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Permanent? The way he said the words had nothing to do with adoration or providing pleasure. He was going to kill me.
“I can’t, Alexei. I have a job to do and…” With every step he took, a sense of dread rushed into me. There was something wrong that was entirely separate from the fact Sergei had escaped.
He was so calm, a slight smile curling on his lip, but I knew him well enough to realize that in less than twelve hours, everything between us had changed.
“I’m not going to insult you by asking whether or not you are aware that Sergei Politoff escaped his chains four days ago. And I certainly don’t need to tell you what the ramifications of what that could be to my family. What I will do is to make you understand and accept that I’m the only man who can keep you alive. That is why you’re going to gather your things and walk out that door with me.”
Somehow, I believed him about my safety. However, if I surrendered my life to Alexei Kozlov for protection, I knew there would be no going back. That is if he didn’t take what he wanted, disposing of me later.
“No. I’m not. You’re not going to take me from my life.” He continued to walk closer, taking his time yet not avoiding the direct aim of my gun. Beads of perspiration trickled down my forehead, my nerves reaching the frazzled point. “Just go. Please. I can take care of myself.” I shifted it directly in the middle of his chest, straightening my arms.
“Have you ever killed a man, Stephanie?” he asked as he glanced down to the weapon in my hand. “Do you have idea what it’s like the moment you realize you’ve just ended a life, possibly destroying a family?”
“Don’t do that, Alexei. I’ll do what I need to do.”
“Then pull the trigger, by all means. You said so yourself. I’m a monster. If that’s what you believe then you should have no issue putting a bullet between my eyes. Always aim for the brain, Stephanie. The chest as a secondary target. Think of it this way, it will be one less life Sergei is allowed to eliminate.”
The arrogant prick was back.
I glared into his eyes, the dichotomy of emotions too much to handle. The moment I wavered, he wrapped his hand around the barrel of the weapon, gently taking the cold steel from my hand.
He slipped it into his jacket and cocked his head. “As I said, we are now permanently connected.”
“I don’t want this.”
“Don’t you, my beautiful creature? Do I need to remind you of the passion we shared, the ecstasy we both experienced?”
“Don’t do that, Alexei. That’s not fair. We’re talking two entirely different situations. What we shared was a fantasy and nothing more.”
“Now you’re lying to yourself.” The moment be brushed his fingers across my cheek, I reacted out of fear, lifting my arm to slap him hard across the face. He was too quick, anticipating my move, snapping his hand around mine. “Tsk. Tsk. You should know better than to attack me at this point.”
I jerked my arm, but he dared to pull my palm to his lips, pressing a series of kisses across my skin. The vibrations coursing through me were startling. “How did you get in? I have an alarm system.”
“There isn’t an alarm system that can’t be cracked, sweet Stephanie.”
“Just get away from me,” I hissed, slamming my other hand against his chest. He fisted my hair at the scalp, yanking me closer, lowering his head until his heated breath skipped across my skin.
“You and I are going to spend some quality time together. It’s time for you to be very honest with me.”
“I have been honest with you.”
“It would seem just the opposite. You asked me before if I would ever hurt you. I would hate to break that promise, my beautiful creature. Now, are you going to behave?”
Swallowing hard, I nodded. What choice did I have? When he let me go, I couldn’t seem to stop shaking.
“Were you in my house before?” I asked, although what the hell did it matter at this point? “Were you waiting for me to arrive, watching me as I gathered a few things? Do you really want me terrified of you?”
“I arrived moments before you walked in, my sweet,” he snarled, jerking his head from side to side. “That means Sergei was here. I could smell his stench in the city. Did the bastard hurt you?”
“No, but he will. He threatened me. Just like you did.”
He laughed as he stormed into the kitchen, flipping on the light. Then he moved into the hallway, slamming open the doors. With every hard thud, I winced. When he returned, he moved directly in front of me.
“How did he threaten you?” My slight hesitation pissing him off, he pinched my chin, tilting my head until I was forced to look in his eyes. “Talk, Stephanie. Now.”
I folded my arms, trying to control my breathing. “He called me a few minutes ago. I’m not certain given I think the crazies are out since our photographs have been released, but I could feel him breathing on the other end of the line. And…”
“And what?”
