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“You’ve been a busy boy,” Vassily said, laughing.
“Just do it. As a side note, I need ID on the three fucks. One of them works for Michael Walsh directly. Rory something.”
“I’ll see what I can do. I’ll check around with some of the boys.”
‘The boys’ was the term he used for spies. They’d been cultured over time to infiltrate other crime syndicates, corporations and even to a small degree law enforcement. If something was brewing on the street that we hadn’t been made aware of, they would know.
“Just make sure you find something. These fucks didn’t act alone.” I shoved my phone into my pocket, walking her toward my car. I kept her close, constantly scanning the street.
Candy pulled away from me, folding her arms and staring in horror at the three bodies. I could tell she was fighting a scream, pressing the back of one hand over her mouth. While I should shield her from the carnage, she needed to understand what I was dealing with and what she’d gotten herself in the middle of. “Who are you?”
“Nobody special. Don’t fight with me, Candy. We can talk later.”
“That’s a lie, Kirill. You told me you’d never lie to me. You’re Bratva. Aren’t you?” When I didn’t answer right away, she struggled in my hold. “Aren’t you?”
“Let’s just say I’m an important man who has dozens of enemies. That means I need to get you out of here.”
Her mouth twisted in uncertainty and frustration, but she remained where she was as I walked closer, flinching only when I lifted her chin.
“I don’t know you,” she whispered. “Just like I didn’t know them. Leave me alone.”
“You know more about me than almost anyone, Candy. There will likely be more of those men, which mean you’re in danger. Now, can you trust me?” I could tell she’d been dragged across the parking lot, gravel imbedded in a few scrapes. Damn it. The assholes didn’t deserve to die so quickly.
“How can I? You just murdered three men in cold blood. Just like you murder women.”
Women? Who the hell had told her that? Rian.
I cocked my head and waited but could only allow her a few seconds more. This was the last place I wanted to remain without cover or backup. “Candy, those men abducted you, tossed you into the trunk of a car, and I assure you that where they were taking you, I wouldn’t have located had I not followed my gut that you were in danger. What do you think they were going to do?”
“I don’t know,” she snapped then took another look at all three men before turning away. “What I do know is that you’re a monster.”
Up to this point, she’d come at me with all the fury she could muster. Now she showed her vulnerable side, her lovely face pinched with uncertainty. There was no longer any doubt about who I was, although she’d already been told. She’d been forced to accept that I wasn’t just the mysterious, dangerous man who’d awakened her passion, but also a brutal killer, her head filled with even more atrocities than I’d committed.
“We need to go, Candy.”
“Where?” she asked, tipping her head and finally locking eyes with mine.
“Somewhere safe.” When I took her arm, she jerked away a second time, shaking her head.
“I’m not going anywhere with you. Just leave me alone.” Even in the dim but harsh light, I could see her eyes widen in fear, her distrust understandable. But at this point, her rebellious behavior had become intolerable.
“We don’t have time for this. You are coming with me whether you understand or appreciate why.”
She backed up a few additional feet, almost tripping over asshole number three. Yelping, she turned as if she was going to run down the sidewalk. I couldn’t allow that to happen. I lunged toward her, snagging her wrist and yanking her with enough force she slammed into my chest. Then I snapped my hand around her mouth. Her scream would draw more attention than the car crash. I shook her gently before lowering my head, my tone harsher than it likely needed to be.
“I’m going to get us both out of here, but you will need to trust me. Those assholes won’t be the only ones coming. And next time, they won’t fail. I’m your only lifeline at this point. I suggest you accept that or your stay with me will become very uncomfortable.”
Her entire body remained trembling, but she nodded. I could tell she was shutting down, trying to rationalize what she’d seen and experienced. She was forced to crawl in through the driver’s door. While the GTO was battered, it would get us to our destination. One thing was certain; I couldn’t take her back to her apartment or my fake one.
Candy had just been given a jumpstart into my life, one that would ultimately ruin her in the end. Sadly, I had no other choice.
* * *
She’d remained quiet the entire ride, peering out the passenger window, occasionally glancing at the bullet hole in the windshield. The only reaction I noticed was when I headed out of Brooklyn over the bridge, driving into Manhattan. That’s when she’d turned her head, shifting her eyes back and forth as she’d studied me.
When I finally slowed down, heading into an underground parking lot, she tensed.
“It’s safe here,” I assured her.
