Chapter 5 - Lev
As I close the door and turn around, the air feels heavier in the hallway. My brother Damien stands there in all his fury, eyes boring into mine with an intensity only surpassed by the wrath of God himself. I notice the way his jaw clenches as he waits for me to speak.
"Lev," he grits out between clenched teeth. "What the fuck is going on?"
"Nice of you to be concerned, Damien. I’ve been having migraines recently," I shrug and place a hand on my forehead, pressing into it. I attempt a humorous tone, but the tension in the room is palpable, and even my usual sarcasm falls flat.
"Cut the bullshit. I'm not in the mood for it." His voice is ice cold, and I know better than to keep pushing him. Damien's usually the calm one, so when he's this furious, it's best to tread carefully.
"Fine," I sigh, running a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "We've got a problem. A big one."
“Your office, now,” he snaps before turning on his heels.
I sigh and follow, dreading the conversation that’s about to take place.
Once inside, I find Damien ending the conference call we have on hold. He wastes no time in wrapping up the meeting, glaring at the screen as if he'd rather be anywhere but here right now. I can't say I blame him. “Family emergency, gentlemen,” he says before turning off the screen.
I shut the door and lean against it, feeling the weight of his furious stare. I know I have to explain myself, but there's a part of me that wishes I could just avoid this conversation altogether.
Damien sits on my chair and swivels the seat to face me. I walk over and drop into the seat opposite his.
“Begin talking. Now!” He points a finger at me.
“Well, you should know it’s a serious matter,” I begin.
"Clearly," he snaps, his patience wearing thin. "You wouldn't have brought her here if it wasn't serious. Now get to the details that matter, Lev."
"Alright, alright," I mutter, deciding it's best to just get it over with. "You remember Lenny, right?”
"Of course I remember Lenny," Damien growls, clearly annoyed that I'm not getting to the point fast enough. "What does he have to do with this?"
"Alright," I start, trying to gather my thoughts. "You know how Lenny was handling our finances?" Damien nods, his expression tense, and I continue. "Well, turns out he wasn't as trustworthy as we thought."
"Bullshit," Damien scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. "Lev, you're telling me our own bookkeeper was embezzling from us?"
"Unfortunately, yes." I rub the back of my neck, frustration mounting. "I didn't want to involve anyone else because Boris and you have so much on your plate already, so I kept it quiet. And the girl… Pippa…" I hesitate, trying to find the right words to explain the mess I've found myself in. "She's collateral damage."
"Collateral damage?" Damien echoes, his anger turning into disbelief. "Lev, you kidnapped an innocent woman because of some idiot's mistake?"
"Hey, I didn't know she was innocent when I took her, alright?" I defend myself, feeling a strange mix of guilt and frustration. "And it's not like we can just let her go now."
"Clearly," Damien mutters, the sarcasm dripping from his words. "Because of you, we’ve got an innocent woman stuck in the middle of this mess. How did that even happen?"
"Look," I sigh, raking my hand through my hair. "I thought that if I kidnapped his daughter, he’d be forced to pay us back in exchange for her. Turns out, she’s not his daughter. Her name is Pippa Anderson, and she works for Lenny. I didn't realize it was a mistake until after I took her."
"Jesus Christ, Lev." Damien pinches the bridge of his nose, looking like he might explode with anger at any moment. "So what's the plan now? You can't just keep her here indefinitely."
"Of course not," I snap, feeling defensive. "I'm working on a solution, alright? I just… I didn't expect things to spiral like this."
"Didn't expect it?" Damien shakes his head, disbelief written all over his face. "You kidnapped a woman, Lev. Exactly what were you thinking?”
"Alright, enough!" I throw up my hands in exasperation. "I know I fucked up, and I'm going to fix it. But right now, I need your support, not your sarcasm."
Damien stares at me for a moment, the anger in his eyes slowly being replaced by something more understanding. He sighs, running a hand through his own hair, and nods.
"Fine," he concedes, looking as if saying the word physically pains him. “What’s your grand solution?”
"Alright," I say, grateful that he’s finally listening instead of attacking. Now, I need to come up with a plausible lie. "First things first, we're going to keep Pippa here as leverage. At least until we have a better handle on this Lenny situation. I believe he will try to secure her release, or if not, she can give us some information that might help us find him since he’s escaped."
