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CHAPTER17
Kirill
For a man who’d reveled in the darkness, the shadows continuing to build inside the car were oppressive. Every time I darted a glance toward Candy, I was forced to accept that she’d shut down completely. She’d finally seen me for who and what I was, but the harsh reality had been too much for her.
And so, she remained silent.
She’d followed my instructions, donning the second dress I’d purchased for her. The moment she’d walked into the foyer, my possessive side had erupted to the surface, my hunger out of control. But I’d left her alone, allowing her to fall deeper into her despair. Tonight would mean the beginning of the end. If Michael Walsh didn’t accept the deal we offered, the only choice he had, then we’d stand back as he was ruined, most of his power stripped away.
Then the Kozlov family would act, ensuring he didn’t rise again.
I’d seen the incredible rush of joy in finding me then the despair of what she’d learned. The brilliant, beautiful light had drifted away from her eyes. I’d never felt so alone in my life, even though her closeness kept me aroused, my hunger insatiable.
Sighing, I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, unable to find any words of comfort. I’d been right to attempt to shove her away, forcing her to hate me, but I’d been lying to myself that I could follow through with what was necessary. Soon, I would release her, ensuring that she was safe and happy. Then I would walk away.
But when I did, I’d be a broken man.
I took a deep breath, shoving aside the feelings as I pulled onto the long driveway leading into Vladimir’s estate. I’d purposely waited, arriving almost an hour after the event had started, incapable of enduring the small talk and suffocation of being surrounded by dozens of people.
This was business, not a social event. After parking, I studied the area, noticing the number of soldiers. I loathed the tension that remained in my gut. It was only a matter of time before Shane and his goons realized that Yuri was no longer their bitch. The deal needed to be in place with Walsh.
When I opened the door, Candy didn’t look at me, barely responding when I eased her from the passenger seat. I pulled her close despite the push of her hand against my chest. While a small part of me continued to long to ease her pain, tonight wasn’t that night. She had to be on her best behavior at all times, especially around Walsh.
I lowered my head, using two fingers to force her head in my direction. “I don’t think I need to tell you that you are here to provide comfort for Walsh. He needs to know that you’re doing well, enjoying the time you’ve spent with me. Do not reach out for help or decide to become rebellious.”
“I know. If I do then you’ll punish me. I guess I’ll get used to that.” As hard as she tried to make her voice sound impassive, there was no mistaking the hurt and confusion she felt. She was such a strong woman, but she seemed even more vulnerable in my hold, the glisten in her eyes nearly tearing me apart. She was stunning, even more so than the night before, the longing running like wildfire through my veins.
I longed to capture her mouth, thrusting my tongue inside and driving us both into the throes of ecstasy, but I’d committed to myself that I’d never touch her again. She certainly deserved better than me.
She didn’t fight me when I pressed my hand against the small of her back, leading her inside, but she remained tense.
As expected, there were several politicians, members of law enforcement and even a few celebrities. I continuously scanned the rooms as I walked her through, finally guiding us toward one of the bars.
“So this is what crime will help pay for.”
I wrapped my hand around her arm, squeezing, tugging her close against me. There was nothing I could say at this point. “What would you like to drink?”
“Wine. Red wine.” Her terse answer was in reference to the blood she’d seen.
As I caught Vladimir’s eye, his attention immediately shifted to Candy. Then a smile broke out across his face. He pushed his way through the crowd, heading in our direction.
“Kirill. You’re finally here,” he said, glancing at the bartender. “Make certain they are well taken care of. They are family.”
I sensed Candy tensing, uncertain what he meant.
“Has our guest arrived?” I asked, noticing both Alexei and Sevastian moving through the crowd, the brothers almost carbon copies of each other.
“Yes, he’s annoying everyone in another room. We’ll get to business momentarily, but first things first. So this is the woman who captured my boy’s heart. I’m Vladimir Kozlov. I understand you’re Candy Lancaster.”
I’d never seen Vladimir this way, gregarious, his eyes lighting up as he took Candy’s hands into his. He’d also never called me his boy.
For the first time, Candy seemed flabbergasted, although she recovered quickly. “Sadly, I’m not entirely certain Kirill has a heart.”
I noticed Vladimir’s daughter approaching, Dimitre not far behind. He grinned seeing Candy then lifted his eyebrows when I gave him a harsh look. At least Candy wouldn’t be left alone to fend for herself.
Vladimir glanced into my eyes, thoroughly amused. “Just like I heard. She is full of life. She’ll keep you on your toes, Kirill. While this is a party, if you’ll excuse Kirill for just a few minutes, there is one small piece of business that needs to be handled. I’ll leave you in the capable hands of my daughter, who decided to grace us with her presence, finally able to take a few days away from the New York City Ballet. Tatiana, this is Candy. Candy has aspirations of being on Broadway.”
“That’s amazing,” Tatiana beamed. “Come with me. I know where it’s not so damn stuffy.”
