Chapter 26

Penny

Little lamb to a bloody slaughter.

That's all I'd thought about since he asked me about Sheila.

And when he learned what Sylvester had done. I don't why I hadn't told him other than I'd fought to put it behind me. I closed my eyes briefly, scratching the scars on one arm, jerking my hand away a minute later. No, I refused to succumb to the old me. I was much stronger now.

Still, what in the hell was going on? Why had he acted as if he couldn't trust me yet wanted to slaughter the men who'd threatened me? My emotions were like a boomerang, and it was jarring.

Kraven had barely touched Remington the way he had just hours before, acting as if he did, he'd fall into some crazy kind of trap I'd set. Shivering, I wasn't certain what to think any longer. My pup remained inside the house, dutifully peering out one of the glass panes nearest to the spot he could see me. I'd never seen him look so forlorn.

But I had a feeling it matched the expression I continued to wear.

Trust.

I'd meant what I said in that it was earned and not just given. I'd started to trust Kraven yet he'd thrown a monkey wrench into our evolving relationship.

Whatever he'd been told, whatever atrocities he'd learned had changed things between us. There was a wall he'd built around himself and I knew why because I was the master of doing the same. He was trying to protect himself from horrors and possible truths.

Whoever the men were, they'd tried to convince him that I was his enemy. I wasn't certain how to dispel the theory, but I knew instinctively my life depended on it.

It had been his suggestion that we go outside, enjoying the afternoon sun. I'd changed into a swimsuit and he'd made drinks, the man also putting on swim trunks. It shocked me that he even owned a pair.

I was almost certain he'd added poison to the drink and that horrified me. I was falling hard for the man, so much so that my heart ached for him.

And for us.

But I told myself he wouldn't do that. If he wanted me dead, he'd put a bullet into my brain.

Not that the thought was any more comforting.

He remained on the lounge chair while I was in the water, drink in hand, doing what I could to relax, but the tension shared was deplorable. I had no clue what to say or what condolences he would believe. To learn your parents had been murdered after so much time had obviously been a horrific blow. What was going on in his dangerous world?

It was tough to see his eyes behind the dark shades he was wearing but I could tell he was watching me intently. When he jerked up, the sound of his phone buzzing in my ears, I cringed and turned away.

My heart was racing, my mind spinning about the reason he was questioning everything. I couldn't imagine his world and in truth, I wasn't certain if I wanted to be a part of it. What was I thinking? He was rich, powerful, and indifferent to love. He should enter into an arranged marriage like so many of the alpha romance novels I'd read. The woman could bear his children so his legacy could continue and he wouldn't need to give a shit about anything.

Love?

Ha!

I doubted he knew the meaning of the word.

Only the inner voice reminded me that I'd experienced that with the way he'd acted with his brother. Was it possible the man I… adored was still hiding so much of his personality? And why did I care at this point?

He was speaking in Russian, which I'd come to accept was his way of doing business. But it pissed me off. Was I that untrustworthy?

I was angry, so much so I almost tossed the glass of champagne he'd insisted I have against a piece of furniture. At least I had the common sense not to break the glass around the pool, placing it on the side instead. Christ. I rolled my eyes and shifted my way through the water toward the set of concrete stairs, doing everything in my power to ignore the seductive draw to the man.

Why was I so into the dude when he obviously couldn't care less about anyone?

Yet I continued to tingle all over, my pulse so pronounced I pressed my fingers against my neck as I climbed from the water. I did what I could to ignore his scent and the fact I loved studying his chiseled features, grabbing a towel and fortifying myself against his magnetic pull.

Or in the electricity we shared.

Nope. It wasn't going to happen.

I hummed softly to myself as I dried off, totally prepared to flee the scene, heading inside for some private time.

But as always around the man, tingling sensations tore through me, allowing me to know he was close. Far too close. Just doing something simple like breathing around him was all but impossible.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked in his husky tone, the one that had thrilled me from hearing it the first time in the tiny Italian restaurant.

He spun me around and I was shocked to realize I hadn't paid any attention to the fact his phone call had ended. He was completely naked outside in the middle of a sunny afternoon. I wasn't sure how to take his obvious advances, not frightened but apprehensive of his intentions.

As before, he gripped my neck in a possessive hold, only this time sliding his fingers under my hair to grip the back. Everything about the man screamed possession. He'd removed his sunglasses and even the way his eyes were hooded led me to believe he wasn't planning on letting me go.

I pressed my hand against his chest with every intention of pushing him away, but he was having none of it. Without exerting any excessive use of his muscular physique, he swept me into his arms, taking four long strides toward the deeper end of the pool.

And jumping in.

