Chapter 32
Katerina
Fuck.
This is my karma for torturing Dominic this morning.
Because of my ill intent, Viktor’s here to torture me.
Dominic shuts the door behind him, and the sound echoes throughout the room. I refuse to feel fear because of his absence. I don’t need a man to protect me. I’m strong now. I don’t need to fall into the silent Bratva Princess role. I can be the fierce Syndicate Wife I’ve become.
I meet Viktor’s sharp gaze and return it with a glare of my own. I cross my arms over my chest in a defiant stance that I know will piss him off.
He looks me over for a minute, sneering the whole time, then throws his head back and laughs.
“Look at you. With your masculine haircut and clothes. I bet you think this makes you tough. I bet you think this makes you fierce. But you’re not. You just look ugly and pathetic,” he spits out in Russian. He laughs again as if my new me is something unthreatening.
I look over my black cropped leggings and grey hoodie. Thankfully I threw it over my sports bra. Viktor would probably beat me for parading around so inappropriately.
“You don’t know anything!” I spit at him, still in our native tongue. I know my husband well enough to know that he’s listening through that door right now. We don’t need to give him any reason to storm in here.
“I know you’ve been screening my calls and ignoring my texts. But you can’t shut me out. You can’t get rid of me. You were sent here on a mission, and you’re failing it. It’s your job to help us. Remember who your family is, brat.” Viktor’s sharp eyes meet mine in a challenge.
“What if I don’t want to do your mission?” I throw back at him. I remember my conversation with Nik. This is my chance to put him in his place.
Viktor storms the few steps between us and grips my arms tightly. He shakes me furiously, as if trying to knock some sense into me.
“I don’t give a shit about what you want. You belong to me. You will do as I say.” Viktor’s voice is somehow a low whisper while still yelling. His face reddens with rage as spit flies from his mouth.
“I won’t do it! I won’t betray him!” I use a defense maneuver to get out of his grip and push his chest hard. “I’ll tell him everything. I’ll tell him this truce is a farce!”
“Oh, I see how it is. You like him. But let me assure you of something, the only thing he likes about you is that cunt. You’re just business with a side of pleasure.
All he cares about is the treaty. And if the treaty is void, he doesn’t need you anymore.
If he casts you aside like the useless trash you are, life will be so much worse than just marrying Sergey when you come back to us, little traitor.
” Viktor’s eyes light up as he speaks of my impending misfortune. He’s a sick bastard.
I hear Vova scratching the door, trying to get in. I hear my husband pick up my cat and sooth him. And that’s when I know he cares for me.
“It isn’t like that.” I shove him again. “I’m not just some slut to him!” I can’t be. We haven’t even done anything sexual.
“So, you think he’ll protect you? You’re Bratva! It’d be a betrayal to his people if he did. You’re just something that warms his bed. You stupid, na?ve girl. You don’t understand this world.” He points a shaky finger at me as he speaks.
I slap it away.
“I don’t need him to protect me. I can protect myself!” I push him hard enough for him to stumble backwards. I raise my fist to hit him, but he intercepts it.
He leans over me and stares me down. He pushes me, but I won’t fall. He glances at the door, then steps back.
“This is not the place for your tantrum. I’ll be reaching out soon, and you will answer. Get close to him. Find their weaknesses. Exploit them. I will kill him and you if you tell him anything. I’ll kill them all. I’ll drop a bomb on this fucking compound. Do not test me!”
With that, he steps back and brushes himself off. He heads to the door with the threat hanging over my head. It’s a horrible thought, but I know it’s something he’s capable of. If the Syndicate thinks they’re safe because I’m here, they’re sorely mistaken.
“Fix yourself! You look terrible.” Viktor spits at me then walks to the door. He gives me a minute, then opens it.
I don’t hear what happens out there. I don’t hear what he says or Dominic’s responses. I don’t hear anything as his words echo in my mind.
I stand there in a trance as time stands still, contemplating my next move.
Suddenly, there are hands on my shoulders. I instinctively swipe them off and get in an attack stance.
“Woah, easy there, tiger. It’s just me,” a familiar voice says.
I blink a few times to clear my head. When I open my eyes, I find my husband looking at me with concern.
“What happened?” he asks softly.
“Nothing.” I avert my gaze, not needing him to catch my lie.
“You can tell me, tiger.” No, I can’t. And damn him for caring.
