Page 89 of Bought By the Ruthless Pakhan

She reached out, shoving at me.

I grabbed her wrist. Made my decision.

I'd had enough!

Enough of only being able to watch her through a screen. Enough of her hot and cold. Enough of other men wanting her.

Maybe my way was the only practical way. I'd love her my way. Protect her my way.

I grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the door. She screamed my name, kicked at my legs.

She sobbed and shouted. "Ivan, this is kidnapping!"

"Kidnapping?" I steeled myself. "Then I'm kidnapping you."

Anna's tears burned against my arm. "Anna, listen to me. You're coming with me today. If you fight me one more time, I'll have my lawyers file for custody of Alex immediately."

The words worked like magic. Anna stopped struggling.

She'd never said it, but I'd figured it out long ago—what she feared most was being separated from her child.

I could feel her body trembling, but she didn't dare move again.

I dragged her toward the elevator. The hallway lights blinked on and off.

She stayed silent the whole way, tears streaming down, soaking my shirt sleeve.

I knew I was a bastard. I knew I was scum. But I had no other choice.

I had to protect her. Couldn't lose her. Couldn't let her stay near anyone else. Even if she hated me. Even if she never forgave me. I had to take her with me.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Anna

Ivan brought me home.

No. Ivan kidnapped me and brought me home.

The iron gate slid open automatically. The wheels crunched over the gravel driveway and stopped in front of the entrance.

Ivan unbuckled his seatbelt and came around to my side to pull me out.

Like a puppet, I let him push me into the house and up the stairs.

I sat on the edge of the bed in the bedroom.

The room was huge. South-facing windows. Sunlight spilled across the carpet through white sheer curtains, warm and bright.

"You'll stay here for now. If you need anything, tell Antonia."

"I don't need anything." My stomach hurt. My head spun. "I'll leave. The second you slip up, I'll take my son and disappear. You'll never find us."

Ivan stood a few steps away, his silhouette caught in the bright sunlight, but his voice sounded waterlogged. "Why won't you just listen? I'm doing this for your own good."

"For my own good?" My throat ached, but I forced myself to fight back. "You threatened me with Alex. You had me watched. And you call that good?"

"Ivan Volkov, what gives you the right?"