18. Brooke
I wake up in Lev’s arms. He’s carrying me into his mansion like I weigh nothing, and as I slowly come back to myself, I’m acutely aware of the strength in the arms that are holding me.
“What happened?” I ask, dazed.
“You fainted,” he says.
“Fainted?”
I’ve never fainted in my life.
But then, I’ve never been taken by Russian mobsters, either.
That’s when it hits me. The reminder that I’ve been taken by the bratva.
I start to struggle in his arms. “Let me go, you asshole.”
His arms hold me in a vice-like grip. “Is this the way it’s going to be? You fighting me at every turn?”
“Yes, now put me down,” I demand.
“One thing you’ll learn about me, zayka, is that I don’t react very well to demands. I will put you down when I am certain you won’t pass out on me again.”
“I’m fine,” I snap.
I struggle against the strength of his arms but give in because I am no match. I remember how muscular his body is and decide to save my energy.
He walks us through the front foyer, and it’s nothing short of magnificent with its cathedral ceilings, regal sweeping staircase, and a sea of marble for a floor.
Everything screams money and power—from the gigantic chandeliers to the massive paintings that line the gilded walls.
And I must be concussed or something because before I can stop myself, I whisper, “It’s beautiful.”
He’s amused. “Not what you were expecting?”
“I guess you could say that, considering I wasn’t expecting any of this a couple of hours ago when I was asleep in my bed. But now that I’ve been kidnapped—”
“You’re really going to need to get over this idea that you’ve been kidnapped.”
“Okay then, what about blackmailed? Does that word work better for you?”
He nods. “Better.”
He’s so frustratingly unfazed by me and the situation and everything, it makes me want to scream.
We enter a room off the spacious corridor and it is colossal.
I can’t keep the astonishment from my face as I gaze around at the room that looks like it’s out of a Russian castle or something. Like it was made for a czar. This room feels important, where big decisions are made, both for good and evil.
Goosebumps creep along my skin.
This room is his den.
The monster’s lair.
Lev lays me down on an antique chaise that looks old and priceless, and I scoot as far away from him as possible.
He chuckles and walks over to his desk, which is a huge slab of rich mahogany, and leans against it, folding his arms. He’s so self-assured and confident it makes me sick.
“This is my family estate,” he says. “This is where I was born and where I grew up. It’s been in the Zarkov family for more than three hundred years. You are a guest here, and you will be treated as such.”
He speaks about his home with uncharacteristic warmth, and I find comfort in it because this place is special to him, so I doubt he brings people here to die.
“In return, I expect you to respect where you are and who you are with.”
People are going to wonder where I am,” I say.
“Of course, and tomorrow, you can call them and let them know you are taking a week of personal time.”
“I’m meant to be starting a new job.”
“Ah yes, the marketing position at ZeeMed.”
I frown. How does he—
Oh, that’s right, how can I forget? He’s an evil overlord who probably knew everything about me the moment Wilson had tried to blackmail him.
“As of tonight, your new position with ZeeMed has been put on hold.”
I sit up straight. “You can’t do that.”
“Or what, you’re going to call me an asshole again?”
He smirks and I want to punch the amusement right off his beautiful lips. “I’m so pleased you find this so fucking funny.”
He rises and walks over to me, towering above me like the monster he is. “You have no idea.”
My shoulders sag. “How did you manage to put my new job on hold? I suppose you know the people at ZeeMed.”
“I am the people at ZeeMed.”
“What does that even mean?”
“I own the company, Brooke.”
My eyes remain wide as they move about the room, as more pieces fall into place.
Again, my stomach drops. “You made me the job offer?”
“Yes.”
“Why go to the trouble of offering me a job and making me relocate my life? What was the point of it all?” My eyes narrow. “Was it just to fuck with me? Are you really that much of an asshole?”
“It was strategy,” he says. “I thought relocating you to a new city might smoke Wilson out of hiding. Especially if the two of you were in cahoots with one another.”
“Ive already told you I knew nothing about the flash drive or the blackmail.”
“I didnt know that when I sent you that offer.”
“You’re evil,” I say, looking away from him. Because when I look at him it only makes me mad.
He’s done nothing but play me like a pawn in a chess game since we met. God, I loathe him.
“You could’ve just killed me and taken Wilson to retrieve the flash drive yourself.”
“Maybe I’m not the monster you think I am.”
I bring my gaze back to him. “Oh, you are most definitely the monster I think you are. Power-hungry, egotistical, narcissistic. Assholes like you don’t do anything unless they somehow profit from it.”
“That’s quite the description.”
“Am I wrong?”
He takes a step closer. “I’m not hungry for power because I already have it. But you’re right—I am egotistical and narcissistic because I can be. As for being an asshole, keep fighting me, and you’ll see just what I am capable of.”
I shrink back. I might be pissed at him and this obscenely ridiculous situation, but I have the good sense to shut my mouth before it gets me into any more trouble.
