Chapter 14

POV ILYA KRAVTSOV

As Alejandra’s health improved, she decided to take on all the household tasks. We still slept together every night, but she woke up before me, early in the morning, and got to work right away.

She cooked well, and the cabin smelled of stews and steaks she made. One day, I almost got down on my knees and proposed when she made a lasagna with a Bolognese sauce that made me want to lick my fingers.

On the less cold days, we walked around the cabin to keep moving, and I did some push-ups, improvised pull-ups, and lifted weights with whatever I had on hand.

I’d catch her watching me every time I did some manual work or while I was exercising, which seemed to be a very attractive activity for her.

To me, she didn’t need much effort. Anything she did made me excited, as if she had just sat on my lap just to seduce me.

Pathetically!

Despite these turbulent feelings, we had established a peaceful coexistence. We talked when we wanted to, but we didn’t insist on it, respecting each other’s silence.

She had a sincere laugh, an innocent smile—with dimples—and was very smart.

To my misfortune, she was also beautiful as hell.

It was hard to control my instincts when she was around. Too close, especially during the nights when I woke up with an erection because she had snuggled up to me without even realizing. It got so problematic that if there had been any other comfortable option, I would have given up on the bed. But the floor was cold, the couch was small, and I needed to be rested in case something happened.

Most of the time, she stayed in clothes all day, protecting herself from the cold. I was grateful for that because it would have been hell to see her in that little white dress from when I first met her—short, almost transparent, and full of lace.

I avoided passing by the room when I knew she was taking a shower, but that afternoon, I had to grab my laptop after receiving a message on my phone saying Alejandra’s documents were ready.

By some oversight, she left the suite door open, just a crack. I passed by and tried not to peek, but I ended up inadvertently seeing her standing in front of the mirror, combing her wet brown hair, wearing only a bra and panties.

“Shit!” I muttered quietly, frustrated with myself.

Four nights before, I almost kissed her. I had held her by the waist because she lost her balance, and it should have been just that, but I almost couldn’t control myself.

She was my responsibility. I was an outcast. Our worlds had collided, but that didn’t mean I could cross boundaries.

Alejandra was forbidden for me. More than anyone else. It was one thing for me to save her from a life of slavery in a terrible marriage. It was another to steal my pakhan’s bride and make her mine.

But that was what I wanted to do. No matter how dangerous and insane it could be.

As long as I could hold myself back, I would. I couldn’t promise it would be forever, especially after seeing her like that.

Shaking my head to snap out of the trance, I grabbed the computer and hurried out of the room, marching toward the exit and accidentally slamming the door with force. Alejandra probably realized I was there because of the noise I made, but it didn’t matter anymore.

I went downstairs, frustrated with myself for behaving like a teenager full of libido, but I heard a sound that put me on alert.

I had spread weapons around the house in case I needed to use them, so all I had to do was finish descending the stairs, place my laptop on a side table, and open a drawer. A semi-automatic pistol rested inside, so I turned the key, grabbed it, and unlocked it.

There wasn’t much I could do because whoever was outside had already seen the lights on and probably heard the noise I made when I left the room. The car was still parked behind the cabin, and the snow in front of the porch had been cleared earlier that afternoon.

It would be easy to set a trap for two people, especially being as isolated as we were, so I started moving toward the source of the noise, realizing it was a car approaching.

It could be anything—from a lost person needing help to a mercenary from Bratva, ready to catch us off guard.

But if they were trying, they should have been more discreet in their approach.

The knock on the door startled me. The voice that came right after was even more surprising.

“Ilya? Open up.”

The person on the other side of the door didn’t even need to identify themselves. There was no way I wouldn’t know who it was.

It was Kolya.

I wasn’t going to answer. I just took a few steps and positioned myself in a way that I had a perfect shot if he entered.

He was my brother. Why the hell was I even considering the possibility of shooting him?

“Ilya! I’m coming in one way or another. I’m not armed.”

“What are you doing here, then?” I asked cautiously.

“We need to talk.”

I hesitated, still standing in the same spot.

“Talking is bullshit. Your pakhan sent you here, didn’t he?”

“He has no idea where I am,” he said, letting out a loud sigh. “Can we stop this nonsense, Ilya? I let you escape. I could have found you much sooner if I wanted.”

I thought for a moment, walking toward the door and looking outside through the window. My brother was standing there, all bundled up, with a red scarf around his neck, but alone. I turned the doorknob and opened it, keeping the gun pointed at Kolya.

He raised his hands as he entered, turning his back in an attempt to manipulate me. If he trusted me enough to do this, why shouldn’t I trust him?

It was an effective tactic, but not with me, I was on full alert.

“Sit on the couch and keep your hands on your knees,” I almost growled. According to the way we were raised, it was disrespectful to treat my older brother like this, but it was what I was being forced to do.

He obeyed, looking far too submissive for my liking.