I pat his wrist, my eyes begging him to let me go. “Ki…rill…”
“Who the fuck is he, Aleksandra?”
His voice booms in my ears. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard this angry, frightening tone that could crumble mountains.
Tears rim my eyes, and I’m not sure if it’s because of the way he yelled at me or the fact that I’m suffocating.
Just when I think I’ll lose consciousness, Kirill releases me. I stumble to the ground, coughing and massaging the handprints he left on my throat.
My shoulder hits the wall, and I’m thankful for the support as I topple over and nearly throw up from all the coughing.
When I’m calmer and breathing more easily, I stare at the monster standing over me. His eyes are a raging color that resembles a stormy sea that’s out to drown me.
“I’m going to need a name.”
I slowly shake my head. “I…can’t.”
“You can’t or you won’t?”
I rise to my full height. “Why should I be obliged to tell you anything when I know nothing about you?”
“I own you, not the other way around.”
“No oneownsme.”
He gets closer, his expression more frightening than before. I step back.
I don’t mean to. It just happens.
Kirill is a scary man. Some would argue he’s not a man, but half man, half beast. Right now, he looks fully monstrous.
This isn’t methodical like on the battlefield or when he’s plotting something. He’s neither calm nor collected.
This is personal.
It’s clear in every step he takes that this situation will end badly for me. The problem is, there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do to dissipate the raging volcano that’s about to sweep me over.
I can’t even escape with him blocking the only exit.
Maybe if I distract him—
A commotion comes from the stairs, and I freeze. Kirill doesn’t; his entire attention remains on me. He’s like a giant black cat who won’t stop until he catches his prey.
“Boss!” Maksim calls from upstairs. “There’s been an intrusion.”
28
SASHA
Despite the state of emergency, if I could hug Maksim for interrupting Kirill’s destructive plan, I would.
But then again, that might have the exact opposite desired effect and put Maksim’s life in danger, which is why I refrain from acting on that impulse.
That, and the fact that the club’s security might be in jeopardy.
In situations like these, anyone would expect chaos to ensue, but that’s impossible in an establishment run by Kirill.
There isn’t even an alarm asking people at the club to leave. The music continues, and everyone keeps dancing and drinking, completely unaware of the severity of the situation.