Ruthless Reign: A Dark Mafia Forbidden Romance (Tarnished Reign Book 1)

Chapter 37

I pushthe door to the penthouse open, expecting to find Liza pacing and plotting a hundred different ways to kill me, but instead, I”m met with silence. I call out her name a few times, but there”s no answer.

A cold dread starts to settle in my stomach. My men are stationed right outside the door—there”s no way anyone could have gotten in here undetected.

Could Liza have hurt herself to get back at me? The thought has me bolting through the penthouse, calling for her, but all I hear is the echo of my own voice against the cold, empty walls.

As I step into the shadowed living room, I feel the cold press of a blade against my neck. I”m ready to toss the assailant across the room when I realize who it is.

”Liza? It”s just me,” I assure her. I’m so relieved to find her unharmed that I don’t immediately register that she”s the one standing in front of me, pressing a knife to my jugular.

“Oh, I’m well aware,” she seethes. “Now, let me be clear about what’s going to happen. You’re going to give me my phone back, and then you’re going to let me go.” She presses the tip of what is clearly a kitchen knife against my skin, just enough that I feel a slow, warm trickle of blood down my neck. “I don’t know where you get off playing God with my life, but I really don’t like it.”

The edge in her voice could cut steel, but I can”t help the smirk that tugs at my lips. I appreciate her bravado, even if I could disarm her in a heartbeat and turn the tables with a simple twist of my wrist if I wanted to. But I won’t.

“My apologies,” I say sincerely. “If you’d kindly remove the knife from my throat, I can give you back your phone.”

She shoots me a fierce look. “Not until you tell me why you took it.”

“I needed to check if there was a tracker installed. Nobody can know our location.”

Her eyebrows lift, disappearing beneath her dark bangs. “And is there a tracker installed?”

“I don’t know,” I admit, my jaw tight. “Because, apparently, you’re a secret computer whiz and no one could hack into your fucking phone.”

She gives me a smug smile, but it doesn’t last long. “That doesn’t explain why you locked me up in your house. I can’t just disappear from my life. My parents are probably wondering where I am, and Anatoly…” She clears her throat but doesn’t finish that thought.

Annoyance spikes through me. I hate how those meant to love and protect her simply don”t care. They”re only upset because this mess is unfolding right before her wedding—a wedding that won”t be happening if I have a say in the matter.

I try to talk sense into her. “We were almost killed last night. Yeah, I was probably the intended target, but we can’t assume anything until we have more information.”

Her face falls. “Surely this is not about me.”

“Probably not, but I’m not a man who takes chances when it comes to something I care about.”

She blinks a few times, her expression softening. “I … I can’t stay here with you,” she pleads. “We had last night. Let’s leave it on a good note.” There”s a hint of regret in her tone, but she covers it up with a fierce look.

It’s then that my gaze slides down her body. Shit. She’s wearing one of my T-shirts and little else, as far as I can tell.

A warm sense of possession grows in my chest. “You look good in my clothes,” I growl.

“Enjoy the view. Because this is the last time you’ll see me in something that’s yours. I’m leaving here, and you can’t stop me.”

My voice drops an octave. “I think we both know that I can. Very easily.”

“I’m serious, Roman. This has gone too far!” She twists the blade into my skin to make her point. “I’m getting married soon. Anatoly will send people to look for me. He’ll ask questions. Don’t put me in that position.” Her eyes cloud with fear, and it makes me want to pummel that asshole’s face even harder.

“I told you I’d handle him, and I did. He thinks Kira whisked you into hiding after the attack last night. Not that he’s happy about it, but he believes you had no choice, that it was on Maxim’s orders.”

She bites her luscious lower lip, processing what I just told her. Even Anatoly knows not to rise up against Maxim, at least not outwardly.

Her grip on the knife loosens, and I make a mental note to give Liza self-defense lessons at some point.

“But Kira’s in the Maldives.”

I smirk. “He doesn’t know that.”

Her mouth flattens into a thin line. “This is crazy. I can’t stay locked up in here with you.”

“We’re not going to be locked up in here. I have other plans.”

She shakes her head, her expression filling with anger again. “No, you don’t. You don’t get to make plans without asking me what I want.” She juts out her chin. “There’s enough in my life I can’t control; I get a say in this.” Her voice cracks with vulnerability, piercing through the ice encasing my heart.

“How about you lower that knife, and we sit down on the couch and discuss what’s next.”

She quietly considers it. “Fine, but first, give me my phone back.”

“It’s in my back pocket,” I instruct. “Feel free to grope around while you’re there.”

Holding eye contact, she leans into my front and fishes around until her hand wraps around her phone. I see the moment the insistent press of my cock against her stomach registers.

“Oh my God, you’re hard. This turns you on.”

“You turn me on,” I clarify. “Although, I could do without the knife to my throat.”

“Should have made different choices in that case.”

With one hand, she swipes at her phone, confirming everything is in order.

“You certainly know how to guard your secrets well.”

She gives me a peevish look. “Maybe if the people around me had more respect for my privacy, I wouldn’t have to.”

