Page 39 of Alexei

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” I asked my brother, ignoring Sasha and the rest of the table. “In private,” I added, agitation clear in my voice.

Not bothering to wait for him, I left the table without another glance while he muttered some apologies. I moved through the restaurant when I felt a hand grazing my ass. It was barely a touch and my head snapped towards the man seated at the table. He was talking to a woman at his table, his eyes never even glancing my way.

I must have imagined it, I thought to myself.

Though I was certain I felt something. Shrugging my one shoulder, I continued on when I heard a woman’s shriek and the clattering of silverware. I turned around just in time to see plates smashing against the fancy, polished floor.

My heart leapt into my throat, my pulse jump-started, and adrenaline rushed through my veins. I watched with wide eyes as Alexei yanked the man by grabbing the back of his neck, slamming his face on the table.

The woman that sat with the poor man scrambled to flee the table, while others watched with wide eyes full of horror.

Jesus Christ!

As if in slow motion, I saw everything unfold through a lens as Alexei’s tattooed hand wrapped around the man’s neck, choking the living daylights out of him. My eyes shifted to Alexei and his face was just as unmoving as ever. Not a single emotion on his face.

He might as well have been watching a boring TV show as he lifted weights. No rage. No indignation. No flicker of emotion as he lifted the man’s head and slammed it down again with a loud thud, the table shaking.

My breath hitched in my lungs as my heart raced, making it hard to breathe.

My eyes darted to my brother. Surely, he’d see this bunch was crazy and now we’d go. But Byron’s hands were deep in his pockets, his expensive suit immaculate and the expression on his face resembling entertainment.

“Byron,” I cried out. My brother’s eyes that reminded me so much of our father flashed to my face and he smiled. Actually smiled!

“All good, Rora,” he drawled. “It was either him or me. Nobody touches my sister and gets away with it.”

My gaze returned to Alexei who showed no signs of stopping. The scariest part of this whole scene was his expression. Or lack of it.

The man is psychotic.

It totally freaked me out. There couldn’t be any other explanation. And I’d have to work with him on locating a predator. My boss had thrown me to the fucking wolves.

I took a step forward. Enough was enough.

“Stop!” I demanded in a calm voice, though my heart beat frantically. I couldn’t be found amidst a violent crime. It would ruin my career. “Stop, right now.”

And just like that, Alexei’s movement paused, his hand holding the man’s head against the table. I held my breath, waiting for his next move. I sensed there would be.

“Run.” One word. Emotionless. His tone even. And fuck, I wanted to run. But the words weren’t directed at me.

Not this time.

“Run, Aurora! Run and don’t look back,” Kingston yelled, the panic in his voice matching the one inside me.

But I didn’t want to leave him behind. I couldn’t leave him behind me.

My Kingston.

“I don’t want to go alone,” I cried, fear clawing at me. In my head I screamed for the bad men to leave us alone. He was my brother. My family. Though I didn’t hear the sound of my own voice - whether it was from my loud, pounding heart buzzing in my ear or because my voice was soundless.

“Don’t worry, little girl.” The scary man took steps towards me, his smile twisting me on the inside. “Sharing is caring.”

“Leave her alone,” Kingston demanded, his little voice growling. Like a little wolf he sometimes pretended to be. “Run, Rora!” he demanded, his voice stronger and meaner than I ever heard before.

My eyes fleeted to a man. A stranger with blue eyes. I couldn’t see him clearly, his face blurry in my mind. But I knew without a doubt his eyes were light blue.

Full of pain and sorrow.

I blinked and the memory faded away.