapter 48

Hannah

Katya and I were casually exiting the cafe when, suddenly, she grabbed my wrist, and pulled me toward a back parking lot where her car was parked. I heard the car beep as she unlocked it just before my hand grabbed for the handle. I wrenched the door open, adrenaline making my hand shaky, and looked over to see the suit grab Katya in a bear hug, his hand coming up to cover her mouth before anything more than an outraged squeak could escape.
I ran around the car to help Katya, and jump on the guy, when out of nowhere a very large, dark-haired man with a livid scar down the side of his face came up behind the suit and grabbed him around the throat, his fingers compressing his neck. The man quickly lost consciousness and slid to the ground.
The man with the scar pushed aside the unconscious man and turned Katya around, concern and rage stamped all over his rough, intense features. He carefully cradled her face, turning it various angles to inspect any potential damage. “Are you okay, kotyonok?” he whispered roughly, moving his hands to rub his thumbs gently on Katya’s cheeks.
Katya was breathing heavily but staring into the intent gray eyes of her savior. “Yes, Drago, I’m okay,” she replied, nodding her head slightly, her hands moving up to hold his wrists as if comforting him. They continued staring at each other for so long two things happened. Two things occurred to me during the extended period of their mutual staring. I became very aware of my intrusive presence, but I also became very aware of the intrusive presence of the body at Drago’s feet.
Drago pulled away from Katya, even as her hands clung to his wrists. “Were you watching me?” Katya asked breathlessly.
“Always, kotyonok.” Drago reached down and effortlessly hefted the body of the suit over his shoulder.
“Is that guy dead?” I screeched. Both of their heads snapped to me, as if only just remembering I was there.
The scarred man gave a sharp shake of his head, and I blew out a sigh of relief. He turned his stony gaze back to Katya. “Katerina, a man will be here in five minutes to follow you home. He will be staying with you for the foreseeable future.”
Katya still hadn’t moved but nodded her head. “Who is he?”
All hints of the emotions Drago previously displayed had disappeared, leaving his gray eyes hardened and blank. “Italians,” he responded tonelessly, and made his way to a black Mercedes parked several spaces away and threw the Italian in the backseat. My head was buzzing with disbelief and my stomach roiled with nausea. I glanced around the otherwise empty parking lot, stunned that no one had witnessed this incredible series of events.
I ran to Katya’s side and hugged her tightly. She didn’t respond for a couple of seconds, then clung to me, shaking. “Are you okay?” I asked.
Katya pulled back, wiping her face, her green-gold eyes still luminescent with tears, making her look strangely beautiful. “I’ll be fine, Hannah, honestly,” Katya said after taking a deep breath and giving me a reassuring smile. Her pale red eyebrows then puckered slightly as she put her hand on my upper arm in concern. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry you had to be a part of that.” Katya’s face was wreathed in compassion and guilt.
I rubbed my hands up and down my arms, still shivering in shock, but attempted to reassure her. “It’s not your fault, Katya. I’m okay. Maybe in a little bit of shock? I can’t believe someone tried to kidnap you. Do you know why?” The more I thought about it, the more freaked out I got.
Katya sighed and shook her head. “I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but I’m not necessarily surprised either. Like I mentioned earlier, this kind of thing…well, it happens.” Katya looked at the departing Mercedes, tears once again welling up in her eyes. I reached out to squeeze her hand in consolation, although I was reeling. I couldn’t believe she had to deal with the threat of kidnapping as a part of her waking reality.
Katya looked at me, and as if reading my reaction, squeezed my hand back. “I’m so sorry, Hannah, honestly.” She wiped her eyes and half-smirked. “I guess you can see why I have a hard time keeping friends.”
I gave a surprised laugh, feeling grateful as it released some of the pent-up panic, fear, and shock. “Yeah, I can’t say I’ve ever witnessed a near kidnapping before,” I joked, but there was still a lump of anxiety sitting in my throat.
Katya leaned against her car, looking reflective. “I wish I could say that was the first time something like that has happened to me.”
My eyes widened in astonishment. “It wasn’t?”
Katya shook her head sadly as she glanced at the spot where the black Mercedes had been parked. “The same person saved me both times.”