Page 52 of Captured Obsession

Then she abruptly stands and barges past me. “I need to go to the bathroom.”

Agata, Andrei, and I share a look. I follow behind her. As the door is slamming shut, I dart my hand out to stop it.

A jolt of pain rushes up my arm as my hand is crushed between the door and the jamb. Glaring at me, she slams the door again. My cock twitches as I open the door. I tower over her as I step into the tiny space, closing the door behind me. Then I lock it.

“What are you doing?” she hisses, her ass hitting the counter.

“We need to talk.”

“Do we? That’s strange, because only hours ago, you told me to shut my mouth and be obedient.”

“There is a time and place for everything,” I growl, both irritated and turned on by her quick, scathing tongue.

“Oh, so cornering me in a bathroom is the time and place to be forthcoming?”

My temple throbs. “Careful when you’re speaking about things you don’t understand,mishka.”

She scoffs in that way I find so amusing. “No, I think I heard you and your boss clearly. Going to dangle me in front of my friends and family until your boss decides to show up for the party. You told me he wanted nothing from my family, that it was just Luca Armani and Dmitri Volkov he wanted. But he didn’t mention anything about Dmitri—you did.” She pointsher finger at my face. Clever woman. “If Luca is as dangerous as you say, won’t he just kill you and all of your men?”

“Most likely,” I say without hesitation, and she seems taken aback.

I lift my hand to the snake necklace around her throat. If it were just me I had to worry about, maybe I’d tell her the truth. But since I have Agata and Andrei with me, I want to pull this off so they make it out alive.

She sucks in a sharp breath as my fingers dance along the diamonds that sparkle brightly over the vintage necklace she never removes.

“Which is why I ask that you play your part well. I also ask that you follow my lead.” I release a heavy sigh. “I promised you I wouldn’t hurt you, but this necklace has an explosive device in it. If you try to remove it or if anything is to happen to us, it will blow out your throat.”

Her eyes grow wide, and fear tears at my stomach. “Are you fucking crazy? How could you do this to me?”

“I’m doing my job,” I state with a sharp tone that has her straightening. I hate how it affects her. I’ve never negotiated in my life. Not when it comes to what I want. I’ve used and killed people for less, and played my hand dirtier to get it. I refuse to harm Sienna any more than I already have, but I didn’t come this far only to be shot in the head when I’m so close to my goal. “Just please play along for a little longer.”

“So you have more time to toy with me?”

A pang of guilt assaults me, but I swat it away.

“No. So I can survive,” I put plainly. “My life is in your hands.” Not just mine but Andrei’s and Agata’s as well. And if I step out of line, Andrei may still report it back to The Wolf. No one can be trusted.

But much like I refuse to admit the intensity of this connection between us, she refuses the sincerity of my words. And I don’t blame her.

“You’re manipulating me,” she seethes.

“I’m speaking the truth. If Luca Armani wants to take you by force, he will. I’ll fight and take out as many of his men as I can in the process. I’m sure you don’t want your friends becoming sudden widows.”

Her eyebrows dip. “I fucking hate you so much.”

“I know. You have good reason to.” As the selfish bastard I am, I hope I haunt her every waking hour once we’re forced apart. Because that’s the only way I’m letting her go. They’ll have to pry her from my dead fucking fingers.

“The Wolf will have eyes and ears everywhere. Conversations like this can’t be had freely. Not in front of his men or anyone else. But I will always answer as best as I can in private, so long as it won’t endanger you further.”

Her arms fold over her chest. And I can tell she doesn’t trust me. I find myself torn between wanting to keep her at my side and ensuring she doesn’t become attached to someone like me. She has become my sole focus.

“Were you going to let your boss have me?” Her voice cracks on the question.

“No,” I assert. “I would never allow that to happen.”

She studies me for a beat, then, appearing to take my words as truth, she changes topics.

“Who is Tiarna to you?”