Page 9 of Claim Me (Dmitriyev Bratva #2)

“Yes, Marissa. After he’s gone.”

I wasn’t a child, but at that moment, I realized I truly had no one else. My parents were dead, and both sets of grandparents. Maybe I had an aunt or uncle somewhere, but if I did, I’d never met them. “No. I’ll be fine. I don’t need you to wait for me.”

“But I’m going to. I will protect you.”

Arguing with him seemed pointless, certainly at least until I had a better understanding of what had happened and why my brother had been shot. My mind drifted to the man outside my window, also recalling feeling as if I’d been followed while in Seattle on more than one occasion.

“Where are you from, Kazimir?”

My question seemed to surprise him. “Las Vegas. Why?”

“You’re Russian.”

His eyes lit up more out of curiosity. “What do you know?”

“That someone has been following me for the past few months. Now I’m wondering if that person was you,” I stated with as much antagonism as I felt.

Since I couldn’t trust Kazimir, I needed to be careful allowing him to know anything I suspected or the little bit I’d learned.

However, I also needed to grasp where he stood even before talking with Charlie.

The fire in his eyes returned along with a hint of possessiveness. I’d seen the look before in arrogant men who believed they owned the world.

“What are you talking about?” His question was a low and husky growl. I’ll be damned if the man wasn’t puffing up. Who did he think he was, some enforcer?

“Nothing for you to worry about. As I said, I’m a big girl. I can handle my own problems.”

Kazimir gripped my arm. This time his hold was bordering on painful as he pulled me even closer.

I sensed he was losing his patience. So was I.

Immediately, the heat between our bodies exploded and I was momentarily breathless.

Damn the way he affected me. “Don’t lie to me, Marissa.

I need to know what you’re talking about. You could be in significant danger.”

“From you.”

“No, my beautiful virtuoso, but the same men who shot your brother.”

Virtuoso.

The nickname in my fantasies.

One used in the amazing quotes left with the roses and gifts.

His words sent my pulse rate spiking as his eyes implored mine. I was caught between needing to trust someone and the hatred that was spiraling out of control. Was it possible he was the knight I’d been searching for? If so, karma was angry with me.

“I saw a man outside my house a few months ago and I have a sense of being followed. Roses and gifts have appeared after I’ve performed.

I thought they were the same person, but now I’m beginning to wonder.

” I allowed the crumbs to be dropped, continuously searching his explosive gaze as if he’d allow me answers. No, he was too guarded for that.

His jaw was even more clenched than before. He briefly looked away, taking a deep breath. “I need you to understand something very clearly. You won’t leave my side.”

“I…” What the hell was I supposed to say to that?

He pressed his finger across my lips. “Go see Charlie. I’ll be right here when you’re finished. We’ll talk further. You’ll need your rest.”

“My rest? This is my family, Kazimir. Not yours. I’m not leaving the hospital.”

“Understood. We’ll stay here together until it’s appropriate to leave.”

Appropriate to leave. “Stay away from me.”

“Did your brother ever mention the time he stayed in Las Vegas? You would have been a little girl.”

His question completely caught me off guard.

I had to stop and think about the time period.

I’d been ten or eleven when my father had walked into my bedroom to tell me Charlie was taking a sabbatical for several months.

I’d been forced to look on the internet to find out what he was talking about.

I hadn’t been allowed to talk to my brother during the months he’d been gone.

My father had called it acceptable punishment.

Charlie had been arrested. I remembered overhearing my parents’ heated conversation and my father’s determination to ‘leave him rotting in jail.’

Thankfully, my mother had intervened. Only days later he’d been ripped from my life.

I’d been crushed. When he’d returned, Charlie had been different. He’d even looked different, taller and heavier. He’d become a man while I’d remained a little girl. “Barely.”

“Did he tell you he’d made a friend?”

My thoughts drifted to the single conversation I’d had with Charlie about his trip. My guess was that my father had forbidden him from telling me anything. I’d learned not to bother asking. “Yes.” As I’d done so many times in the last half hour, I searched his eyes for the truth. “You.”

He nodded. “Two troublemakers figuratively chained together.”

What in the hell did that mean? I had no idea what to say, but for the briefest of seconds, I felt his pain regarding my brother.

As well as his building anger.

His scent was overwhelmingly intoxicating. At least the musky odor was appropriate, sexy like the handsome man.

For whatever strange reason, I did feel as if he intended on protecting me. Maybe I was out of my mind and would find out from Charlie whether I could trust him, but the feeling was strong, enough so I nodded. Did I trust him? No, at least not yet. “Okay. Thank you for being here for Charlie.”

Kazimir seemed relieved I wasn’t going to fight him. Nodding, he took a step away.

Perhaps in a moment of weakness just before I headed into the room, I moved toward him, placing my hands on his forearms to steady myself.

It was instinct or maybe self-preservation, but the strangled sense of feeling uncertain of everything, especially Kazimir, pushed my limits.

Forced onto my toes, I started to kiss his cheek when he turned his head until our lips collided.

Instantly, I stiffened, shocked from the rush of electric current. The little voice in my head told me to back away, yet when he placed his hand on the small of my back, yanking me closer, I had no desire to break free.

Between the sweep of emotions and the tingling fear lingering in every cell in my body, I could no longer think as clearly as I should be.

He was so strong, holding me protectively, keeping me safe while the world crumbled all around me.

His body was stiff yet his actions commanding as he held me close, enough I could feel the rapid thudding of his heart.

He opened my mouth with his, allowing our lips to brush softly back and forth.

His hold was possessive, unyielding. Every cell in my body was on fire, the tingling sensations exploding.

I shouldn’t want this. I didn’t understand what was happening, my mind a complete blur. A slight moan escaped that he caught.

The moment he darted his tongue inside, I stiffened involuntarily. This was wrong, so very wrong. The sweet trance was broken.

I backed away, a rush of heat sweeping across my jaw from being thoroughly embarrassed. I’d never done anything so impetuous in my life.

His chest rose and fell as he studied me and I turned around, finally managing to catch my breath. Whatever had just occurred couldn’t happen again.

As I walked into Charlie’s room, I felt his eyes searing my skin.

And instead of fear, I felt desire.