Page 11 of Captive Union
I check behind us as we get farther away from Alexei. He’s still following, though. Shit. We need to lose him.
“Take this corner,” I tell Dave. He swerves suddenly, turning the corner. Kira knocks into me, and I steady her, taking a beat to hold onto her arms before letting go.
I lean out my window again as Alexei turns the corner. I take a shot and land a bullet in his windshield. It’s enough to make Alexei swerve and ram his car into the side of the closest building. The front of his car crashes into the brick of the building and finally stops moving. I can see him through the window as he bangs his hands into the steering wheel, probably cursing himself for wrecking his car and letting his sister get away. I chuckle as we drive off, putting distance between us.
I settle back in my seat, still chuckling.
“Is my brother dead?” Kira whispers, her head whipping around to face me, even though she can’t see through the bag.
“No. He just won’t be a problem anymore.”
She clenches her hands in her lap. “What does that mean?”
“It means that none of your family will find where I’m taking you. So I suggest you say goodbye to them in your mind. I wouldn’t hope to see them again.”
She deflates, saying nothing. She’s so quiet for a moment that I wonder if she’s passed out, but then I hear sniffles from underneath the bag. Even Kira’s crying is soft and quiet.
I don’t say a word as she cries. No need to stop her. It’s good for her to let those emotions out. The sooner she understands her new fate, the sooner she’ll understand that she’s mine. I don’t want a bride who’s going to despise me for eternity.
I tell Dave to take us to one of my warehouses to recoup. Kira will soon be in my home, but I want to make sure we aren’t followed. I’m not about to lead those damn Petrovs straight to my doorstep.
Kira is shivering by the time we get to the warehouse, which is a dingy little building near the docks. When I grab her arm, she tenses. I ignore her response and help her out of the car. She doesn’t try to run as I take her inside the warehouse.
Once we’re inside, I take her hood off and let my eyes wander over her pretty face. She blinks, glancing around.
“Is … is this where you live?” Still just a whisper.
I smirk. “No. We’re just hiding out here until I know it’s safe to take you home.”
Her eyes settle on me for a second before looking away again. She’s so skittish. My own little deer. “Your home?”
“Yes. My home. You’ll be living there soon enough.” I settle against a dirty table, wiping away some of the dust. I motion for Kira to sit on the lone couch in the room. It’s a gross brown thing, but I’m never here long enough to care what the furniture looks like. This warehouse is used to transport goods, not a place to live.
She does as I instruct and takes a tentative seat on the couch, perching right to the edge.
“Come on. You can get more comfortable than that,” I murmur, raking my eyes over her body. Now that it’s just the two of us, I can take my time to look her over. She’s a tiny thing, but she fills her dress out well. Her hair has come loose from her updo, and despite how messy it looks, she still manages to look beautiful. Even though I hate the Petrovs, I’ll admit that they are one beautiful bunch of people. Kira, in particular. While I always thought Elena was the obvious beauty growing up, with her long legs and eyes that dare any man to mess with her, now that Kira is older and has come into her looks, I’m taken with her simple beauty. It’s understated. And I’m completely drawn in.
It also helps that she’s a pawn in my game. Anyone would grow attached to their pawn. I’m just a man, after all.
Kira glances up at me before ducking her head. She moves back an inch on the couch but remains on the edge.
“Like this.” I walk up to her and gently push her shoulders until she’s all the way on the couch. I let my hands linger until she finally looks up at me. “Isn’t this more comfortable?”
She gulps, her eyes wide. Her lips part to speak, but no sound comes out.
I finally step back, dropping my hands. She visibly relaxes when I stop touching her. It’s all right. She needs time to warm up to me. I’m a patient man. I waited years to get my revenge on the Petrovs. I can wait for Kira to fall in love with me.
“You’re very quiet,” I state the obvious.
She ducks her head back down.
“Answer me.”
She flinches. “Yes.”
“Why are you so quiet?”
Her shoulders move up and down almost imperceptibly.
