Chapter 7 #3
“My father, or I should say the man who’d dragged me off the street, providing me with food, clothing, education, and shelter, subscribed to the ways of the code.
There were eighteen of them and it was a requirement to memorize each one prior to being accepted within the organization.
Although Maxim Federov considered himself to be more modern in certain methodologies, he was a firm believer that when any code was ignored or refused, the indiscretion should be punishable by death.
He never gave second chances. There was always punishment involved for going against his wishes.
It didn’t matter who you were, including flesh and blood.
He was brutal, usually unforgiving, and considered one of the most dangerous men in Russia. ”
I could feel the heat of her gaze, so I continued.
“I’d often heard Papa called the King of Thieves because of his methods of extortion.
There were some who even called him a god.
Few thought he had any compassion or humanity, that he was capable of loving anyone.
I saw him differently. He was proud of me, calling me his little warrior from the day I stepped foot in his beautiful car.
Years later, he provided me with a nickname.
The Butcher. At the time, I was extremely honored. ”
Chloe shifted off the rock, carefully walking in my direction. “Some of the stories you told in class weren’t from history books. Were they?” There was no fear in her voice, only the same curiosity she always expressed in class.
I laughed, enjoying the smells of the forest. “Some were. A few were memories, important aspects as to the reasons there are several very dangerous groups within the United States.”
“What happened to your papa?”
Inhaling, I held the fresh air in my lungs for a period of time before expelling.
“There was talk my father had broken the code himself, performing actions that were against Bratva ethics. He received punishment as required by the Thieves Code, determined by an unknown convocation of his peers.” I turned to face her.
“I was the one who found him, the horror something no one should ever face.”
She inched closer, tilting her head. “That’s why they’re here, to make you pay the price for breaking the code.”
“That would be my guess. They are not allowed to ascend in the ranks until the punishment has been enacted, no matter the hardship or the time taken. As I told you, they will never stop until they get what they want. If they are killed, it is likely another group will be sent in their place. I will avenge my father’s death one day.
I will find the people responsible. And on that day, no matter the location, blood will rain in the streets.
That is not something that should occur in the United States, the land of the free. ”
There was no reason for the connection we shared, the crackling electricity that once ignited, there was no way of dousing the flame. However, when she closed the distance, brushing her delicate fingers across my skin, all I could think about was ravaging her.
“Forsake his relatives; mother, father, brothers, sisters. Not to have a family of his own, including a wife or children. Teach the trade to young children.”
Although I’d glossed over the lesson, keeping to the academia-approved information, I’d allowed the class to see a screenshot of the codes. She’d remembered.
“Yes,” I snarled, hating my body’s reaction to her, my cock pressing savagely against my jeans.
She’d had a chance to live a normal life.
That had just been eradicated for mine. The shimmer of her skin was even more beautiful in the cascading light.
My hunger continued to increase, my heart thudding against my chest. I could easily take her right here.
Right now.
She continued caressing my face, her eyes darting back and forth. When she pressed her hand against my chest, digging her fingers into my shirt, I issued a series of growls. Then I snapped her hand into mine, the spell finally broken. I couldn’t care about her. That wasn’t allowed.
“We return to the cabin, where you will remain inside unless allowed. You need to tend to your wounds.”
She took a quick glance down at her legs, shrugging. “What does it matter?”
“It matters, Chloe. We can’t have your wounds getting infected. I have no way of dealing with it.”
Laughing softly, she closed her eyes for a few seconds. “Of course. I’ll take care of them.”
Another moment of awkward silence settled in.
“This will be the last time I tell you this. You will follow my rules.” I turned away, unable to look her in the eyes any longer.
However, trying to push her aside did nothing but anger me.
I ached for the warmth of her body, the way she felt in my arms. I longed to thrust my cock inside, driving her to another intense orgasm.
And I wanted to taste her sweet pussy juice, enjoying her wild screams when she exploded into my mouth.
That couldn’t happen again. I refused to allow it.
I walked away, taking several deep breaths.
“The last time,” she repeated in a whisper.
“I think you know what happens if you defy me.”
“Punishment. You know, you are right to suspect your brother of attempting to have you killed,” Chloe stated, her tone holding an air of authority.
I stopped long enough to hear the rest.
“Maxim Federov had already broken the code long before you came into his life. By the fact your brother was even born, your father had already gone against the crazy ethics you mentioned. From what I can tell, with your father gone, you are the rightful leader, the Pakhan.”