10. Bash
Chapter 10
Bash
What do we have here? The strand of red peeking out from the Saints hood lets me know it’s Volkov, but there’s been something off with him tonight. Something that’s been drawing my attention and teasing my curiosity. Why the fuck I am so interested in a guy? Now, his sister…she consumes my every thought.
Here he is, sparking my interest in the last place I expected. Deep within the Vault, trying to break into a jewelry case. He’s risking a slow, brutal death. No one fucks with the Order of Saints. I should sound the alarms, but my ever-growing curiosity gets the better of me. He’s frozen in place, head bowed low, his hand still gripping the candlestick as I approach. I brace myself to avoid his attack, but he doesn’t budge, as if he’s a deer in headlights. I’m so close I can see his chest rise and fall with his fast breaths, and I don’t stop approaching until my shoes graze the hem of his robe.
There’s a tingling sensation starting in my lower back before running up my spine. An excitement breaks through the tedium as I lift my hand and slowly push back the hood, raising the silver mask with it.
My heart stops in my chest, then rams forward at the sight of Anastasia Volkov. Look what we have here. Captivated, I stalk forward, looming over her as she stares up at me with wide blue eyes.
Anastasia stumbles, colliding with the tables, and I grip her arms tight enough to bruise, preventing her from escaping.
“What are you doing here?” I hiss. My arms tremble as I shake her. Curiosity vanishes under the weight of exactly what she’s risking. “Are you fucking crazy?”
“I…I can explain.” The whites of her eyes show around her iris, and her teeth clatter together as she watches me.
“Oh yeah? Try?” My jaw aches from clenching it so hard as she stares up at me, opening and closing her mouth, no words leaving her plump lips.
“Fuck, Stasia.” The bitter taste of fear fills my mouth. I have to get her out of here. Then, I can give in to my obsessive need to figure her out. To pull her apart until I know everything about her.
First, she needs to get the hell out of here.
I seize her arm, ready to drag her out of the room, when a man turns the corner. I instinctively place myself between him and Stasia, covering her body and blocking his view of her. She’s maskless. Vulnerable. A simple glance will give her away.
My heart’s ricocheting in my chest, sending my blood pulsing in my ears. A protectiveness normally reserved for my family takes over. I do the only thing I can think of and crash my mouth against hers, eating up her sounds of protest. The Unsainted needs to believe she wants to be here. I push her hard into the bookshelves, hiding her completely as I devour her mouth. She fights against my touch, struggling to break free. I deepen the kiss, sucking on her tongue, and my cock hardens when she softens in my arms, giving in to me. Her fingers grip my waist under my robe, and her nails dig into my skin, but she’s not pushing me away. From her ragged breath and her death grip, it’s clear she’s terrified, and I’m overcome with the need to comfort her. To tell her I’d never let anything happen to her.
But first, I have to get rid of this asshole.
The fact that he’s an Unsainted makes this easier, at least.
I lift her hood, which covers her face, and turn, careful not to expose her. “Get the fuck out of here.”
“Y…you can’t bring a girl in h…here,” he stutters. “I’m going to tell the Lord.”
I raise my gold mask, and his face grows pale. “Go ahead and tell me.”
My gaze narrows on him, daring him to argue, and I don’t look away until he disappears around the corner. Fuck, he’s going to be a problem. I’m not looking forward to Damon’s lecture when he finds out. But screw it, she’s worth it.
Stasia trembles in my hold, and I jerk back, examining her. She’s frozen, and there’s a flash of fear in her eyes that has my gut twisting into a knot, filling my mouth with a sour taste. I dip to murmur into her ear.
“Run, little thief. Before I can’t let you go.”
She doesn’t hesitate, scurrying out of there the second I release her.
I wait several seconds before following after the Russian princess. She’s too enticing to let escape.