Chapter One

I was laying on the lounge with the doors to the false balcony open. Weather permitting, I always kept the doors open. I hated artificial heat or cooling. I loved having the fresh are blowing in. It was an over cast day and the sky had decided to start sprinkling. With a sigh I pulled myself up to close the doors. There are three sets of French doors side by side that spanned the wall. I was finished closing the third set when the next breeze came in. my head snapped to see what was outside. I caught the scent of some one. It was unlike anything I had ever encountered before. It suddenly made me feel uneasy. It was in enchanting scent, one I knew I could become addicted to.

I couldn't see anyone outside but I knew it just assuredly that the sun will rise in the East that someone was out there watching me. It was that unpleasant feeling you got where all the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. A feeling I wish was foreign and not something I had become all too familiar with. As calmly as I could manage I walked away from the doors and headed to my dressing room.

In the back of the room there is a safe somewhat obscured by my hanging pants and dresses. Pushing the garments to the side I opened the safe and extracted my many passports and fifty thousand euros. I had been here for almost twelve years. I knew I was pushing it. Ten years and move on. That had always been my MO. I just missed being in England so much, I hadn't been back in so long. But I knew twelve years was too long. Even in the modern world with magic face creams and plastic surgery people notice if you don't age at all. The time has come for me to leave again. I quickly changed into black dress and leggings and pulled on a leather jacket. I put my different Identities into a purse with the money and slipped on black heeled boots. Grabbing my phone from my night stand I quickly called a driver and made my way down stairs to wait.

At this point I have perfected the art of disappearing. I have gone by many names. In truth, I do not have one. I have no family and I have no home. I have been moving from one place to another and leaving before anyone can notice the truth about me. Whatever the truth maybe. I don't know what I am. I've never met anyone else like me before. All I know is if I keep moving then I will be safe. Ten years and no more. No stopping to place roots. No being overly friendly with the neighbors. They notice too much. The car pulled up to the front door. I walked out into the rain and left another life behind.

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St. Petersburg

I had landed in the wee hours of the morning. I had a driver bring me to Four Season. After checking in I stripped down and crawled into bed. It wasn't the most restful sleep. No matter where I go or how nice the accommodations I never sleep well the first night in a new place. A new bed to get used to. I woke to the early afternoon light pouring into my room. I walked to the bathroom to use the hotel provided face soap and toothbrush to freshen up for the day.

After putting my clothes from last night back on I grabbed my purse so I could start on my errand. First things first food. I stopped by a small shop to get a Pirozhki and fries. I don't normally eat fried food. I hate the way fried foods make me feel but I just can't help myself when it comes to French fries.

I walked around a while just enjoying the crisp air and sunshine. It has been a while since the last time I was here. I stand and look at the cathedral. It's been almost eighty years now. Sometimes it amazes me to the past at the present side by side. I see ghosts of my past everywhere I look. I can see the people from back then as clearly as if they are still there. I close my eyes and see Kostya waiting for me under the tree we always met at. There was a curfew on the city but that was never a problem for me. I could hear if anyone was coming. Kostya never knew what I was. He thought I was silly country girl who ran away to the city. A car horn goes off and I am brought back to the here and now. Kostya isn't under the tree he dead he will never wait under any tree for any one ever again. I walk away from this place filled with memories and back to the busy streets that could never be confused with another time.

By the time the sun has set I have procured almost everything I need to set up my new life. I make my way back to my room to change into one of the new dress I had the store deliver to my hotel. I walk into the front lobby and the concierge stops me to tell me the porter has just gone up to bring all bags to my room. When I get off the elevator and walk down my floor I see that the porter is still unloading it all off the trolley. Hmm when you see all the bags together like this it looks like I went overboard. Oh well. I tip the boy and send him on his way.

I turn the TV on for background noise. Some soap is playing but I don't mind. I just hate it being so quite in here. I take my time showering and dressing for dinner. I allow my hair to dry naturally will I go about organizing my new purchases. I hang up my new clothes and line up the shoes. I bring the cosmetics into the bathroom. I go for a golden smokey eye and pale pink lip. I put on a tight long sleeve black dress that goes to mid thigh and tall black heels. I grab one of my new clutches and throw my lipstick in there with my ID , cell phone and a few bank notes. I make my way down to the hotel bar and restaurant. I do quick scan on the room to see all the people and quickly clock a table of businessmen. I notice they are all in their early forties to fifties, perfect. I pick the spot at the end of the bar that puts me right in their line of sight. The bar tender comes over and asks what I would like.

" Vodka cranberry please" I give him my best smile.

" Of course" He gives me a sexy smile of his own. He gets me my drink and goes back to taking care of his other customers. I make sure to sit at an angle so the table of me can see more the just my back. Ten minutes my efforts are not wasted. An average built man in his early forties take the seat next to me and with his hand signals the bar tender over.

"Can I get you another drink?" The man asks me in Russian. He gestures to my drink and the bar tender gets the hint and goes off to prepare me another one.

" Thank you" I smile at my new companion.

"English?" he asks

" Most days" I reply with a small laugh

" And the other days" He lifts an eye brow at me

" Whatever I'm in the mood for, really" I say on a shrug

He gets a little closer to me and puts his hand just above my knee. He looks me in the eye judging my reaction to his move. "What are you in the mood for tonight?" His thumb starts to stroke the inside of my leg and that's when I felt it. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and I knew who ever I ran from the day before was here now watching me. I tried to keep the panic from showing on my face but I don't think I succeeded. The man's grip on my leg began to squeeze lightly.

" I'm flattered but I really do need to get going" I tried to stand to make my escape. How did they find me? Where do I go from here? I didn't have back up plan. Russia was my back up plan. Grabbing my clutch from the bar I tried to spin when the man grabbed my shoulder.

" Wait we were just starting to get to know each other." The man tried to turn me back to face him. He was starting to get annoyed. He could see what was almost a sure thing slipping away.

" Please let go, I'm sorry but I have somewhere to be." I tried again but he held firm. I could easily get away from this man. It would take any effort at all really, but I didn't want to make a scene. That when I felt them. Whoever had been following me decided to finally come out and they were so close behind be I could feel his jacket brushing against my back. Then his scent engulfed me. The intoxicating scent of him. Yep I knew without a doubt my stalker was male and I most defiantly could get addicted to his sent. Hell! I probably already was. This is bad, very bad. My heart was thundering in my chest and panic was beginning to set in. Fight or flight? Fight or flight? While my terror-stricken brain was moving at a snail's pace trying to decide what to do my stalker spoke.

" The lady said let go" His voice coated me in warmth and had my skin buzzing. I swear I could feel his words rumbling from his chest between my legs. Fuck.