Chapter 14

POV Tatyana

Adam holds my hand and leads me to sit down. Samuel arrives a few minutes later with a furious expression, ready to set the world on fire. He sits down and looks intently at the Supreme Leader.

"You’ve already taken over the business. The Bratva-Drakon has a strong leader, but where is the heir? What are we going to do? Where’s Luara?" the man asks, scanning the room for Samuel’s wife.

"She’s in the dark room, where she should never leave. The woman who will bear my child is Tatyana!" Samuel declares, pointing in my direction.

Pavel scrutinizes me as if he’s picking meat at the market, and after glaring at me with disdain, he turns his attention to Samuel. The man seems to search for some answer I don’t understand. With a rigid expression and a cold tone, he begins questioning the arrogant man with cryptic inquiries.

"Remember, Colt, is she your rabbit? What happens if she is your rabbit? What will I need to do?" Samuel hardens his expression, and John lowers his head.

"Let this child be born soon, and let no one find out it isn’t a legitimate Colt. No women, Samuel!" Pavel concludes, rising and leaving the room with decisive steps.

The man heads toward the liquor room, and I voice my frustration.

"He doesn’t want a girl to be born?" I protest, perplexed. "Who is this man?"

"Our father, Taty," John states sadly.

Samuel remains silent for a long five minutes, seeming lost in some disturbing memory.

***

POV Samuel

Flashback

Samuel - 7 years old

A week ago, my father gave me a kitten! I named her Tina. Her fur is gray, the tips of her ears are black, and her eyes are blue. Tina has become my and John’s favorite distraction. We spend a lot of time in the fields; the grass is always trimmed low, and the area is filled with pine trees, which give the air a scent of moss and earth.

"Run, John, Tina’s going to hide, and we’ll never find her again," I shout enthusiastically, running through the green expanse of our property toward the garden.

"Samuel and John, come here and bring Tina," my father orders.

We pick up Tina and go to him. He’s been saying for days that he needs to teach me about life in the Mafia. As soon as we reach the backyard patio, my father’s expression shifts to stern—the same look he adopts when something upsets him.

"I’m going to start training you!" Pavel announces. "Give me Tina!" he commands, stretching out his arms, waiting for me to hand her over.

I approach him slowly, wary, and hand Tina to him. If there’s one thing my father has always inspired in me, it’s fear. John shrinks back, frightened, snuggling closer to me.

"What did I say when I gave you Tina?"

"To take care of her and love her," I reply hesitantly.

"Exactly, Samuel. And does Tina love you back?"

"Yes, she loves me!"

"And if someone killed Tina? How would you feel?" he asks with a cruel expression.

"Sad, Papa. I love Tina."

My father pulls a pocketknife from his pocket, staring at me intently. My chest tightens at the thought of what he might do to our kitten. Wickedly, he presses the knife against her and slowly slides it across her neck, ending her life.

"Papa… no!" I scream in despair, overwhelmed by immense anguish.

"This is what happens when you love someone," he declares, letting Tina’s body fall onto the grass.

Her tiny body is covered in bright red. Tears threaten to spill from my eyes, but I fight internally, refusing to let them fall.

"This feeling you have now is what happens when you love someone. Love is a weakness, and if you cry, I’ll hit you!"

I suppress and swallow every burning tear. John keeps his head down, staring at our lifeless kitten, and at that moment, a single tear escapes down his hidden face. My father grabs my hand and drags me to the farm’s barn. The place is old, made of wood, and has been on the property for years. As we enter, I see a cage full of rabbits.

"You’re going to kill all of them until you feel nothing."

An incessant pain floods me, and I hear a voice calling me from afar… it’s Tatyana’s voice.

"Samuel…"

End of Flashback.

***

POV Samuel

I pull my gaze away from nowhere and stare intently at Tatyana. My thoughts and memories remind me that I cannot be dominated by any feeling. I was trained to be a cold, impenetrable man, and I must keep my heart away from that destructive force called love. Love is a weakness, and I cannot succumb to it. I look coldly at the small creature standing before me and shout, as if to prove to myself that I will never allow Tatyana to take root within me.

"Your only purpose here is to bear my child, understand?" I declare, standing and walking toward her.

I grab her wrists tightly, shaking her body. She glares at me with anger, allowing me this moment of fury. Adam approaches, alarmed, and pulls her away from me.

"We’ve been allies for years, but as soon as this child is born, Tatyana will return to me. She doesn’t deserve to sink into your madness, Samuel Colt," he states, outraged by my reaction.

I look at her, and all I see is that damn kitten, Tina. Tatyana storms out of the room angrily, and I quickly follow her. John tries to grab my arm but immediately lets go, knowing that at this moment, I could break his hand. I walk through the corridors, and when Tatyana passes through the bedroom door, I grab her forcefully. She looks at me with both anger and desire.

"I see darkness in you, Samuel Colt."

"Stop talking..."

Uncontrollably, I grip her neck and kiss her. A wild kiss, full of fury and bitterness. I bite her lips in anguish, overtaken by the chaos and darkness that dwell within me. My fingers tangle roughly in her hair. She tilts her neck, allowing me to bite and suck her skin with ferocity. I feel like a fugitive animal, ravenous, ready to bite and devour her flesh slowly. Tatyana slides her small hand over my chest, and I feel an overwhelming urge to claim her as mine. My heart races, and I want to fight this, this all-consuming, insatiable feeling. A sensation that begins to devour my soul quickly, without warning, without promises, and without measuring the consequences.

I pull her body firmly against mine. My hands slide over her breasts, and I want to feel her nipples on my tongue. I want to bite them and see her surrender to me. But before I can truly feel her body burn under my touch, a voice interrupts us.

"Excuse me, Mr. Colt, I’m sorry to interrupt, but the Brotherhood has arrived," Maria announces.