“Cover me,” I say to my brother as I tuck my pistol into its holster. I reach for Georgia, pulling her flush against my body, allowing her to feel every ounce of male hardness I possess. A blush rushes to her cheeks, and she stops struggling as I wrench her arms behind her, fastening her wrists together with a zip tie.
“You’re the same as him. A monster,” she spits, venom coating each word.
“No, krasotka, I’m nothing like him.” I grip her chin, turning her face up towards mine so she doesn’t miss a word. “You’ll fucking love it when my hands are on you. You’ll beg me for more, for everything that I have to give.” My thumb brushes across her cheek, down over her lips as she releases a ragged breath that sounds more like arousal than fear.
“We need to move, Andrei.” My brother’s impatient voice breaks the charged moment between us. As if his words summoned them, the choppers flare to life.
“What will it be,printessa? Stay here as we burn this place down, or join our band of merry men?” Daniil snorts, but I ignore him, watching Georgia as she wrestles with the decision.
“You're insane,” she growls, then marches towards the door.
“Seems she’s figured you out rather quickly,” Daniil quips.
“Fuck off.”
I catch up with Georgia in the hallway and take hold of her arm above the elbow. Even though all of Oleg’s men are dead or in our custody, Daniil provides cover as we slip through the long corridors, my hand guiding Georgia towards the landing of the grand staircase. Knowing the view that awaits us below, I stop and turn her to face me.
“Close your eyes. I’ll lead you the rest of the way.” Her head snaps back as if my suggestion is ludicrous. “It’s not a pretty sight,” I state.
She shrugs defiantly.
“Suit yourself.”
Dead bodies lay haphazardly on the foyer floor in pools of blood. The color drains from her face and Georgia flicks her gaze upwards, avoiding the worst of the carnage. I hope it serves as a stark reminder that Oleg and I are opposite sides of the same sullied coin. I may be nothing like that animal, but we exist in the same underworld.
Several heavy-lift choppers await our arrival on the back lawn of the estate. As we walk across the expanse of green, I bring her in close to me, a protective gesture even if her body goes rigid at my touch.
“I’m perfectly capable of walking without your help.” She wriggles her body in an attempt to break free from my grasp, but I just pull her closer.
“Don’t fight me,” I whisper against her neck. “You’re mine now, and you’ll do as I say.”
“Never,” she hisses, attempting to shake off my grasp.
A silent laugh shakes my chest. I’ll rather enjoy teaching her how to behave.
I own her. Even if she doesn’t know it yet, she will soon.
Chapter3
ANDREI
An hour after arriving at our estate, I am holed up in my office, nursing my second glass of whisky to calm the adrenaline still working through my veins.
The door to my office swings open and my brothers, Daniil and Leonid file into the room, with Yulian close behind. Leo tosses a file onto my desk with a scowl. “Oleg fled the property a few minutes before we arrived.”
I stare at the manila file but don’t make a move to open it. “I don’t need a report to tell me he was tipped off.” The intel we had confirmed Oleg was on the property fifteen minutes before we landed, which only means one thing. We have a leak.
I grip the glass in my hand so tightly my knuckles turn white. After becoming pakhan six months ago, I’ve worked day and night to clean up our organization. Flushing out members with questionable loyalties. Bringing control of the brotherhood tightly under my leadership, with Yulian, Daniil, and Leo as my trustedavtoritet. Captains.
But it never fucking ends.
The lies, betrayal, double-crossing.
This is mafia life.
I rise and walk to the window, folding my arms over my chest and stare out into the cloudless sky. “What did you learn from questioning his men?”
“Not as much as I hoped.” Daniil frowns. “The soldiers had information about an incoming arms shipment, but nothing about a mole. And nothing about Kira.”