Page 25 of Owned By the Russian

“I think you’ve got a big mouth,” he said, his tone calm but deliberate. “And sometimes, that’s not enough.”

“Well, I’m still here, aren’t I?” she shot back, leaning closer to him, the space between them charged with defiance. “So maybe my ‘big mouth’ is doing just fine.”

Val leaned away, her scowl deepening as she settled back in her seat. “Where are you even taking me?”

A tiny smirk barely lifted the corner of Ilya’s lips. “Since it’s so great, why don’t you let your big mouth figure that one out for you?”

“How mature of you,” she said, her sarcastic smile dying as she looked away with a huff.

Ilya couldn’t help it. She pushed his buttons too much for him to even think twice about the words that left his lips.

By the time he pulled into the clearing in front of his family’s lodge, Valentina practically flung her door open, stepping out with an exasperated huff. She slammed the door behind her with such force that the entire car seemed to shudder in protest.

Ilya only rolled his eyes as he turned off the ignition before climbing out, the sound of gravel crunching under his feet. The lodge was smaller than he remembered it, older since it hadn’t been used in a while, but it still held traces of its rustic charm.

On one hand, the small size of the lodge made it easier for him to keep an eye on her. But on the other, how the hell was he supposed to survive being so close to the one woman who constantly drove him up the wall?

Weathered wood clung to the sides of the cabin, and the steep, shingled roof sagged slightly, hinting at decades of harsh winters. The windows were modest, framed by green shutters, and the one by the porch sagged slightly at one corner. Its humble charm extended to a small clearing at the back, where an old tree stump served as a makeshift chopping block, an axe embedded in its splintered surface.

Stacks of firewood leaned haphazardly against the side of the porch, weathered and gray. Vines crept along the edges of the cabin, winding around the posts and adding an almost whimsical beauty to its aged appearance. Wildflowers sprouted in unexpected places, dotting the uneven ground with bursts of color that contrasted against the rugged wood and stone of the lodge.

A narrow hiking path began just beyond the clearing, its dirt trail disappearing into the dense forest. Ilya still remembered taking hikes with his brothers during their stay there. The trees stretched high, their branches forming a canopy that promised both shade and secrets, inviting and ominous at once.

The air was crisp and tinged with the earthy scent of moss and pine, a stark reminder of the isolation the mountain provided. The entire scenery was the stark opposite of the state-of-the-art bachelor’s pad they just left, and one look at Valentina told him everything he needed to know.

“Great. I survived your suicidal driving just to stay inthis,” she commented, eyeing the lodge with a mixture of disdain and exhaustion. “Just how lucky am I?”

“What do you want, Woman? You said you didn’t want to stay in the apartment anymore.”

“Of course I said that.” She rolled her eyes. “But I meant goinghome. Not being kidnapped and dragged to a caveman’s lodge that looks like it hasn’t seen a living soul in years.”

Ilya tilted his head back slightly, drawing in a deep breath of the crisp afternoon air as it swirled around them.

“You won’t find fresh air like this at home,” he said, walking past her and pulling a jangle of keys from his pocket, sliding one into the lock. “You should be grateful for that.”

“Wow, I’m so honored to breathe the same air as you.”

“Malyshka,” he muttered with a chuckle as the door creaked open.

Chapter 9 - Valentina

Valentina stepped into the lodge, her feet echoing on the creaky wooden floor. Her sharp gaze darted around the small space, taking in the worn furniture, dim lighting, and faint scent of pine mixed with dust.

Her frustration simmered just beneath the surface, a constant ache that gnawed at her ever since Ilya broke the news of Aleksander’s involvement in the ambush and her father’s decision to be under Ilya’s care.

She had only spent a few seconds inside the lodge, but she already hated being stuck there, surrounded by walls that felt like they were closing in on her. But what cut deeper than anything was the bitter taste of being treated like a fragile, helpless thing?like someone who couldn’t handle her own affairs.

She could still feel the anger boiling in her chest, especially after everything that had happened with her father. His decision to send her here, far away from any of her usual contacts or territory, was a direct blow to her pride.

Did they really think she couldn’t handle the situation? She wasn’t some naïve little girl. Wasn’t she the daughter of a mafia boss? A powerful one at that? She knew the risks. She knew damn well how to protect herself.

Her father’s decision wasn’t the only thing that was insulting to her?it was how everyone around her seemed determined to treat her like a baby, like she was too fragile to be trusted with her own mess. The fact that they thought locking her away in some godforsaken mountain lodge in the middle of nowhere, with no other person than the bane of her existence himself, nearly drove her mad.

The lodge was clean enough, and it possessed a kind of warmth she hadn’t expected from such a rusty place. The walls were lined with portraits, and rusty knickknacks were scattered around.

With a frustrated sigh, she marched toward the nearest window, yanking back the faded curtain. Her heart sank as she took in the view beyond: the lodge perched high on the mountainside, surrounded by towering trees and steep drops. The winding road they’d taken to get here looked more like a treacherous ribbon of dirt and gravel than any reasonable route?a harsh reminder that she couldn’t escape even if she tried.

“Are you kidding me?” she muttered, spinning around to face Ilya, who was standing by the door with his hands in his pocket, casually observing her. “You didn’t think to mention that this place is basically unreachable unless you’re willing to risk your life on those insane roads?”

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