Page 13

CHAPTER 12

ANASTASIA

“I don’t know. I probably can run faster than you. All those muscles would slow you down.” Sarcasm is my only option as he presses his gun against my head.

I don’t think he’d hurt me. He would have if he wanted too.

He looks at me for a long moment, then reholsters his weapon. “You’re either brave or stupid. And I don’t think you’re dumb at all.”

“Did it hurt?” I try not to show my relief.

“What?” he grumbles, taking a turn fast enough to push me against the door.

I lift my chin, staring down my nose at him. “Giving me a compliment.”

His fist tightens on the steering wheel. “Would you rather I called you a brat and bent you over my knee?” He shifts in his seat, adjusting his pistol.

Why did the thought of laying across those meaty thighs make my heart race?

I need to change the subject.

“Where are we going?” This isn’t the way to my mom’s house. I watch the trees grow closer together, nothing like the apartment where I live.

“A safe place.”

“Just take me back home. I’ll tell you where to go.” I don’t even know who he is.

“No.” His response is short, gruff.

My lips purse watching him. “Are you holding me for ransom? Shouldn’t I be tied up or something?” I pull my knees under me so I can lean over the console, holding my wrists together.

His dark brows drop before he grabs both of my arms in one hand. “What the fuck are you doing?” He pushes me away so I sit back against my seat.

“Just trying to figure out what the hell is going on.” My arms cross and I let my lower lip stick out.

I hate not knowing.

At least Ivan was clear from the beginning.

This guy is like talking to a rock.

A really sexy one.

“You know when you pout like that, it makes someone want to bite that lower lip off.” His eyes crinkle again over his mask.

Is he messing with me?

“I’d like to know how my mom is. Can we at least stop by so I can tell her I’m alive?” It’s been weeks since I’ve seen her.

He takes a deep breath, and reaches out to touch my leg again. “Ana, I’m sorry.”

I shove it away. “Who are you to know? Huh? How in the fuck do you know who she is, much less me?” Tears sting in my eyes. Not because of who he may be, but I’m afraid that he’s telling me the truth.

He whips the truck over to the side of the dirt road and throws it into park. When he reaches for me again, I try to fight off his grasp.

If he stops me, he might tell me.

I don’t want to know. Not if it’s what I think it is.

“Don’t touch me!” Struggling, I still lose, and I feel the walls I’ve built around my heart begin to shatter.

“Ana, it’s me, Mikhail. I’ve been taking care of you and your mom for years. Enzo had your place checked the day you disappeared. He found her. She fought like hell for you.” His touch is surprisingly gentle when he strokes my cheek, wiping away a tear that escapes. “She tried to do what I failed at. So I’m here to fix that. I’m going to protect you if it’s the last thing I do.”

“No,” I whisper. “Please be lying.” My chest aches and my chin trembles from the ripping pain running through me. “Say you hate me. That’s why you’re telling me this. Please?”

His dark eyes burn into me. I’m suddenly very conscious of how close he is.

And how good he smells.

“You know the worst part?” I finally manage to stammer.

“What?” His unforgiving grip heats through my skin, arcing through my body like I’m holding a live wire of electricity.

“I had a fight with her. It’s why I left. I told her I wanted to leave, and she told me it wasn’t safe.” I knew I shouldn’t have left.

She always warned me that I had a dangerous family. When Papa died, it was a big sign.

But I hated sitting at home all of the time.

His head tilts, and his eyes narrow. Yet they glint with a hint of mischievousness. “Let me guess, you didn’t listen?”

That makes my nose wrinkle. “Asshole.” It’s hard to dislike him knowing it’s because of him that I’ve been taken care of for years.

He isn’t so scary anymore.

“It’s nice to meet you too.” He pulls his grasp away, and shoves the truck into drive, then readjusts his holster again.

Maybe it doesn’t fit right? It does look like it’s sitting tightly against his bulging crotch?—

Oh.