Page 30 of Devious Obsession
“You called home?”
“Not yet. This morning, I will. They need to know. In case Cole decides to take his anger all the way to Chicago. I vowed to him I wasn’t in Boston on Volkov business. Assured him Alexander wasn’t trying to make a push into the city.”
“He wasn’t,” I insist. “I wasn’t, either. I was going to offer business in Chicago, an expansion.”
He narrows his eyes slightly. “You approached someone that works with Cole O’Brien with a business proposition on his ownturf, after I assured him that wasn’t going to happen. It doesn’t matter if the business was going to take place on the moon.”
I lean back, pushing my oatmeal around the bowl. “Can’t I just explain it to him? I wasn’t trying to disrespect him or anything.”
He takes his bowl to the sink. “It won’t matter. Cole has a cousin who has recently come into a powerful position. It’s a hunch, but I think the two of them together might use this as an excuse to take on your brothers.”
I sink lower in my chair and rest my head in my hands. Silence covers the room like a thick wet blanket.
This is all my fault, and we both know it. I’ve fucked up everything again.
It’s what I’ve done my whole life. Why should now be any different?
“I didn’t love him,” I mutter quietly. The question had been in Artem’s eyes last night, but he’d kept it to himself. Maybe he thought I’d confess to some deep profound love for Tony. Maybe, and I could be reaching here, he would be hurt by that.
“What was that?” He comes back to the table, moving his chair closer to me as he sits.
“I didn’t love Tony. I thought I did, but it wasn’t love.” I lean back in my seat, scrubbing my hands over my face. “At first, it was just fun, and then all the sneaking around made it exciting. Like we were Romeo and Juliet or something stupid like that.”
“He used you.” His tone is flat, unemotional as he states the same thing my brothers told me. As though being used was somehow better than my betrayal.
“And what a fool am I that I was able to be used. And now, look at the fucking mess I’ve made.” I shove away from the table and get to my feet. “I’m a fucking idiot.”
He snatches my hand before I can get away and yanks me into his lap. Capturing my face in one hand, he demands my eyes.
“Never talk about yourself like that again, Elana. Do you understand me?”
“Why? It’s true.” I try to pull away, but he tightens his grip.
“Do I need to remind you what happens to naughty girls who don’t listen to Daddy?” His voice drops, and his free hand covers my ass, squeezing through my leggings.
Heat pools between my legs, spreading like a wildfire throughout my body.
“How can you want me after all the trouble I’ve caused?” It’s a serious question. Everywhere I go a fire starts. “Maybe you should spank me again, with your belt or a switch. Something horrible, punish me for all the horrible things I’ve done.”
He releases my chin and runs his fingers gently across my cheek.
“You should punish me, Artem. Then maybe I won’t feel like this anymore.” My voice cracks. I clear my throat, hating how weak I’ve become.
“It doesn’t work that way, Babygirl. Not for something like this. The forgiveness you’re looking for isn’t from the outside. We’ve all forgiven. No one casts blame on you. It’s coming from here.” He taps my chest with two fingers. “It’s not something my belt is going to fix.”
“So, how do I fix it then?”
“Right now, you stay safe. You’ve never wanted to be involved in the Volkov business… do you really want to start now?”
“No.” I lean my head on his shoulder, inhaling the woodsy scent of him. He’s always had a calming effect on me. Just feeling him nearby was enough to soothe away frayed edges.
“Last night you said I was yours. Did you mean it? Or was it just kinky sex talk?” I close my eyes, focusing on his breathing. I shouldn’t have asked the question.
He’s going to have to answer. And Artem doesn’t lie.
His hand slides up my back and into my hair. Making a fist, he pulls my head back until his gaze levels with mine.
Heat and severity shine in his eyes.
