Page 10

It was early, and the store was still quiet, with only a handful of customers scattered across the aisles. The fluorescent lights flickered above as Ilya moved through the aisles, the faint echo of his footsteps blending with the hum of overhead ventilation.

He meant it when he told Val he would sort everything out. Since they would be staying at the lodge for a while, it was only necessary for him to get every supply they would need. If he couldn’t get her to love the place, the least he could do was to make her stay comfortable. So, right before she woke up, he set off early to buy necessities in a neighboring town.

His trolley was already piled high with the essential s? groceries, toiletries, and other supplies he thought necessary. And now, in the women’s section, he remained focused, his gaze scanning the racks of clothing with a surprising level of determination.

He ignored the few curious glances thrown his way from other women in the aisle. He didn’t care for what they thought. He was used to standing ou t? whether it was in the face of a gun or trying to find the right size of underwear for a woman.

Ilya skimmed the rows of clothing, his mind focused, measuring the sizes and mentally cross-referencing them with Valentina’s figure. Red, black, lace, sil k? he ran his fingers over the fabric, making quick decisions.

He picked out a few simple pieces at firs t? comfort-focused, practical, and neutra l? before his gaze lingered on a section that made him pause.

A set of black lingerie caught his attention, the delicate material soft but enticing, contrasting sharply with the rest of the items in his basket. He reached for it, his fingers tracing the intricate design, the way the lace curved and hugged the edges of the fabric.

For a brief moment, he let himself indulge in fantasies, imagining what this set would look like on her fair skin. He grazed the crotch area with his thumb, imagining it damp with her wetness, imagining ripping them off her skin or flicking it to the side before burying himself inside her.

A tense heat coiled low in his abdomen, his body already reacting to the image forming in his min d? Valentina, wrapped in the delicate black lace, looking utterly submissive and devastatingly beautiful.

The thought stirred something primal, an ache in his pants that was growing harder to ignore, but he was forced to rein it in. He wasn’t about to lose control in the middle of a store like some creep.

With a clenched jaw, he grabbed the set and dropped it into the basket with the rest of the items, ignoring the surge of heat that climbed up his chest.

Ilya’s phone buzzed in his pocket as he loaded the last bag of groceries into the trunk of his car. The screen lit up with Kostya’s name. He sighed, already knowing the conversation wasn’t going to be pleasant, but he swiped to answer anyway.

“What?” Ilya said, his voice gruff as he leaned against his car and glanced at the sky, the crisp morning air biting at his skin.

“Is that how you answer the phone now, Brother?” Kostya’s voice came through, laced with amusement.

“Don’t be a bitch,” Ilya replied flatly. “Say what you want. I’m busy.”

“Busy playing house in the woods?” Kostya laughed, a low rumble that grated on Ilya’s nerves. “You’re insane, you know that? Kidnapping Valentina? Of all people, Ilya.”

Ilya rubbed the bridge of his nose, already regretting picking up his brother’s call. “I didn’t kidnap her.”

“Oh, no? What would you call dragging her out to some lodge in the middle of nowhere? A family retreat? Because I know that’s what you did.”

“She’s safe here. That’s what matters.”

Kostya snorted. “You’re out of your damn mind. You really think keeping her cooped up out there is going to end well? She’s not exactly the sit-still-and-comply type. For all you and I know, she might probably be planning an escape right now.”

Ilya smirked faintly, his eyes scanning the quiet, awakening town. “Let her try,” he said coolly. “She won’t get far before I catch her. It’s pointless.”

“Sure,” Kostya drawled. “Because nothing fuels cooperation like feeling cornered.”

“She’ll come around,” Ilya replied, his confidence unwavering. “I’ll handle it.”

“Yeah, I bet. Handling it by keeping her pissed off 24/7.”

Ilya could hear the grin in his brother’s voice and scowled. “Anything meaningful you want to say before I hang up?”

“Listen, I called because I was worried you were in over your head. But you’re righ t? this is actually fun. I can’t wait to see how you explain it to her father when she finally snaps and stabs you.”

“ Ya dayu tebe odnu sekundu. ”

“Just don’t do anything stupid,” Kostya chuckled. “Well, stupider than you’ve already done.”

“Goodbye, Kostya.”

