CHAPTER 15

Verónika appears with a pale pink coat, brown leather boots, two more pieces of clothing that when she hands me over I can see that it is a wool shirt and jeans. There is also a scarf and gloves for the cold. When she connects with me, a smile of hers crosses her lips, I match it with the same sincerity that she transmits the gesture that she has dedicated to me. Something so common that people do such as going out, walking and walking around the world, in my circumstances, as well as an incentive for living evil, which is a miracle from heaven.

I can't believe it, surely neither can she.

"Let me comb your hair, will you?" "She offers herself. Like a little girl, I nod excitedly. Then she go get dressed, Luna.

"Thank you so much.

I go into the bathroom and put everything on, looking at myself dressed like this makes me remember moments of my life in the past. I feel like I'm recovering a part that I thought was lost. I return to the room, the admiration of the Russian woman makes me a little self"conscious.

"You look beautiful, I assumed it was your size. "Come here," he points to the couch, I move where he tells me and take a seat. Luna, something is changing in young Konstantinov... I see it, I perceive it, in my forties I have come across men similar to Aleksander, who seem impenetrable and indestructible, however their armor ends up falling off and you realize that there is a human side to them.

I don't know where he is going with his words, he can't assume that I have to do with Aleksander and his sudden behavior.

"What does it mean?

"Luna, you are having an impact on him, influencing him in a positive way. Listen, you're still alive, and he keeps putting off taking your life. He won't do it, he would have already done it.

"Why are we talking about this? "I question uncomfortably. Immediately my thoughts turn to the cruel outcome that awaits me, that Verónika affirms with such certainty that it will not happen, creates illusions in me and I do not want to face false hopes.

"In my opinion, you will be saved, he is not going to kill you, Luna," he emphasizes with a sigh. I made you a heart braid, it looks beautiful on you," she adds.

"Thank you. Do you know where we will go?

"No, surely one not so crowded. "Have a good time," he wishes, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

That she is so demonstrative throws me off a little.

"Okay, thanks again.

...

Crossing the threshold of the door is an unknown journey. I want to study my surroundings, scrutinize every centimeter of the mansion, but I'm blocked, walking outside is still epic. At all times, Verónika directs me, we advance through the spacious hallway and descend through a spiral staircase, the carpeting that begins at the beginning of the step to the end shines with elegance and neatness to spare.

I manage to contain myself and not give in to emotional crying. Downstairs, in her tailored black suit and her neat hairdo, I encounter her intimidating presence. She stares at me from moment to moment, in an instant I take my eyes away from her orbs, the power is such that it burns me alive.

"I will leave you alone, with permission.

She leaves. Without escape, her intense gaze captures me. I seek to translate eye contact, the meaning of her smile that, unlike other days, today is not loaded with cynicism, evil or perverse intentions. I just hope it's what I believe and I'm not fooling myself to see everything from another perspective. It would be wrong.

"You are beautiful, Luna Miller"savor my subtle, yes, delicate name. Come on.

Aleksander offers me his arm. The day continues to be strange, shy I make the hookup possible. We walk at the same pace, and my heart has already shot through the air, bouncing so hard that I fear a heart attack. Everything collides, twists, shouting inside me I finally celebrate the exit.

The snow is everywhere. My eyes open as a result of the beauty of a season that has spread its whiteness and coldness everywhere. The wind that blows is cold, it is a unpleasant winter that without having all these clothes, I would freeze to the bones. What I begin to experience forms a lump in my throat, I close my eyes, I stop and he stops too.

Anxiety, joy, zigzag through me, it is a mixture, it is turbulence and imbalance. I let go of her arm and fall to my knees in the snow.

"Get up, do it now if you don't want me to change my plans," he threatens.

"Just a second," I ask without even looking at him.

"One second and you're back in the room, Luna," he warns.

Go back to the room? No! I obey, returning to my previous position, upright.

I study around me, high walls, the appearance of the mansion and everything takes me to one of those scary movies. It's like an enchanted castle. And I have the monster at my side. I wonder where the armed men Alena and Verónika told me about are.

"It's a cold zima, even if you don't see them, they are here watching, always alert. "He informs, does he read minds?

Silence. My response is silence.

"What does zima mean? "She curious, she had never heard it before.

"Winter in Russian. "It is brief, it does not extend, nor has it been cutting.

The word jumps, echoes in my head. I remember it well, I asked him for my last wish to enjoy a solstice, which shakes me to the core. My day has come, nothing looks rosy, everything is a lie again. It's not just any walk. It's the last one, Verónika is not right, because nothing has really changed, he is still a wolf and I am easy prey.

"Are you going to tell me what you think so much about? "he asks once I've slid into the black leather seat and he's taken the co"pilot position. It's strange that he asks instead of demanding. You're shivering, isn't heating and warm clothes enough?

The second questioner, does she perhaps hide concern on her part? The probability coming from him is zero, but on this occasion credible.

"No, is not that.

"Don't act interesting, talk now, why?

His hostility, his lack of tact, could not be missed. By then the gates open clearing the way, thick drink. We walked away from the property. I look in the rearview mirror, everything looks small from a distance. I take a breath, I am so small next to him that I have no defenses. There is a gun on the dashboard of the car, I didn't notice it until now, the fact that he left it within my reach confuses me. It may be a ruse. It's even remotely possible that it's loaded, I'm not going down.

What if the gun contains the bullet that will take my life?

I bite my lip, I'm afraid.

"Aleksander, I know I told you that my will...

"Don't continue, I remember perfectly what you said that day. You will not die today, Luna. And stop the chatter or we'll be back.

Relief fills my chest. I'm not going to die, it won't be today! I try to control my crazy breathing, the austerity with which my nerves eat me.

"Welcome to Saint Petersburg," he comments. Have you ever been to a museum?

Do gangsters frequent those places? I thought they would have to keep a low profile.

On the other hand, I am amazed by the beautiful and colorful city. The Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg is located in the heart of the city, between the Neva River embankment and the Palace Square, which occupies two buildings, ranging from the Small Hermitage, the New Hermitage, the Winter Palace and the Hermitage Theatre. It is one of the most attractive architectural complexes in Russia.

We enter the museum, holding hands as if we were a couple. I know it's a way to go unnoticed, to see ourselves as if we were happy couples enjoying a stay in the huge city. But having its touch in my palm, even with the fabric of the glove that prevents us from feeling skin directly against skin, has awakened a revolution in my belly.

Then thousands of questions corner me in doubt. Why do I feel this burning? What does the fluttering in my stomach mean? Is this what they call attraction?

It's just confusion, the abstruse for the moment that causes you to feel nonsense. It is incomprehensible that I would notice a guy like him. Am I crazy?

It is possible, if we take into account that Aleksander has behaved vilely towards me, even adding rare moments of more flexible treatment, I don't see why the hell any affection has developed for him.

Where has the resentment, anger, hatred and helplessness of being kidnapped gone?

I look at him in profile, advancing among the other people who tour the immense museum, others evaluate, contemplate and treasure the pieces on display, but protected for their conservation. He doesn't notice me, but I do, too much, I'm giving him all my attention, feeling appreciation for the wolf, a beast that could eat me at any moment.

What's wrong with me?

He looks at me furtively and I hide.

"Know? This museum currently houses more than three million objects, making it considered one of the most complete art galleries in the world. Isn't that impressive?