Page 96 of Savage Pakhan

“Lyubimaya,” he croons, lightly shaking me. “We are here.”

Dread fills me. Take me back to Las Vegas. I want to get lost in bed with Alek. I want us to walk the strip again. I want to gamble and laugh and cheer and eat. I want to do it all with him.

I want to be anywhere but here.

I rub my eyes to rid of the blurriness and stare at the mansion at the end of the paved driveway. Ivan really doesn’t know how to take care of a home. How it looks reveals how he is on the inside.

It’s only been a month and the grass is dead. The beautiful fountain that sits in the middle of the driveway’s path has weeds and vines growing around it. What was once clear water shooting through the mermaid’s shells is now thick like mud.

Even the sky is filled with doom.

“Alek.” I grip my husband’s arm, nervous when there are armed guards outside of the door.

I’ve never seen that before.

“It’s okay, My Love.” He kisses my forehead. “I want you to do me a favor, “ he states, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Close your eyes. Cover your ears. I’ll come get you in a moment, okay?”

I think I move my head in agreement. I can’t tell anymore.

Wait. Why am I staying in the car? Absolutely not. I want to be part of the solution too. I don’t want to hide, no matter how afraid I am.

I get out of the SUV and stand next to him while Nikolai takes the other side.

“I told you to stay in the car.”

“Not this time,” I reply.

The guards by the door grab a hold of their weapons, aiming them at us, but Alek and Nikolai are faster.

The silencers release a small ‘pew’ of air. One by one, the guards fall, blood spraying against the house when the bullet meets their skulls.

Bile creeps up my throat and I hold my hand against my stomach. What if I would have been shot and then Alek would have been blindsided about the news of his child?

It’s on the tip of my tongue again to tell him the truth, but he grabs my hand and tugs me up the steps to the front door.

There’s arguing on the other side. Voices are raised. There’s a shouting match happening behind closed doors, and I hear my name.

“That’s my dad,” I say in horror with a mixture of pain. “He’s been here? He’s never here, but he’s here now?” I keep my voice a low whisper, my vision blurring from the agony of being betrayed yet again. “He’s only here for his money.”

“Probably,” Nikolai says truthfully.

“I’m sorry, Mia.” Alek turns me to him, his eyes darting all over my face. “I can handle this. This is my home and my territory. You are mine. Nothing can be done about that. They can try to say they hold the cards, but they don’t. I do. And I will. Always.”

“I’m going in because I want to see the man who has stabbed me in the back my entire life,” I spit, anger and the need for revenge burning the fear that once lived inside me.

Thunder rolls above us and rain lightly drops onto my arms.

Alek straightens, staring down at me with awe in his eyes before turning to the door. He lifts his leg and kicks it in, the wood splintering from the force.

Everyone who was arguing and yelling stops. The only sounds are our steps crunching over the pieces of the door as we welcome ourselves inside. Nikolai has his gun raised but Alek has tucked his under his blazer.

“You little bitch.” Spit flies from my father’s mouth. His faced is bright cherry red, the perfect shade for rage, and he steps forward, a hand raised to hit me when Alek steps in front of me.

“I would think twice before doing that, Mr. Roswell.” Alek tugs on the lapels of his jacket.

“Finally,” Ivan stumbles out of the other room, unable to walk in a straight. “There you are. You fucking humiliated me. Us. Your father. My family’s name!” He roars, gripping a vodka bottle by its neck.

“What are you going to do as punishment, Aleksandr? A whore like her doesn’t deserve to get away with what she had done. As a matter of fact, she is my daughter, and I’m allowed to do whatever I want with her.” My father tries to push Alek out of the way, keeping his hand raised to bring his palm down onto my cheek.