13
Antonio
I have Aleksandra pinned between her bedroom door and me. It’s like a fierce inferno blazing a thousand degrees, and I’m the only one capable of putting out the fire.
Do I want to put it out?
No, but I’m not about to burn alive, either.
“Get off me,” she snarls at me.
“Do you promise to stop chasing after my gun?” I don’t need her getting ahold of my weapon and using it on me or any of my guards or guests.
She snorts.
I guess that’s a no.
“Promise me that you’ll behave, and I’ll walk you down to see your brother.”
Her blue eyes are dark and intense. Her cheeks are a similar shade to her ruby lips as she expels a soft puff of air. “Fine.”
I’m not sure I believe her, but I take her words at face value. I relinquish my grip on her wrists and take a step back, ensuring my weapon is out of her reach.
“Next time you decide to get feisty, I may have to get the handcuffs,” I threaten.
Her eyes widen, and I can’t tell if she’s excited about the prospect of being restrained or horrified.
I knock promptly on the door. “I’m done,” I say to Mario and wait for him to unlock the door and let me out of the room.
Mario opens the door, and I step out first, escorting Aleksandra to accompany me downstairs. I grab her forcefully by the arm, not letting her far from my grasp.
“Can I see Sophia and Liam?” she asks as I lead her down the hallway to the stairwell.
“After the visit with your brother,” I say. If I give her what she wants now, I’m unlikely to earn her cooperation.
She’s silent, which I can only ascertain is her agreement. We head down to the main floor and wind through the hallway until we reach another locked door. I relinquish my grip from around her arm, retrieve the key from my keyring, and slide it into the door, giving it a forceful shove.
Aleksandra is right behind me. I can feel her presence on my heel. “You first,” I say as I open the door and gesture for her to walk down the basement stairs first.
“Now you’re being chivalrous?”
She steps down the stairs, one at a time. The basement takes a moment, with the dim lighting, for our eyes to fully adjust.
Mikhail is in a nearby prison cell, alone. We didn’t capture any of his men. He was the only one at the safe house. We left after getting everything we wanted out of the men we had interrogated.
Otello guards the prison. He’s situated a few feet from the cell, keeping an eye on the prisoner.
“Give us a few minutes,” I say to Otello.
“Sure thing, boss,” Otello says. He heads up the stairs for a break.
Why had Mikhail been the only man at the safe house? Had his guards fled? Why had they left him behind?
“Mikhail?” her voice cracks as she approaches the prison cell.
He stands on the opposite side, coming forward toward the door. “You’re working withhim?” Mikhail’s dark eyes widen as he takes a step backward. He runs a hand through his dark hair. “I trusted you, sister, and you betrayed me.”
I step closer, standing beside Aleksandra.