Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I’m yanked toward him, and his eyes burn on me as he growls, “I can’t let you go. Khristos. I’m fucked because I can’t choose.”
When I try to pull back, he slams the door shut and tightens his hold on me. “Don’t make me choose, Aurora.”
“I’m not the one making you choose,” I cry. “If it were up to me, there would be no war between my family and yours.”
“Can you talk to your father?” he asks the impossible. “If he agrees to pay the bratva and mafia their share of his profits, the war will end.”
I let out an incredulous burst of laughter. “What makes you think my father will listen to me?” I gesture at the room. “He sent me to this shithole without warning me what it would be like. He’s a stubborn and hard man.” I pull away from Misha and shake my head. “Just like the whole lot of you. None of you are willing to compromise.”
“I’m a fucking enforcer,” Misha snaps. “In the bratva compromising is the difference between life and death.” He closes the distance between us, and grabbing me by my arms, he shakes me. “I’m the person they send out to take out a target. Do you understand what that means?”
I shake my head even though I know.
“If your father keeps trading without paying his dues, I’ll be forced to kill your family.” Excruciating pain etches deep lines in his face. “I’ll be forced to kill you. There’s no negotiating, no compromising. I’ll be given the order, and I have to obey.”
Or he’ll be killed for disobeying.
There are no winners in this war.
“I understand,” I whisper. I lock eyes with him, and meaning the words, I say, “I’m sorry for putting you in this position. I didn’t know who you were when we met.”
Misha shakes his head, overwhelming emotions warring on his face. “How do I remain loyal without letting you go?”
“I don’t know.” My chin starts to tremble, unable to hide how my heart is breaking. “If I train hard enough, I could take over my father’s empire and put a stop to all of this, but until then… maybe we can be friends?”
“I don’t want to be your fucking friend,” he shouts, clearly losing his calm, and it makes me take a step backward.
A growl rumbles deep from his chest, and looking like he’s about to kill me, he closes the distance between us. His arms lock around me, and right before his mouth takes mine prisoner, I see the absolute heartache deep in his eyes.
He’s hurting as much as I am.
Chapter 18
Misha
Fuck, this is what I wanted to avoid. I fought so fucking hard, but somehow I lost control today.
I don’t even know when it happened.
The most powerful emotion I’ve ever experienced rages in my chest as my tongue lashes against Aurora’s.
She tastes as sweet as I remember.
I’m torn in two – the soldier who swore his loyalty to the bratva and the man who just wants to love a woman.
God, help me. This will not end in a happily ever after for us.
Still, I can’t let her go. She feels too fucking perfect in my arms.
My teeth tug at her plump bottom lip, and my tongue bathes in the feel of hers.
My heart is torn in two until she lifts herself on her tiptoes to get closer to me, and with her hands fisting my shirt, she whimpers, the sound filled with the same need burning in me.
Fuck, what am I doing?
I’m playing with fire, and we’ll both end up dead.
Instead of walking out of her suite, my hand slips beneath her shirt, and like a man dying of thirst, I drink in the feel of her silky skin.
I want her with every ounce of my being.
When my palm covers her breast and I squeeze a moan out of her, the last of my strength vanishes like mist before the sun, and I surrender to the love growing in my heart.
Breaking the kiss, I lift my free hand to her chin and brush my thumb over her swollen lips. “Are you still a virgin, moy malen'kiy olen'?”
Twin spots of pink spread over her cheeks, and it feels like it takes for-fucking-ever before she answers. “Yes.”
Thank fuck!
My palm cups her cheek as my eyes lock with hers. It’s arrogant to even think, but still, I ask, “Did you keep it for me?”
Aurora’s gaze searches my face, and I’m starting to think she’s going to tell me to fuck off when she asks, “Is it sad that I did?”
“Fuck,” I breathe in shock.
For two fucking years, this woman has clung to the single night we shared.
Just like I did.
It takes me a moment as unadulterated satisfaction fills my chest, then I say, “No, it’s not sad.” With a smirk I can’t hold back, I add, “Here I was thinking I was going to have to torture and kill some fucker for taking what’s mine.”