The water hit me with a bang, another slight hint of fear crowding my system. He was in full control even under the water, spinning me around several times before he would allow us both to surface. When we did, it was as if we were bolting up from a dark cavern to the light, both of us gasping for air.

Even with remaining uncertainty around him, I was suddenly lighter in my mind and my heart, laughing as I tossed my head back and forth.

"My very bad girl," he said in a deep voice, fisting my wet hair and lowering his head. He barely brushed his lips back and forth across mine before ripping at the ties on the skimpy little bikini he'd purchased for me. I never would have worn something so risqué before but with him, it seemed natural.

Yet as he tossed the material onto the pool's deck, I felt a wash of embarrassment as I glanced at the back of the massive estate. Could Vissarian see our sinful act? I had to add a hint of common sense into the equation. Between the sun and the deep blue color of the pool liner, I doubted it.

Still, the rocking moment of shame added fuel to the fire.

The man who'd captured me was obviously not in the mood to waste any time, forcing first one of my legs around his hips then the other. While his expression remained mostly unreadable, there was no doubt what he wanted.

All of me.

As if to prove his point, he thrust the entire length of his cock inside, the force he used splashing water all over us. As he'd done before under water, he spun us around, enjoying the moment of complete control. The ring of fire in his eyes was even more formidable, his labored breathing matching mine.

The feel of my muscles stretching and clamping pushed a ragged moan from my throat before I could stop it.

The hunger on his face was more explosive than the rocketing sensations coursing through me. I was shocked how rough he was, the only thing slowing him down the inertia of the water. Still, within a few minutes, we were both perspiring from his rugged actions. It was almost as if he needed this as much as breathing air.

Or as if it would be the last time.

The thought was as terrifying as anything I'd been through. Was he planning on killing me? Why?

I did what I could to shove the wretched thought from my mind, clinging to him with my nails digging into his shoulders.

If the man felt any pain, he certainly didn't show it. His actions became even more brutal, including pulling me under water with no notice to fuck me while staring me in the eyes.

The light saltwater still burned, but I refused to blink. Maybe because I wanted to enjoy every moment.

Or maybe because I was terrified if I closed my eyes, he'd take that moment to end my life.

As we breached the surface, he looked into my eyes. "I could fall in love with you," Kraven said out of the blue as he slowed his actions, his cock throbbing more than I'd felt ever before.

"Could or have?"

He smirked as if the question was ridiculous. "You are perfect in every way."

"Except you can't trust me," I whispered, hating the horrible sound of angst in my voice.

"Trust is a relative term." He shoved me against the side of the pool in a shallow location. While my feet could rest easily on the pool's bottom, I enjoyed pressing my knees against him.

"It shouldn't be. I will never hurt you."

He cocked his head as if by me making the statement, it was something he'd never heard before. "I want to believe you."

So many questions rushed into my mind, so many thoughts. I wanted to help him solve whatever mystery he'd become embroiled in, but I doubted he'd dare allow me to help into the inner sanctum he'd mentioned. Why should he? I was no one to him.

Or was I?

Lust remained in his eyes, so much so I could swear in the sparkle of sunlight they were dilated. He thrust hard and fast, pushing to the heights of pleasure that surprised me given our location. I was breathing so hard, trying to keep my wits about me as the pleasure rocketed to the highest degree.

"Who was she?" I dared to ask. In my heart, I realized he'd fallen into a similar kind of despair to what I'd been driven into many years before.

I could tell he was remembering, his eyes glassing over for a few seconds. "She was a woman in Russia, a distant cousin. Don't worry. What we shared wasn't taboo, just unexpected," he said far too quietly. "My father sent me to the country for a meeting, his attempt at trying to lay the base for exporting diamonds, an important innovation for our empire. It was his attempt at going legit."

"Why you?"

"Because he was a wanted man for disappearing. I met Katarina the day I arrived. She was… as ballsy as you are, although you are much more challenging." He smiled, although his lips remained thin, spinning me around in the water as he brushed his hands down my back.

"You met Misha there."

"Yes, on the streets by accident. It was the day Katarina had accompanied me to the meeting at a local restaurant, knowing the oligarch enjoyed the company of beautiful women. Only things went south, the man hungering for revenge on my father."

Exhaling, I cupped his face. "So he took it out on you."

"Yes. Misha was there in the alley, foraging for food in the dumpster. He saved my life, but Katarina was lost. It nearly destroyed me."

"I'm so sorry."

"We all have our crosses to bear, my beautiful dancer. Some more than others."

"You owe your life to Misha."

There was such sadness in his eyes, such remorse. "Yes, I do."

