Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Riley
The late spring evening breeze hit my face, damp and heavy. I clutched my bag and walked out of the office building, head down, heading for the bus stop.
After that last warning, Veronica was back to making my work life hell. She had me cross-checking dozens of Russian documents when I didn't know a damn word of Russian. Twelve hours staring at dense Cyrillic on a screen until my eyes burned.
And Matvey stayed cold as ever. Not that I should've expected anything else. My chest ached. Just thinking about Matvey sent my emotions spinning out of control. I forced him out of my head.
Today was the last day of our deal. Tomorrow, I'd be free. No more seeing him, no more Veronica, no more of this torture. I took a deep breath and picked up my pace.
Then I heard footsteps behind me. Heavy.
Fast. At first, I thought they were just other pedestrians, but something felt wrong.
I glanced back and saw three massive guys closing in.
Built like brick walls, their leather jackets straining over bulging muscles.
Under the streetlights, I could make out vicious scars and dead eyes.
My pulse hammered. Something was very wrong. I spun around and walked faster, almost power-walking. The footsteps behind me sped up too, boots pounding closer.
I broke into a run.
"Stop right there, bitch!" A roar with a thick Russian accent. "Where the fuck do you think you're going?"
My lungs burned. My heels skidded on the pavement—I nearly went down.
"Help!" I screamed, trying to make it to the convenience store. But an arm hooked around my waist from behind.
Another hand clamped over my mouth.
"Shut the fuck up."
"Mmph—mmph—" I thrashed, legs kicking wildly in the air. I drove my elbow back into his ribs, clawed at anything I could reach.
"Stop fucking moving!" the one with Russian prison tattoos ringing his neck barked.
He was too strong. My resistance meant nothing. He dragged me toward a side alley while the other two followed. They hauled me deep into the shadows and slammed me against the wall. My back hit brick, and everything went dark for a second.
"I'm warning you. Make one more sound, and I'll shut you up permanently." His voice was pure menace.
The murder in his eyes was real. I nodded slowly.
"What do you want?" The words tumbled out the second he released my mouth, my voice shaking. "Money? I've got cash in my bag—take it all!"
I fumbled for my purse zipper.
"Money?" The one with yellow teeth burst into crude laughter. "Fuck, this bitch thinks we're street thugs?"
"We don't want your money. Someone just asked us to deliver a message." The shortest of the three stepped forward.
"What message?"
The tattooed one moved closer, his massive shadow swallowing me whole.
"The pakhan thinks you've become a problem lately." He grinned, cruel and cold. "You're in the way of his future with Miss Gadz. So—"
Pakhan. The word drove into my temple like a nail, blanking my mind for a second. Matvey? No. Impossible.
"What are you talking about?" My voice cracked. "Matvey—he wouldn't—"
"He wants us to take care of you." He said it casually. "Permanently. Erase you from the map."
That couldn't be true. Matvey didn't kill ordinary people without reason. Even if he wanted me gone, he'd find another way.
"You're lying! He wouldn't do this. If it was him, he'd tell me to my face!"
"Tell you to his face?" Yellow Teeth laughed harder. "Little slut, how well do you really know the pakhan? You think he actually gives a shit about you?"
I bit my lip hard. Did I really know Matvey at all? When Veronica showed up, I hadn't even known he had an ex-wife.
"He's just fucking you." Tattoo Man's words sliced through me. "You think your cheap pussy is special? You're just a convenient toy he keeps at the office. Now he's bored, Miss Gadz is back, and trash like you gets thrown out."
My stomach churned violently. Nausea hit in waves.
"I don't believe you." I forced the words out, trying to buy time. "You're from one of his enemies, aren't you?"
If I stalled long enough, maybe someone would pass by.
"Stop fucking dreaming!" Shorty sneered. "The pakhan sent us. You wouldn't stop clinging to him, you stupid bitch."
"But I've never seen you before." I lifted my chin, faking confidence.
