Page 16 of Devious Obsession
She’s never liked having security around her, but being the youngest sister of the Volkov brothers, it was necessary. It was only when she threatened to move away from home and never come back did Alexander agree to lessening the security. The only reason she agreed to go to college was because he promised there would be no one lurking in the shadows watching over her.
A decision he regrets now after everything has played out as it has.
I lead her to her apartment and pull out my key, unlocking the door.
“Artem.” She stands just inside her apartment staring at me. “You have a key to my apartment?”
I ignore the question. We don’t have time for explanations or arguments.
“You need to shower,” I say disappearing into the bedroom.
She’s quick on my heels.
“Wait. Wait. How are you here? How did you know where I was?”
“Shower.” I dig out her suitcase from the closet and toss it on the bed.
“No. Answer me.” She folds her arms over her chest.
If she knew how hot my blood was right now with seeing her hair and face covered in that man’s blood, she wouldn’t be testing my patience. But she’s never seen this side of me. I’ve kept the monster hidden from her.
In all the years I’ve known her, been responsible for protecting her, I’ve never so much as raised my voice. She wasn’t mine. But things are different now.
She just doesn’t know it yet.
I lift her hair, rubbing the blood from it onto my fingers.
“You’re wearing another man’s blood. It could have easily been yours.”
“Artem.”
“No more talking, unless you want to do it bare-assed over my knee.”
She gasps, a tiny sound, but it’s there. Her beautiful brown eyes go wide.
“What did you just say?” The rebel in her kicks in. She’s gorgeous when she’s riled, but with Janis on our heels there isn’t time to enjoy it.
“I said if you want to keep talking, you’ll do it bare-assed over my knee. Now get in the shower. We don’t have much time. Janis will have men here soon.”
“How?”
I ignore the question. She needs to understand that when I say something, I mean it. I’m not her big brothers. I won’t let her get her way with a sweet smile or the threat of a tantrum.
Alexander’s done his best to stay firm with her, but even with him she’s been able to get her way. Easier to go along with her antics than to squash them.
Maybe he held on to guilt that wasn’t his over the way their father treated her. Ignoring her existence unless he could use it to torture his wife. Throwing his bastard daughter in her face, knowing she couldn’t do anything about it unless she wanted to lose everything.
“I’m not doing anything until you tell me how you found me tonight and what the plan is now.” She folds her arms over her chest, glaring up at me.
Stubbornness shines in her eyes.
I step up to her. The tips of my boots press down on the canvas shoes she’s wearing. Unsurprisingly, she doesn’t flinch beneath the discomfort of my weight on her foot. She holds steady, waiting for me to cave.
Because six months ago, I would have.
Six months ago, I would have reminded myself she didn’t belong to me. I’d remember I worked for her brothers. I’d convince myself she was untouchable.
But this isn’t then. All of that flew out the window the second that Glock was pressed against her head. No. That’s a lie. I’d made that decision the second I landed in Boston over a month ago.
