25. Viktor
25
VIKTOR
I told myself to stay away from Irina’s apartment building because it would be the easiest way for someone to notice me there. She’d be under surveillance of some kind, and I didn’t need my face showing up on any Petrov footage.
Now, that had to change.
Now, I had to take all the steps that I could to make sure she would be all right.
I parked at her building, worried that Igor Petrov would punish her for losing her virginity. I didn’t know anything about the man, only whatever any other Mafia brother did. What I was fully aware of was the fact that she never mentioned him. Never spoke of a parent or family at all, just that they were “influential”.
If she was fond of him, even just a little, that would show in her attitude and personality, wouldn’t it?
Mindful of the ice on the sidewalk, I jogged toward the entrance of her building. Before I reached those doors, though, I heard the crunch of snow off to the side. I slowed, ready to attack or hide depending on who was coming. That was how tense I was. That was how fully my mind had shut down to brace for ugly confrontations.
I told Irina that I wanted to fight to make us happen, and this very well could be the moment where I would prove that.
Sticking to the wall around the corner, I stayed out of sight as two Petrov guards walked by. “She’s a pain in the ass,” the shorter man complained.
“Eh, soon, she won’t be our pain in the ass,” the other said.
I narrowed my eyes, furious that they’d talk about her like that.
“How so?” the first asked.
“The Boss will make an example out of her,” the second replied, chuckling.
No. No, he will not. I refused to accept that.
Since they were walking away from the building, unhurried and just moving along, I doubted they were leaving Irina in the apartment up there.
But where else could she be?
If those guards sounded annoyed by her, she had to be feeling the heat. Rurik said “everyone” knew that I’d claimed Irina, that I’d been seen out with her. That meant her guards would know, too. With people ganging up on her or giving her a hard time, she’d be threatened and upset.
She’d want to feel safe.
I backed up then broke into a run for my car. I knew exactly where she would be.
The library.
She said she went there late that one night because she wanted to feel safe. I had to hope that would still be true today.
After I drove to the closest parking lot near the huge library, I got out and hurried inside. Just like the last time when I looked for her here, I checked every floor. I shouldn’t have been surprised to find her on that top floor again. It was a quiet oasis of glass walls and thousands of books on cases arranged in something like a maze.
Unlike that last time I sought her out here, I didn’t slow down and appreciate the slow buildup of tension in stalking her down the aisle. I almost ran, aiming a direct path for her seated at a chair near the windows.
Gray clouds hung fat and low outside, almost as if the sky were pressing down on the roof and walls, ready to snap them all under the pressure.
With her feet under her, she slanted over the armrest and hugged her knees, staring out at the bleak nothingness out the window.
“Irina.”
She jumped a little, whipping her head around at my voice. Her expression was tight, a furrowed brow of a deep frown, but as soon as she realized I was there, she crumpled. Almost seeming near tears, she got up and ran to me.
I caught her easily, wrapping my arms around her.
She knows. If she was acting like this, she definitely knew that our secret wasn’t such a secret anymore.
“People are gossiping that we…” She burrowed her face against my chest as I held her.
“Yeah,” I agreed with a long, rough exhale. “People have been talking about us.”
She sniffled, holding on to me tighter. “I’m… This isn’t?—”
“Shh.” I stroked her hair back and let her cling to me, wishing I could whisk her away and envelop her in my security. I could keep her safe. I would keep her safe. But I couldn’t begin to do that here.
“Come on.” I tipped her chin up so she’d face me. “Let me get you out of here. We’ll talk.”
Nodding jerkily like a bobblehead, she walked with me. I set my arm around her shoulders, tucking her against my side. With a protective stance like this, I wanted to be ready to ward off anyone who tried to bother us. Walking out to my car with her was a clear sign that I was with her, but there wasn’t any point in trying to hide our relationship anymore. The cat was out of the bag. The time had come to really talk to her and let her share some answers with me. We’d made a mess out of this by catching feelings for each other, but it was done.
We can’t be done. I wouldn’t let that thought stay in my head. Her easy acceptance of my guiding her into my car gave me hope. She wasn’t lashing out at me and furious, nor was she tucking her head down and crying as she ran away like a defeated coward.
No, she was right here with me. She sat in the passenger seat, silent and serious. I held her hand as I drove. Even though she seemed too upset to talk right now, that would change as soon as we got to my home.
Rehearsing how I would start this conversation filled the ride for me. I knew I would need to be in charge of this discussion, so it was with a twist of gratitude that we didn’t speak on the way home.
Once I had her inside, though, I led her to sit on the sofa where I’d spanked her sexy ass and filled her pussy with my cum. It seemed like that had happened so long ago—too long ago—but it was so recent in reality.
