“Have I ever said anything I didn’t mean?”
“No, but we were naked, and you were fucking me at the time. People say a lot of things when they’re about to come.” Tony used to talk about keeping me forever, he never meant any of it. And if I’m going to be honest, it wasn’t his voice I would replay the words back in later when I was alone.
It was Artem’s.
“My brothers won’t like it.”
“Probably not.” He nods once.
“They could kill you, Artem. They’ve taken limbs from men for less than what we’ve done.” I’ve always looked up to my older brothers, mostly because of how they protected me from the indifference of our father and the hatred of their mother. But I’m not blind to what they are, how cruel they can be to those they deem in need of punishment.
“Somethings are worth the risk.” His gaze drops to my mouth.
“Why is it when I say things like that, I get lectured, but when you say it, it sounds so sexy?”
His mouth curls at the edges. “Always questioning, always pushing the boundaries. Just accept it, Elana. You’re mine now. And whatever punishment that brings, it brings.”
The memory of Tony standing in the back room of that restaurant sneering at me flashes in my mind. The darkness, the bright snaps of light, the sounds of bullets being fired, hittingtheir targets. People died because of me. Because I gave into what I thought I wanted.
People I love were hurt because of my selfishness.
It has to stop.
“No, Artem.” I untangle myself from him and slide off his lap. “I won’t be responsible for another betrayal.”
Darkness rolls into his eyes. He moves to his feet, and I have to step back to keep from being devoured by him.
“Elana.”
“No.” I turn on my heel, intent on returning to the bedroom, but his big paw of a hand grabs my elbow and spins me back around.
“For two years I’ve told myself the same thing. Too dangerous. It’s wrong. And for two years I’ve wanted to rip out the throats of any man that touched you, looked at you too long. I won’t do it anymore. You aren’t saying no because you don’t want me, you’re saying it because you think you can’t have me.”
“That’s because I know I can’t.”
His jaw clenches. “You already do.”
A calm settles over her features. I release her arm. I’ve seen this look before; it’s a facade.
She’s pretending to give in, but the wheels are spinning in that pretty little head of hers. Trying to come up with a plan.
She may hate that Volkov blood runs through her veins, and with a father like hers, I don’t blame her, but she is just as calculating as her brothers. If she were to take interest in the family business and dip her toe into those waters, she’d be a force no one would be able to stop.
“When Jimmy Peters brought me home one night, you were there. Do you remember that?” She tilts her head as though she’s actually curious.
She knows damn well I remember that fucking prick.
“I do.”
“You were angry with him.”
“He brought you home drunk out of your fucking mind.”
“He did.” She laughs, stepping back from me. “And you took care of me, tucked me into bed, made sure I had aspirin waiting for me in the morning. And when I talked to him later, he said he couldn’t see me anymore.”
I lift my chin. “It was a good decision on his part.”
“Because you’d told him you’d rip his dick off and make him choke on it if he ever called me again.”
