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“How much time do you need with the animal?” I couldn’t even find the compassion in me to feel for the cub any longer.
“I need to monitor him for a couple hours. Then I’ll need to come back. Is that going to be allowed?”
She was challenging me again, pushing every button in her effort to break through.
Or simply to break me.
I refused to allow that to happen.
“You are allowed two hours. No more. One of my soldiers will be outside when you’re ready to return to the house. Kiki will remain as well.”
“To give me comfort because you don’t have the capability?” Her chiding words hit me harder than I’d expected, the deep rage shifting into something else entirely. When I turned around with a start, her face and mouth flickered with the kind of fear that the devil inside of me wanted her to experience.
But she held her own against a monster, refusing to back down.
I hungered for the woman even more.
“Be careful what you say to me, Emily. I’d indulged in your disrespect since your arrival, but my patience is nearing an end.”
“Understood, El Capitan.”
I took a deep breath, holding it then storming toward the door before I did something I would soon regret.
“Kostya. Wait.”
I stopped short, a heaviness forming in my chest. “What is it, Emily?”
“What you did for the animals is admirable. Thank you for caring about them.”
Her tone had changed, no longer riddled with anger or hatred. Just surprise. For the first time since I could remember, I had no idea what to say. I nodded once before walking out, slamming the door. I growled at Enrique, motioning him over. “Remain on guard. Do not allow Ms. Shephard to leave this building unescorted. She has two hours and not a minute longer. When she is finished, bring her to the house.”
The younger guard stared at me as if he didn’t understand a word I said. “Asegurate de que no se vaya.” Make certain she doesn’t leave.My harsh tone had obviously distressed him.
“Yes, sir.” He opened his eyes wide, fear crawling into both of them.
I jumped into the truck, eyeing Kiki as she remained dutifully by the door leading to the clinic. She’d been the single light I’d allowed into my life, her closeness and loyalty as unexpected as the way I felt about Emily. I had no clue as to why I’d allowed my sweet captive to get so close, but if I didn’t shut the door to the emotional side of what was happening between us now, there would be no additional opportunity.
As I headed for the house, I thought about everything that had occurred over the last five days. Finding out that certain aspects of my identity had been leaked had been bad enough, the breach in my personal space a full indication that someone close to me had talked. Other than my employees who worked in Hawke’s Bay, the only outsider who knew the location of my estate was Vladimir Kozlov, the patriarch of the New York Bratva. That had been a mistake that would likely cost me millions of dollars as well as hundreds of lives.
The single attack had been nothing more than a warning. The worst was yet to come.
But why?
Who had I pissed off enough they were hunting and why did I have the distinct feeling Vasily Ovachov was attempting to play me?
I threw open the door to my house, slamming it with enough force one of the house staff shrieked.
“Eve. Have the kitchen prepare a goddamn feast,” I ordered.
“Si, señor.” She could speak perfect English, yet when she was nervous, she resorted to her native language. I was a son of a bitch, my capricious mood swings keeping the entire staff on edge.
As soon as I entered my office, I snarled seeing Diego.
“Aren’t you in a pissy mood as usual,” he said from his placement at the bar. My bar.
“I don’t want to hear any crap, Diego. It’s been a shitty few hours.” I thumped down in front of my desk, tapping my fingers on the surface as I glared at the computer.
He remained quiet, his knowledge of my rancid moods sparing him from facing unwanted retaliation more than once. I couldn’t calm my anger or my needs for her, finding the combination unacceptable.
