Chapter Eight
Leonid
The fear in her eyes when she says Henry’s name sparks something vicious inside me. Something dangerously close to jealousy burns beneath my ribs.
I’ve never seen her this scared, not even when she woke up confused in the dim light of the basement, but she’s terrified for that asshole?
Rage and something darker twist in my chest. I hate even the sound of another man’s name on her lips.
“Don’t ever say his name around me.” Even though I mostly manage to control my voice, I know it’s still laced with bitter fury.
She places her hands on my chest and tries to push me away, but I don’t move an inch. I lean in even closer, inhaling her. The vanilla and floral scent rolling off her body is addictive. So addictive that I want my entire house to smell like her.
Fuck, I wonder if I’ll ever get the chance to have her smell on my sheets.
“Do you think I’m a doll?” Her voice is loud, angrier than I’ve ever heard it. “You don’t have the right to tell me what to do.”
Before I can come up with a reply, she lunges forward and clamps her teeth on my neck. Sharp pain splinters through me.
“Yebat—”
She tears herself away the second I loosen my hold, shoving hard against my chest before bolting toward the door that leads to the foyer.
But she’s slow.
I catch her wrist after barely two steps.
Elena gasps as I drag her back against me, her body colliding with mine before I pin her to the wall with a heavy thud.
The sound of her back hitting the wall echoes through my office, and for a second, neither of us breathes.
Her chest rises sharply against mine, fury blazing in her eyes as she struggles against my grip.
“Let me go, you asshole,” she snaps.
My blood pulses hot beneath the bite mark on my neck. I should be mad as fuck, but all I can think of is how wild she looks right now.
“You bite me,” I say, my lips curling with a smirk. “And then you try to run?”
Her breathing becomes more labored, as if she’s about to explode with rage. “Maybe next time I’ll tear out your throat.”
A dark chuckle rips out of me.
Khristos.
She looks ready to kill me. No one’s ever dared to make such obvious threats to my life—at least not directly.
Yet this fragile, wild woman does just that without a single hint of fear in her eyes.
“Keep acting wild,” I mutter into her ear. “It turns me on even more.”
“Pig!” she yells angrily. “I’ll kill you if you lay your filthy hands on Henry! I swear it on my life.”
My brows knit instantly. “Pig? As if you haven’t been thinking of all the ways I could fuck you since you got here.”
“I haven’t.” Her tone is more defensive than angry now. “I’m not…attracted to you.”
My fingers dig into the skin around her jaw. “Little liar. I’ve seen the way you act around me. The way you gasp for breath when I’m near you, the way your cheeks flush.”
“You…” Her voice falters, and I see the way she’s struggling to hold my gaze as uncertainty sets in. “You saw wrong.”
“Lie to me one more time and I’ll make sure your little friend dies with a bullet in his head,” I growl. “Don’t think you can escape me, little bird. If you say another man’s name in front of me again, I’ll find him and make sure he doesn’t live to see another day.”
“You’ve lost your mind,” she whispers. “You’re insane.”
“You bet I am.”
I’m losing my fucking mind from jealousy, possessiveness, and rage. I’m going crazy because of her, and I’ll die before I let another man touch her, or even come within an inch of her.
“Go back to your room. Now!”
Knowing Elena, she’s most likely boiling with the need to retort. But for some reason, she does as I say and heads down the hallway that leads to the basement.
As I watch her walk away, I can only think of one thing—how to make her mine forever.
Keeping her a prisoner and making threats will only keep her in my control for a while. But it won’t be long before she calls my bluff, which isn’t really a bluff because I meant it when I said I’d kill any other man who goes near her.
I need to find another way. A way that’ll bind her to me forever. I tug on my tie, slide it off, and toss it onto my desk.
Marriage.
How didn’t I think of that earlier? Marrying Elena is the only way I can have her forever. It’s also the only way I can protect her from whoever set her up to be on the docks that night.
If someone used her as a distraction, they’ll surely go after her the moment she’s out of my sight. I can’t let that happen.