I'd never met any of Matvey's men except Anton, and these three were nothing like him. Maybe they really weren't his people.
The three exchanged glances.
"Boss, this bitch is stalling." Yellow Teeth spat.
"I know." Tattoo Man snorted, looking me up and down. "I don't give a fuck if you believe us. Once you disappear, our job's done."
His eyes lingered on my chest and thighs longer than anywhere else. Ice ran through my veins.
"See, originally we were just supposed to kill you." He slowly raised his hand, stroking the stubble on his jaw. "But now I've changed my mind."
"What do you mean?" Dread pooled in my gut.
His mouth twisted into a disgusting leer.
"Look at those tits. That ass. Be a goddamn waste to just kill you." His gaze stripped me naked.
The bile I'd been choking back surged into my throat.
"Boss is right." Yellow Teeth stared at my legs. "Sweet little bitch like this, we gotta spread those legs and really fuck her good. Look at those legs—damn, they'll look perfect on my shoulders!"
"We'll take turns with her, fill up every hole with our cum. Even if she survives, she'll be too used up and ashamed to crawl back to the pakhan's bed." Shorty added, voice thick with malice.
"Smart. Cleaner too—don't even need a knife. After we wreck her and snap some naked pictures, she'll disappear on her own!"
My legs gave out. My knees shook uncontrollably.
"You're insane. Matvey would never—even if he wanted me gone, he'd never let you touch me—"
"Listen up, slut. The pakhan sent us to take out the trash! You think he cares whether the garbage gets burned or fucked by dogs? He just wants you gone! He doesn't give a shit how many dicks go in you tonight!"
Tattoo Man lunged at me.
"Don't touch me!" I swung my purse at him.
"Stop acting innocent!" He knocked my bag flying. "Spread your legs and cooperate, maybe we'll even make you feel good. But if you fight, I'll make you wish you were dead."
"Help! Someone help—"
He threw me to the ground and yelled to the others. "Hold her down!"
Yellow Teeth and Shorty pinned me—one grabbed my arms, the other my legs.
"No, don't. Please—"
Tattoo Man straddled me, his weight crushing my chest. His hand went for my shirt collar. Tears poured down my face. His rough palm covered my breast, squeezing hard through my bra. I gagged.
"Fuck, nice and soft." He cursed. "Gonna feel even better when I'm inside you."
No. This couldn't happen. Something exploded inside me. I stopped fighting with my upper body. When Tattoo Man relaxed slightly, I bent my right knee and drove it into his crotch with every ounce of strength I had.
He screamed and let go.
In the few seconds the other two froze, I broke free. Rolled over, scrambled up, and ran.
"Bitch, I'll kill you!" A roar behind me. "Catch her!"
I burst out of the alley, my lungs tearing with every breath. I practically crawled the block back to the office building.
I crashed through the entrance, nearly colliding with a security guard.
"Miss, you—"
I ignored him and kept running. Then I saw Matvey.
He stood in the center of the lobby, one hand casually in his black slacks pocket, the other holding his phone like he was listening to a report. Tall, broad, unnervingly still.
Hearing the commotion, he slowly looked up. Those sharp grey-green eyes landed on me. His gaze swept over my disheveled hair and ragged breathing without surprise or concern. Like he'd expected all of this.
So what they said was true. It really was him.
"Matvey, how the fuck can you be this cold?" I walked toward him. "You actually tried to have me killed!"
He frowned. "What?"
That deep, rough voice with its sexy Russian accent—it used to mesmerize me. Now it made me sick.
"You sent people to kill me." I pointed at his face. "Because I'm in the way of you and Veronica. You heartless monster!"
My voice echoed through the lobby. The guard stared at us in shock.
Matvey's frown deepened. I thought he'd deny it, explain—but nothing. His eyes went cold, like he was blaming me for failing to die as planned. It shredded what little dignity and hope I had left.
