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“Sounds familiar.”
I bristled as I usually did then nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.”
“I’m always right. It’s best you figure that out. You know there’s a distinct possibility that Sergei made certain you’ll be blamed for the crime. With you out of the picture and behind bars, he’ll have an easier road to the rest of your family.”
“I’ve already thought about that.”
“Then I’ll need to strengthen the security around the rest of your family as well as the casino. With the incidents tonight, Volkov will likely strike hard in retaliation.”
As I moved toward the bar, my grip on the glass firm enough I could shatter the damn tumbler into hundreds of pieces, my anger continued to boil. “Then do it. If you hear about a single attempt on one of our properties, my family, or any of our soldiers, do not hesitate to take them out. Do you understand?” I poured another shot, gulping every drop then sliding my glass across the surface of the bar.
“Clear.” He turned, prepared to act on my orders.
“Make certain you tell Candy what you’re doing.”
He threw me a look over his shoulder, snorting. “I plan on it.”
His boots pounding on the surface of the floor echoed in my ears. I moved toward the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the skyline. Then I knew what I had to do.
I headed up the stairs, finding a closed door at the end of the hall. Hesitating, I walked inside, noticing Stephanie immediately bristling. I closed the door behind me, ripping off my bloody jacket and tossing it aside. Then I moved closer until I was standing behind her, the light reflecting both our tense figures. Every part of me wanted to yank her into my arms, but I knew she’d only fight my attempt at comfort.
“Gregory was alive when I left him.”
She remained quiet, her shoulders moving up and down from her labored breathing. “Why should I believe you?”
“Because I won’t lie to you. I’m not a good man, Stephanie. I never claimed to be. You’ve heard some of this before, but I want to be honest and very clear with you. After ensuring Gregory would leave you alone, heeding my warning, I had every intention of breaking you. To me, you were a method to gain information. But the moment I stepped foot in that ballroom, something inside of me changed, desire unlike anything I’ve ever felt preventing me from acting on my previous decision. You brought something into my life I never thought possible. Happiness. Passion. My hunger exploded and I knew I couldn’t let you go. Did I deceive you? Only in the reason I entered into your life, but everything we’ve shared is real.”
Her exhale was ragged and when she placed her fingers on the window, it was all I could do not to sweep her into my arms, but I refused to sully her clothing with mine as I’d done to her soul.
“How can I believe you when nothing in my life seems real any longer?” she finally asked, her voice so small that my heart ached.
“All I can tell you is that the precious time we shared in that lagoon under the waterfall was the happiest moment of my entire wretched life.” When she said nothing, I reached out to touch her then fisted my hand. “Things are going to get dicey over the next few days. We retaliated against the soldiers who defiled your home as well as another group that Kirill was able to locate. However, there are more. I suspect that Sergei will remain in the shadows until he’s ready to strike. You’re the only person who’s seen him, which means I will need your help. Whether you believe it or not, I can be a fair man. After Sergei is eliminated, Pavel Volkov will be sent to hell where he belongs. I will set you free.”
“To what life?”
I closed my eyes for a few seconds, accepting the fact what we’d shared was over. I could force her to remain in my life, caging her as I’d longed to do before, but I refused to break something so precious, so beautiful. “I’ll do what I can to make certain you never want for anything in your life again.”
With that, I backed away, heading into the bathroom. I suddenly felt filthy, disgusting.
And I hated what I’d become.
As I placed my weapon on the counter, stroking the cold steel, I thought about all the times I’d been confronted by an enemy, never hesitating to do what I’d been trained to do. By my father. By my brother. A family legacy of violence and hatred, wealth and power. A bitter laugh erupted from my throat.
I stripped off the rest of my clothes, ripping my shirt in the process. What the fuck did I care? Nothing mattered any longer. Not the money. Not the clout. I couldn’t care less about real estate or fucking yachts. Nothing mattered because if I couldn’t share it with Stephanie, then I couldn’t give a shit. I laughed as I stared at my face in the mirror, hissing from the sight of crusted blood on my cheek and neck. What the woman must think of me.
Barbarian.
Savage.
Murderer.
She was right.
What the fuck had I become?
I turned on the shower then slammed my hand against the wall, allowing my thoughts to drift to exactly what I’d do when I found Sergei. The taste of blood filled my mouth and I realized I’d bitten my tongue. When I was finished with him, I’d reek for days of his stench.
After moving into the shower, I planted my hands on the cool marble, dropping my head and watching as the blast of hot water softened the blood. I watched as strings of crimson cascaded down the length of my body into the drain, swirling in a pink foam before being sucked away. Then visions swept through me. Her face. Her voluptuous body. Her smile. Goddamn it. I wanted the woman more than anything else in my fucking, useless life.
