"Damn it." I mutter, using the back of my hand to wipe the sweat off my brow. It's hot, and this dress is weighing a ton.
A few deep breaths as I scan the room, and I decide I need to change strategies. Whatever happens, though, I'm not about to let Vlad get away with this. He may be bored, and looking for pawns to move around in his game of chess, but I won't be one.
It's only now that I realize what Marcello's been saying all along. Vlad doesn't know the meaning of friendship, or any relationship. He only knows how to use people to achieve his goals.
Like he did with me... until I proved to be useless to him.
Even now, he probably has some camera installed somewhere, and he's watching from behind his wall full of screens, chuckling at my expense and at my poor attempts at escaping.
As soon as the thought forms in my head, I turn swiftly to the ceiling, finding the camera immediately.
Feeling my ire rising, I stomp until I'm standing right in front of it. I don't know if this has sound or not, but I have nothing to lose.
"You chose the wrong person to mess with, Vlad." I tell him, looking straight at the twitching lens. "You can't beat someone who has nothing to lose," I smirk, my hands going to my lengthy wedding dress as I grab on to the hem.
Without even thinking, I tear the lace up to my knees, revealing the satin shift underneath. Using my teeth, I do the same until the lower part of the dress is completely gone.
With some breathing room, I'm immediately more at ease, air flowing around my legs and refreshing my body. My movements also feel less restricted.
And because I'm running on extremely low patience, I give him the middle finger too. Oh, how I wish I saw him react to that.
But I don't have time to think about that. Not when I need to get out of here.
Seeing that the door will not be a good option, I head to the windows, exhaling in relief when one of them opens.
At least I won't have to break this.
But my relief soon turns to fear as I gaze down and realize I'm nowhere near the ground. What is this? Second? Third floor?
"Good grief!" I get an overwhelming urge to cross myself, because even seeing how far the ground is from my position, I can't help but focus on it.
"It's not like I haven't done this before," I try to convince myself.
But it wasn't this high?!
"Ok, it's now or never," I whisper. The more I think about it, the more scared I'll be and I will never do it. Since I don't fancy remaining a prisoner, this is the only option.
"Fuck you, Vlad." I mutter, incensed that he'd put me in this situation in the first place.
Grabbing on the frame of the window, I climb up on the sill, holding tight, my eyes half-closed.
"Why does it have to be so high?" I cry out in frustration.
But taking a deep breath, I still myself.
One. Two. Three.
And I jump.
Eyes still closed, I wait for the impending contact with the ground.
"Still dying to fall under me, I see." A voice says in my hair, strong hands holding on to me as they lower me to the ground.
Opening one eye, and then the other, I don't even know how to react to seeing him in the flesh.
I blink, my eyes on him as if I'm trying to figure out a puzzle.
He's still the same, even though it's been more than three months since we've last seen each other. But there's something different.
I can feel it.
His skin is tanned and there's a new stubble that wasn't there before. In all our time together, I'd never seen Vlad as anything but clean shaven.
The change is not only skin deep though. More than anything, there's something different about his energy.
Something warmer... something...
Stop!
I'm doing this again. Trying to understand him where there's absolutely nothing to understand. My lip curls up in disgust at my own self and my reaction to him, and I shove my hands forward, pushing him off me.
"Damn, hell girl. Is that how you greet your future husband?" he drawls, his voice still holding that alluring quality that always seemed to make me its captive.
I swallow, my own body betraying me as goosebumps form all over my skin.
"What did you just say?" I frown, taking a step back and putting some distance between us.
"Good on you to wake up," he says, his eyes looking up and down my body in a strange manner, "the minister is waiting."
He doesn't even let me reply as he wraps his fingers around my wrist, tugging me towards him and all but dragging me towards the entrance of the house.
My eyes widen as I realize where we are. Or rather, as I repeatedly blink, sure this must be a dream.
"You didn't..." I whisper as I take in the front of the house, once again proving my suspicions that he did.
"You brought me to New Orleans?" I ask in shock, staring at the most beautiful house I've seen in my life. I should know, since I've been stalking its social media page for a long time, simply mesmerized by the history and the architecture.
I should have realized that he would monitor my social media.
Damn!
"And your future home for the foreseeable future," he says, his fingers digging into my flesh as he leads me up the three steps in front of the entrance, only stopping when we reach the great hall where a man in a suit is waiting in front of an open book.
"Mr. Kuznetsov," he smiles, his eyes moving to me, "and the future Mrs. Kuznetsov I presume?" he asks.
"Kuznetsova, but yes. Now, why don't we get this done fast. I'm in a hurry." Vlad comments, his entire body tense.
I'm so shocked by the turn of events that I find my reaction delayed as I step back, wrenching my hand free from his grasp.
"What the hell is this, Vlad?" I turn my blazing eyes to him. I can't believe the stunt he's pulled, especially since he's made it clear that he had no use of me before.
So what changed now?
"Sisi, keep your voice down." He comes closer to me, his scent inundating my senses. "You will agree to everything the officiant says, and you will sign your name on that piece of paper."
