Chapter 166

Vladimir:

“You managed to convince Alonso?” Konstantin asked, shaking his head in question as he read through the contracts that have been signed by both Alonso and I, agreeing to the business corporation.

“My face seems to bring more trust from the families and men. It seems that you failed to earn that over the years.” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. He nodded, seeming to be pleased before putting the file back in a drawer. 

“I will have the lawyers look into it later. We will see how things are going to start proceeding in this partnership. And if things go as we plan, then we can extend the businesses toward a different rig. We might even be able to manage a few different projects, and you know, the more we grow, the more we earn. And that is something that I aim to reach.” He said, and I nodded, knowing that it was something that every smart man wanted to do. The difference was, he wasn’t the brightest of men, and I knew that his aim was to grow his empire to become the Pakhan of all the Russian families, something that neither Killian nor I would allow.

“If you can do so, then do it. I will go and rest, then tonight we can discuss what we would be doing in further meetings. Considering the fact that even Killian seems to have agreed to work with you, I am going to take advantage of that point and…”

“I do not intend to keep working for things that will make you grow at a pace that would make you fall a lot faster. We are going to be calm and smart. Putting more deals than you can fit in your hands is only going to make you lose them. I believe that you should know that by now.” I said, stopping the man who raised an eyebrow.

“And that is why I have you here. I am going to be taking care of…”

“Well, I am not.” I said, stopping him. “Do not mistake me for Batrov. I am not a slave who is here working for you.” 

I got up before the man could say a word, and he frowned, not knowing what to respond. I knew that my way was not one that he was used to, but he knew very well that I could do what I wanted, when I wanted, and I did not abide by his rules. It was something that scared him, I could see it in his eyes, but that was one of the things that I aimed for. Breaking the confidence that he had growing for so long without someone to stop him from the bullshit that he was pulling up.

I walked to my room, smiling as I caught my mate’s scent inside only to catch sight of Beatrice looking as if she had seen a ghost. I frowned at the woman, knowing that she was in charge of taking care of my room, and considering that Elena was staying here, everything that she asked for, she was in charge of fulfilling. 

“What is going on?” I asked, and she shook her head as she took a deep breath.

“Boss got in a conflict with Miss Elena,” she said, and I frowned.

“What?” I asked, doing my best to control my anger as I looked at the woman, knowing that she wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it without risking her life, even if she wanted to. Her eyes widened, and she took a step back, fearing my reaction. I knew not to wait for a response that I wasn’t going to get, especially not from a woman who I could tell was frightened.

I walked inside the room and my heart dropped when I saw Elena sitting on the floor with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Her back was to the bed, and she held onto a small piece of paper in her hands. 

“Elena?” I called, breaking the train of thoughts that I could tell she was deeply lost in. 

She looked up at me, and my eyes widened when I saw the cuts and bruises that were on her chin. Her heart raced, and I walked toward her as she stood. I looked down at what she held only to notice that it was a picture of a young girl. 

“She’s my sister,” she said, closing her eyes. “The reminder of why I have to stay here. If I leave or if he kills me, he is going to take her in return.”

“Elena, what happened?” I asked, and she shook her head, avoiding my eyes for a second. “What did he do to you?”

“He- The two of us got in conflict. He asked me about you. He asked what I would do when you grew tired of me, and when I went to respond…”

“Elena,” I said, wrapping my arms around her as her voice broke off. Her tears fell freely from her eyes, and my heart dropped to my stomach at her sight. She fisted my shirt, and her heart raced as she buried her head in my chest, trying to hide herself as she was scared of what was to come. 

“He is going to hurt them if I think of fighting back, Vladimir.” She said, and I shook my head, not wanting her to think that I was going to allow anything like that to happen. 

“He is not going to touch anyone…”

“You don’t know that, Vladimir. You don’t know what he would be willing to do to break me.” She said, shaking her head at me. 

“Well, I am here right now. And if I don’t feed him his balls for breakfast, then my name is not Vladimir Ivanov, malyshka.” I said, stopping her. “Wait here, I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Vladimir…”

I kissed her forehead before walking out of the room, closing the door. My eyes met Beatrice’s and she took a deep breath as she knew that the night was not going to be ending well. 

“Don’t let anyone in. Do you understand me?” The woman nodded in response, and I walked toward Konstantin’s office, opening the door, not even bothering to knock only to let out a low growl when I saw the man looking at me with a smirk on his face.

“I take it that she was quick to tell on me?” He asked, and I shook my head as I slammed the door shut. My eyes glowed to a deep shade of yellow, and I could see the man’s fear in his eyes despite him choosing to stay calm in front of me.

“Who the fucking hell did you think you are to lay a hand on my woman?” I asked, glaring at the man.

“Considering the fact that she chose to disrespect me. I am the boss of this house, and I think that I had every right to re-educate her since she forgot her manners.” He said calmly. “And I think that you should start doing the same. Otherwise, you are going to find yourself dealing with a rebellious woman who you cannot control. And I doubt that you are going to want to deal with that.”

I banged his desk, breaking a hole into it and his eyes widened as he saw me baring my canines.

“You approach my woman one more time, I am going to be sure that you lose a finger on each one of them.” I said, and he scoffed, getting up from his desk to meet my eyes. 

“Do you think that you can go all wolf on me and I am just going to flinch and step back?” He asked, smirking at me. “Go and find yourself a different man to play and taunt. The woman is mine and if I am allowing you to use her, it is because I want to. I can easily lock her up somewhere where you can never find her, and so help me God if you try crossing another limit like this one, I am going to be sure that what Killian did to you seems like a piece of cake.”

“How about I bite into your neck and rip off your jugular to show you who you’re messing with?” I asked, grabbing the man by his neck, squeezing it, reminding him that I was ten times stronger than he ever would be. He went to grab something from his desk, but I pushed him down, forcing his body onto his desk, stopping him from doing so. “The next time you lay a hand on my woman, I give you my fucking word that it is going to be the last time that you have hands. And if you think of taking her ONE inch away from me, you are going to watch your Estate fall to the ground, one room at a time until I have found her, do you fucking understand me?”