“Take care of her, Ilya,” Kostya’s tone shifted, the teasing edge replaced by the sternness that came with years of navigating their dangerous world. “Seriously. Don’t mess this up. Now that bastard Ivonov knows we’re on his ass, he’s managed to slip under the radar again. I don’t know how that fucker does it, but Valentina needs the utmost safety. Do you hear me?”

“I hear you,” Ilya replied, his voice steady, the weight of his responsibility evident in his tone. “She’s safe with me. Nothing will happen to her. Not while I’m alive.”

A brief pause followed, the silence charged before Kostya added, almost hesitantly, “And you—keep yourself safe too.”

The unexpected note of concern caught Ilya off guard. They were brothers who loved each other as they should, but their relationship wasn’t exactly built on outward displays of affection.

He hesitated, then brushed it off with a low chuckle. “Didn’t know you were getting soft on me, little brother.”

“Don’t push your luck,” Kostya snapped, his voice gruff, but Ilya could hear the faint smirk in his words.

With that, the line disconnected, leaving Ilya staring at his phone for a moment. He shook his head, tucking it back into his pocket as he turned to load the rest of the supplies into the car.

Just as he slid into the driver’s seat, his phone buzzed again. He groaned, briefly debating whether to ignore it, but the name “Rhiannon” flashed on the screen, and he knew he had no choice. He reluctantly answered.

“Rhiannon,” he greeted, his tone already edged with impatience.

“Ilya.” Her voice was sharp and commanding, the kind that immediately demanded attention. “Is Val with you?”

“She’s fine,” he replied, starting the car.

“That wasn’t my question,” Rhiannon snapped. “Is she safe?”

“Yes, she’s safe,” Ilya said, keeping his tone neutral, though his grip on the steering wheel tightened.

“Good,” Rhiannon said, but her voice didn’t soften. “Listen, Ilya. She’s not like us. She’s tough, yes, but you can’t just throw her into a situation like this and expect her to adjust. She’s not used to being this… restrained .”

“She’s not a prisoner,” Ilya muttered, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

“Maybe not officially, but you’ve backed her into a corner, and I know how it is between you two. Don’t rile her up, Ilya. Give her some slack. The more you push her, the worse this will get.”

“I’m not pushing her.”

“You kidnapped her!”

Ilya chuckled in disbelief. “I’m sure Mikhail has informed you that she’s here for her safety.”

Rhiannon sighed, the sound heavy with exasperation. “Ilya, you might think you’re doing the right thing, but you and I both know how she is. She’s stubborn and angry. And she’s got every right to be. If you want any chance of getting through this amicably, then you need to behave around her. Got it?”

Before he could respond, another call flashed on his scree n? Irina.

“I have to go,” Ilya said flatly.

“She’s family, Ilya. Don’t forget that.” With that, Rhiannon hung up.

Sighing, he switched to his sister’s incoming call. “Make it quick.”

“Have you completely lost your mind?” Irina’s voice rang out, sharp and high-pitched.

“I’m going to assume that’s a rhetorical question,” Ilya muttered, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel as he glanced at the horizon beyond. Valentina would surely be awake by now, and he had forgotten to leave a note before he left.

“Ilya, do you know what you’ve done? You don’t just whisk Valentina away like that! She’s going to hate you—and for a good reason!”

“Why doesn’t anyone understand that she’s safe here?”

“She’s also furious, isn’t she? She’ll make your life a living hell, and honestly, I don’t blame her.” Irina’s voice softened, tinged with concern. “I know you mean well, but you need to handle her gently.”

“I can’t do that. She hates being babied.”

“You’re right, she does,” Irina sighed. “Just be smart about it, okay?”

“I know how to handle her,” he said, though even he wasn’t sure he believed it.

“Do you?” Irina countered. “Because if you push her too far, she’s going to push back harder. Just… don’t be an asshole, okay? Let her breathe.”

Ilya exhaled heavily as he started the car. “Anything else?”

“Yes. Don’t mess this up. For her sake and yours.”

The call ended, and a sigh of relief escaped him. Between Kostya, Rhiannon, and Irina, he felt like he’d been through a lecture series on how not to screw up.

“Everyone’s a fucking critic,” he muttered to himself as he pulled out of the parking lot and drove down the highway.