"You're crazy," is all I can utter as I take in his features, the way his lip curls up slightly in an arrogant smirk, or the way his longer than usual hair falls on his forehead, making him look both younger and more dangerous at the same time.
"I'll do no such thing." I hiss at him, taking yet another step back.
He doesn't seem to understand that I don't want to be anywhere near him as he backs me into the wall, caging me.
"You will." He leans down, his breath brushing against my earlobe in a slow and sensuous caress. "You'll move your pretty ass to the table and you will say yes. You will smile and then you will sign your damned name on that piece of paper, or your god help me, you won't like what I'll do."
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I frown, his sudden outburst sending chills down my spine.
His hand comes up to cup my jaw, turning me so I'm looking in his eyes.
"Don't try my hand, Sisi. Not this time. I'm two seconds away from blowing up, and there will be a lot of bodies if you don't do what I say," he grits his teeth, his eyes unyielding as his fingers tighten over my flesh.
"I'm not marrying you, Vlad," I say, my voice softer. "Not now, not ever," I grab his hand and throw it aside, pushing my shoulder into his to evade him.
He's quick as he snakes one arm behind my waist, pulling me flush against him.
"I won't say this twice, hell girl," he rasps against me, and I feel the coiled energy in his body, the way his fingers play over the small of my back as if he might break me in two at any moment.
"You will smile." He raises his hand to my face, one finger dragging the corner of my mouth up, "and you will look happy like the bride you are today. You do that, and no one has to die," he pauses, his face closer until his mouth is but a breath away from mine, "for now."
I can't believe the gall of him. He's loo
king at me as if he's already won this game. As if he knows I'll obey him. Hell, I see the twitch in his cheek, a dimple threatening to form as he tries his hardest not to proclaim victory just yet.
A smile curves on my own lips as I play along for the briefest moment. Opening my mouth, I capture his finger and I bite.
Hard.
Well, as hard as I can.
And he's not even reacting.
"Sisi, Sisi," he chides, "my dear Sisi, I can see the wheels turning into your head, trying to find an exit. Trust me, there's none. Now, I didn't want to do this," he sighs dramatically, "but it seems I must."
I frown, his theatrics already tiring me out.
"You either marry me now, or I'll be forced to do something more... drastic. Like, say, detonate a bomb at your house. Why, your brother and his family as well as your sister must already be back there..."
My eyes widen just as his lips pull up in a smile.
"You wouldn't..."
"Oh, but I would," he replies, that faux charm dripping off his words.
And just like that, he's back to the Vlad I know. The unfeeling, I take what I want Vlad that seems to have gotten it into his head that he will marry me.
And I know he will make true on his threat.
"So be it," I reply, schooling my own features into a mask of indifference.
Because he might threaten my family, and he might think this is just a game. But I don't plan on giving in to him—ever again. I might sign my name on that marriage certificate, but that's all he's getting from me.
I don't even wait for his reply as I extricate myself from his hold, going to the officiant and doing exactly what Vlad instructed—smile, say yes, and sign the damned paper.
"I wish you all the best, Mr. and Mrs. Kuznetsov," the man says as he leaves, distress written all over his features.
And then we're alone.
There's maybe one foot distance between the two of us. We're both staring at the other, our breaths coming in short spurts.
He looks on the verge of an attack, and I have to force myself not to flee, the memory of his last episode still fresh in my mind—and on my body.
My gaze moves over him in what I'd call my first thorough perusal since seeing him again. He's wearing a suit as always. Navy with white stripes, the molded material does nothing to distract from his thick thighs or his powerful arms. No, on the contrary, it only serve to emphasize his muscled limbs further, and for a moment I have to wonder if he hasn't indeed bulked up even more.
His neck is strained, veins protruding as he tries to regulate his breathing, his eyes set on me—unmoving.
He's seen his prey and he's ready to pounce. And just like that my feet are ready to carry me away from him too.
The tension is thick, the awareness even worse as I feel my body respond to his proximity. You'd think that after almost being ravished to death I'd have no desire to try my luck a second time, but as we seem to find a rhythm in our breaths, emulating one another, I find that my body doesn't like to listen.
It's already primed for more—for violence, for blood and destruction.
And I hate it.
I hate that he calls to that primal part of me that I'd tried my entire life to bury. I hate that even though my mind knows him to be facetious and a betrayer, my body fails to recognize the danger he presents to my entire being.
"Why did you bring me here, Vlad? What game are you playing now?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at him.
He's so tense I see the outline of his muscles through the material of his suit. His eyes don't leave mine as he takes a step forward. And another.
And so I take one back.
"Are you bored? Is that it?" I ask, backing further into the room.
I wish I wouldn't be so intimidated by him, but his mere presence dwarfs everything around him.
"Vlad!" I snap, raising my voice. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"What the hell is wrong with me?" He's in front of me before I can even blink. "What do you think is wrong with me, Sisi?" he smirks at me, his hand reaching out to grab my hair, unraveling my updo until the strands fall down my shoulders.
"Don't touch me," I swat his hand aside.
