Page 29 of His Darkest Obsession

Or did she experience something so much worse in a place like this?

9

ANATOLY

I flickthe razor open and closed in my study as I think.

Not about my new plans, or how everything changed, but abouther.

Indigo Taylor, standing inmyhouse againstmywindow and asking me just how convincingshehas to be. All while she stares up at me with those soft hazel eyes and sweet innocent face. Pressed up snugly against my body, all small and trembling and perfect.

Like she’smadefor me.

And then she started running her hand down my torso down my pants, and now I can’t get her out of my head. I want to convince myself that whatever the fuck happened back there didn’t happen.

But it did. Itfuckingdid.

The razor flies open and I flick it closed again.

It’s not like me to push a woman away, especially not one like Indigo Taylor when she’s got her hand practically around my cock and her ass in my hand. But I had to. If I didn’t, I would’ve pushed her up against that window, fist in her hair, while I make that ass bounce on my cock.

But I didn’t want to do that to her.

I don’t know why the thought entered my mind when it did back in that room, but it was the only thing that brought a sliver of reason back into my brain.

I keep the razor open this time.

Maybe I chose to give her that small bit of mercy to thank her for not actually killing me in that barbershop. Not for lack of trying, as evidenced by the thin red line on my neck.

No, that’s not it. I shake my head, and force myself to go back to thinking about just what it is that makes her someone Bennet is so desperate to silence.

Ever since that internship…The words I read from her sister’s journal earlier today reminds me.

That internship must’ve been in Bennet’s office, or somewhere close enough that she must’ve witnessed something terrible. And whatever it is, Bennet is afraid that if it gets out, it’ll kill his chances at winning this election.

That’s the secret buried deep in her head. And once I have it, it’ll deliver me this city.

But to get to it, I have to peel back the defensive layers she’s put up around herself like a matryoshka doll. Every time I get close to something, all I find is another mystery to solve. Another set of questions to answer.

And frustratingly, at the thought ofpeelingback her layers, another unexpected rush of warmth shoots to my cock, and I slam the razor on the table.

Dammit! This was supposed to be simple, but it’s starting to be pretty damn complicated when I can’t think clearly when I’m near her.

And now I’m about to marry her.

The study door opens without a knock. I don’t even bother looking at Roma as he walks in, grabs a bottle of whiskey, and sits down at the desk opposite from me.

“Bodies are cleaned up and Kusma’s fine, thanks for asking. Nothing but a couple of broken ribs.” He kicks his feet up on the desk, ignoring my glare as he flashes me a cheeky smile. “A few days in bed, a bottle of vodka, and a good session in thebanya, and he’ll be ready for you to break his other ribs.”

“Kusma should’ve known better than to look at what doesn’t belong to him.” I look up in annoyance

“In his defense, nobody knew that she was your new fiancée at the time.” He takes a generous swig and tilts the bottle at me. “Mind explaining just what the fuck happened?”

I decline it. “I thought I told you already.”

“No, you haven’t. And you know as well as I do, you don’t have a lot of time before Mother and the Volkovs find out about what you’ve done. So, care to share with me just why you’re about to end this alliance for some no-name girl off the streets?”

“Bennet wants to kill her, and he’s reaching out to every outfit available in town. That means she’s worth far more alive than dead”