"Lev," Damien warns, his tone cautious. "Do what you must, but don't get too attached to her. We both know how these things can spiral out of control."
"Attached?" I scoff, trying to keep my voice steady and unaffected. "She's just an asset, a bargaining chip. That's all.
"Good," Damien replies, but there's something in his eyes that tells me he doesn't entirely believe me. “So you’ve got this handled?”
I nod with all the confidence I can muster.
"I won’t tell Boris for now. But only because you were trying to help us in the first place, and I know you wouldn't be in this mess if you didn't have a good reason. Just… don't make me regret this, okay?"
"Trust me," I promise, feeling a mix of relief and determination. "I won't."
***
Once Damien leaves, I stride down the hallway toward the room where Pippa is being held. I need answers as to what exactly it was she was thinking when she tried to run. The air feels electric, charged with the anticipation of our confrontation. As I reach the door, my heart beats faster—not from fear or uncertainty but from the undeniable pull this woman has on me.
I take a deep breath and push open the door. “What the hell were you thinking?” I bellow at her.
There she is, sitting on the edge of her bed, wearing an extra-large T-shirt and blue jeans. She looks up at me and then looks away.
“Pippa,” I saw in a low growl, walking over to her. I place my hand under her chin and force her to look up. As her eyes meet mine, I momentarily lose myself in the earthiness of her eyes. Then, she looks away, pulling her chin out of my hand with a defiance that intrigues me. She’s got a spirit that refuses to be held down.
It’s an innocence the world will take from her soon enough.
“Pippa,” I ask again. “Why did you think it a good idea to run? If any one of my men saw you, they could have shot you dead on the spot. Don’t you understand that?” I touch her shoulder for a response.
She pulls away from my touch and closes her eyes. When she opens them again, I notice her fiery defiance momentarily hidden behind a veil of tears. My gut clenches at the sight of her crying, and against my better judgment, I feel compelled to comfort her.
"Hey," I say softly, confused by the onslaught of emotions the sight of her crying reigns down on me. "There's no need for that."
"Go away!" she snaps, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. Her voice trembles with anger, but I'm not fooled. She’s in pain, and I put her in this position.
My heart lurches with regret. I sit down beside her. “Pippa,” I begin. “I promise I won’t hurt you.”
In response, I hear her hold back a sob.
"Pippa," I murmur, feeling a rare pang of guilt in my chest. Her tears are like tiny needles pricking at the edges of my conscience, a sensation I rarely allow to creep in. "I messed up, and I'm sorry. But you have to understand, I had no choice."
Her wet eyes meet mine. “No choice?” she whimpers, wiping away the tears with the back of her sleeve. Immediately, I pull out a handkerchief and hand it to her. She takes it with a silent nod in thanks.
I swallow hard, trying to find the right words to explain myself without revealing too much. "It's… complicated. Look, I can't let you go until I can think of a next step. I made a mistake keeping you here, and then… well,” I can’t find the words to tell her how I really feel. That she’s too rare a woman to just let go off without truly exploring first.
She sniffs, looking at me warily as if trying to decipher the truth in my words. Her chest begins to heave, as a new wave of crying takes over.
I reach over and place my arm around her soft shoulders, trying to comfort her. “Please, Pippa. Don’t cry.”
To my surprise, she leans into my chest. It takes everything in me not to lean down and kiss the top of her head.
Her sobs shake her curvy frame, and a part of me crumbles at the sound of her pain. As she leans into me, seeking solace, an unfamiliar warmth spreads through my chest. It's a feeling I don't quite understand but can't ignore.
"Pippa," I murmur softly, my hand rubbing soothing circles along the love handles on her back. “I promise everything is going to be alright.”
And then, to my surprise, I feel her punch me in my stomach.
I pull away not from the pain but the shock of her action. Her dainty wrists are no match for my abs, which I work out every single day.
“Seriously?” I bellow at her in rage. “Have you been faking these tears this whole time?”
She leaps to her feet, fists clenched at her sides.
"Stop playing games," I warn, my patience wearing thin. "I'm trying to help you here."
