by Rose, Bella
“You okay?” he wheezed as he pushed himself up. Worried, he tried to look her over for scrapes and blood, but she was already on her phone and calling for help. “Veronika,” he said sharply. “Hang up.”
Wordlessly, she stared at him. Suddenly, the light dawned in her eyes. She understood why she couldn’t get the police involved and quickly hung up. “Fine. But I’m calling Charley. You need to see a doctor.”
“No doctor. I’m fine. Just get me to your car.” He could tell that he hadn’t broken anything. It was possible that he had some bruised ribs and a concussion, but that had happened to him more times than he could count. There was no need for a doctor.
She stifled a sigh, and it came out as a groan. Reaching down, she hooked her arms under him and helped him up. “You’re an idiot, you know that?” she said through clenched teeth.
When she finally dragged him into the house, he passed out.
Chapter Six
“Damn it, Kaz,” Veronika snapped to his unconscious body. “I’m an art history student. I’m not a damn doctor. Wake the hell up or I’m taking you to the hospital. I don’t care if you end up in jail or not. At least you’ll be alive!”
But he didn’t stir. She checked his pulse again and was relieved to find that it was still steady. Kazimir was nothing if not resilient. But that only made her feel marginally better. He’d been unconscious for nearly six hours. She was starting to worry.
She’d washed away the blood and cleaned up his wounds as best she could. Her nursing skills weren’t all that great, but at least he wasn’t bleeding anymore. But he wasn’t even stirring in her bed. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. Reaching for her phone, she decided to call her father.
Before she could, she heard another phone vibrate. She checked the pockets of the clothes that she’d left in a heap on the floor and found that his phone was actually still working. Go figure. He might be dying, but his cell was in great shape.
“Hello,” she said tentatively as she picked up.
“You sound much prettier than when I spoke to you last,” an amused voice said after a moment of hesitation.
“Kazimir is not at his phone at the moment. Can I take a message?”
“If you wanted a message, you would have let it go to voicemail. Is this Veronika?”
Her senses went on alert, and she straightened. “Who is this?”
“I’m Dmitri. I’m part of your father’s detail, and I’m a friend of Kaz’s. Has something happened?” he asked in a husky voice.
Veronika took a deep breath. She should call and verify that this man worked for her father, but if she could do this without getting him involved, she’d be far better off. “There’s been a car crash, and Kaz is hurt. He won’t let me take him to the hospital, and I’d rather not call my father.”
“I see. Give me your address. I’ll come take a look at him.” She hesitated, and he chuckled. “Veronika, I understand that you don’t know me. But I can get the address just as easily from your father, and he’ll send more men than just me.”
That was true. She rattled off the address. “Do you have any medical background?”
“I’ll do my best to help,” was all he promised before he hung up.
Veronika pressed the phone to her forehead and tried to collect herself. Having an unconscious man in her bed couldn’t be the worst thing that had ever happened to her, right?
After all, it did look like someone had just tried to kill her.
“Veronika!” She jumped as Charley slammed the front door shut. “Veronika! Are you okay?” Her friend thundered up the stairs, and Veronika straightened her shoulders and tried to look brave. “Oh my God, is he dead?” Charley stopped short at the door and stared at them.
“No. He’s just unconscious, and I’m not sure what to do.”
“You take him to the hospital, Veronika!”
“I can’t,” she snapped. “I have no idea what he’s done in the past. For all I know, he’s a wanted man. People who work for my father aren’t exactly stand-up citizens. They work for him because they’re not afraid to get their hands dirty.”
Charley’s mouth dropped open, and she stared at him. “Your father isn’t just a business man, is he?” she asked softly.
“No,” Veronika said with a sigh. “He’s an organized crime leader.”
“Mob?”
“Mob.” Veronika turned to glance at her friend. She knew that Americans liked to romanticize mobster stories, and she had no idea what was going on in Charley’s mind. The woman was notably pale, but she wasn’t looking at her in horror. That was a good sign.
