~

"Don't you dare use that tone with me, young lady! I

Ugh!" Natalie yelled back, her frustration

e, get back here!" But she didn'

phase," he muttered under his brea

**

open. "I mean, what's so wrong with working out outside? I thought he was handsome, but with such an attitude, I'm starting to doubt my fir

r, but didn't take a step, and it rang agai

snapped and yanked the door open. I

ering voice, "can I come i

just shocked to see you," I

commented as sh

d, closing the door.

winced at my co

ered her a seat,

Sophie," she

"Water?" I asked, handing her the bottle o

she said, taki

Before I ask what happened, how did you f

about it earlie

had mentioned my house was fo

ly arrived at my front door, I'd be suspicious too," she res

happened?" I asked again without waiting for a reply. "When you said you wer

a kid, and I'm sick and tired of having to chang

God! Don't tell me he..." I halted, my mi

hastily. "Jesus, Sophie, he's my father! How did you c

d by her reaction. "I'm a

all the time. I want to have a normal life, make friends, date, kiss a guy, and enjoy the simple thi

I exclaim

the fear that someone might target me to get to him. I can't go anywhere without a guard

, you gotta be kidding me, righ

Nat aske

a,' right?" I ask

p, she tried to deny

nts. "OMG! So that whole story about 'a gangster m

. "Sophie, you c

ve it," I said, my mind racing.

ling. "My life is complicated enough without everyone knowing my father

tting down again, but my heart w

can't believe I just revealed tha

. Half the town already knows there's a gangster famil

t to be ki

and soldiers, so of course, when someone out of the ordina

her eyes wide. "So

re about them being cautious, I guess. Your family j

er face in her hands.

der. "People are just curious. And besides, you're

htly. "Wait! Does that mean your parents are cops or

ised eyebrow. "What do yo

ity for cops and military, so does th

bout that. I mean, I knew my parents were hiding something from me, but it was hard to

phi

don't know what my parents are or why we're staying here, but I'm sure it's not what

a low scream. "Ugh. I think my head

eriously, I can't believe you are part of a mafia family. A Russian mafia at that!

at the happy expression on my f

. "I mean, it's like living in a real-life action mo

"You're really something else, Sophie," she said,

, looking at her. "Is the

le don't like to associate with dangerous and violent individuals, especially if they have anything to do with the unde

The first time I saw him at our school-your father, I mean-I knew he was different. Such a breathtakingly handsome man can't simply be a father.

nk God," s

n love with him," I

ink you were this weird is discomforting," she said, giving me a

. "That must be why he hate

Keep rubbi

ver to where she was sitting, taking her

ha

riends," I said. But just then, the doorbell ran

he door and whispered to herself, "J

ck?" I blurted out angrily as I pushed the door open, only to fi

ap

I mur