“Irina?” I sat on the edge of the coffee table, facing her. Resting my elbows on my knees and leaning forward to clasp my hands together, I stared at her beautiful face. If only I could wipe off the anxiety evident there. Instead, I was here to drop a huge bombshell on her, one she never could’ve expected.
“I—”
She shook her head and lifted her arm. Pressing her fingertips to my mouth, she gave me the cue to shut up and let her talk first. That wasn’t ideal. It wasn’t how I imagined this to go, but I could be patient. She looked too worked up to try to argue with her. That was how deeply I worried about her and wanted to keep her as safe and happy as possible.
“Someone…” She stopped, shaking her head. “No, not someone. The only person I can think of to blame is Jessica. She’s the only person who could’ve seen us together.”
No, not true. Lots of people saw us walking through that whorehouse together. That was the ground zero of where the word spread from.
“If Jessica didn’t run her mouth and gossip about us, then someone else did.” She lifted her shoulders and let them fall again, listless even in that motion. “All that matters is that people in my circle were talking, and word got back to my father.” She didn’t blink or try to hide as she gazed at me. “My father is upset about the news that I hooked up with you, and that’s… a very delicate situation to survive.”
I nodded, wanting to let her know that I didn’t need her to spell it all out for me. But she was on a roll, not stopping as she rambled without pausing for a breath.
“This isn’t a typical father-and-daughter clash. I haven’t merely disappointed him. I’ve made him furious, Vik. He’s livid about the news that is spreading about me. The news that I’m no longer a marketable or desirable virgin bride any man would want.”
I leaned forward to set my hands on her thighs. “You are. I want you.” More than I should.
She placed her hands over mine and lowered her gaze. “When I say my father is angry with me, it’s not a simple grudge. I told you that he’s influential, but I didn’t explain any further. My father is the boss of a Mafia family, Vik. So when he’s upset, he can and will retaliate with swift and certain punishments.”
“Deep breaths, sweetheart,” I urged her as I watched her pant too quickly, as if she were on the verge of a panic attack.
She growled lightly. “Deep breaths won’t change that he’s so mad, Vik. Nothing can stop him from being furious that I hooked up with a civilian, a normal man like you, when he’d been so sure of my staying a virgin. My whole life, I was raised with the expectation that I wouldn’t have sex until my father picked a husband for me. To remain pure and wanted, not used like damaged goods.”
Grinding my teeth, I tried to dispel that thought. “You are not damaged goods.”
“According to him, I am. I’m no longer valuable since I gave you my virginity. Since I chose you, a man he’d never meet or be able to judge.”
I watched her, mulling over what she’d just revealed.
He doesn’t know.
“Does your father know that you slept with me? Specifically?”
She hung her head slightly as she shook it. “No. I don’t think so. I think he’s just mad that I wanted to do something for myself, of my own choosing, for once. That I’m not a virgin he can arrange in a marriage with a man not of my choice.”
Igor doesn’t know who I am. I let out a deep breath of relief that this secret was intact.
“He’s—”
I grabbed her hands, holding them securely as I rubbed my thumbs over her knuckles. “Shh. Let me explain, please.”
She furrowed her brow. “You don’t have anything to explain or lay out for me.”
“I do.”
Here goes.
“My name isn’t Viktor Remi. I’m only pretending to be a professor at that college. It’s a cover that my boss asked me to take so I could get close to you, Irina. So I could befriend you and gain your trust, assuming that you might open up to me and share secrets about what Igor Petrov is up to.”
Cautious understanding showed on her face. “Then who…?”
I didn’t let go of her hands as I drew in a breath and said,” I’m Viktor Baranov, Irina.”
She shot to her feet, moving as though she needed to reply on a survivor’s mentality. “ Baranov ?” she exclaimed.
I nodded, standing as well, prepared to steer how this discussion should go.
Shock warred with anger on her expressive face. That icy, aloof, stuck-up smirk was gone. Now, with her lips pressed tight in a firm line and her hands fists at her sides, she was fully invested in unleashing her raw rage on me.
I held my hands up, to catch her in case she stumbled on something and pitched to the floor. Backing up slowly, as if I were a feral vermin foaming at the mouth, she shook her head and felt for the furniture to beat a hasty retreat. “A Baranov!” she accused, giving me an extra scornful glare.
Bumping into the end of the sofa, she used that jarred action to step toward the side. Then more to the side.
Until she sprinted for the front door. Furious and stunned, Irina ran off.
I hadn’t counted on this to go well, but I hadn’t imagined she’d want to flee from me.
“Wait!” I shouted as I dashed away toward her.
She couldn’t leave. I wouldn’t let her get away, not with the knowledge that I was her enemy. And not with my heart ripping in two as I had to accept that she might hate me for how deeply I’d deceived her.