Georgia’s eyes go wide when she finds me watching her. She swallows hard before composing herself.
“I see you’ve settled in.” I remark, pushing away from the door towards her.
“Define settled in,” she says icily.
“You're curled up like a cat in the sun enjoying a good book. Looks pretty cozy to me.”
“Looks can be deceiving. This is not my idea of a good time.”
I stand above her, close enough to watch her pulse feather in her throat. “I’m sure I could help make it a good time. If that’s what you’d like.” My shadowed gaze communicates everything I don’t say, and while she holds eye contact, a blush creeps across her face. I know she is thinking back to yesterday in her room and how close I was to devouring her.
She’s not used to men like me—brutal, scary, dangerous. And yet the way she’s fighting to keep her face blank tells me I’ve intrigued her.
“I need to talk to you.”
“Fine.” She puts her book down on her lap and crosses her arms in front of her body. “Talk.”
My hand twitches to discipline her for running her mouth, to see her draped over my knee. I clench my fists, fighting those primal urges.
“I give the orders here, krasotka. It will serve you well to remember that. Join me.” I motion to two plush reading chairs situated beside the tall marble fireplace. Obeying for once, she crosses the room and lowers herself into the seat beside me.
“I suppose you’re not here to tell me I’m free to go.” She fidgets with a thin gold necklace, running her fingers back and forth over the chain.
“If only it were that easy, but it’s not.” My eyes crash into hers. I want her full attention. “I’m here to offer you a deal. Oleg is still alive and well, and once he emerges from whatever rock he is hiding under, he’s going to come looking for you. And if he can’t find you, he’ll exact his revenge on your father.” She looks doubtful for a moment, but continues to listen. “I can offer your father protection, but I need your help.”
She swallows hard. “What kind of help?”
“I need you to go back to work for Oleg. There’s information he has that we need—the type of information that only someone close to him would be privy to.”
She shakes her head in disbelief. “You are insane if you think I would willingly go back to that madman. And you are even crazier if you think he’d share anything of importance with me. I was nothing to Oleg, a mere plaything. There’s only one thing he wanted from me, and it wasn’t to sit around braiding each other's hair and swapping life stories.”
I smile, knowing this would be her initial reaction. Strangely, I’m looking forward to sparring with her. Convincing her that this is really her best option. “Let’s run through your choices together, shall we? Say I let you go. Then what?”
Her chin lifts. “I can take care of myself and my father. If we’re in danger, as you say, we can leave the city, or—”
“And go where? With what money?” Her face falls, and it’s strangely satisfying. She needs to understand the shittiness of her situation. “Did you think Oleg would just forget your father’s debt? That’s not how the bratva works.You made a deal with Oleg and if you don’t return to him, it won’t be just you paying the price. He’ll go after your father and it will be ugly.”
Reality sinks in and I clock the moment she’s heard enough. Her chair tumbles back—not an easy feat considering it’s an armchair—and she makes a break towards the door. But I’m fast, too fast for her. She’s restrained in my arms before she’s made it six steps.
“I need you to listen to me, Georgia. It won’t be pleasant if you don’t.” My voice is soft, but carries a deadly note. I’ve given her fair warning. What she does now is up to her. I can feel her quaking in my grasp, her body rigid against mine.
Her breath mingles with my own, and I fight the urge to crush my lips against hers. A current crackles between us and my body reacts as if struck by lightning.
“Get off of me,” she explodes. I pull away but keep a hand locked around her wrist. We stand there for a silent moment, faces inches apart, hearts pounding, breaths coming fast. She licks her lips and looks up at me with a steely expression.
“If Oleg believes you're loyal to him, he’ll accept you back into his home, back into his life. It won’t be easy, but we will train you and ensure you are ready to take on what we ask. I see the strength in your eyes, and I know that you have it in you.”
She shudders at my words. Unshed tears shine in her eyes, but by sheer force of will, they don’t fall. “I never want to see that man again. He was a nightmare.” A hot flush spreads from her neck, up to her cheeks. “Why are you doing this, forcing me to go back to him?”
“I’m not doing anything.Your father got you into this mess the day he accepted a loan from Oleg Antonov.”
“He had no choice,” she spits, her scowl full of accusation. “Youhave a choice.”
“Yes, I do. And I’ve made my choice.” I lean down so my lips are an inch from hers. “You will help us and in return, I will keep you and your father safe. Understand, krasotka, once you dance with the bratva, it’s for life.”
Her eyes meet mine, stormy gray and wary. She shakes her head like she can’t believe what a dick I am. Good. It’s better to act like the beast, then pretend to be a prince.
I don’t hold my position because I care about being liked. I care about getting my way. And the sooner Georgia falls in line, the better for everyone.