AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His insanely large hand easily caught it, fisting the hammer before it made contact. Seriously, who just catches a swinging hammer like it’s a tennis ball?
“That was a bad idea.” He pulled the weapon from my hand and, with his free hand, wrapped it around my throat, pushing me against the wall.
“Dmitri, stop!” I tried to yell, but his hand pressed against my throat, cutting off enough air to muffle my sound. No one on the street level would even hear me if they were right outside my gate. And even if they could, it’s New York, who would bother to get involved?
He lowered his face to mine, and a familiar warmth coursed through me. He wasn’t in my apartment to catch up on old times, yet the sight of him still made my insides stir.
“So, you did recognize me at the club.” He lessened his grip on my throat but still held me captive.
“Just leave. Go. Leave me alone!” I continued to struggle. I didn’t get this far away from Chicago and stay hidden for two years to just give up now.
“Not going to happen, Aleksandra.” He made a point of turning to look at the hammer he held in his other hand. A grin tugged at his lips when he brought his attention back to me. “You tried to hit me with this.”
“You broke down my door!” I argued, desperately trying to pull his hand away from my neck. I might as well have been a gnat with the difference between our strengths. A difference I had found so welcoming only a few short years ago.
“I did ask you to open it.” He leaned in closer, enough that his aftershave hit my nostrils. Someone so evil shouldn’t smell so damn good.
“Please, just go.” I dug my nails into his hand, but he didn’t even flinch.
He looked at the hammer again. “Do you have other weapons around here?”
“No.” I tugged on his hand. “Please. I can’t breathe.”
His eyes, a caramel brown, narrowed on me. “You can breathe fine.”
Arrogant asshole!
The front door was open. Only five steps between me and the street. If I could get up there, I might be able to get away from him.
Summoning up the last bit of nerve I had, I thrust my foot out, catching him in the groin. He grunted and loosened his grip on my throat, just enough that I was able to shove away his hand and make a break for the door.
One step.
I managed one step before his tree trunk of an arm wrapped around my middle and hauled me off the floor.
“Help! Someone! Help!” I screamed, but let’s face it. New York on a Sunday morning in this part of town? No one was coming.
“You’re only making things worse for yourself. Aleksandra.” He kicked the door closed as best it could close, given he’d busted the doorknob and frame with his entrance.
“Please. Please, just let me go!” I wiggled, throwing myself from one side to the other, but he had a firm grip. He carried me through my apartment, straight back to my bedroom. I dug my nails into his forearm, but all he did was tighten his hold. Two years ago, I’d fantasized about him carrying me to the bedroom.
He took in the two suitcases on my bed.
“Going somewhere?” He asked.
I sagged in his grasp. I needed to get away from him, which meant I needed him to let go. The more I fought him, the tighter he held onto me.
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I said.
He chuckled a soft sound that sounded more like annoyance.
“We’ll see, Aleksandra, we’ll see.” He carried me over to the bed and pointed at it. “I’m putting you there. You will stay there. Yes?”
“No,” I answered right away.
“You will stay there because you already have one severe punishment coming, and you don’t want to add to it.” He shoved the closed suitcase out of the way.
“Punishment?” Had he gone completely crazy? What the hell was he talking about?