“Okay. So no hospital. What is the extent of his wounds?”
Charley had obviously made up her mind to stick by Veronika, and for that, she was grateful. “He had a nasty head wound, but it stopped bleeding hours ago. I don’t feel any broken bones, and he didn’t complain of any severe pain. Of course, I wouldn’t expect him to. Still, he rolled over in a car, and he’s not just passed out because he’s exhausted. One of my father’s men is coming down to look at him.”
“Is your father coming with him?” Charley asked steadily.
“I haven’t told him. He’ll pull me out of here so fast that your head will spin. Of course, that’s nothing if Kaz dies. I don’t know what to do, Charley. What if it was more than just an accident? What if that was an attempt on my life?”
“Oh, honey.” Charley came over and hugged her. “One problem at a time. Let’s see what this other man has to say. And I’ll just go downstairs and grab a kitchen knife.”
“Why?”
“In case someone tries anything before Kaz wakes up or before your friend gets here.”
Veronika couldn’t help but chuckle softly as her friend flew down the stairs for her weapon. She felt bad for anyone who tried to attack her when Charley was around. They’d clearly get more than they bargained for.
“Why so pale, Princess? I’m not dead yet.”
“Kaz!” Veronika leaned over to give him a big hug, and he winced. “Sorry. I’m so sorry. Are you okay? What can I do for you? Someone named Dmitri is coming by to check on you. Do you want me to tell my dad?”
“Dmitri is coming?” Kaz’s words were soft, and she heard the worry in his voice.
“He called you, and I didn’t know what else to do. He said he was coming by to make sure you were okay.”
“Don’t sound so worried, Veronika. I’ll take care of it.”
Take care of what? She felt tears spring to her eyes, and she hastily wiped them away. “Kaz, I thought you were dead. I thought I would never see you again.”
He gazed at her steadily. “Don’t grow attached, Veronika. People like me don’t stick around people like you for very long.”
People like her? She pulled back as if she’d been slapped. “I’ll let you rest. Let me know if you need anything before your friend arrives,” she said coldly as she stood. He didn’t say anything as she left the room, but his meaning was clear.
Nothing had changed between them. He still thought of her as a spoiled little brat and nothing more.
***
Dmitri entered the room a few hours later, but by then, Kaz had managed to get out of bed and dress himself. Pain radiated from his ribcage, and he was wrapping it when the man walked through the door.
“I tried to call you and tell you not to come,” Kaz said coldly. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Your girlfriend seemed worried,” Dmitri said softly. “And I would hate for you to die before I paid my debt to you.”
Kaz ignored the term girlfriend and stood. Years of training had him showing no pain in his face. “As you can see, I’m fine. I just needed some rest. You made the trip for nothing.”
“I wouldn’t say nothing. The two beauties downstairs would be worth any trip,” the assassin said casually as he perched on the desk. “What happened?”
“The car was barreling straight for her. Had to be a hit, but car accidents leave too many v
ariables. It’s too easy to escape a car crash. So why take that route?” he muttered as he leaned over to pick up his shirt. Pain radiated from his side as he stretched up to put the shirt on.
Dmitri stared at him. “You do realize that she could take over for her father,” he said softly. “By getting rid of him, you may only be killing the arm of the operation. By taking them both out, you’d be going for the head.”
Kaz whipped his head around. “Did you do this?”
The assassin put his hands up. “I’m not deviating from the plan. I’m just making an observation.”
“First of all, Veronika wants nothing to do with her father’s business. Secondly, this isn’t about dismantling the business. This was just about revenge. And third, if she doesn’t take over, someone will. Someone always will.”
“Fine,” Dmitri said. “I see that you want to save your girlfriend. But what do you think will happen if she finds out that you were responsible for her father’s death?”
“She’s not going to find out,” Kaz said heavily. “Because we’re not going through with it.”
He turned his head and watched the fury in Dmitri’s eyes. “I came out of the shadows for you so we could do this. And now you’re going to back out on me?” he hissed. “I don’t think so.”
