Page 52 of Claim Me

The news hit her hard, her entire body heaving.

“What?”

“I’m sorry to be so blunt, but you need to hear the truth.”

“You expect me to believe that?” She was faltering, tiny fissures leaving her exposed. Hurt, anger, and uncertainty continued drowning her in sorrow.

I pulled out the flash drive, fingering it as she slowly allowed her gaze to fall. “I have proof. Your father made an unscrupulous deal for renovations and unfortunately, things got of hand and collateral was issued.”

“Collateral. You mean the resort. This fucking Russian was about to take over the casino?”

“No. The collateral was something much more precious.”

Her eyes darted back and forth across mine and seconds later, she lifted her head, her expression ice cold. “Oh, my God. The collateral was me. Wasn’t it?”

I hesitated.

She flew at me, pounding her fist against my chest one time. “Wasn’t it?”

“Yes, Marissa. The reason I found zip ties and a syringe full of a muscle paralyzer is that the person I killed was prepared to take you to his master. And I assure you that Vladimir Popov isn’t a gentle man. When he was finished with you, if you weren’t already dead, you’d wish you were.”

CHAPTER 15

Marissa

The words were shocking because they were meant to be.

His truths had stopped the ugly tantrum, driving reality into my mind.

Yet I didn’t feel the intense fear I sensed Kazimir wanted instilled in me.

Instead, I felt oppression. Anger.

I tilted my head, staring at the man who’d been my lover, wondering what in God’s name had made me attracted to him in the first place. Yes, he was handsome, his dangerous aura unforgettable. He was also cunning, able to trip me up in my own sorrow, spinning me into a lure so he could take what belonged to my family.

I wasn’t going to allow that to happen.

“You don’t believe me,” Kazimir said. He’d lowered his voice, using the calming, soft as velveteen tone that had wrapped around me like a blanket just moments before he’d fucked me. No more.

“Why should I believe you? I don’t know you and I don’t want to know you.”

He took a deep breath, shoring his shoulders as he rubbed the scruff on his face. I hated that I found his square jaw and chiseled features so attractive. “I’m not lying to you. I have no reason to do so.”

“You have several million dollars’ worth of a reason. Maybe you and this Russian asshole are going into business together.”

He laughed as if I’d just made the funniest joke. “I assure you that two Bratva families don’t like to be in the same room with each other, let alone in an alliance.”

I looked away, uncertain how I felt any longer. Maybe I was just numb. I knew I was exhausted. Every muscle in my body ached; my sleep had been fitful, the nightmares horrible. I’d kept seeing Charlie’s face. And he’d been dead. Swallowing, I thought about how to handle the entire ugly situation. The attorney had been… strange on the phone. In fact, I hadn’t been certain whether I could trust him.

He’d certainly maligned the Dmitriyev family.

Kazimir slowly took a few steps toward me. My instinct was to drive him away, but I knew in my gut and in my heart he would never allow me to escape. I just didn’t understand what he wanted from me. I felt used, like I was a crazy pawn.

Collateral. How long before I’d become collateral damage?

He pulled the flash drive from his pocket, holding it out in front of me. When I didn’t take it like some good little girl, he shook his head. “I know this is very difficult for you. I can’t imagine everything that’s going through your mind, but what I can tell you is that I do understand why you’re upset. We’ve all lost someone special in our lives. First, your parents. Then Charlie.”

What was I supposed to say? Or did he expect me to fall apart like I’d done before, begging him to protect and save me? That wasn’t going to happen. When I didn’t take the drive, he reached out, every movement so I could witness what he was doing and took my hand into his.