“It’s nothing.” I try to sound nonchalant.
“It’s not nothing. You look like you’ve seen a ghost. You’re pale and shaking. What did he say to you?” Dominic’s voice rises and becomes agitated.
“No!” I fight back.
“TELL ME NOW!” he bellows.
“It’s none of your damn business!” I bite at him.
“What happens in my house with my wife will always be my business!” He raises a hand as though to grip my arms like Viktor fucking does, and I storm out.
“FUCK YOU! You possessive mudak!” I storm out of the room, but I only make it to the hallway before he’s on me and grabbing my shoulders, turning me to face him.
“Don’t you ever speak to me that way in front of my men!” His eyes are wild as he says it. I can tell this is more about the in front of his men part.
“Ooh big bad boss is embarrassed by a woman standing up to him,” I fuss out in a condescending baby voice that I know he hates.
“You listen to me! You are my wife, and you’ll do as I say!” His ownership of me is my last straw.
I reel back to punch him, but my wrist gets trapped.
We both turn and see one of his guards holding my wrist.
In an instant, Dominic is on him. Despite his rage, he’s gentle as he pries my wrist from the guard’s grip.
“How dare you lay a finger on my wife?” His tone is so icy, it’s menacing.
The guard gulps as his eyes widen. “But, sir…”
“NO! DON’T EVER FUCKING TOUCH MY WIFE! DON’T EVER COME BETWEEN US!” Dominic roars at him.
“But she was trying to hit you,” the guard explains nervously.
“What my wife does to me is our business!” Dominic must tighten his grip on the guard’s wrist because he flinches. Then Dominic throws his wrist down. “Get out of my sight. All of you!”
The hallway clears instantly, until it’s just the two of us. Dominic turns to me and rage morphs into concern.
“Are you okay?” He lifts my wrist to inspect it.
I pull myself from his grasp and flick his forehead.
“He grabbed my wrist. Of course I’m fine. I’ve taken much worse beatings than that.” I roll my eyes.
“EXCUSE ME?” Dominic interrupts me, his face morphing in fury.
He’s ridiculous. I’m sure this man has been through so much worse than being grabbed. Then realization hits me.
“This is because I’m a woman! I don’t need to defend me!
I can take care of myself. Or do you not remember me kicking your ass this morning on the trails?
” I pull away and start making my way down the hallway only for him to grab the back of my neck and turn me with a flick of his wrist. He pins me against the wall with a hand on my throat.
“I will always defend my wife. I know you can do it, but it’s my job. So, you’re going to be a good little wife and let me.” He smirks with a dare in his eyes.
“There’s no fucking chance. I don’t need you,” I bite back at him, noticing our proximity for the first time.
He leans in closer.
“Yes, you do.”
His breath teases my lips.
“For what? What could I possibly need you for?” It comes out breathy.
He closes the distance between us.
“There are many things I can do for you.” His eyes light up as he says it.
He presses his hardness into me.
I moan instinctively.
“I can do that on my own,” I gasp out.
I tilt my head towards him.
“Not as well as with me.”
He hovers his lips over mine.
“Maybe it’s you who needs me.”
I bite his bottom lip.
He growls.
“Fuck it!”
His lips crash into mine.
I lean into him. Finally tasting my husband. I wrap my arms around his neck. Leaning in–
RRRRINGGG!
Dominic ignores the call as he parts my lips with his tongue. He doesn’t ask for permission, he just takes.
RRRRINGGG!
The phone rings again.
“FUCK!” Dominic curses as he pulls back slightly.
He pulls out his phone and answers without checking.
“WHAT?” he yells at the receiver.
I can’t make out what the other person says, but Dominic looks sheepish.
“Sorry, Mom. What can I do for you?” he says in a way only a scolded son could sound.
After a few moments, Dominic looks at me, then down at our entangled bodies.
“I’m sorry, but we can’t make it. We’re… er… preoccupied,” Dominic starts to flush, and I pray she doesn’t ask what he’s doing.
“Yes, ma’am,” he says stubbornly.
After a few moments, there’s another, “yes, ma’am.”
He removes his hand from my throat to run it through his hair.
“We’ll see you then.” He hangs up and puts his phone away.
He looks at me longingly for a moment, then pulls himself off me.
“You have fifteen minutes to get ready. We’re going to my parents’ house for family dinner.” He sounds exactly how I feel.
Nervous and unprepared.