Valentina being the object of his thoughts had become his new normal, so he wasn’t at all surprised that she was all he could think about during his drive back to the cabin.

Ilya entered through the front door with heavy bags of supplies stacked on his arms, the door creaking slightly as he pushed it open. The air was thick with the quiet of the lodge, and the faint scent of wood and fire lingered in the stillness.

“Valentina?” he called out her name, his voice echoing softly in the empty space, but there was no response. “Princess?”

The silence was all too familia r? an unsettling kind of quiet that settled over him as he placed the bags down near the entryway. He wasn’t surprised to find the lodge empty.

In fact, he expected it, and an amused chuckle left him as his brother’s words from earlier chimed in his ears.

Valentina had always been stubborn, and the moment Ilya turned his back, he was sure she’d try something.

Walking through the lodge, his boots thudding heavily on the wooden floor, Ilya’s eyes scanned for any sign of her. The kitchen was undisturbed, the living room just as he left it. But then, near the back door, he saw i t? a discarded jacket on the floor, a half-empty mug with a trace of cold coffee, and a hastily thrown bag she had snagged from his closet. His gaze narrowed.

Of course, she had tried to leave.

Ilya’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. As he moved toward the door, he spotted her tracks in the fresh dust by the back entrance leading toward the woods. But as he followed the trail, it quickly became clear. She hadn’t gotten far and had given up halfway.

There was no way she would have anyway. Without a car and the lodge being miles away from the nearest town, it would have been impossible for anyone to leave on foot.

A quiet chuckle left his lips. She’d figured it out. He could already imagine her frustration, realizing that the car was the only real way off the mountain.

Ilya stepped out into the woods, his boots crunching over the dried leaves and soft dirt as he followed the trail of Valentina’s footsteps. The faint marks in the earth made it clear she had been in a rush, likely realizing her escape was futile without a car.

A smirk stayed on his lips as he walked deeper into the woods, amused by her defiance, though he knew it would be short-lived.

However, his amusement faltered when the path cleared to reveal a vast lake that he was familiar with. There, scattered across the ground, were pieces of clothes that belonged to him, clothes he was sure she’d worn before leaving the cabin ? a jacket, boots, and the remnants of the hurried escape she had tried.

The sight of his belongings sent a chill down his spine. He glanced around, his eyes narrowing as the stillness of the lake matched the quiet around him. The air was crisp, and the water’s surface was a perfect mirror, untouched and undisturbed.

He had just taken a step forward when a slight rustle broke the silence. Before he could process what was happening, Valentina emerged from the water. Her skin gleamed against the sunlight that filtered through the trees, the only visible parts of her being her face and shoulders.

The rest of her was hidden beneath the dark water, but that did little to shield the temptation she embodied. Her wet hair clung to her neck, droplets catching in the light, while the rest of her body, barely concealed, exuded a raw sensuality that sent a wave of heat surging through Ilya.

She tilted her head back, her eyes closed, with the faintest of smiles on her lips, unaware that a man stood several meters away, watching her like she had just fallen from the sky.

Ilya stood motionless at the edge of the woods, his gaze locked on her as she moved gracefully through the water. Valentina hadn’t noticed him yet, and for a long moment, he couldn’t tear his eyes away despite the growing unfamiliar tension in his chest.

His mind was hazy with thoughts he didn’t want to acknowledge, watching as the water clung to her skin, tracing the curve of her back and slipping down her exposed shoulders.

The longer he stared, the more he found himself mesmerized, caught in the frail balance between awe and desire. Her natural beaut y? untamed and unapologeti c? struck him like a physical blow, raw and intoxicating.

It was like the sight of her was feeding him. And the more he hungered, the more he stared. The more he stared, the more he yearned. And the more he yearned, the more he hungered yet again.

He wanted to look away, to act like he wasn’t affected, but he was trapped in a spell he couldn’t break. The sight of her naked skin against the shimmering water, her every motion seeming deliberate yet effortless, pulled at something deep inside him.

The temptation was almost unbearable, his pulse quickening as his body responded despite his better judgment. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to indulge, his eyes following every subtle play of light and shadow across her form, unabl e? or unwillin g? to look away.

He could hear the faint lapping of the water, the sound like a distant whisper in his ear, but it was her that held his full attention.