Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 92160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
His hand grabs my jaw, fingers pressing just enough to hurt. “You think this is a game?” His voice is low, almost amused.
My eyes have gotten adjusted to the darkness. I blink and smile up at him in the dark. “Isn’t it?”
Maybe he wants me to break. I know he wants me to beg.
Instead, I tilt my chin up, exposing my throat to him. If he were a vampire right now, he could sink his teeth into my skin and never look back. "You like hurting people, don’t you? But I think you like it more when they deserve it.”
His thumb presses against my neck. My pulse beats faster. In the dark, his lips curl as he shakes his head. “You’re not scared, are you?”
The tension between us snaps, burning.
Hate.
Fascination.
Lust.
He shakes his head with a sigh. “You’re going to be so much fucking fun to break.”
That’s what he thinks.
You can’t break someone who’s already broken.
In seconds, he has my wrists wrapped in one of his while he ties them with rope.
“Hey—”
“Patience, little brat,” he says as he stalks away and leaves me.
I shake my head, and my heart beats faster. I can’t predict what he’s going to do or when, but I know this game is only just beginning.
I’m not trapped. I’m playing the long game.
He thinks he’s in control.
But I’m just getting started.
Chapter 10
MATVEI
Every fucking time she fights me, I want her more.
Every time she outsmarts me, I need her.
I started out hunting her down to punish her for her betrayal and drag her back to where she belonged. But now—the thought of anyone else near her makes me rage. I cut off a soldier’s fucking hand before killing him for touching her. The idea of anyone else touching her—god.
I don’t just want her.
I want to own her, every inch of her.
But I owe my allegiance to my Bratva, and I can’t let even the most beautiful, intriguing, captivating woman who’s seared herself into every cell of my being sway me from what’s right.
She’s in the back seat of my car, her wrists red and raw from the restraints. I check them, frowning. I didn’t mean to tie them that hard.
Her hair’s a tangled mess around her face. She isn’t drugged, not this time. She’s just asleep. When she sleeps, she looks fragile and almost childlike, but there’s nothing fragile about this woman.
When I undo her restraints, she wakes with a start. Blinking up at me, her baby-blue eyes meet mine. “Where are we?” she whispers. Her voice is sharp around the edges.
Fuck.
She’s not afraid. She’s planning.
“Home sweet home,” I murmur, more to myself than her.
The gates swing open to my property, then close behind us with a satisfying click.
She turns to me, her eyes calculating.
Beautiful.
I’m sure she doesn’t want to be here, but this is where I live. My home is outside of Moscow, not far from my parents.
“Lovely,” Anissa murmurs, taking in the large estate. Cold stone, high balconies, windows too high and narrow to escape. “A five-star hostage situation.”
I give her a shrug. “If you behave.”
The house seems to swallow her whole when we step inside. I’ve dismissed my guards for the day. After what happened in Paris, they seemed eager to comply.
I want her alone.
I don’t want anyone else coming anywhere near her. Eventually, I’ll have to bring her back to the Kopolovs, but I want to wait until she’s not as wild… after I’ve had time with her.
She doesn’t know she has a sister. I don’t know how she’ll react to that.
I catch her wrist before she pulls away, rubbing gently at the chaffed skin. I watch as she scans the room with those thief’s eyes, already clocking exits.
Clever little brat.
“Don’t forget, you run, and I’ll find you.” I kiss the damp hair at her temple. I can’t help myself. “Faster than last time.”
“Thought you had a primal kink,” she says, her voice low. “Really, you think this is the first cage I’ve been in?” Rolling her eyes, she goes all wistful, her voice soft. “There was this guy…”
I freeze. Blood pounds in my ears, and my vision blurs.
No. She watches me. Waiting. Testing.
I let her go. I like her roaming free, ready to run. I like being ready to pounce.
“You think catching you was the endgame?” I shake my head. “That was only the prelude.” I lean in, my voice against her ear. “You think fucking you was the endgame? We’ll get there, but that’s not the endgame either.”
She huffs out a laugh. “Then what is?”
I shake my head. “I’ve already told you.”
Staring up at me, something like fear sparks in her eyes. “Owning me, right, right.” She winks at me. “Just like that guy in Paris…”
And then she smirks. The smirk destroys me, and I snap. I don’t think. I act.
One second, she’s standing there, all cocky and defiant as fuck, and the next? She’s over my fucking shoulder. I smack her ass so hard she howls. She kicks and fights, and it’s satisfying as fuck, spanking her again and holding her in place.