"You don't need to kill me. I'll stay far away from you and Veronica." I suddenly laughed, tears streaming down my face. "I quit."
"What are you talking about?" I heard the anger in his voice.
"I said I quit!" I shouted. "Fuck this job, fuck our deal, it's over!"
The guard hesitated, unsure whether to remove this crazy woman.
"Riley—"
"Don't say my name! You have no fucking right to say my name!" My throat felt packed with broken glass, every word drawing blood.
I yanked off my ID badge and hurled it at his face with all my strength. The plastic hit his cheekbone and clattered to the floor. Matvey's jaw tightened, the scar at his temple stark under the lights.
"Mr. Bykov." The guard finally stepped forward, positioning himself between us. "Do you need me to escort this lady—"
"Get out." Matvey's voice was low, but the guard immediately backed off.
I turned to leave. No reason to stay. But a hand caught my wrist, grip so tight I nearly lost my balance.
"Let go!"
He didn't. Instead, he pulled me toward him.
"I said let go!" I shoved at his chest with my free hand. "I hate you. I hate you so much! I—"
He suddenly yanked me into his arms, and his mouth crashed down on mine. I pushed against him, but he held tighter. His tongue invaded my mouth like every time before. I bit him. He groaned but kissed me harder, more brutal. I tasted blood—his or mine, I couldn't tell.
One hand locked behind my head, the other around my waist as he backed me up. My spine hit a door. Through my peripheral vision, I saw the guard had turned away. Matvey shoved the door open, pulled me into the bathroom, and locked it behind us.
His lips left mine briefly. I could finally speak.
"Are you insane?" I screamed. "You psycho, don't touch me!"
How was this any different from what those thugs tried to do? His face came at me again. My right hand flew up and cracked across his face. The slap echoed off the bathroom tiles.
Matvey's head snapped to the side, five red finger marks blooming on his cheek. My palm stung, but I didn't care.
He ran his tongue over his teeth and looked back at me with wilder eyes. He lifted me onto the sink counter, cold marble against my thighs.
"Matvey—"
He dropped to his knees. I froze. What the hell was he doing? His hands slid under my skirt, rough palms against my inner thighs, moving upward.
"Get off!" I grabbed his thick wrist. "I said no!"
He looked up, eyes locking onto mine from below.
"You think saying you quit means you can leave me?"
"Why the fuck can't I? The deal ends today. I don't owe you anything."
"Is that right?" His voice dropped lower as his hand found my underwear.
I clamped my thighs together, but his strength was terrifying. He forced my legs apart, pressing them against the sink edge.
"You bastard!" I screamed and hit his shoulders.
His fingers hooked the edge of my panties and ripped. They hit the floor. Then his tongue was on me. That familiar sensation created a sickening dissonance. I hated my body. Hated that it still responded. Hated how it betrayed me.
"Stop." I pushed his head hard.
He ignored me, tongue moving over sensitive flesh, licking, sucking. Electric heat radiated from my core, but it was wrapped in humiliation and rage.
"Go to hell!" I grabbed fistfuls of his hair. "You should be dead."
He suddenly closed his mouth around the most sensitive spot and sucked hard. I almost cried out, biting down on my own hand instead. His tongue circled that point while his thumb pressed at my entrance. My body's instinct started overriding my mind.
"No." I shook my head, tears blurring my vision.
He suddenly thrust two fingers inside. My body went rigid. His fingers pumped in and out, hitting that spot that made me lose my mind. My legs started shaking. I hated this feeling. Hated that my body was wet at a time like this.
His fingers sped up, creating obscene wet sounds. His tongue greedily licked along my inner thigh. My breathing spiraled out of control. The forced climb toward climax crashed over me like a tsunami.
No. I couldn't come. I absolutely could not come while he forced this on me. But my nerves had completely lost control.
When I came back to myself, he'd bitten down on my clit, and I'd reached the peak.
Once again, I'd lost completely.