Play it cool, Brooke. This will all be over soon.
“So we’re clear, you will stay here for however long it takes for Wilson to return with the flash drive. You will be well taken care of and no harm will come to you during that time if you behave. And a word of warning. If you run, there is no place to hide. I’m a very connected pakhan, zayka. I have friends in very high places and friends in very low places, and both are equally as loyal to me and equally as frightening as each other.”
I don’t doubt it.
“You do all of this, and it can be a pleasant stay for you, and when Wilson returns, then you can both leave.”
“And if he doesn’t.”
“Let’s hope for both your sakes that he does.”
A cold tremble runs through me.
“Do we understand one another?”
I nod.
“Good, now, let me show you to your room. Do you feel up to walking?”
I glare at him. “I’m fine.”
He leads me through the mansion and up the sweeping staircase to a landing that’s as opulent and luxurious as the rest of the place. He opens a door, and we step into a room that takes my breath away. As large as a house, it looks like a room fit for a king, with high, painted ceilings and walls gilded in gold. In the center of the room is a canopied bed with antique bedcovers that look fresh out of an episode of Bridgeton. Forget five stars, this room is an easy ten.
“If you need anything during your tenure, simply pick up the phone and press one. That will put you through to housekeeping.” He pauses, then adds, “It’s an internal service only, so no point in trying to call anyone.”
I cross my arms. “Who said I would try?”
He lifts a brow. “Oh, I know you would try.”
I let my arms fall free. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I know everything about you.” He takes a step closer until the heat of his body swirls around me, and all I can smell is his enticing scent that is all testosterone and musk and some pheromone that sends my heart racing. “I know you hate flying but aren’t afraid of heights. I know the sweet sound of your breath when you fall asleep.” He leans forward, and his voice drops lower to a seductive growl. “I also know how you sound when you come on my cock as I fuck you over and over and over.”
Goosebumps tear along my skin, and the thrill his words give me is like ice water. I can’t be near this man because he is bad for me.
Correction.
He is bad.
Period.
I take a step away from him.
“Did any of our night together mean anything?” I ask, immediately hating myself as soon as the words leave my tongue.
Lev’s eyes roam my face, but as usual, that handsome face remains unreadable, a tight keeper of secrets and the emotions I’m beginning to realize he simply doesn’t have.
“I do whatever I have to do to get what I want.”
His words are cold and slice through me. He couldn’t make it any clearer that I was nothing but a means to an end.
I swallow back the hurt, but the humiliation still burns against my cheeks. “You really are a monster.”
His eyes flare. “Don’t take it personally.”
I scoff. “Oh, okay then. I’ll just shut off my feelings so I’m more like you, Mr. Robot Man.”
“Our night together wasn’t about feelings, Brooke. It was about two people taking immeasurable pleasure from each other. An exchange of desire.”
“You make it sound like a business transaction. Like you were buying groceries.” I shake my head. “You know what, I feel sorry for you. At least I can admit that I felt something that night. I don’t know what it was, but it was something. I’m not talking about a relationship or a permanent thing. I was happy for it to be over. But at the same time, I thought I’d had one special night with a stranger that was serendipitous enough to change my life. I knew I would never see you again, but our encounter was special enough to help me find something that night. A new version of me. A stronger version of me. But now—”
“But now?”
My eyes fix on his. “Now I know the only person who would’ve received anything real that night was you. Because all you gave me was a big pile of bullshit.”
His jaw is tight. “And multiple orgasms, if memory serves.”
“I seem to remember you had your fair share,” I snap back. I narrow my eyes. Hating where this conversation has led us. “Why did you sleep with me? Why not just do what you’re doing now—kidnap me and force the information out of me?”
He bristles as if I’ve touched on a nerve. He turns and walks toward the door. “It was an error in judgment on my behalf.”
Hurt twists in my stomach. Hearing him say our night together was an error of judgment stings more than it should. Because he couldn’t possibly regret it as much as I do right now.
“Yeah, well, it was the biggest mistake of my life,” I reply.
He turns back and his eyes seem to darken, if that’s even possible. “I would think agreeing to marry Wilson was the biggest mistake of your life,” he says cruelly.
I tilt my head. “That mistake pales in comparison to the colossal mistake I made when I let you put your hands on me.”
“I recall you enjoying my hands on you.”
“I guess it was an error in judgment on my behalf,” I slam back.
We just stare at each other for a moment.
I look around the room that is to be my home for the near future. A knot forms in my chest, and I know it has nothing to do with the fact I’m a prisoner and everything to do with the idea that Lev picked me up that night and fucked my brains out not because he was attracted to me but because he wanted to find out where Wilson had disappeared to with his flash drive.
He walks out, and I hear the lock slide in the door, and I slump down on the ridiculously soft and comfortable bed and wonder what the hell I ever saw in Lev Zarkov.