Chapter 11 - Arseny

When I glance at my phone, I see about twenty missed calls just from Kervyn alone. I'm in trouble if I don't contact him soon. Shit, I'm probably already in trouble.

I glance at Elena and offer her a hand up. As she gets up, I pull her against me, every inch of our bodies touching. There's a heat coming off her that makes me fight to keep control of my own body. "You want to shower alone? No cuffs?"

"Yes," she says, but she doesn't try to pull away from me. I shift my leg, and it rubs against her crotch. I can feel her damp panties.

She's breathing hard as she looks up at me. "You don't scare me," she murmurs.

"I should," I say. "You don't know what I'm capable of."

"I know you don't beat women, so I'm safe."

"For now," I say quietly before I lower my head.

I kiss her lips gently, unable to resist. She returns the kiss, putting her free hand on my chest. I can taste our dinner on her tongue as I push mine into her mouth, making her moan softly. I press my crotch against her, and then she pushes against me, wanting to move back. I release her slightly but still keep her close.

"If you try to escape, there will be consequences," I murmur.

"I won't. You have my word." I doubt her word is worth much. She"ll take the first opportunity to escape, but I have ways of locking down this cabin, unseen from the outside, that will happily prevent her from getting out while I take my phone call in the forest.

I obviously don't want her to hear me hashing out plans with my brothers—especially plans about her.

She already knows I don't have a plan, and I don't want her to take advantage of it any more than she already has.

I let go of her and watch as she walks toward the bathroom. She stops at the door. "Do you have any more clean clothes?"

"You can wear some of mine. We'll wash your clothes afterward and set them out to dry." I walk toward the bedroom with her and take out a tracksuit and a top for her. "It might be a bit big."

"That's okay. It's not like I'm going on the red carpet." She takes the clothes and goes into the bathroom, shutting the door.

I get dressed, first and foremost, in warm gear. I have plans after this phone call.

I take out some nails and a hammer and go from window to window, closing the windows by hammering nails into the frame. It doesn't take me long. I only need two or three per frame.

After I've done that, I take the tools and hide them. Then I grab my cell phone and go outside. I bolt the windows and shutters from the outside and deadbolt both the back and front doors. No one is getting in or out of this cabin without my keys.

I take out my cell phone and take a deep breath.

It's cold outside in the night air. The sounds of the woods surround me. I dial Kervyn's number and wait patiently to be torn in two.

"Where the fuck have you been?" Kervyn answers his phone. Then he moves it away. "Take Samuel out of here, Penny. I need to take this privately." He brings the phone back to speak to me. "I thought you were kidnapped or dead."

"I had to lie low. I had to take care of some things," I say quietly. Remaining calm is my only option here.

"What things?" Kervyn asks. What did you need to take care of, Arseny? What stopped you from texting me just to let me know you're alive? It's been almost a week since the last time you were seen."

"I know, I'm sorry. I did something, and it had unintended consequences."

"Please tell me you weren't involved in kidnapping Elena Sokolov." Kervyn's groan tells me it's big news amongst the families.

"I had to. It was the perfect opportunity, and it was her father who made the power move against our family by buying the businesses in our districts. I think they're trying to oust us from the inside out." I take a deep breath. "Come on, Kervyn, you would have done the same if you were given an opportunity,"

"That doesn't sound like something Emery Sokolov would do. He isn't a smoke and daggers kind of guy," Kervyn muses.

"His daughter admitted that it was him buying the businesses. By force, may I add, he isn't giving the owners any choice in the matter." I wait while Kervyn digests this new information.

"Do you have a plan on what you're going to do with Elena?" he asks me finally.

"I'm working on it."

"You took her without a plan. Arseny, you're going to cause a war. There is going to be bloodshed. Emery has declared he wants his daughter back by the end of the week, or he will kill everyone to find out where she is." Kervyn sighs. "I say you bring her back with a big apology to Emery. Maybe I can smooth it over by giving him some business we don't give a shit about."

"We can't do that. We can't let them win," I say quickly.

"We're not letting them win. You fucked this up, baby brother. You're the one who took a well-known Mafia princess to who knows where." Kervyn pauses. "Let's get Danil on the line."

I hear buttons being pressed and then another line ringing.

"Hello?" Danil answers.

"Are you alone?" Kervyn asks.

"One sec." I can hear him getting up and excusing himself. They must have been having dinner. I hear a door close, and he says, "I am now."

"Arseny is on the line with us," Kervyn explains.

"Where the fuck have you been, dipshit?" Danil says instantly. "We've been worried sick about you. Thought someone took you out."

"Sorry, Danil. I had some business…"

"His business he had to attend to was kidnapping Elena Sokolov. Without a plan of what he's going to do with her, may I add," Kervyn talks over me.

Danil huffs. "Arseny, that's not like you. That's Luke's style. Acting without thinking."

"Look, if Emery Sokolov admits he's trying to worm his way into our territories by purchasing the butchers, then I'll back off and return Elena. I just want him to admit it," I explain. "I want the cloak and daggers bullshit to come to an end. Believe me, babysitting this princess is not all it's cracked up to be. She bitches about everything."

