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When the son of the Bratva boss they sent to prison sets his sights on Alina, there is nothing Eduardo won’t do to save her life…and her virtue.
Will the she-Tiger get her Bear?Find out in Virtue Saved.
*Get the other side to this story inBruised Force by Elena Kincaid
Prologue
Afew months ago in Russia…
“Alina Petrova?That is your name, yes?”
The squat, unattractive male leered at her in the narrow hallway outside the dressing room where Alina and a half a dozen other dancers readied themselves to leave for home.The show had been a hit, and this was their final performance.
Alina had been with the Vitya Ballet Company since she was seven years old and had finally progressed to one of theircorps de balletto theprincipalballerina.It had been a long time coming, and she was used to this kind of unwanted attention from fans and ballet enthusiasts.Without giving it much thought, Alina nodded her head.
“Yes.I am Alina Petrova.I am happy you enjoyed the show, but I must go now.My mother is waiting for me,” she said with a polite smile.
“That is too bad, Miss Petrova, you see, I am an admirer and wish you to accompany me to dinner.”
“I am sorry, I cannot,” Alina replied, eyes wide as two more hulking males came out of the shadows to stand beside her.
This was no ordinary admirer, she realized, forcing herself to be still.Her inner Tigress hissed and growled, the feline not happy at all about being crowded.She scented fur and dominance marred with a touch of madness in the male who watched her.
“I am afraid you have no choice, pretty one.We go.Now.You two, bring her, but do not touch,” he warned.
“Yes, Mr.Ivanovich.”
Alina gasped.Suddenly she understood.She lifted her head, determined to appear unaffected by what was happening.These people were her enemies.The same group of criminal bullies who had murdered her father and forced her beloved older brother to flee Russia when she was but a child.
Alina had missed Konstantin terribly when she was growing up.It was the reason she worked so hard at ballet.Damn her pride for not running to him when he had sent word he had enough money to take care of their mother and Alina as well.
She had not wanted to be a burden on him and was determined to make it on her own.Now look what she had done.Pride was not a virtue, as her mother had said a million times.Alina got into the long black limousine and pulled the coat Ivanovich handed her around her body.She was still in costume, and it was cold outside.
“I am glad you are not fighting this,koshechka,” he said, using the Russian word for kitten.
She gritted her teeth and bit her tongue until she drew blood to keep herself from lashing out at him.She hated that nickname, and the more he used it, the more she hated him.
Evgeny Ivanovich was a crude imitation of his father.His other two brothers had more sense, but as the oldest, he was the one to inherit the throne, as it were.
“I am sure you and I will get along famously,koshechka,” he said as they boarded the plane to America.
“I am no man’s kitten, Mr.Ivanovich.You have the upper hand now, but make no mistake, I will not go down easily,” she told him.
“I look forward to our little battle,koshechka,” he replied, laughing so loudly it hurt her sensitive ears.
His lust-filled eyes remained trained on her throughout the flight.The male made her skin crawl and her Tigress snarl.She was not sure how or if she would survive, but some things were worse than death.
With a small prayer for her mother and brother, Alina steeled herself for what was to come.Evgeny Ivanovich made her skin crawl, but she would rather die than have him come near her.
It was comical.Alina’s thoughts played in her head as she watched the sky outside the small airplane window turn dark.People thought ballerinas were so delicate and frail, they did not see the bloodied and bruised feet, or the cutthroat politics of being a dancer.
She was no kitten.She was a Tiger.And the Ivanovich Bratva was not going to break her.No way.
Rrroooaaarrr.
ChapterOne
Eduardo ran a hand over his face and heaved a sigh.His Grizzly Bear paced inside of him, the animal desperate for an outlet.Snow was falling outside, December in the city as unpredictable as ever, but that was global warming for you.Though, to Eddie, it made zero fucking sense.If it was awarming, why the snow?