The door swings open, and Igor marches in. Mikhail and Artem are right behind him. The three of them stare at me cautiously, as if trying to decide whether it’s safe to approach.
“Jesus Christ,” Mikhail drawls from the door, shaking his head with what seems to be pity. “You look like a mess.”
I ignore him and sit back behind my desk. “When did you return to Miami?”
Igor has been on a mission in Russia for over a month, and that wasn’t supposed to end until next weekend. I’m surprised to see him.
Igor opens his arms wide. “I completed the mission last night. I missed my favorite cousin, so I booked the earliest flight back to Miami this morning.”
Relief ripples through me. With everything going on, I need an extra pair of hands I can trust. “It’s good to see you, man. Welcome back.”
He nods and smiles. “Spacibo, brat.” Thank you, brother.
Mikhail and Igor sit on the chairs across from mine while Igor leans against the wall to my right.
“What’s up? You don’t look like your usual self,” Igor mentions, shooting a pointed look at the bite mark on my neck.
“Other than his romance with some girl he brought home,” Mikhail starts, “I think we may have to be on the lookout for Vasili from now on.”
We’d been talking about him before I caught Elena eavesdropping.
Artem nods. “Call logs from Henry’s phone show he received a call from Vasili’s residence. I’m certain he’s behind all of this.”
Just like I thought.
If Henry’s working with Vasili, it means Elena was just bait. She was used by my enemy to distract me while the real spy got away.
My jaw clenches. “We need to find that bastard.”
Igor nods. “But first we need to deal with the girl. You can’t keep her as a prisoner forever.”
“I don’t plan to.” I lean back in my chair, rubbing my temple. “I plan to marry her.”
All three of them gape at me. For a moment, none of them say a word in response.
It feels like an eternity passes before Mikhail breaks the silence. “I think he’s lost his mind.”
Artem nods in agreement. “Want me to call a doctor? Whatever’s wrong with him seems serious.”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “You might want to call two, since he’ll be needing an extra pair of hands to treat the both of you if you keep questioning me. I’m damn serious.”
Artem leans in and whispers something into Mikhail’s ear. The latter shakes his head, pulls Artem closer, and mutters something in response. They’re pissing me the fuck off.
“You kidnapped her, Leo,” Igor says, his brows knitted with concern. “Are you planning on forcing her into marrying you?”
“No.” I don’t mind exploring that option if it’s the only way I can get her to wear my ring, though.
Igor throws his hands up, and there’s confusion etched on his face. “Well, I don’t see how else you’ll get her to marry you. The girl probably thinks you’re a monster.”
“It doesn’t matter what she thinks of me. She’ll be mine anyway.”
Mikhail narrows his eyes at me. “Hold on a sec. Are you in love with her?”
The room goes silent instantly, all attention on me as they anticipate my answer. I don’t hesitate.
“No.”
My hand goes up to the spot on my neck where she bit me earlier, and I push down a smile. She’s wild. Untamed. And that makes me like my little bird even more.
As a Nazarov, I can’t fall in love. But I also can’t deny the pull I feel toward her. It’s impossible to ignore.
I want to protect her from whoever tried to use her as bait. And more importantly, I want my rock shining on her finger. It’ll mark her as mine, and then I’ll have the right to kill whoever tries to touch what belongs to me.
“Jokes aside, I don’t think this is a good idea, Leo.” Mikhail’s expression is suddenly serious.
“It’s a good thing no one asked you to think, Mikhail,” I reply, keeping my tone sharp despite the burning desire to break the news to my bride-to-be.
I can already imagine her seething with rage and playing hard to get, but we both know that beneath all that rage, she throbs with desire every time we’re close to each other.
“I’m marrying her, and that’s final.”
***
“I’m not going to marry you!”
Her voice ricochets off the walls of the basement, and if looks could kill, I’d be dead from the venom in her eyes.
That’s the exact reaction I was expecting.
Folding my arms across my chest and leaning back against the wall, I watch her pace the room like a furious little storm.
Her bare feet slam against the floor, her silk robe slipping off one shoulder. Her beautiful green eyes are bright with hatred every time they land on me.
