Page 12 of Bought By the Ruthless Pakhan

I reached out and pulled my jacket tighter around her. "Come with me."

I didn't want to touch her. But her legs were giving out, so I wrapped an arm around her waist. She was so light. Like she'd blow away in the wind.

Dmitri was leaning against the car door. When he saw me walking back with her, he whistled. "Looks like the man's finally got some life in him."

I shot him a look. He shut up and pulled the door open.

Anna curled into the back seat, pressing herself into the corner. Head down.

She looked obedient. And pitiful.

I told Dmitri to take a cab back to the hotel. He shrugged, raised an eyebrow, tossed me the keys, and walked off.

I slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. The car was dead silent except for the hum of the motor. I glanced in the rearview mirror. Anna's shoulders were rigid. Her fingers clawed at the leather seat.

"That's leather," I said. "Not a scratching post."

She froze.

In those two seconds of silence, I saw her face turn bright red in the mirror.

"I've never had a cat."

She sounded defensive. But also like she was explaining herself.

I gripped the steering wheel. My mouth twitched.

"I can tell."

Cute little kitten.

I brought her back to my place. I didn't use this Vegas apartment often, but the living room window faced the city lights. The floor-to-ceiling glass looked out over the whole glowing sprawl.

She stood in the middle of the room, staring out at the lights, like a small animal that had wandered into a strange den.

"Sit down," I said.

She didn't move.

I grabbed her wrist and pushed her onto the couch. I pulled out the first aid kit, crouched in front of her, and tore open an alcohol pad. When I dabbed her wound, she hissed, but quickly shut her mouth again.

She didn't like showing weakness. Even when she was trembling with pain, she just bit her lip and refused to make another sound.

I gripped her chin and pried her lips open with my fingers, brushing over the swollen flesh she'd bitten. Her face flushed instantly, pink spreading to the corners of her eyes. She turned her head away, unable to look at me.

This time, she finally cried out like I wanted.

"Anna, you don't have to be tough. At least not with me. You can say it hurts."

She didn't speak, but she stopped forcing herself to stay silent. I wrapped her wrist in gauze. The bone jutted out where her wrist was too thin, like I could snap it with one hand. Like a cub that hadn't grown up yet.

Damn it. That bastard. He'd hit her so hard.

The living room was dark except for the neon glow bleeding in through the windows, flickering over her hair. The air was so still I could hear her heartbeat. Something tugged lightly at the hem of my shirt, so soft, like she was afraid to disturb me.

"What is it?"

Her fingers climbed higher and clutched my tie.