Page 50 of Captured Obsession

I swallow hard, finding my determination. I need to act unaffected by it too, so I take control of my adrenaline-fueled body. If I’m weak, if I shake, they’ll see it. I can’t be next on the menu.

The boss smiles, as if impressed with Nikolai. “It’s been a while since someone’s talked back to me. Well, anyone who’s made it through the sentence. Let me teach you something,Udav. When I want to make deals with others, it’s not a matter of negotiation, but rather a mutual understanding that if they don’t do what I want, I’ll ruin everything they love.”

My heart sinks, and a chill runs over me as his dark, greedy eyes creep toward me. “Luca Armani would much prefer a meeting in Italy with one of his men, Lorenzo Moretti, speaking on his behalf. I will not do things on his terms.”

My heart stops. Lily. She’s been living with Lorenzoin Italy. Is she okay? Are they in danger? What the fuck started this war in the first place?

His boss continues. “Besides, Luca Armani’s family is based in New York. I want to go where the man’s weakness is. A man can be easily persuaded when his family’s safety is in question.”

He leers at me again. “So, perhaps a little damage to the package won’t be an issue.”

“I can assure you, the goods are not up to your standards,” Nikolai says as he casually leans over to pick up the glass of vodka. A pang of hurt strikes at the reference to me being inadequate, and I don’t know if it’s because of how good he is at acting in front of his boss or because maybe the real act was at the manor.

The men surrounding us seem unsure but put away their weapons since the boss’s tone has changed.

His boss goes to speak, but a woman’s shrill, “Viktor!” booms up the staircase.

We all turn to find a five-foot-five, strikingly beautiful woman who looks to be in her mid-twenties, pouting with disapproval at the boss.

Her dark brown eyes seem almost black with fury, matching her black lipstick and winged eyeliner. Her long, thick hair frames her face, and she offers an unhinged smile as she pulls out a switchblade.

“Tiarna, my dearest daughter,” the boss says, raising his hand as if in welcome. “Let’s not be rash with weapons now.”

Tiarna. That was the name of the woman Nikolai was texting.

Is this his lover?

“Don’t youdearest daughterme. You gutted Katya’s fucking boyfriend, you asshole.”

The boss exhales an exaggerated sigh as she storms toward him. “Is it so bad to disapprove of your younger sister’s boyfriend?” When the woman lunges for him, one of his guards grabs her from behind. She plunges the knife into his leg, but the moment he tries to use force on her, the man in charge bellows, “Don’t touch her!”

He then looks to Nikolai, exasperated. “Daughters are my greatest failings. They’re such emotional little creatures.”

The man who seems like the boss’s advisor steps forward. “It will take some time dealing with my sister. You leave today,Udav. Wait for your next order.”

Sister?

Nikolai grabs my hand, ignoring the woman who easily pushes her way through the burly men, now that they’re too afraid to touch her. She gives me a curious look, then bites back tears as she charges her father.Fuck me.That woman is on a war path, and I find myself silently rooting for her.

I don’t have the courage to look back as Nikolai tugs me down the stairs. This is how his boss operates—without mercy. Viktor is someone who would gun down one of his own men to offer as a snack for hisexotic pet. This is the world Nikolai is a part of and what he warned me about.

Nikolai leads us through the crowd that has begun to clog the entrance, fighting to finding our way to the door.

The moment fresh air hits my face, I yank my hand out of his grip. “What the fuck is happening?”

“Not here,” he grits as he pushes me toward the car, the security guard watching on.

I roll out of his grip. “No, you answer me now! What the fuck is happening? And what do you mean I’m ‘not up to his standards’? How could you be so cruel?”

I knew Nikolai was a monster. A murderer. That he’s indifferent to anything that doesn’t serve him. But had that woman not interrupted, would he have handed me over without batting an eye?

“What’s in all of this for you?” I demand, my chest rising and falling with my rapid breaths.

His glare is cutting as he says, “I follow orders. There’s nothing more than that. Never has been.”

My stomach sinks, hating how his words slice at my heart—when they shouldn’t impact it whatsoever.

“Now, get in the car if you want to see your friends again.”