Chapter 13

Chapter

Thirteen

"Only enemies speak the truth; friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty."

― Stephen King

Volk

I stood at the foot of the staircase, adjusting my tie, feeling like I'd waited an eternity for our little princess to make her grand entrance.

We were supposed to leave much sooner, but she seemed to be taking her sweet time. Twisting my watch, I checked the time again: 09:35.

Last night, I managed less than four hours of sleep, disturbed by yet another stormy dream filled with ominous whispers and faint moans lingering in my ears.

In the shower, I let the warm water soothe my skin, trying to wash away not just the scent but the vivid memory of a fiery brunette who occupied my thoughts relentlessly.

As I savored my coffee, my mind kept drifting back to her again. It wasn't just her beauty that held my attention; it was her audacious and fearless nature that piqued my curiosity. A single misstep could lead to disaster, yet the thrill of the pursuit was impossible to resist.

I checked my watch again, frustration rising in my throat.

What the fuck is she doing?

I had explicitly instructed Dasha to help Sofiya get ready for our busy day, emphasizing that being late was not an option. My time was fucking precious, and this secondary gig as a babysitter was not only getting on my fucking nerves but also fuelling a desire for something more, something I knew would eventually bite me in the ass.

But I figured it'd be twistedly amusing to give Sofiya a glimpse into the world her old man lived in. I had some unfinished business in the city, so I might as well kill two birds with one stone: pay a visit to Marina and drop our little munchkin off at the Silas wing. Let her see the dirty business we were into, crush those naive dreams of her sweet and loving papa miraculously coming back from the dead to rescue her.

In my twisted way, I was doing the girl a favor.

The sooner she learned about Igor's world, the better for that innocent little heart and soul of hers.

As they finally appeared at the top of the stairs, anger flared in my chest and churned in my stomach. I didn't even bother to glance at Dasha; my complete focus was fixed on someone else, or more accurately, something else.

What. The. Fuck.

My eyes traveled from her feet, confined in leather thigh- high boots, to her long, smooth, tanned legs encased in sheer tights, and her hips covered by a short, long-sleeved, low V-neck ruffled black dress that subtly revealed her décolletage.

I continued my visual analysis, letting my eyes wander up her long neck, where tiny beauty marks were scattered like a map, and finally to her full, soft pink lips and long, silky dark hair pulled back in a high ponytail.

Her tits, which would perfectly fit in my hands, drew my attention again. Fuck, all I wanted to do was to drop my head in there, lick and bite her soft tanned skin and suffocate until I would fall into oblivion.

Our eyes met like magnets, and I saw fire in her eyes before she looked down and crossed her arms, hiding her chest.

A surge of desire took over my thoughts. I tried to play it cool, but my heart raced, and my palms got sweaty. I knew I had to be careful not to do something I'd fucking regret.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to think of something else, anything to distract myself from her beauty. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake off the feeling that had been ignited inside of me.

She's too fucking gorgeous.

"I said we were going to the whorehouse," I spat at Dasha, my eyes fixed on Sofiya. "Not to dress her like one."

It was a low blow, I know, but I had to punish her for making my life hell.

Sofiya bit her lip and clenched her fists, probably holding back insults. Her stormy eyes met mine, and realizing my intent to provoke, she grabbed the black fur coat from Dasha and headed to the door.

She learns fast. Good.

As she reached for the doorknob, I called out, "Oh, and don't bother trying to seduce the guards. They might be desperate for a quick fuck, but even they aren't dumb enough to help you escape."

She turned, shot me a deadly look, and stormed out.

I turned to Dasha, who was frowning. "I don't know why you're always so mean to her, Volk," she said. "She's innocent in all of this."

I put my coat on, lit a cigarette, and looked at her, annoyed.

She stood frozen, staring at the floor, her hands shaking. "Marina wants to see you," she added.

I snorted. "Since when are you friends with Marina?"

She raised her head. "I am not."

I exhaled smoke and raised an eyebrow.

Marina's desperation for my attention knew no bounds. I didn't even know how she knew Dasha was back in Russia, but I wasn't surprised. She was like a little mouse, hiding in dark places, sniffing around for gossip and secrets.

Despite all my recent threats, she kept slipping away, daring me to catch her again. She would have been the perfect KGB agent; snitching was her favorite thing in the world.

I won't lie; she's a great distraction.

