Page 117 of Bleed with Me

“I will start a war, Dorian,” she said, knocking the air out of my lungs. She let go of my hand and walked around the island with a severe expression. “If your brother stands between us,” she straddled me and cupped my face, “I’ll set his precious kingdom on fire.”

She brushed her nose against mine, her eyes darkening with an insane possessiveness I fell for weeks ago.

“Giovanni be damned. He lost and paid the price. But if someone, anyone, tries to take you away from me, it’ll be the beginning of their end.”

My heart missed a beat. It should’ve been a red flag. A giant, flaming, screaming red flag visible from space. Nina had just threatened my brother. Almighty Zyon Zhumagulov. The man people crossed continents to avoid offending. And all I could think about was the fact that she considered me worth the risk.

For the first time in my life, I understood why men started wars over women.

Satan, help me. I was in love.

-50-

Nina

We fucked everywhere. Technically, we turned every room in Dorian’s two-story house into a monument to our lust. By Sunday morning, I wasn’t simply tired. I was drained of every ounce of energy, physically and mentally.

Dorian lay beside me, sprawled on the thick carpet in his office, with his eyes closed and chest heaving. Sweat beaded on his forehead; his hair was a mess, but a tiny smile danced on his lips.

“We’re worse than horny rabbits,” he mumbled, blindly tapping with his hand on the carpet until he found my breast. “You poisoned me.”

“Me?” I pushed his hand away, stopping another round before it started. I couldn’t go another round. “Don’t make your insatiable libido my problem.”

“You killed the last woman I touched, ma vilaine.” He peeked at me out of the corner of his eye, my heart doing a pathetic little jump. “Whose problem is it then?”

I rolled my eyes, dismissing the conversation and focusing instead on the persistent buzzing in my ears. I’d heard it for quite some time already, and it wasn’t stopping.

“Is it a phone?” I mumbled, lifting myself to my elbows. Dorian opened one eye.

“It’s Sunday, right?” He stretched his arms above his head. “I’m not on call.”

“But someone might still need us,” I pointed out, standing up. Throwing a blanket around my naked body, I followed the sound, finding Dorian’s vibrating phone on the coffee table in the living room.

“Who the fuck is Sunshine?” I yelled, glaring at the caller ID. Jealousy and rage mixed in my chest, and because Dorian didn’t reply quickly enough, I answered the damn thing.

“Yes?” I barked into the phone, imagining some disgusting woman whose days had been numbered.

“Where is Dorian?” A chilling voice from my nightmares asked, freezing me on the spot.

“Malin?” I squeaked, but the answer was stolen from me when Dorian snatched the phone from my ear.

“Hey, miss me?” He winked at me, laughing at his brother’s response. But in a millisecond, the playful expression was gone, and he straightened up, all his muscles tensed.

“What do you mean he was shot?” His voice jumped as he located his pants behind the piano. I stared at him in shock, my heart slamming against my ribcage.

“What happened?” I mumbled, but he silenced me with his raised palm.

“Okay, press on the wound. I’m on my way,” he instructed, running around the living room. “Where the fuck are my keys?”

I picked them from the couch.

“Here.” I tossed them at him, hitting him in the chest. “Jeeesus,” I exhaled, throwing my arms in the air helplessly. “Pay attention.”

“I’m already driving,” he ground out, balancing on one leg and putting on his shoe on the other. “Karen got shot. I don’t know how bad it is.”

“Karen Kadyrov?” My eyes widened in surprise. “What happened?’

“No idea.” Dorian shook his head. “But he doesn’t want to go to the hospital, so it’s personal.” My brows furrowed in confusion, yet he didn’t explain more. “Please, behave while I’m away.” He kissed my forehead and gently squeezed my arm. “I’ll be back before dinner with Zyon. Until then, don’t do anything. Carlile included. That bastard is mine.”