Page 39 of Code of Captivity

Viktor came to frisk him. When he got to his legs, Maksim snickered, which broke some of the tension in the room, especially since I knew he was still getting random messages.

“Pyotr,” Master said, and I knew my time was up.

I gave Rurik a bright smile before I waved to them as I turned to leave with Pyotr. As soon as we were out of the office, I raced into the hallway and ran up the stairs to the bedroom, needing to see that Rurik and his men had left safely.

It took another eleven minutes, but they all left. A pang of sadness hit me. Master was wrong. There were good people out there—not many, but Rurik Abrosimov was one of them.

Chapter 25

Adrik

“Let her go. You don't know what that girl has been through,” Abrosimov said as soon as the door closed behind Viktor.

My mind whirred at his words. She was resilient—too resilient. My stomach lurched at his words, but my face remained as hard as stone.

“I willneverlet her go,” I said, but his words were still ringing in my ears.

What has she been through? Was it worse than what I put her through?

I wanted to ask him, but my pride wouldn't allow it.

“And when you tire of her? What will become of her?”

I thought of last night when we shared a bath. My Bunny sat on my lap while I washed her, and later, she fell asleep with my hands rubbing her back.

“Will you tire of your new bride?” I asked him curiously.

His instant scowl and the fury in his eyes told me enough.

“Exactly,” I said softly. “Would you like a drink before you go?”

We stared at one another, and I had to give it to the older man. He had some grit and was not the soft businessman I’d expected him to be. The only reason he was alive was because he called her sister. Watching my Bunny hug him had me gripping my desk so hard that I thought the wood beneath me would snap.

“I will take a drink if you have something decent,” he said.

I scoffed at him before walking to the table for the Beluga.

???

Long after he left, his words played on my mind. As the days went by, the irritating man’s words became a thorn in my side, and my suspicious nature drawing all kinds of scenarios. She never mentioned her family, her personal life, or much about her work, but neither did I. When I handled sensitive information about the Bratva, I ensured that she never saw it or that she participated in a meeting. I never talked about my personal life because I didn't have one.

“What’s wrong now?” Viktor asked.

I felt better seeing the black eye I gave him in the ring. It had been a great way to vent after the Abrosimov fiasco.

“Didn't you get a new number?” I asked when it vibrated again.

“I’m going to murder the person who did this. I will slice the skin off their bones. I will peel each layer off—”

“Okay. Okay. I get it,” I said, interrupting him but hiding my smirk. I couldn't be sure, but I suspected Bunny had something to do with his predicament. “I’m going to get Pyotr to shadow Gavrill to replace Díma.”

He paused and rubbed his chin. “He would be a good fit,” he said.

Viktor never wanted to be responsible for leading captains and soldiers. Like me, he wasn't a people person.

“I need you to look into something for me. There was something that Abrosimov said to me about Bunny. Dig into her history the old-fashioned way,” I said, but even saying the words aloud made my stomach churn, knowing I wouldn't like whatever he found.

“Do you think she is playing you?” he asked with a frown.

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