Chapter 11
Chapter eleven
Dmitri
My focus shifted to Alisa the second I entered the room. It didn’t matter that a hundred other faces turned my way as I walked into the Pakhan’s auditorium.
The only face I was curious about was stubbornly facing straight ahead. Even when her friend’s eyes locked onto me, Alisa continued with their conversation without so much as a jerk in my direction.
She wanted to ignore me after I’d saved her?
Good luck with that.
With a smirk, I moved into the row of seats behind her. People rushed out of my way in case I wanted their hard plastic chair.
The only one I wanted gave me a direct view of her profile. I settled into the seat as she continued looking stubbornly ahead.
More makeup than usual for her day off. The only times she camouflaged herself in different disguises was when she was meeting a mark.
I missed her pale skin.
I leaned towards her ear, and I couldn’t help a smile when goosebumps traveled up her neck. She could ignore me and pretend I didn’t affect her, but her body didn’t lie.
“Miss me?”
I didn’t miss her quick intake of breath before she swung around. Her irritated blue eyes locked onto mine.
“What do you want?” she hissed.
There were murmurs of shock around her. Her shoulders tightened as the whispers began.
“Mainly to break you,” I admitted.
Her mouth gaped open.
“What the hell does that even mean?” Alisa asked, crossing her thin arms.
I leaned in close enough to hear her shallow breathing.
“Don’t act like you don’t know.”
Alisa’s lips tightened together, and then she whipped her head forward with a scowl. How cute, but she couldn’t get rid of me that easily. I always got what I wanted.
I roped her pale hair in my hand, and all I could visualize was pushing Alisa to her knees and-
Alisa spun back around. Well, as much as she could considering I hadn’t released my grip on her hair. With a snort, I noticed her right hand was tightened into a fist.
“You going to hit me?” I said.
“Tempting,” she muttered.
Her friend mouthed, ‘Are you insane?’
“I’ll happily re-enact the last time you tried to punch me,” I said, glancing towards the front of the room where she’d so adorably tried to attack me during our sparring match. “After all, you seemed to enjoy having an audience when I took you to the mat.”
Alisa jerked away from me, and this time I released her hair without a word. I frowned as I took in her expression.
Her eyes were wide and vacant. What was going on with her?
I wanted to peer into her mind, and see her thoughts. Before I could barrel my way in with words, the Pakhan stepped to the front.
Even though the Pakhan was speaking, I couldn’t focus on anything beyond the far-off look in her eyes.
“You okay, kotenok?” I whispered into her ear.
Goosebumps appeared on her neck. Then her body startled as if coming out of a trance. She shot me a quick glare over her shoulder before narrowing her attention on the Pakhan.
I leaned back into my chair. Even though everyone else’s gaze was raptly glued to the Pakhan, I kept my attention on my kitten. Generally, I didn’t enjoy coming to the Pakhan’s meetings, but I had a feeling today would be the exception.
I tilted my head as I watched the shallow breaths whisper through Alisa’s parted lips and the way she pushed her pale hair behind her ears.
Her shoulders relaxed as the Pakhan continued listing everyone’s rankings. My little kitten was still number twenty.
But she wouldn’t be relaxed much longer. The Pakhan was finally nearing the grand finale. At least according to the information that’d been leaked to me days ago by the men feeding me intelligence.
As my ranking was announced–number one as usual–I could feel the weight of attention on my shoulders. Still I kept my gaze on Alisa.
Her reaction to this next part would be even more enjoyable than Igor’s screams had been when I’d sawed into his flesh at my warehouse. My fingers twitched as I remembered the way he’d grabbed her.
Only I was allowed to clench my fingers around her throat, and listen to those soft whimpers escape her lips.
“I will be pairing everyone with a partner for some upcoming assignments,” the Pakhan announced, and my attention snapped back to the present.
Alisa held her breath as the Pakhan read off a list.
“Alisa Solovyova,” the Pakhan said. Her body was like a live wire, ready to snap. “You will be paired with Dmitri Novikov.”
Her jaw slackened, and not for the first time I wished I could see into that mind of hers. But for now I’d settle for the shock flashing through her eyes and morphing into anger.
I leaned back into my seat, savoring her reaction.
“B-but,” she said, and the Pakhan’s gaze narrowed on her.
“Is that a problem?” The Pakhan’s tone was a whip.
Her entire body tensed as everyone turned towards her. I glanced at one of the Pakhan’s men, casually moving his hand towards the AK strapped to his chest.
She hated me, but she wasn’t stupid enough to defy the Pakhan right in front of everyone. She wouldn’t risk her life like that.
Alisa’s jaw worked open and closed like a fish.
Fuck, I shouldn’t take that chance. After all, she’d literally aimed a knife at me all those years ago.
“She’s just so delighted to spend time with me that she's speechless,” I drawled. “I tend to have that effect on women.”
Her head snapped towards me, and she shot daggers at me. I just smiled back. She could draw her claws with me anytime. It just made me hard.
“Right?” I prompted, nodding my chin at the Pakhan who was still focused on Alisa.
She swallowed jerkily, and said, “Not a problem at all, Pakhan. I’m your loyal servant.”