"Help me?" she repeats incredulously. "By keeping me locked in this room like some kind of prisoner?"
"I’ve given you enough explanations and perhaps treated you far too well," I retort, my voice rising as I jump to my feet and tower over her. "But after you just tried to punch me, there’s no way in hell I’m going to give you any further answers!”
I brace myself for her attack, ready to subdue her if necessary. But instead of a punch or a kick, she tears up once more, her eyes glistening with unshed waterworks. "Please don't hurt me," she whimpers, her lower lip quivering.
I relax just a little, but then, without warning, she lunges forward with a surprising burst of energy and swings her fist toward my face. It's impressive how quickly she can turn those tears on and off, really.
Her determination is admirable, but her aim leaves much to be desired. I catch her wrist just before her knuckles make contact with my cheek, holding her in place as her eyes flash with frustration.
"Nice try," I say dryly, releasing her wrist. "But I'm not that easy to take down."
"Maybe not," she replies, rubbing her wrist and glaring at me. "But I won't stop trying."
"Keep that up, and we'll both regret it," I mutter under my breath, taking a step back. Pippa may be a thorn in my side, but something about her refusal to back down stirs a strange feeling within me, one I can't quite place—and that unnerves me more than anything else.
Pippa lunges at me again, her fiery spirit catching me off guard. I react with lightning speed, stepping to the side and trapping her against the wall with my body. My arm presses against her throat just enough to remind her of the precarious situation she's in. Despite the danger, a proud smirk tugs at her lips.
"Stubborn, aren't you?" I remark, impressed by her tenacity.
"Like you're any better," she retorts, struggling to free herself from my hold.
"True," I admit, my face inches from hers. "But I have more experience in this game, so I'd advise you to stop provoking me."
"Or what? You'll kill me?" Pippa challenges me, her eyes never leaving mine.
"Nothing so dramatic," I reply, a wicked grin spreading across my face. "If you keep misbehaving, I might just have to kiss you to shut you up."
Her eyes widen, and for a brief moment, something dreamy flickers across her face before she regains her composure. "You wouldn't dare,” she whispers, her voice hoarse.
"Try me," I challenge, tightening my grip around her. The tension between us crackles like electricity, setting every nerve in my body on fire. I feel the blood rush to my cock, and suddenly, I feel like I need to be careful around her. This attraction is dangerous—I shouldn't be feeling this way about someone I'm holding hostage.
I can't help but stare at her defiant expression for a moment longer before I force myself to back away. She rubs her throat, still staring me down. I watch as her fingers glide down her collarbone toward her generous cleavage, and a pool of desire forms in my bones.
If I hadn’t backed away just then, god knows what I would have done next.
Perhaps follow through with that kiss I threatened?
What the hell is wrong with me? My heart's pounding in my chest, and I can feel the heat of her body lingering on my skin. I've never felt like this around any other woman, so why does Pippa affect me so much?
She shouldn’t. She can’t. She’s my captive. I need to keep her around, but I also need some space from her. Maybe we both do.
"Don’t try any new tricks," I order, trying to regain some control over the situation. "I'll have someone bring you food and water. I’m changing the code to your door as punishment for all those stunts you pulled—for trying to run off and attack me. I’m going to make sure your food is delivered and no staff is to stay in here with you. From now on, you will be left alone, to think about what you did."
"Great," she says sarcastically, folding her arms across her chest. "Room service in my very own prison cell with solitary confinement. How thoughtful."
This. This is what pulls me to her. She’s so quiet, so delicate in many ways, and then, when she’s annoyed, she can turn into this firecracker. That same urge, to shut her up with my lips against hers overcomes me again. The sooner I leave her room, the better. "Just remember that if you misbehave, I can bring a lot more trouble to your door than you expect. I want you on your best behavior for the next week, and then we can talk about certain privileges.”
Her eyes widen slightly at that, but she doesn't say anything else. Instead, she watches me warily as I turn and walk towards the door.
As my hand closes around the doorknob, I pause for a moment, knowing that this moment marks a turning point. There's no going back from here—from this point onward, I’d be lying to myself if I say I’m not completely and utterly infatuated with Pippa Anderson.