Page 34 of Captured Obsession

“And has the TV been set up for her?”

“Yes, though she hasn’t turned it on. She's just been lying in bed.”

For the love of God. I'm so sick of this sulking shit and my inability to change it. I stand from behind my desk and adjust my shirt.

“Thank you, Agata. I’ll deal with her myself.”

She ignores my unspoken dismissal, giving me a look I can’t read.

“Nikolai, I've known you for a long time,” she says cautiously. “Are you perhaps growing attached to the young American?”

She immediately diverts her gaze at the lethal look I give her. “I don’t become attached to anything, Agata. You, of all people, should know that,” I say dismissivelyas I walk past her and leave the room. Attached? No. But it is my job to make sure she survives this. I just didn’t think the biggest concern of safety would be herself.

Progress was made last night. The Armanis finally made a move. I don’t know who, specifically, almost succeeded in tracking my phone, but I was surprised that I cut the call, disconnecting their lead. In that moment I panicked at the thought of her being taken away, and I acted selfishly.

I don’t think too deeply into the change of heart. I know myself better than that. In Sienna Falcone, I’ve found new prey I can toy with, and I’m not yet done with her. At least that’s what I tell myself.

Last night, I let her get too close, told her too much. The one thing I can’t stand is pity. I don’t deserve such a thing. And I will no longer give it to her either. I sabotaged both of us last night, erecting a roadblock to the progress of her returning home sooner and my ability to get closer to Luca Armani and Dmitri Volkov.

I walk down the main hall, slowing to listen in on two men speaking in one of the sitting rooms. “You should’ve seen her curves in that dress last night.”

“It's bullshit thatUdavisn’t sharing her. Does he think that just because he’sin charge, he can have all the fun? I’m so sick of this patrol duty bullshit. We’re sitting ducks here if the Armanis ambush us.”

“Yeah, but we’re as good as dead if we try to get out of it. What can we do? It’s the boss’s orders.”

“I'd still like to have my time with that American pussy. It won't be very tight once I'm done with it.”

Andrei stalks into the room before I can even get to the door, and I hear him bark, “Has the wilderness rattled your brains into pecans? You dipshits better be more cautious about what you say. These are direct orders from the boss, and you are not to question him or anyone he puts in charge.”

“I concur,” I add, stepping out from behind Andrei. The two men grow a shade paler, and I memorize their features so I can find them later tonight in the dark and strangle them to death. One of them swallows, hard, as if instinctively understanding the threat. I shoot them an evil grin before I turn and leave. I’ll make sure to have fun with those two before escorting them into hell.

Sergey is posted outside Sienna’s door when I get there. I’m not as fond of him as I am Andrei. Instinctually, I know Sergey is right up The Wolf’s ass with everyone else. But I’ve seen the way Andrei’s shoulders bunch around his boss when women are involved. I did my own research on him and found out he has a wife and daughter. Tricky business to be in while trying to protect the very people his boss thinks he has a right to own, and so I wonder if his loyalty can be swayed.

I’ve seen it happen before—men changing for a woman. It makes them weaker.

But it’s difficult getting out of the bratva, especially because of a change of heart.

“Sir.” Sergey nods.

“You're dismissed. I’ll take it from here.”

I adjust my collar and unbutton the top two buttons of my shirt. I have a rough idea as to what brought about Sienna’s sour mood, and I’ll be fucked if I'm going to let a woman as beautiful as her pout over a cheating piece of shit. I don't particularly believe in monogamy or relationships, but I'm not going to let her starve to death because of some greedy asshole who never deserved her in the first place.

I open the door, and order, “Get out of bed.”

“Fuck off, Nikolai.” Her voice is small and weak, and it infuriates me. I circle the bed. “I mean it. I— Hey!”

I rip off the blankets, exposing her body that’s clad in those silky boxers and matching shirt she seems to have taken a liking to, and then drape her over my shoulder. She kicks and screams, getting a good hit in when her elbow connects with my nose. So I bring my hand down hard on her ass.

That snaps her to attention. “I'm not letting you sulk over some loser.”

“You have no idea what you're talking about. Now, put me down.”

I ignore her as I unceremoniously carry her through the manor while she wriggles and fights with far morestrength than I thought she would have. But that's what I like most about her; that no matter what, there's always fight in her. Even when she can't recognize it herself.

The few men we pass don’t try to intervene.

When we get to a blind spot in the security feed, and I know nobody is positioned close by, I flip her back over my shoulder and drop her to the ground.