"Oh, come on, hell girl, you can't tell me you haven't missed my touch." He drawls, his suave voice affecting me even as I try to remain stoic.
"No. I can't say I have," I reply drily, seeking to avoid his roving hands.
"Liar," he whispers, leaning closer to inhale my scent. "You don't fool me, Sisi. I can feel the way your body yearns for mine." His finger trails down the bodice of my dress, and while it might make me a tiny bit breathless, it doesn't erase the fact that I'm dealing with an android disguised as a human.
Catching his finger, I fling it off my body.
"I said don't touch me, Vlad. I mean it. You may have threatened my family to get me to sign my name on that marriage certificate, but you lost your chance long ago," I tell him, my tone serious. "What happened? Got bored and decided to play with the poor nun again? Is that it?" I try my best to keep my voice under control, but his mere presence combined with his audacity make me want to get in his face.
"Sisi, you're breaking my heart," he jokes, taking my palm and fitting it over his chest. "See how it's beating for you?" he asks smoothly, a smile curving up.
For a moment–a very short yet embarrassing moment–I find myself feeling for his heart and trying to understand its beats. But it's just a moment before I recognize my own weakness and I push against him.
"You're insane," I shake my head, convinced he must have had some mental breakdown.
Why is he behaving like nothing happened? Like he didn't use and discard me just a while ago?
"Yes," he gathers me so close to him, our faces are barely apart. "I'm certifiable insane. And it's only because I've been without you for so long." He nuzzles his face in my hair, the gesture so incomprehensible I can only stay still as a statue, trying to understand who this man is.
Because he's not the Vlad I know.
"Get off me," I say through gritted teeth, the proximity killing me softly.
If this isn't the worst type of punishment, then I don't know what is... being taunted with the one thing you've ever wanted only for it to be wrenched away from you at the last moment.
I won't fall for the same trick twice, though.
"No," he answers matter-of-factly. His big hand splayed over my nape, he holds me close to him, his arm circling my back so he has me flush against his body.
His mouth hovers over my face as he breathes me in, his eyes closed as if he's relishing the flavor.
"I'm never letting you go, hell girl." He rasps, his eyes open, dark and fearsome as they stare at me with unwavering conviction, "never again," he says right before his mouth descends on mine, his kiss bruising as he tries to coax my lips open with his tongue.
Flexing my arms, I try to escape the cage he has me in, but he's too strong to even let me budge. No matter how much I struggle to get out of his grasp, it's in vain. If anything, his arms tighten even more around me as he forces me to return the kiss.
I keep my mouth shut, my lips firmly sealed as I deny him even the smallest opening.
"Open your mouth," he commands against my lips, but I just give a small shake of my head, my hands trapped between us as I keep pushing against his chest.
But when nothing works, I realize I need to change strategies. I let my body become slack against his. No more resistance but no reaction either.
He continues to one-sidedly kiss my lips until he finally realizes the futility of it.
"Damn it, Sisi," he curses, letting me go.
Bringing the back of my hand to my mouth, I wipe him from my lips, my eyes on his so he can see the disgust in my expression.
"After everything you've done to me," I start, anger, sadness and frustration mingling together and rising to the surface, "you have the gall to take me from my wedding, threaten me to sign my goddamn name on a fucking piece of pa
per," I'm breathing harshly, "that by the way doesn't mean anything to me," my lip curls up in distaste, "and now you want me to just kiss you? As if the last three months didn't happen? As if you didn't crush my heart and left me out bleeding–literally and figuratively?"
He flinches, reacting to my words for the first time. But I can't stop. Not anymore. Tears of frustration threaten to make their way to the surface as I continue to speak.
"You destroyed me, Vlad. You have absolutely no right to strut back into my life as if nothing happened. Pretend nothing happened. And then expect me to behave like nothing happened. What the hell is wrong with you?" I scream at him, my entire body shaking.
"After everything I went through... you have no right," I tell him, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.
I don't want to break down in front of him, no matter how mad he might make me. I don't ever want to show him my weakness, or the fact that he is my weakness.
He doesn't even reply. He just watches me, his expression closed off.
Not able to bear another moment in his presence, I make to leave.
"You were pregnant," he finally speaks, his words renewing my pain.
Were...
"Yes," I answer, willing my voice not to betray me. Of all the things he could have brought up, he had to go there. Is that why he's back in my life? To ask about the baby? Maybe offer some insincere apology?
But why would he even care?
"Was it mine?" he asks, his question shocking me to my core. I whip my head around, my eyes coming into contact with his.
And God... he really thinks...
Something breaks within me when I realize that in his mind I'd simply hop from one bed to another. Does he really think that little of my love?
But he does.
Laughter threatens to spill over as it dawns on me.
Unwanted... of course I'd fuck anyone for attention. Isn't that what he's been implying from the beginning?
My fists clench, and I have this sudden urge to hurt him—even though I doubt he'll care. I just want to wipe the grin off his face once and for all. If I can't hurt his feelings, then I can at least hurt his pride.
So I answer his question.
Morally Ambiguous: A Dark Mafia Romance (Morally Questionable Book 4) Page 42