“I need to figure out who just tried to kill her,” Kaz muttered. “I can’t keep her safe if my focus is split.”
“So she’s the reason that you’re going to bail on the only good chance you’ve had to take out Fedor? If we don’t do this tomorrow, this opportunity may never come back again.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” Kaz said heatedly. “Don’t you think I realize what I’m giving up?”
“What I don’t understand is why you’re giving it up. Has the girl so turned your head?” Dmitri sneered. “If we don’t do this now, we don’t do it. I’m pulling out, and you can consider my debt to you scrubbed clean. I won’t let you call in favors forever.”
Kaz stared at Dmitri. He would never go as far as to call them friends, but he didn’t think the man would completely bail on him. If he didn’t have Dmitri, he didn’t stand a chance at getting Fedor. He would never get his revenge.
“Then you’d best be on your way,” Kaz growled.
Dmitri pushed himself off the desk and shook his head. “She better be worth it,” he muttered as he took his leave. Kaz watched Dmitri’s retreating back and felt his chest tighten. This was it. He’d given up the hit for good. He’d never be able to go back now.
And he’d done it all for a woman he couldn’t have.
He heard footsteps up the stairs and turned to see Veronika standing in the doorway. “Your friend left,’ she said hesitantly. “I just wanted to check on you.”
“Close the door,” he muttered as he sat on the bed.
Alarmed, she shut the door and came to his side. “Kaz? Are you okay?”
He hooked one arm around her and pulled her on top of him. This would be his last chance to be with her before he walked away. And he needed to make a clean break.
“What are you doing? I’ll hurt you,” she said as she struggled to get off him. Even though he’d been weakened, he could still out power her, and he kept her right where he wanted her.
“You won’t,” he said with a suggestive smile. “You stripped me naked.”
“To clean your wounds,” she snapped. “What the hell has gotten into you? You nearly died.”
“So help me celebrate life,” he muttered as he leaned up to kiss her.
She pulled away with fire in her eyes. “I’m not doing this now, Kaz. We need to talk about getting you to a doctor.”
Just having her on top of him, wiggling around, was enough to make him stiff. He groaned softly and watched as her mouth dropped open. “You’re not serious?” she whispered.
“Make me feel better, my heart,” he whispered as he bucked his hips up. “These sheets still smell of us. It’s intoxicating. I keep thinking of your body wrapped around mine. I keep hearing the way you whimper when you feel good. Touch me, Veronika. Please.”
He saw the raw desire on her face and knew that he had her. She slowly sat up and pulled off her shirt. Every inch of her skin was perfection, and his eyes trailed down her body with open need. “We have to be careful,” she whispered as she leaned over and undid his pants. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You could never hurt me,” he muttered. Her hands fumbled with his snap, and it was driving him to distraction. She could never hurt him. But he could hurt her. He needed to hurt her.
He lifted his hips and felt the pain shoot up his side, but it was nothing compared to the pain of needing her to touch him. Once he was free, she leaned over hesitantly and placed a quick kiss to the head of his erection.
“Suck me,” he said harshly. “Do it.”
He’d meant to shock her, but she only wrapped her lips around him and took him deeper. He closed her eyes as he felt the heaven of her mouth, and all thoughts fled. There was no tomorrow. There was no tonight. There was just this moment. Her tongue slid up the underside of him, making patterns, driving him wild. He bucked his hips gently under her and moaned her name. “So soft and silky,” he moaned. She was such a good cocksucker, and he knew if he told her, she’d probably flee. That was the idea. Terrify her. Scare her. But as she moved over him, so desperate to take away his pain, he found that he couldn’t do it.
When he thought that he could take no more, he wrapped his hands in her hair and pulled her away. She slid her tongue under him once last time and shimmied down him to undress. When she straddled him again, there were no barriers.
“Kaz,” she moaned as she slipped down over top of him. “Fuck.”
