Page 18 of The Russian's Kidnapped Bride
Mikhail takes another step closer, tone sharper than before. “I’m not. If I wanted you dead, you already would be.”
As if that helps.
“Your brother hauled me to an interrogation room, and you’ve just brought me here after the fact. You admit what you’re connected to, and you want me to just accept that?” I ask, words incredulous.
His jaw tightens. “I told you already, I’m not going to hurt you.”
Even if he sounds sincere, I don’t believe him. I can’t, given the situation I’m in.
Without thinking, I bolt.
Moving without hesitation, I rush to the door. I don’t know where I’m hoping to go or how I’ll be able to make it, but the instincts flare in me, and I can’t help it. The need to flee and at least attempt to save my life pulls at my body, urging me forward.
My heart rams against my ribs, screaming at me to get as far away as physically possible. To not stay regardless of what it might cost me.
Try as I might, he’s on me immediately.
One moment, I’m an arm’s length away from the door, and the next, his fingers dig into my waist, pulling me clean off the floor.
My breath catches, but I thrash while he presses me against his shoulder and pins me there like I weigh nothing at all.
Despite kicking and slamming my fists against his body, he doesn’t even flinch. He’s too strong—too steady.
“Let me go!” I scream, feeling nothing but pure adrenaline coursing through my system.
He doesn’t listen. Instead, Mikhail carries me down the hall before kicking a door open and shutting it behind us.
Then, he places me on the bed with a firm grasp, containing me to the spot.
Immediately, I scramble back, trying to put distance between us. My lungs burn, and my pulse is so loud in my ears, drowning everything else out.
He stands by the bed but doesn’t come any closer. Instead, his face is too neutral while he watches me, and it makes my stomach turn.
“Breathe, Lily.”
I grit my teeth. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
“I’m not going to hurt you. You’re doing that to yourself by not calming down,” he murmurs, putting his hands in his pockets. “You’ll give yourself a heart attack at this rate.”
“You’re part of a crime syndicate. You abducted me…you lied to me!” I snap back, barely holding back how insane the whole situation is making me feel. “And you want me to calm down?”
He just barely flinches, and his brows furrow. “I didn’t lie to you. I just didn’t tell you everything.”
“Because that makes all the difference in the world.”
Mikhail takes a small step forward, keeping his attention solely on me.
He speaks slowly and intentionally, “I didn’t intend for you to get pulled into this. You weren’t supposed to see anything tonight.”
I shrink as far away as I can on the bed. “Then why won’t you let me go?”
“Because if anyone else saw you in that alleyway, you’d be in a much worse position.”
Those words are cold and entirely serious, leaving no room for debate, shutting me up immediately.
“We’re supposed to clean up loose ends, and you are one. But I told my brother I’d handle it,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest. “Thanks to our code, you’re safe.”
“Am I really?”