"Then don't distrust him. I feel it in my bones. You are his hero."

"I'm no one's hero."

"Yes, you are."

"No more talking."

It was so easy to let go with him, to pretend as if this was forever when I knew better. But As I lolled my head, he pressed his lips against the side of my neck, licking and nipping. The tingling sensations only increased, the insanity of the entire situation barely in the forefront of my mind.

"Oh. Oh. Oh…" As with everything else about him, it was far too easy to get lost in the revelry, the free feeling pushing a climax to the surface.

"Come for me, pretty Penny. I want you slickening my cock." With that, he pumped even more brutally, thrusting me into the side of the pool in a jarring manner.

Not that I cared.

Panting, I found myself clawing his back, no longer able to focus. And still, everything about this moment was sheer madness. The situation. The danger. The man himself. I managed to place both hands on a solid wall of muscle, doing what I could to garner a little space between us. He was having none of it, twisting his hold on my hair as he continued fucking me.

When his mouth claimed mine once again, I wasn't certain I'd ever relearn to breathe. The taste and touch of him was all consuming.

Overwhelming more than before.

But between the rush of adrenaline and one of intense excitement, I never wanted this moment to end. Perhaps I was truly the bad girl he claimed I was after all, craving the kind of passion only he'd ever provided, and the danger that kept us both on a delicious precipice.

Maybe my initial thought I'd lost my mind was the real truth. Yet the way he hungered for me, the longing that there was no mistaking in his eyes was absolutely exhilarating.

The roar of passion we shared was indescribable, the way his tongue dominated mine perhaps the most pleasurable thing of all. I could do this for hours and I sensed he could as well. He tasted like fresh peppermint and bourbon, with a hint of champagne from what little he'd consumed. Everything about the man was far too powerful.

When he finally broke the kiss, he pressed his forehead against mine, laughing in an even deeper voice. Evil. That was the word that came to mind.

As an orgasm claimed my entire body, he whispered words in Russian that I couldn't understand but the tone, the deep inflection was all I needed. One climax wasn't enough, the powerful tidal wave pushing a strangled scream from my lips.

He laughed as if he'd won a point, still powering into me with enough force water splashed over both of us. I scratched his back once again, becoming certain I'd drawn blood and it would seem he was enjoying everything I did.

As I came down from the rafters, he slowed his actions, now pressing both hands on either side of me against the pool wall. He studied my eyes, his darting back and forth. The same wry smile had crossed his face, the tight clenching of his jaw almost becoming a grimace.

"Whatever is going on will be finished tonight. I will learn who's betrayed me. When I do, they will die a tragic death. Only then will I be free to live. And to love." He pulled almost all the way out, thrusting into me again,

And again.

As he picked up his rhythm as he'd done before, the man never blinked.

There was no doubt he was searching my soul as I'd done with him countless times before. As his body started to tense, his nostrils flaring, I wanted to tell him everything would be alright. But that would be wrong.

Something terrible was about to happen, something that could potentially destroy the amazing connection we'd felt.

Above all that made me so very sad.

He found my hands, intertwining our fingers. In those last few minutes of sheer euphoria as he erupted deep inside, a part of me knew he was the only man I could ever love.

Perhaps that was the saddest thing of all.

Kraven

Cleansing one's soul.

That's what I'd done by sharing with her the horrors I'd gone through in Moscow. It had been much worse than I'd depicted but by telling her something about my past, I could see another moment of trust building.

It was precious to me.

But divulging the burden had also reminded me that I shouldn't care about Penny. Unfortunately, I couldn't shut down the intense feelings for her any more than I could stop breathing. But there was so much to continue dealing with I remained angry and on edge.

Betrayal could be the sincerest form of flattery in my world but not when it possibly came from someone I'd treated like family for almost ten years.

With Konstantin at my side, I strode down the corridors of the intensive care unit of the hospital, my heart as heavy as it had been all afternoon. After fucking Penny, which in truth had been more like making love with the woman given how close it had made me feel to her, I'd found myself sinking into a bitter shell.

But the images of what I wanted to do to the Morelli brothers remained vivid, the taste of imaginary blood lingering on my tongue. Regardless of tonight's outcome, the fuckers would die. Period. I'd been remiss in allowing them to crawl across the earth for this long.

Maybe I enjoyed being judge and jury more than I'd originally believed.

There'd been so many firsts over the last few days, including what I was doing right now—questioning my judgment. I wasn't an insecure man under any circumstances, yet if I'd been so goddamn wrong about not one but two people, I would start to question every aspect of my life.

As we rounded the corner to Misha's private room, I was taken about by the sights and smells of the place.