He grunted at the sounds of her pleasure and swiveled his hips. She cried out and fell forward, but he caught her. Holding her torso, he gently pumped himself in and out of her. It was slow and sweet, but each movement sent pain searing up his side. She’d almost died. She might still die if he didn’t focus on what needed to be done.
Gripping her hips, he slammed her down on top of him. “Kaz,” she yelled out as he did it again. He pulled her down roughly by her hair and gave her a searing kiss.
“Fuck me, baby. Ride me,” he grunted as he released her.
If she was surprised by his tone, she didn’t say. Instead, she placed her hands on either side of him and began to move in earnest.
The whole plan had backfired. The rougher he got, the more she took. He pinched at her nipples and sank his teeth into her arms, and she just moaned louder. He couldn’t get enough of her taste. When his lips weren’t on hers, they were sucking at her skin, marking her. Finally, he couldn’t hold back any longer. As she bowed her back and opened her mouth in a silent scream, he surged up inside her and emptied himself.
She collapsed next to him. “What was that? Other than amazing,” she asked softly.
He wanted to curl up next to her and kiss her gently. He wanted to tell her that everything between them was perfect, and that he’d never been so turned on in his life. But he couldn’t do any of those things.
Instead, he disengaged and got up to reach for his clothes. “That was a thank-you fuck,” he said coldly. “You know, for saving my life. I figured I’d get you off one last time. And now I have to report this to Fedor and figure out who is trying to kill you.”
She sat up, and he watched her eyes round in shock. “A thank-you fuck?” she whispered.
“Sure, baby. Hey…don’t worry. We might do it again some time. That mouth of yours is out of this world.”
He turned his back so he didn’t have to see the hurt on her face. Grabbing his phone, he exited the room and left her naked and stripped of her dignity on the bed.
Chapter Seven
Veronika buried herself in schoolwork, but she saw dangers around every corner. Every shadow was out to get her. Every sound would be her last. Part of her wanted nothing more than to barricade herself in her room, but then she’d be trapped with
the memories.
A thank-you fuck. He’d said it like it was the most casual and well-known thing in the world. Like it hadn’t mattered a damn to him.
He’d been rougher than usual, but she’d liked it. It was still Kaz. She was still safe in his arms, no matter what he did. But it had all been for show. And he’d swaggered out of her room with that grin on his face that said it all. He’d finally humiliated the spoiled little princess.
And she’d been devastated.
Charley noticed the change in her, but Veronika didn’t give her any details. “Kaz and I are just never going to make it work. I see that now,” she muttered, and Charley seemed to realize that she needed to let it go. And as the days passed, the pain that radiated deep inside her intensified. Kaz didn’t even seem to notice the gaping hole inside her.
He continued to shadow her. She had no doubt that he would do his job until his last breath, and she was too proud to call her father and demand someone new. So they kept a careful distance of each other. Kaz pretended he wasn’t there, and she tried desperately to pretend that he wasn’t as well.
It was a disaster.
“Going to work, Princess?” he said as she passed him in the courtyard. He’d been lounging by a tree and talking on the phone. She gave him a steely look and kept going, but he wasn’t happy. Reaching out to grab her arm, he whirled her around. “Hey, I’m talking to you.”
“Don’t call me that,” she hissed as she pulled away from him. For a moment, she saw a flicker of something in his eyes. Regret? But it was gone just as soon as it appeared. “And you know damn well that I’m going to work. I’m sticking to the schedule, so you need to do your job and pretend that you’re not here.”
He jerked her closer and her bag slid off her arm. As the contents spilled on the ground, she slapped him. “Don’t touch me,” she gasped. Tears began to slide down her cheek, and she wiped them away. She would not be humiliated in front of him now.
“I’m sorry, Veronika,” he muttered as he bent down to gather up her things.
“For what?” she snapped automatically. He opened his mouth, and she grabbed her bag and ran off. She didn’t need his apologies. Nothing that came out of his mouth seemed honest anyway.
