Page 46 of Ruinous Need
“That’s not how this works, Lisette. You made an agreement with the Pakhan of the Bratva.” She lowers her voice as she says those words, grabbing me by the elbow and marching me towards the door.
I don’t even get to say goodbye to Kyle before she drags me out back towards the parking lot. Just a few hours ago we’d been yelling the lyrics to pop songs out here while drinking matcha and I’d felt like a normal person for the first time in a month.
Now I’m being ushered into a car like a naughty teenager who’s broken curfew.
A screeching car speeds into the parking lot. For a second, panic rises in me. The Irish? The Albanians?
But the man who ducks out of the drivers’ seat is just the person I want to see.
Even as he slams me against the side of the car.
Daria seems bewildered, looking between the two of us as if she doesn’t understand what’s happening. She opens her mouth to speak. “Lisette —”
“Thank you for finding her. You can go home.” Viktor speaks without looking at her.
Daria huffs, her eyes narrowing at the way Viktor is leaning over me, but does as he orders.
I inhale deeply, admiring the way he looks in his combat pants and black coat. A fresh coating of stubble scratches whenI reach out a hand to his face. He catches my palm and holds it there.
I can feel the tension in his jaw as he takes in my pole outfit, spiky heels and the make-up I’m wearing.
“How many?” His brows are low over his eyes.
“How many what?”
“How many men do I need to kill for seeing you like this?” His eyes are deadly serious on mine.
“I escape the apartment. And you’re worried about my pole fitness show?”
He doesn’t blink or deny it. His eyes continue to swirl with the power of gathering clouds before a thunderstorm.
“Viktor. This is pole fitness. Those men are not straight.”
“I don’t care. They saw you like this. They saw that dance that you did for me.” His voice turns dangerous, and he steps closer. “I told you I don’t like to share.”
There’s a looseness I haven’t seen before in Viktor’s eyes. He’s let go of some hidden boundary.
The way he’s touching me now is forceful, determined and possessive.
He’s not in control of what he’s doing. He’s not thinking about the consequences. He’s staking his claim.
This was what it took. Escaping. Doing a pole show, out in public.
It sends a thrill right through me to know that he’s probably fantasizing about beheading every man who was at the show tonight.
I don’t think Viktor is thinking about my safety right now or our need for guards against the escalating attacks.
He’s only thinking about me.
As soon as we get to his car he pins me to the passenger seat, his mouth ravenous between my thighs. He doesn’t use a knifeon my booty shorts this time, just tears away the thin fabric with his bare hands.
“You’re not wearing these out of the apartment again.” He uses that stern voice that makes me want to giggle.
I let out a laugh.
“I’m not joking, Lisette.” He hisses against my mouth.
That should scare me. Instead, it makes moisture gather between my thighs.