I'd never been bothered by the stench before since I'd had my share of knife and gunshot wounds over the years. Today, the odor reminded me of the funeral home where my parents' bodies had been taken. The realization alone kept me even more on edge, my anger barely hidden below the surface.

As we moved to the glass window allowing the nurses and doctors to check on him without entering the room, I felt even more ill at ease.

"At least he regained consciousness," Konstantin said. "For a little while. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I'm not doing anything. I merely want to look in on my soldier who was injured in the line of duty." I slowly turned my head, giving him a hard look. My beautiful Penny's thoughts on trusting him continued to weigh heavily on my mind. He'd treated me like a big brother, or perhaps a father, always willing to do anything I commanded. Was that the makings of a man who'd betray me?

He took a deep breath, unused to seeing me this… distraught.

"Keep everyone from entering the room. I don't care what you need to do. I'll only be a few moments." I continued to stand where I was, my thoughts and details of what little had come to light shifting from Penny back to Misha. While still unconvinced either one had betrayed me, I had to put it into decent perspective, or my rage would cause me to go off the deep end.

That wouldn't suit anyone close to me.

When I lost my shit people died. It was as simple as that.

I pushed my way into the room, moving to the foot of the bed. I shoved my hands into my pockets, staring down at a man I would have thought of as frail. His skin was almost translucent, the machines beeping off to the side annoying. His heart rate was slow but not so much that it would be considered dangerous.

God knew I hated seeing him like this, hooked up to machines, fighting for his life. I also loathed being forced to wonder whether he was a part of the attempt to destroy me.

The fucking Morelli brothers? How many times had Misha and I talked about creative methods of ending their lives over a glass of whiskey? His favorite method was a chainsaw. Mine was something much worse. Chuckling, I knew every man and woman had a price for selling their soul, whether monetary or something personal, but given he had no family and was paid very well, it added to the doubt.

A few seconds later, I pulled the chair close to the edge of the bed, remembering I'd placed a piano wire in my suit jacket. Shit. The darkest part of me had planned on killing him.

I hung my head, partially from another emotion I'd never felt before. Shame. The man had been as frail as they came, starving in the streets in the worst section of Moscow, but still managed to drag me to safety even though at that point I'd outweighed him easily by a hundred pounds.

As I rubbed my hands together, the beeping sound infiltrating my eardrums going all the way to my brain, I tried to remind myself I had to separate my feelings of family from business.

And so, I began to talk.

He wouldn't die on this day, nor would the woman who'd already claimed my heart.

But two men would die today if for no other reason than it should have occurred years before.

"Misha. The doctors say you're going to be just fine." Okay, so this was much tougher than I'd believed. "You've been with me for a long time, my friend. I won't forget what you did all those years ago. You did your best to save me, to provide CPR to Katarina. In a fucking disgusting alley of all places. You also watched out over me until my soldiers arrived. Hell, you didn't even want me to buy you food as a reward for what you did. You had such a resolve, such a will to live and to fight that you impressed me more than anyone else had."

I took a deep breath, wishing he was conscious. These were things I'd never said to him before and were long overdue.

Even if the circumstances couldn't be any worse.

While his eyes were rolling back and forth under his closed eyelids, there was no other indication he could hear me. Maybe I needed to get this off my chest in case the shit hit the fan.

"After insisting you come with me to America, I've never seen anyone begin to thrive so quickly. You were easy to train, more than willing to learn whatever I would teach you. You reminded me so much of my kid brother, someone who hated me. Maybe still does. But you were like family. Always. Which is why I can't believe you would betray me."

I hesitated one last time, almost laughing from my decision to come here in the first place. What the fuck did it matter? If I had to erase him from this earth, would my last one-sided conversation with him ease my conscience?

Fuck, no.

But I couldn't afford to let my guard down, not for a single second.

"Several phone calls from the Morelli brothers, one lasting for two minutes right before I was attacked, the woman I'd grown very fond of almost killed. What happened? Did you accidentally get caught in the crossfire or had you been trying to warn me? Or were you going to ensure the deed was done? I don't know what to think, Misha. Not even a little bit but I'm going to find out. When I do, only then will I know what to do."

I stood, using my legs to push back the chair, standing over him for a few minutes.

It was time to leave, the night already long enough. I headed for the door, feeling shittier than I had since the night my parents had died. No, the night they had been murdered. As I placed my hand on the door, I glanced over my shoulder one last time.

The man's heart rate was suddenly off the charts.

That's the moment I left just as the beeping of monitors began, footsteps flying toward the room.

For a man with no conscience, I'd never felt so much like shit in my life, but my gut told me my world was getting ready to crash down all around me.

And burn to the ground.