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For the second time today, I realize I have no idea who my father is. He doted on me my entire life, but was it all to butter me up so I’d be more willing to be obedient? It makes me sick.
The dress makes me sick. It was a shackle, leading me to my imminent life imprisonment. I suddenly can’t stand to have it on for one more second. I reach behind me, quickly undoing each of the intricate buttons. It’s difficult and takes several minutes, but I finally manage to free myself from it. It was meant to symbolize my purity and innocence. Now it just symbolizes the lies my parents told me my entire life.
I can’t bring myself to discard it on the floor, though. It was extremely expensive, and I’m suddenly very aware it’s the only piece of clothing I have. I go to the closet and pull out one of the dozens of hangers. Ivan must not have considered this in his master plan to kidnap. Or maybe he had. Maybe he likes knowing I’m naked in this bed with no other options.
I choose to believe it was a simple matter of thoughtlessness, though. I carefully hang up the dress and put it in the closet, knowing that until I have a better idea of what happens next, I can’t get rid of it. One day, though, I would very much like to douse it in gasoline and set it on fire. I think I’ve earned that much at least.
CHAPTERNINE
Ivan
It’s a new day, a new chapter in my life. Yesterday, I was a bachelor, perfectly content with my situation. Today, I have a fucking stunning woman living in my apartment whose body drives me out of my mind, and I fully intend to marry her one day. What a difference a day makes.
I stare out the window of my office, caught up in my thoughts. Did I make the right decision? The girl was so obviously miserable, I couldn’t leave her there. I wouldn’t be true to myself and my principles if I hadn’t saved her.
But now there’s the problem that I can’t stop thinking about her. Her taste is still on my tongue and her moans still ring in my ears. I want to claim her, make her completely mine, leave my seed inside of her, and I can tell she wants that too. She was so hungry for me yesterday. So why did she stop?
The interaction plays in my head over and over again, and I can’t make sense of it. She was so confident with me, so sure, but the moment I was ready to take her, she froze. I don’t get it at all, and it consumes me. In my mind, I see her lying there on the bed, her eyes half closed with lust, her chest heaving, and then suddenly her eyes are filled with panic. Does she not want me?
No, she needs time. Yesterday was an overwhelming situation for all of us. I’m confident that once she’s more comfortable with me, she’ll give herself to me completely. I’ll take all of her and leave my mark on her. The way I want to claim her is animalistic, and I’ve never experienced anything like it in my entire life. There’s a beast inside of me, rising up even now just thinking of her.
That isn’t the only thing rising up. I look down at my crotch, annoyed, and quickly adjust my pants. The last thing I need is my men coming in and seeing me in such a state. They’ve surely all heard what happened yesterday. I don’t want them thinking I’m somehow whipped. That’s not the case.
I can’t wait to get my cock inside of her and hear her scream my name. No more of this Ivan business, either. I want to hear her scream the name that all of my loved ones used to call me. I want her to know me in every way that I plan to know her.
A knock at my door brings me back to attention, and I drag my eyes over to it, annoyed.
“Enter,” I say flatly.
I don’t want anyone ruining my fantasies about Kat, but there is business to be done.
In walks Vlad, one of my best men. His face is clouded with anger as he plops down on the couch I have set up on the other side of the room. I raise my eyebrow at him, and he shakes his head. He’s come with bad news, and he doesn’t know how to tell me.
“What is it, Vlad?” I ask, annoyed.
If he’s going to interrupt my fantasies, the least he can do is be quick about it.
“The art gallery was vandalized this morning,” he tells me. “The windows were all smashed in, and there was spray paint all over the walls. Thankfully, the art is all framed so nothing irreplaceable was lost, but it’s a total shitshow.”
“What else?” I ask, the anger rising in me.
I clench my hands into fists, knowing what he isn’t telling me. No one in this city would dare vandalize one of our businesses, except someone who is specifically trying to fuck with us. And such a person would be sure to make it known they did it.
Vlad pulls something from behind his back and hands it to me. It’s a black rose. My teeth clench and I seethe. This is the calling card of the Mikhailov family. Dimitri is trying to punish me for taking his daughter away. I thought I was clear with him yesterday, but apparently the man has a thick brain and needs a reminder of exactly what I will do to him.
“Father-in-law troubles?” Vlad chuckles, and I glare at him murderously.
He doesn’t shrink back, though, which is something I like about Vlad. He isn’t like the newer men who are afraid to even breathe in my presence. We have something of a tentative friendship, probably the closest thing I have to one in this business. When you’ve been in the Bratva as long as I have, you learn that you can’t trust many people. Not even family.
“I’ll handle it,” I tell him simply and wave him out of my office.
He nods and walks out slowly, whistling the bridal march all the way to the door. I flip him off, though he doesn’t see. Cocky son of a bitch.
Once he’s gone and I have a minute to compose myself, I pick up my phone and dial a number I haven’t used in years. A woman’s voice answers, and I bark at her to put her boss on. She doesn’t scare easily, but she does as I command.
“Dimitri,” he answers shortly.
There’s an edge of arrogance to his voice. He knows exactly who’s on the other line. He’s been expecting my call all morning, I’m sure of it. Dimitri is proud of what his men have done to my business, but this ends now.
