Chapter 9 – Kat #2
The door swung inward, and Marielle stepped inside, radiating warmth and color that instantly brightened the room.
She wore a vibrant emerald-green dress, her hair a cascade of perfect waves.
Seeing her felt like a breath of fresh air after the claustrophobia of Danil’s suite and the grim solemnity of my thoughts.
“Kat!” she exclaimed, her smile genuine and wide as she came over to hug me. “I thought I’d come and check on you. I hoped you were not still sulking in your black dress.” She laughed, a light, melodic sound that was a stark contrast to the heavy silence that had filled the room.
“It’s a wonder she’s not wearing it again,” Sava said with a wink, picking up the breakfast tray that had been discreetly placed outside the door. “One black coffee and a cyanide omelet, as requested. Though I regret to inform you that the omelet is just regular eggs and cheese.”
I rolled my eyes but smiled, a sense of normalcy washing over me. Marielle and Sava had an effect on me. They were the only two familiar, friendly faces in a world of strangers, a world where every smile felt like it hid a sharp blade.
We sat in the lounge area of the suite, the comfortable sofas and armchairs feeling less intimidating with their presence.
Marielle chatted brightly, recounting a funny story about her husband, Eduard, that had Sava chuckling.
For a few minutes, I allowed myself to just exist, to listen, to forget that I was a pawn in a deadly game.
Then, Marielle’s tone shifted.
“Oh, I almost forgot!” she said, her eyes lighting up. “I came to tell you about the gathering tonight. Feliks Durov is hosting a welcome party for you. To officially introduce you to the Yezhov Bratva.”
Feliks. The note I had found in the crumpled blossoms of my bouquet: “Feliks knows the truth.”
The words, which had been a distant, confusing whisper in my mind, now screamed with a horrifying clarity. My heart hammered against my ribs, and my hands, resting in my lap, clenched into tight fists. A dizzying wave of paranoia swept over me.
I forced myself to take a deep, steadying breath, my smile feeling stiff and unnatural.
I glanced at Marielle’s face. She was completely guileless, her eyes shining with excitement for me.
She had no idea. Telling her now would only needlessly worry her and put her in a dangerous position.
I decided, in that moment, that I would handle this on my own.
“That’s…unexpected,” I said, my voice steadier than I expected. I turned my attention to her, feigning ignorance. “Feliks Durov? Who is he? I don’t think I’ve met him.”
Marielle’s smile was warm and reassuring.
“He’s practically a legend. He’s an old and trusted soldier in the Bratva, been with the Yezhovs for decades. He’s like family, really.”
Just then, the outer door of the suite opened again, and a new presence filled the room. The air shifted, the light, easy atmosphere instantly dissipating.
Danil.
He walked in, fully dressed in a tailored black suit, his movements as sharp and precise as a predator’s. His ice-blue eyes scanned the room, landing on Marielle, then Sava, and finally on me. There was a possessive spark in their depths that made my skin prickle.
“Marielle,” he said, his greeting a nod that was both respectful and dismissive. Then his gaze, heavy and intense, settled on me, “Katria.” It wasn’t a question or a greeting. It was a statement of ownership.
Danil’s presence was a physical force, sucking the easy atmosphere from the room. His gaze locked with mine, and the silent challenge that had simmered all night flared to life. I saw Marielle and Sava subtly shift, sensing the coming storm.
“The gathering tonight,” Danil began, his voice low and commanding, his eyes never leaving mine. “Feliks is hosting. It’s an invitation, and you will attend.”
“You already have my answer,” I shot back, not bothering to hide the venom in my tone. “I’m not a prize to be paraded around. I’m not some trophy you can take to a funeral.”
A flicker of something dark crossed his face. “It’s not a funeral, Katria. It’s a chessboard.” His voice was a low growl. “And you, whether you like it or not, are the Queen. Every move we make is watched, every absence noted. Your defiance serves no purpose but to make us both look weak.”
“I am not a piece in your game,” I said, rising to my feet. “And I don’t care how I make you look. My only concern is getting out of here.”
“That’s enough, both of you,” Marielle interjected, her voice firm. She stood, coming over to me and wrapping me in a quick hug. “Kat, it’s best if you come. You’re part of the Bratva now.”
Her words were meant to be a comfort, but they were a grim confirmation of my new reality. A glided cage, and I was being told to simply enjoy the scenery. Marielle gave me a final squeeze before looking to Danil.
“I’ll see you both tonight.”
With that, she left, pulling a reluctant Sava out with her.
The door clicked shut, leaving us alone in a silence more charged than any scream. We stood a few feet apart, the space between us humming with unspoken fury and far more dangerous attraction.
“You think you can play these games,” I said, my voice barely a whisper, the rage a tight knot in my stomach. “You think you can control me. You think that because you put a ring on my finger, you own me.”
He took a step toward me, his eyes now icy. “I don’t think so, Katria. I know it.”
“Last night,” I went on, my breath coming faster, fueled by anger and a reckless need to break him, to shatter his calm face. “That kiss meant nothing to you? Is that another lie you told yourself?”
He was now in front of me. He didn’t speak. His hands reached out, not to hurt me but to wrap around my waist, pulling my body close, twisting a handful of my curls tightly in his fist, forcing my head back.
“Tell me what you want,” he ground out, his voice thick with a rage that mirrored my own. “Tell me what you really want, and I’ll show you what ‘nothing’ feels like.”
I saw the raw need in his eyes, the thin veneer of control finally snapping. This wasn’t about power anymore; it was about two desperate people fighting to find a release in the most destructive way possible. I twisted my mouth to his, meeting his hungry aggression with my own.
The kiss was a punishing, brushing collision.
It was all teeth and tongue and desperate, frantic need.
He let go of my hair, his hands tangling in the silk of my blouse, tearing at the buttons until the soft fabric gave way.
His mouth moved down my throat, leaving a trail of fire.
My fingers dug into the muscles of his shoulders, clinging to him as if I were drowning.
“This isn’t you,” he bit out his words, a harsh gasp against my skin. “This isn’t you getting swept away. This is you fighting for control.”
“Then let’s see who breaks first,” I spat back, the challenge a feverish whisper.
He might have my body, but he still didn’t have my mind.
As I slowly gathered myself, pulling my blouse closed, my thoughts returned to Feliks. He had to have the answers. And no matter what had just happened between me and Danil, I was going to that party. I had to because it was the only way out.