"That means nothing to him. I'm not certain why you can't understand that what he is involved in is dangerous. There will be no hesitation to eliminate anything that stands in his way, including his own sister."
The tension in the air was palpable.
"Why do you care so much?" I swallowed several times, anxiety skittering into every cell. I wanted an honest answer, as if a man like Aleksei would give me one.
He twisted his mouth, the veins on the side of his neck popping. A few seconds later, he closed the distance, grabbing both my arms. "Because I do care about you and your welfare. Because I don't want to see anything happen to you."
"Is that it? I'm nothing more than ransom to you, a means to an end," I snarked.
"That's not it at all."
"Then. What. Is. It?"
There was another hesitation, another wave of electricity running through both of us. I could feel his angst, could almost taste the rage he emitted from every pore.
"Because I'm falling in love with you." He seemed almost surprised by his admittance, those burning eyes even more imploring, pulling me into the very depth of his being.
The statement was brash, bold, and nothing that I would have expected. "You love me?" The words even seemed to echo in my ears.
His features softened as he cupped my face, brushing his thumb back and forth. "I understand I'm not the kind of man you could ever care about. I'm not good for you, but you mean more to me than you realize. I'm the very monster nightmares are made of, but I'm not always a ruthless pig."
I heard the glitch in his voice, the agony that was far too profound. I was thrown, pulled into a pit of darkness. Every part of me wanted to respond, to fall into his arms, but the wary girl inside of me was frozen. Petrified. How could this have happened? How could our connection mean anything more than lust? "I don't know what to say."
His expression of hope instantly shut down, the man resuming his earlier role.
Protector.
Abductor.
Dominator.
"You don't have to say anything. I'm no fool, Willow. No matter what you've been led to believe, the decisions I make are with the best interest of those I care about in mind, but I thoroughly understand your concerns. When this business arrangement has been concluded with your brother, you will be free to go."
He waited as if to see if I would object. "Seriously?" I asked.
Aleksei took a deep breath before nodding, allowing his fingers to brush across my face in the most intimate manner. "I am a man of my word. In the meantime, you are still required to follow my rules. Every. Single. One. That is the only way you're going to stay alive. Your brother has a hidden agenda, something I only recently found out. I cannot nor will I tell you the various details. That in itself is far too dangerous for both of us."
I wanted to argue, to drill into him about why my brother wouldn't hesitate, but perhaps it was another aspect of my life I'd known all along. Peter had no real reason to care about me. The only requirement he'd ever been forced to partake in was getting me through school. My dead parents had made certain monies had been placed in a trust, my welfare tied to the business. I was very well aware there were attorneys standing by watching. Waiting like vultures if Peter made a mistake. The rest of this sullied situation had been my fault, allowing me to fall into my brother's trap. Well, it was time I shifted the balance.
Past time.
My brother had no idea what I was made of.
"What does he hold over you?" Aleksei asked, his emotions thoroughly in check.
"Does it really matter?"
"Whatever occurred, sweet cherie, has placed you in harm's way your entire life. I suggest you confront that evil yourself, determining whether that deal with the devil still has any real hold over you. Until you do, you will always be under his control. And he will ultimately destroy you."
The words and the sentiment were suffocating.
"Your choice how you handle the meeting with your brother," he added.
The choice was terrifying but necessary.
"I will do as you ask, Aleksei. I will help you destroy his empire, but I will not stand by while you murder him. I'm finished with bloodshed. I'm not that woman any longer," I said under my breath.
"You never were."
I choked back tears, trying desperately to keep from crying. At this moment I felt hopeless, a stupid little girl who'd been blackmailed into performing heinous acts. There was no decent reason for me selling my soul, no amount of time or effort to retrieve the good that could matter. I was lost to the madness my brother created. A pawn.
A fool.
He maintained his gentle touch, perhaps hoping that I would gush over his sentiment. I was just too numb inside, unable to trust in anything or anyone.
Then he kissed me.
Sweet.
Gentle.
Loving.
The fire roared between us, the passion that had nearly blinded me wrapping around both of us, pulling us back to the very precipice that could mean our demise. If we lost control now, allowing my brother to grasp the upper hand, the end game would be horrific.
Yet I was unable to thwart Aleksei's power over me as the kiss continued. I clung to him, my fingers wrapped around his shirt, pulling him against the heat of my body. Stars floated in my field of vision even though my eyes were clenched tightly, as if to ward out the rest of the world. All I wanted was to fall into his arms, succumb to his dark and dangerous needs.
He fisted my hair, holding me close as his other hand slid down my spine, cupping my bottom and dragging me tightly against him. The feel of his throbbing cock sent a wave of thrilling sensations through every cell and muscle, his savage growls only fueling the intense fire.