12. Tatiana

12

TATIANA

T he moment my brothers left my apartment, I felt like I could finally breathe.Amara had convinced them to give me some space, and God, was I thankful for that.

Although, I knew their absence wouldn't last long. But for now, it was perfect because, after everything coming to light, I needed to see Gio.

Honestly? Desperation clawed at me, and I couldn't wait any longer. I felt raw and wounded in a way that was all mental and emotional. I had no idea why I thought Gio could help with that. In fact, seeing him would undoubtedly make things worse.

Yet, I was still going to see him .

I paced my room for a good twenty minutes before I gained the courage to actually leave. Because I knew Dmitry and Nikolai had likely left one of their men watching my place, I had to think about how the hell to get out without them knowing.

"This is so damn stupid," I murmured to myself. But the truth was, this was probably the best time to sneak off. Dmitry and Nikolai were so focused on what I told them that they wouldn't be obsessed with keeping an eye on me. But I probably only had tonight.

I grabbed a hoodie and pulled it over my head, hoping the disguise would help me slip past whoever was posted outside.

I looked out the peephole and saw the hallway was empty. Quietly, I slipped out of my apartment, moving cautiously. There were only two other apartments on this floor, and since it was so late, the building was eerily silent. And because of that, every creak from my movements echoed down the hall.

I took the stairs instead of my usual exit, avoiding the chance of running into anyone who might be guarding the elevator doors in the lobby.

My heart was thundering when I reached the ground floor. With a steadying breath, I peered through the small window in the stairwell door and saw one of my brothers' men standing a few feet away, partially concealed by the thick shadows.

He leaned against the side of the building smoking a cigarette, and although he had a relaxed stance, I could see his gaze scanning the area with calculated precision.

Yeah… I needed to find another way out.

I stood there a second and wracked my brain for the best course of action.

The front was obviously not gonna happen, so I moved through the ground floor to the other back door of the building that opened onto a narrow alley.

I didn't see anyone as I looked up at the screen that hung from the ceiling that showed the alley was empty. There was a security camera mounted on the outside corner of the building. If there was a guard, he was out of sight, so this was extra tricky. But this was the only feasible place I could leave from.

The camera rotated in the opposite direction, and I made my move.

I pushed the door open slowly, wincing at the soft creak from the hinges. I held my breath as I slipped out and pressed myself to the brick wall. I felt like my eyes were moving back and forth at a rapid pace, taking in everything as I checked to see if there was another Bratva member standing guard.

And then, I heard muffled voices around the corner. Ten feet away. I bit my lip hard enough I felt a flash of pain.

The shadows stretched long in the dim light. I brought the hood tighter around my face, tugging the two strings by my neck, and walked briskly around the building to the side street.

Before I left my apartment, I used a ride-share app to call a car, knowing my brothers probably put a tracking device on my own vehicle. They might have Gio's address already, but I didn't need them to be notified I left.

I only had to wait a few minutes before the car arrived. I climbed into the backseat, keeping my head down, and gave the driver Gio's address.

The ride felt like an eternity as the city rushed by all around me. My heart was pounding in my chest as I kept glancing out the window. I half-expected to see one of Dmitry or Nikolai's men tailing us.

But the streets remained empty, and after what felt like hours, we finally pulled up outside Gio's place.

I sat there a moment, just looking out the back passenger window, and stared up at the warehouse-style building. It didn't look like it held apartments within, not with the industrial architecture of it.

After tipping the driver in the app, I climbed out of the car, casting one last glance around to double check I hadn't been followed.

God, this was scary, but an adrenaline rush was pushing me along the tracks of this roller coaster ride.

The night was shrouded in a thick, almost eerie silence.

My nerves were frayed, but my determination was strong as hell. The mounted silver intercom glinted at me like a beacon. There was only one button on the panel.

Gio's, I was sure, even though his name wasn't printed on the label.

I pressed it with a shaky finger.

I glanced up and saw a camera pointed right at me. After a long moment, which was so damn agonizing, there was a crackle through the speaker.

"You're brave, little Russian doll." Gio's voice was deep and sounded strange. Slurred maybe?

Obviously, I wasn't surprised he knew it was me. I looked at the security camera again and pushed my hood down, staring right into the lens. The little red light blinked back at me, like Gio himself was taunting me.

I said nothing, and after a prolonged pause, the door buzzed, and I pushed it open and hurried through it. Inside, there wasn't anything but storage boxes lined up on the right, a couch and coffee table to the left, and another security camera mounted on the wall, facing the entrance.

There was the elevator I'd taken down from his place a week ago up ahead to my right, and a set of stairs straight in front of me.

I took the latter option two at a time. The stairs led to only one floor.

To one apartment.

When I stood in front of the heavy-looking door, I saw it was already open, the silvery brushed steel slightly ajar. I could sense nothing but silence and darkness beyond.

I relaxed my hands, which were tight fists at my side, and then pushed his door open, stepping over the threshold and closing it silently behind me.