“I don’t care what’s on your phone; I only care that no one can track you.” The side of my mouth tips up in a smile. “Considering my hackers couldn’t get into your phone, I imagine you”ve taken steps to ensure it’s clean.”

She notches her chin. “I”ve picked up a few skills along the way.”

I’d like to know why, but with the knife awkwardly pressed against my skin, now”s not the time for probing questions.

“It’s impressive,” I murmur. “Just like everything about you.”

She narrows her eyes. “Don”t think a few sweet words will make me forgive you.”

“I”m not looking for your forgiveness,” I growl. “I’m looking for so much more.”

I’ve finally had enough. I grab the knife from her hand and move it out of her reach. It takes everything in me to not throw her down and fuck some sense into her. Why she ever thought she could take me on is laughable.

Her eyes go wide as I wrap a hand around the base of her neck and haul her against me.

“I don”t know what you”re really after, but for whatever reason, you’ve decided to go through with your marriage to Anatoly.” I lower my lips to her. “Let me have this time with you—a few days alone at my cabin while my men figure out who attacked us.”

“It’s just going to make saying goodbye harder,” she says softly.

“I’ll take that chance.” I capture her lips with mine, and she softens beneath my hungry kiss. “Say yes. You can wear my clothes all weekend.”

She laughs and pushes at my chest. “You might need a different approach if you’re trying to convince me.”

“Speaking of which, what do you have on under here?” My hand dips under the T-shirt, and I pause when I feel her bare pussy, wet and ready for me. “Oh, shit. Did holding that knife to my throat make you all hot and bothered?”

She blinks up at me innocently. “Maybe.”

Damn. Does she have an unexplored knife kink?

She feels so slick and perfect as I stroke through her folds before working two fingers into her cunt, right up to the second knuckle. Liza cries out and braces her hands against my chest.

“You still sore, angel? Or is this pussy ready for more?”

She drags an urgent breath into her lungs as I grip her by the nape and bring the handle of the blade against her opening. I move it around so it’s coated in her slipperiness.

Her eyes nearly bug out of her head. “You’ve lost your mind!”

“Maybe.” I chuckle darkly. “But you deserve it for daring to cut me.” Deftly holding on to the knife’s blade with my forefinger and thumb, I slowly work the handle into her pussy, watching her reaction closely.

Her pupils dilate and she fists my shirt, betraying a raw, unspoken need as intense as the look in her eyes. My good girl isn’t so good after all.

“You might be sore, considering last night…” I work the handle a little deeper into her cunt. “At least this handle isn’t as big as my cock.”

Liza arches into my touch, panting, the smell of her arousal—musky and sweet—filling the nostrils, and it’s all I can do not to drop to my knees and eat her out. But she’s enjoying this too damn much.

She closes her eyes and, with her head thrown back, allows me to fuck her nice and deep. The slick sounds make it clear how soaking wet she is.

I gather her heavy, dark hair in one fist and pull, which gives me access to the smooth skin of her neck. She whimpers, and I can tell from the way she’s gasping and tensing against me that she’s close.

“Rub your clit,” I demand.

Without hesitation, her fingertips land on her nub, rubbing fast little circles. She lets out a gasp of delight, and fuck if that doesn’t makes all the blood in my body rush to my dick.

I twist the knife handle inside of her, and she moans like it’s heaven. Shit. She really does have a knife kink. Unexpected, but definitely welcome.

“You’re gonna get this handle glistening wet with your cum, and then you’re going to lick it clean,” I instruct her.

That’s all it takes to set her off. Her eyes go hazy, and her head rolls back on her neck as her orgasm rushes up and overtakes her body.

I give her a few gentle pumps, letting her ride out the aftershocks, before I pull it out. The blade glints in my hand as I offer her the handle to lick clean, rubbing it over her full lips. She notches her chin and meets my gaze, running her tongue up and down the handle before sucking it deep between her lips.

Well, fuck me. I release a groan, my dick harder than ever.

“I can’t wait until I can slide my cock down your throat.” I announce. “Are you going to take it like the good little whore I know you are?”

Her shoulders stiffen, and she releases the handle of the knife with a pop. “I’m sorry. I don’t like that—using my mouth.”

My shoulders tense as I brush a finger over her cheek. “What did he do to you?”

She blinks hard and shakes her head, making it clear it’s not something she wants to discuss. But I will get the story from her one day.

I fucking hate that Anatoly ruined that for her. It’s one more reason to gut him like a fish when the time comes, and I have no doubt that time is coming.

I cup her jaw, tipping her pretty face up to meet mine. “Trust me, milaya, you’ll like it with me.” I give her a gentle kiss. “I’ll make it good for you.”

“Well, you do seem to know exactly what my body wants, even before I do.” She rolls her eyes in feigned exasperation. “That’s the problem.”

I lightly drag my teeth along the skin of her neck. “It doesn’t have to be a problem. So, is that a yes?” I ask.

Liza lifts a shoulder. “That depends. Do you have Wi-Fi at your cabin?”

I bark out a laugh. “Yes, I have Wi-Fi. Are you looking forward to some Netflix and chill?”

She can’t quite hide the smile growing on her lips. “Something like that. Just a few days,” she whispers. “That’s all I can give you.”

We’ll see about that.