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I closed my eyes, going over every detail of the last few hours. I was even more convinced that Sergei’s attacks were personal and not just about finishing a job. What the hell was I missing?
“You really need to have this looked at by a medical professional. You could have internal bleeding or damage to your lung.”
“As you already told me, no vital organs were hit. However, I promise you that I will have it looked at by the family doctor. Is that good enough?”
“Good enough.” She turned away from me, grouping the bloody towels together.
“We need to have a frank discussion, Stephanie.”
“What do you want from me?”
“I want the truth.”
“The truth about what? That I put the bastard away eight years ago? You already know that. That I made the mistake of getting involved with a man who tried to make your life hell? That’s not news. So what? Why are you certain that I’m the one deceiving you when you seduced me on purpose? Didn’t you? Isn’t that the truth, Alexei? You wanted to make Gregory suffer and you were certain that I would spill trade secrets? I’m not that naïve. So, please do tell me what the hell you’re accusing me of.”
Without regard to my injury or the fact that the woman I fucking adored didn’t deserve my wrath, I yanked her from the counter, shoving her hard against the wall. Then I wrapped my hand around her lovely throat as I’d done before, pressing my thumb against her chin and mouth with enough force she whimpered.
I watched as her eyes opened wide, another wave of terror drowning her resolve.
“Please,” she whispered.
“Please what?” I snarled, unable to control the rage that had built to a level of frenzy. She could beg me all she wanted, but I was finished with playing nice, with respecting her boundaries. She’d dared to accept a brute in her bed, and it was time she understood the full ramifications of her irresponsible decision.
“Please don’t. Just tell me what you’re talking about.” She pressed her hand against my chest, careful to avoid the injury I’d received in attempting to save her life. I couldn’t stand the husky tone to her voice, the urgency of her despondency. And I couldn’t tolerate what I’d done to her, tainting her with the goddamn tattoo, which had likely been the reason the bastard’s fury had escalated. He’d wanted her. He’d needed her.
And I’d taken his prize away from him.
Now he would stop at nothing to destroy her.
“What truth do I want? I’m happy to tell you. I need to know why you had five million dollars in Russian currency deposited into a Swiss bank account. As you can probably understand, my beautiful, disobedient lioness, that’s the very reason that you’re going to tell me everything. And if you don’t, you will learn the true meaning of the word punishment.”
CHAPTER15
Stephanie
Five. Million. Dollars?
I couldn’t have heard him correctly. My thoughts immediately drifted to Gregory. I’d been right. I’d been used, but by the one man I’d thought I could trust. What in the hell was wrong with me? I glanced into Alexei’s eyes, certain he’d never believe me no matter what I said.
This brutal man had no place in my life. That was obvious as he stood with his fingers tightly wrapped around my neck, his eyes molten from the fury bubbling to the surface. He was even more dangerous than I’d allowed myself to believe, but more so because I’d already fallen hard for the brooding Russian who’d shown me that he had no soul, no humanity left inside of him.
After the instant fear of what he’d do to me, his words finally sank in, my mind becoming a crazy blur of disbelief.
“What?” I managed, croaking out the single word in a voice that couldn’t possibly be mine.
“You heard me, sunshine. Five million dollars. That’s significant pay for a woman in your position. Now, I might be stretching my assumptions, but it would appear that you’ve been on the take. With that kind of money, I doubt it came from any traditional sources.” As he lowered his head, his lips dangerously close to mine, I took deep, gulping breaths, remaining lightheaded, my nerves raw and exposed.
And he knew it.
He knew exactly what kind of effect he had on me, the pulsing sensations that rocked my core every time he touched me. Kissed me.
Fucked me.
He was so painfully gorgeous that every muscle in my body ached for him, my pussy trembling at the thought of having him fill me again. And again.
I’d just been through hell, my entire world destroyed in a matter of hours, and the filthy images racing through my mind were all about him.
His smile.