"Yeah, well, that's what you get for kidnapping people. What did you think would happen?" Danil chuckles.

"Danil, it's not funny," Kervyn chides our brother.

"Arseny," Danil says after a moment. "Have you got this under control?"

"Yes. And I'm formulating a plan. I will let Emery know that Elena is safe and will continue to remain so, provided he doesn't start a war with anyone," I explain. "I'll get word to him tonight."

Kervyn sighs and mumbles something in Russian.

"What was that?" I ask.

"I said that Mama is going to be sad when you're dead because I'm going to kill you," he snips.

"Come on, Kervyn. I'm doing this for the family." I pause. "All for the family."

"Fine, but you better not screw this up, Arseny, or it's more than your head on the line here. Check in with me as well. Don't go radio silent again." Kervyn hangs up.

Danil chuckles. "You really know how to piss him off. What were you thinking?"

"I wasn't, but I am formulating a plan now. I need you to trust me."

"I trust you," Danil says. "But do you trust her?

"No, of course, I don't trust her. I'm not an idiot," I say. "What do you think of me?"

"I think you're a fool for kidnapping a well-known Mafia princess over some butchers her father has bought," Danil sighs. "Do you need anything? Any supplies?"

"No, I have someone bringing in supplies. However, I think I'll ask him to stop for now because, no doubt, Kervyn will have him followed. I'm surprised he hasn't already." I look out into the dark night. It's a clear night—perfect for hunting.

"Kervyn probably did, especially if you're referring to your guard. Man won't give up anything about you. Well trained." Danil moves his phone away. "I'm almost done. I'll come to say goodnight shortly." He moves the phone back. "I have to go. It's Jade's bedtime, and I'm going to be out all night, so I want to say goodnight before she falls asleep. Keep me updated." He hangs up.

I snort. All my brothers and their soft hearts for kids. I wouldn't say they've lost their touch. Kervyn certainly hasn't. If anything, having children has made him more ruthless than before. He'll do anything to protect Samuel and Penny.

Frowning, I send a text to Emery Sokolov. My words are plain but firm and give nothing away. I turn my phone back on silent and tuck it in my pocket. Now, we wait for his reply.

I look back at the cabin door and decide to go hunting. I know a clearing not far from here where deer like to graze, no matter how many I hunt from there. It's not like I come here often.

I go around the cabin to a little shed hidden in the shrubbery. I unlock the shed and go in. It's practically empty except for a shovel, a bucket, a wheelbarrow, and some rope. I move the wheelbarrow and kneel beside it. I push on a plank, and a whole square of the floor lowers so I can slide it to the left.

Before me is a steel door with a handprint reader on the front. I put my hand against it, and once it reads my print, the door hisses as it unlocks. I swing it open and descend down the stairs.

The lights automatically come on in my little bunker. There's more food stored here, a place for two people to sleep, toilet facilities, and a mini armory in an adjoining room with enough stock to see me through a small war—grenades, semi-automatic guns, automatic guns, endless rounds of bullets, smoke bombs, rifles, and special sights for each rifle.

I pick up my hunting rifle and fit it with a night scope. Then I don my black hunting gear so I can move through the forest silently, deadly for any animal I cross paths with.

I paint my face dark green, and once I've loaded up on ammo and water in a backpack, I leave, locking up behind me.

I feel excited that Kervyn has somewhat approved my decision, even if it's not willingly. But now I need to blow off some steam, and there's only one way for a predator like me to vent my frustrations.

That's to hunt prey.

And the prey cannot be Elena.

I move silently through the forest, careful where I step in case snakes are nearby. Luckily, I have keen eyesight, fast reflexes, and thick boots and clothes.

I reach the tree where the hide is waiting and swing my rifle over my shoulder to climb up slowly. I lie down, positioning my rifle, and I wait.

While I wait, I think about Elena and that kiss. Why did I kiss her again? I've worked out our feelings are mutual, and I'd love nothing more than to take her to bed and claim her as my own, but I can't unless she's willing.

I'm not popping her cherry unless she absolutely wants to. Sex can hurt a woman the first time, especially if it's not done right. She should have sex with me, and I have the self-control to ensure it doesn't hurt. I can control my movements, my speed… Maybe it's the size of me that intimidates her. I almost chuckle out loud.

I freeze as I hear rustling in the bushes underneath me. I check my watch. I've been here almost an hour and a half, daydreaming about Elena. Thank God something has come along.

As much as Elena promised she wouldn't escape, and even though I know she can't, I have no doubt she'll make a valiant effort to do so. I should get back as soon as I can.

More rustling.

A beautiful young three-pointer black-tailed mule deer steps out into the clearing to graze. I look at him through my scope. It'll take some muscle to drag him back to the cabin, but thankfully, I'm not too far off, and there should be rope in the backpack I chose.

I breathe calmly before I take a quiet, slow, deep breath, aim the shot, and pull the trigger.