In the beginning, the cat-and-mouse game was fun. Marina liked getting punished, and I enjoyed spanking her—a perfect combo.

But then she became a nuisance. Her obsession grew, and she'd even crash my business meetings, causing trouble. It was clear I needed to cut ties.

Yet, like a persistent mouse, Marina always found a way back.

As I took another drag from my cigarette, I knew I had to deal with her once and for all.

I headed to the door, leaving Dasha behind. I didn't want Dimitri joining us today—I'd had enough of his ugly face for the week—so I asked Dve to drive while I explained the day's plan to our little guest. We had to move quickly, as Igor's warnings about avoiding the city loomed over me like an impending storm.

As I stepped outside, dark clouds gathered in the sky.

Something was about to happen, and I had a feeling it wasn't going to be good.

Finally settling into the back of the black, window-tinted SUV, I glanced over and was surprised to see Sofiya fast asleep. Her head rested against the window, her hands folded neatly on her lap. Her dress had ridden up just enough to make me consider adjusting it.

Damned if I do, damned if I don't.

I pulled out my phone to send a text as Dve started the car and drove through the forest.

"Take a turn to Nurma."

"But Volk, it's almost?—"

"I know it's fucking far but I have something to do there."

Nurma was two hours away, and it would have only taken us 45 minutes to reach the city. But a detour seemed interesting. We had a supplier in Nurma who could give me info on Vlad's latest deals.

I noticed Dve's confused look through the rearview mirror.

"Do you want me to ask the men to follow us? In case something happens?"

The fire in my eyes must have been enough of an answer.

He nodded, turned on the radio, and focused on the road, not asking another question.

I cracked my knuckles and neck, resisting the urge to punch his stupid ideas out of his head.

When have I ever relied on others for help ?

Enjoying the silence, I looked at the sleeping beauty beside me.

I snorted at the thought.

I wished I could prick her finger with a needle so she'd fall into a deep sleep until her papa came back, saving me from headaches and unwanted boners.

Looking out of the window, I watched the sunlight break through the clouds and touch the fields of wheat. With classical music playing on the radio, everything seemed enchanting. I almost expected a pig to fly out of the field or a unicorn to slide down a rainbow. The serene beauty of the countryside was a refreshing change from the concrete jungle and constant hustle of the city.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and felt the peace and quiet easing my frayed nerves.

The rest of the journey was peaceful.

I checked in with our suppliers and discussed a potential new deal with the Colombians with Igor over a thirty-minute phone call, which could be as profitable as our one with the Italians in the States. As the car weaved through the dense forest and the tires dug deeper into the ground, I could tell we were almost there.

Suddenly, Sofiya's head bumped against the window, waking her up. She yawned, stretching and inadvertently revealing more of her long legs.

She looked around in confusion, trying to figure out where we were.

"This isn't a school bus. Next time, shut up," I hissed, my eyes glued to the phone as I sent a text to Nazard, one of Igor's men, letting him know we'd be late to the city. "You snore like a chainsaw in a horror movie."

Dve chuckled as he parked the car.

"I don't snore," she said, rubbing her head where a bump was likely forming from the impact. "Where are we going, anyway?"

"You'll see in a sec."

"Gosh, you love being mysterious, don't you?" She yawned, rubbed her eyes, and tightened the loose coat around her shoulders.

"I don't discuss private things with strangers."

"Ouch. Now I'm a stranger?" She scratched her chin, pretending to think deeply. "I thought you knew everything about me." Tapping my shoulder, she scooted closer, her eyes locking with mine. With a quick glance at my lips, she added, "By the way, quick PSA: stalking is only morally tolerated if the guy is cute, which isn't your case."

I scoffed. "So, you like to kiss ugly dudes?"

"Yeah, didn't want to hurt your ego," she played with her hair and shrugged. "It's called charity work. Look it up."

I glanced at Dave and saw the huge grin on his face, clearly entertained by our little catfight. My blood boiled.

"Let's show you what real charity work is all about, baby." I winked at her, opened the door, and made sure my gun was loaded. "Oh, and by the way," I continued with a smirk, "you still have some drool here."

I pretended to point at her chin, watching her face flush with embarrassment.

She mumbled something that sounded like an insult, but I ignored it and smoothly exited the car.

We had business to attend to, and she was about to witness firsthand what I was truly capable of.