She’s beautiful, especially when she’s mad at me.
Finally, she stops pacing and fully faces me. “I won’t marry you, Leonid. I don’t care if you’re the mafia boss or the mafia fisherman or whatever. I reject your proposal.”
Now that gets me upset.
I straighten up from the wall. I’m not sure what gave her the impression she gets to decide she can’t be mine, but she’s in for a shock. “You don’t have a choice.”
Her nostrils flare. “I would rather die.”
Something dark inside me tightens at the mention of her dying. I don’t like that word one bit, especially when it has to do with her.
Her chest rises sharply with reach breath.
“Careful, ptichka. No one’s dying.”
“Don’t call me that. My name’s Elena.” She closes her eyes and inhales deeply. “What makes you think I’d want to marry you?”
I know how stubborn and strong-willed she is, and I don’t want this conversation to stretch on any longer than it already has, so I decide to come clean. “I believe Henry might’ve been the actual spy on the dock. He used you to distract us.”
A flicker of pain crosses her face. She shakes her head in disbelief. “That can’t be true. Henry isn’t that kind of person.”
This time, I don’t feel jealous. The pain on her face makes my chest constrict. I prefer when she’s being stubborn and smart-mouthed. “You don’t know who he really is, Elena. He disappeared after you got kidnapped.”
“Maybe he was afraid you’d kidnap or kill him, too.”
“It isn’t that. I’ll give you the details when I’m sure,” I explain, slowly closing the distance between us. “But this marriage has to happen. Whether Henry’s behind everything or not, whoever set you up won’t let you live if I let you go.”
She chuckles dryly, her eyes still gleaming with rage. “So you’re saying I’m safer with you than I am out there on my own? Leonid, do I look stupid to you?”
My gaze sweeps over her, from the loose strands of honey-blonde hair falling from her messy bun to her lips, then down her chest before descending to the curve of her hips.
She’s beautiful. Intoxicating. Smart.
God, she has no idea what she does to me.
Of all the words I could use to describe Elena, stupid isn’t one of them. Still, I know her well enough to realize arguing with her won’t yield the result I want. “No, but you don’t have a say in this. It’s either marriage, or you say goodbye to the idea of ever seeing your friend again.”
Her jaw ticks. “You wouldn’t dare.”
I keep my voice calm and controlled, even though she’s making it incredibly hard for me to keep the desire burning inside me in check. “You have no idea what I’m capable of.” I pause. “The wedding’s in a week.”
Marking that as the end of the conversation, I turn to leave. I’m at the door when Elena’s voice halts my steps.
“I’ll marry you on one condition.”
I turn to face her. “What’s that?”
“My parents and Audrey must be at the wedding,” she says sharply, like she’s negotiating the terms of our marriage rather than asking for permission. “I’ve been gone for days now, and I know they’re worried. I need to let them know I’m alive.”
I planned for this wedding to be within the bratva. I don’t want Vasili getting information on my bride or her family. Bringing them here would be exposing both Elena and them to more danger.
“You can speak to them on phone, but I can’t promise they’ll be at the wedding. That’s asking for too much.”
Her brows furrow and her lips thin. “You’re asking for my entire life.”
I find it fascinating how she never gives up, even when backed into a corner. She always finds a way to get what she wants.
All my life, Tatiana is the only person I’ve ever felt inclined to give in to. But now, I feel the same way about Elena. For some reason, I want to give her whatever she asks for, even if it comes with a risk. I’ll just have security tightened on our wedding day.
“Fine. I’ll send an invitation to them.”
Surprise flickers across her face so quickly she can’t hide it, and relief follows a second later. “Thank you.”
Hearing gratitude from her hits harder than it should. Warmth stirs in my chest, unfamiliar and deeply unwelcome. I hate how it makes me want to close the remaining distance between us and pull her into my arms.
I don’t let it reach my face, though. I can’t let her see how strongly she affects me.
Instead, I give her a single nod and turn toward the door before I do something reckless.
Like lose control entirely.