Page 59 of Captured Obsession

Not that I have any intention of hurting her, but Luca needs to believe otherwise.

Sienna is a very difficult woman to impress because all her life, she’s been spoiled. The thought gives me pause.Since when have I tried to impress her?

My lips tilt slightly. I might not be trying to impress her, but I’m certainly willing to give my life for hers.

Stupid, really. But it’s the most instinctual pull I’ve had in a long time.

The buzzerat the door sounds, announcing that someone is coming up the elevator. Andrei stopsbeside me, uncertainty in his gaze, as I throw the last of the unboxed items onto the pile. Three fucking hours it took me to go through these, and not one contained anything suspicious, despite the many objects I didn’t understand.

I keep the blade in my hand as I step toward the elevator alongside Andrei. My other hand rests close to my gun. “This could be interesting,” I say.

He steps to the side, waiting for the elevator to open. I look over my shoulder at Agata, who quickly runs up to Sienna’s room. Agata knows the drill when unexpected guests arrive. We’ve had it happen many times before. In fact, one of my most prominent scars is from such an incident.

But I’m someone who likes to dance with death a little. It acts as a reminder that mortality isn’t to be taken for granted, and it makes my senses sharper. It’s also been a few days since I’ve had the fun of shedding blood. Giddiness overtakes me, the same way Sienna first lit up over all the stuff she was sent. Different things excite us, I suppose.

I expect a barrage of bullets the moment the doors open. But instead, there’s a seriously pissed-off Romi Lutton shooting me a death glare as Dante Moretti, Luca’s second in charge, lazily rests an arm around her shoulders, two scalpels clutched in his other hand.

The two men flanking them, both wearing masks, one with a red gem and the other with a blue gem, I recognize as part of Armani’s group of most trustedmen, the hounds. They’re currently pointing their guns at me, but no one makes a move.

“I thought Sienna was adamant that no guests were allowed,” I say casually, despite the crackling of tension between our two groups.

“Yes, but we’re not guests,” Romi bites venomously. “We’re practically family, and you can go fuck yourself if you think you’re going to take my best friend prisoner and not expect me to show up on your doorstep.”

I’m mildly impressed at her boldness. I can see why she and Sienna are good friends. They both have that fire in them.

“Do you think I’d be stupid enough to let you in?” I ask as I size up the hounds. Despite all my available resources, gathering the identities of the hounds has been difficult. I imagine very few know exactly who they are or what they look like beneath their masks. The motorcycle helmet each one holds loosely in a hand could explain how they so easily walked through the lobby without security being called.

“Yes, I think all men are morons, including mine.” Romi hooks a thumb at Dante. It was very risky of him to bring her here. But I have a feeling he wasn’t given a choice.

“I will speak to my best friend when I want to.” She places her hands on her hips and juts her chin out. “Or are you scared I’m going to kick your ass?”

My eyebrows arch in surprise.Oh, I like this one.In Russia, there are only few women I know who standtheir ground. Tiarna is the first to come to mind. They are rare, but I’ve seen how they can successfully build their own empires with the right amount of cut-throat ambition.

They’re never to be underestimated.

Romi is that type of woman. As is Sienna.

“Your woman is tenacious,” I say to Dante.

His dark-brown gaze is locked on me. “You have no idea.”

“Romi!” Sienna yells as she rushes down the stairs. That’s when my instincts prickle, and I step in front of her before she can get any closer. I don’t trust this situation because I can’t control it.

Romi tries to step forward, but Dante holds her back. There’s a silent question in the lethal look he gives me.

“Nobody kills anyone here. I’m not getting blood on this floor,” Sienna says, shoving at me. And when I snap my attention to her, still conscious of any movement in my peripheral vision, an unease runs through me at the desperate look in her eyes. She would never forgive me if I denied her this, though, I sure as shit shouldn’t be allowing that to be a factor.

When I turn back to the others, however, I can’t help but be curious as to how someone like Romi, an artist, fell for an unhinged lunatic like Dante Moretti, known for using his scalpels as instruments of torture. He’s just as much of a monster as I am. And yet, he’s in a functional relationship?

“Agata, please make some tea and coffee for our guests,” I call over my shoulder with an insincere smile toward our guests, mostly directed at Dante. I don’t release my hold on Sienna, and his grip doesn’t loosen from his woman either.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Stop this stand-off shit and put your weapons down,” Sienna snaps. “Put them away. You too, Andrei!” She points a finger at him.

He frowns and looks at me for direction at the same time Romi scowls at Dante.

“Weapons down. We’re here on friendly terms, right?” Dante says with a shit-eating grin that’s as provoking as it is unfriendly.

Slowly, we all put our weapons away, and Sienna takes the opportunity to break away from me and run forward. Romi does the same, and they hug one another. Dante and the hounds step out of the elevator, assessing the room.