It took long seconds for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. He didn't have curtains on his floor-to-ceiling windows, and the lights from the city cast across his apartment, creating this hazy glow.

And then I saw him. Gio. He sat on the couch with an arm slung over the back, his legs outstretched and slightly spread, a bottle of whiskey in his free hand. He said nothing as he brought the bottle to his mouth and took the longest damn drink I'd ever seen someone take without wincing.

"Lock the door," he said in a gravelly voice.

I did as he said, and the sound of the lock engaging had my heart jumping to my throat.

"I couldn't stay away," I admitted, finally speaking, although I didn't sound like myself. And the longer he stared at me silently, the more my heart raced for a different reason. "I told my brothers about everything." I swallowed, expecting Gio to be upset, but he just sat there and drank. "I didn't tell them about you though. That you're the one who saved my life."

"Why?"

I licked my lips and took a step closer but then froze and inhaled a deep breath. I didn't want to lie anymore. "Because they'd see it as a betrayal that you didn't let them know right away about what happened. They'd take it personally."

He pushed up off the couch and walked closer to me. I noticed the whiskey bottle was almost empty and wondered if it had been full when he started.

"You took an enormous risk coming here. Your brothers would kill me if they knew." He smirked, but I knew he didn't think this was funny.

"I don't want them to come after you. I don't want them to kill you." He was right in front of me now, and I stepped back, my back hitting the door. I thought about last week and being in this same position, when Gio was so close that all I could see and smell was him.

"Your brothers don't scare me, and they certainly aren't strong enough to kill me, but your concern for my well-being is cute, bambolina. "

I tipped my head back and stared at his face. He brought the bottle up again and took a long pull from it, his gaze never leaving mine.

"They are crazy." I loved my brothers, but the truth was the truth.

He stepped closer, crowding me. "Sono più pazzo." I'm crazier.

I didn't know what he said, but Gio had spoken with so much clear intent I knew whatever he uttered was the absolute truth, his wicked-ass grin causing my pussy to clench. "I had to see you," I whispered, admitting what I should have kept to myself.

His eyes narrowed, his presence overwhelming .

I swallowed hard, feeling a shiver run down my spine when he didn't respond.

Gio's jaw was clenched, and I swore we were in a stare-down, where it was this tug-of-war I didn't know I was fighting.

And then in a sudden move that pulled a shocked gasp from me, Gio grabbed my wrist, hauling me forward. My body slammed into his before he took a step to press my body against the door once again, and I placed my palms on the rock-hard expanse of his male chest that was only covered by a thin, white t-shirt.

"This isn't a game, bambolina."

"Who said I was playing games?"

He leaned down so our lips were only inches apart. I smelled the alcohol on his warm breath, and I found it highly arousing. "Do you have any idea what would actually happen if your brothers found out you were here?"

I looked up at him, my head resting back on the front door. He was a dangerous man, a mafia boss who had no doubt seen and done things that would make most people run screaming. Hell, he'd killed for me… right in front of me.

There was something about Gio that drew me in, made me feel alive in a way I never had before. I'd never been touched or had sex.Hell, I'd never so much as kissed a boy while growing up.

Men had steered clear of me, at first because my father demanded I remain untouched for whomever he pawned me off to. And then, my brothers…. Everyone was too scared to even look at me, let alone talk to me.

"I know the risks," I said softly.

God, was I really going to say what I was about to say?

Yes. It's too late to turn back now .

"But being here is worth it."

For a moment, Gio just stared at me, his grip on my wrist tight but not painful. Then, with a low growl, he released me and turned away, setting the whiskey on the counter and running a hand through his hair.

He murmured something low in Italian, but then spun to face me and said, "You drive me crazy, you know that?"

I pushed away from the door and took a step forward, my heart still in my throat.

"You're playing with fire, Tatiana. But, damn it, I can't stop thinking about you."

Before I could react to his words, Gio closed the distance between us, his hands gripping either side of my neck, and pressed his thumbs lightly on my pulse points right below my ears.

My lips parted, and the breath slowly seeped out of me.

Gio stared into my eyes for a long moment, so long I felt something dark, explosive, and hot move between us.

"Mi fai perdere il controllo per la prima volta nella mia vita," he told me, and seeing the look of confusion on my face, he explained in English, "You make me lose control for the first time in my life."

And then he pulled me against him, his lips crashing down on mine, hard and demanding. I felt a surge of heat rush through me, and my panties were instantly wet. I'd never felt this tingling between my thighs, but it was so intense I had to clench my legs together.

I was frozen, stunned by his passion and demands. It was everything I wanted and everything I knew it would be.

I kissed him back with all I had, pouring every ounce of my longing and desire into that kiss. Despite this being my first kiss, the awkwardness and inexperience I expected to feel didn't happen because he was in control, leading me as if it were a dance .

In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not my brothers. Not the danger that seemed to follow us wherever we went.

Nothing.

All that mattered was this moment with Gio and the way he made me feel—alive, desired, and safe.