Rage

Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Dimitry

T ension coiled tight inside me, twisting in ways I hadn’t felt before. Fuck, this was the hottest thing I’d ever done. She had been unbelievable. And watching the lust in the other pachans’ eyes while knowing none of them would ever get to touch her?—?touch what was mine?—?sent a raw thrill coursing through me.

The bastard she’d married looked like he’d been fucked in the ass without lube. I didn’t even bother hiding my disdain when our eyes met for the briefest moment.

Katherine moaned and squirmed against me, and I quickly helped her to her feet. My heart raced as she instinctively clung to me, melting into my arms. I couldn’t resist pulling her closer, kissing her.

Maybe it wasn’t smart to show everyone just how dear she was to me, but the damage was already done. They weren’t stupid. They could see it. She wasn’t a plaything or some temporary indulgence. The shock on their faces earlier when she’d plopped herself in my lap and kissed me had made that much obvious.

And that’s fine. Let them know she’s mine.

Katherine leaned into me, her eyes locking onto Ivan. Her voice was ice as she told him, “I want a divorce.”

I fought the urge to grin like an idiot. I’d thought making her a widow would be faster, but since she’d made it clear she didn’t want him dead, not yet, anyway, I’d shelved that idea. For now.

Chernov frowned, his gaze darting between us. It wasn’t lust I saw in his eyes when he looked at Katya, but fuck, I still wanted to kick his teeth in for letting his filthy gaze linger on her at all.

“No,” Ivan said, leaning back arrogantly in his chair.

My brow shot up. This fucking idiot was begging to die. What did he think he’d gain by refusing? Some scrap of self-respect?

Katya snorted, her whole demeanor shifting. The kitten was pissed.

“You will, Ivan,” she said sharply. “It doesn’t even benefit you for us to stay married.”

I glanced at her as she straightened, reminding me of the moment we’d first met. Except now, her voice dripped with a hint of anger and hate I’d never heard from her before.

“No, Katherine,” he sneered. “I’m not signing shit. And it does benefit me. How long do you think your father will last? The fossil’s already in his late fifties. As your husband, I have rights to the Romanov bratva. I get it, you’re Zaytsev’s pet now, so you’re untouchable. But your father isn’t. And neither is your bratva. I’ll make them suffer for your actions.”

Before I could react, Katherine launched herself at him, cursing and throwing threats. I caught her, holding her back. I didn’t want her to put herself in any kind of danger. That idiot knew that if he so much as laid a finger on her, he wouldn’t leave here alive, but I still didn’t want to take the risk.

“Dimitry!” she hissed, glaring up at me.

She didn’t claw my face off, so I took that as a small win. But I’d never seen her this furious, and it made the air crackle with electricity. The other pachans glanced between us and Ivan, their interest piqued.

I knew what I should do?—?act like I didn’t care, like this little spat over a divorce wasn’t worth my attention. But I couldn’t. Not when she looked at me like that.

Ivan stood up, grinning smugly.

“Well, I think this is over. I’ve got the message, Zaytsev. She’s your plaything now, so keep her. I don’t give a shit. I’m never going to mess with you or your territory again. But I’ll be expanding into Romanov’s. Your old man won’t last five minutes under pressure, and we both know it, Katherine. That’s why he arranged this marriage in the first place, isn’t it? Your money, my muscle.”

My grip on Katherine tightened as she struggled against me. Her emotions played out so clearly on her face that even a blind man could’ve read them. She was pleading with me. But I shouldn’t let them know she was my weak spot.

Like it happened to my father.

Ivan smirked like he’d already won. I weighed my options. I could fix this without anyone realizing how important she was to me. Hell, I could even have Aleksei poison him as soon as he got home. Clean. Efficient.

But then she whispered my name.

“Dimitry.”

Her voice was soft but laced with an urgent beg. I was a fucking idiot for doing this, but I couldn’t ignore her. If showing everyone how much she meant to me was the cost, then so be it. I’d burn the whole world to ash for her, if needed.

“Romanov bratva isn’t as powerless as you think, Chernov,” I said. “From now on, they’re under my protection. Katherine is the woman I love, and she’s going to be my wife. Neither she, her family, nor her people will ever be touched.”

Katya’s eyes widened in shock, and I could feel the others’ stares burning into me. I didn’t care. Let them see. Let them know just how untouchable my kitten was.

“And don’t worry about the divorce,” I added, pulling a knife from its hidden spot under the table. “I have a quicker solution.”

Ivan’s face went ghostly pale as he stared at the blade. I wanted to throw it right at him, but I remembered Katya’s wishes. Taking a steadying breath, I offered her the weapon.

“It’s your choice, kitten.”