Page 17 of The Tsar’s Obsession (Bratva Sinners #1)

"Come with me." That deep voice ordered, and my hand was already in his, burning with the touch of his skin. “What nonsense was she spewing in your ear?” Kirill gently twirled me around the empty dance floor while the presenters were giving their speeches. But he didn’t care that there was no music and we were the only ones out of our seats. He just did what he wanted.

Fuck you like a slut and give you everything you want.

The taste of bitter disappointment and deep jealousy settled on my tongue. Suddenly, Polina’s words had immense weight, and my chest felt like it was about to cave in. Did he do all that to her? Promise her the world and then break her heart? And still kept her around?

“She…” I trailed off, unable to fully formulate the sentence, choked by the realization that I was completely lost and thoroughly confused. I wandered into the dark woods, unable to find my way back or any sunlight, just stuck, going back and forth in my thoughts and feelings.

“She?” he encouraged quietly, pulling me in closer, his soft lips at my ear, the aftermath of what he just did to me still buzzing on my skin. “Tell me,” he commanded, but I didn’t want to relay the message. I didn’t want him to confirm her words and the illusion to break.

I could get away with just one night.

“You don’t want to tell me. Give me five minutes. I’ll come grab you.” Kirill informed me, as if it were a fact, as if I didn’t participate in any decision-making anymore. With one last glance, he stepped away toward the table and motioned for Dmitry to join him somewhere unknown.

But before I could take even a step toward my seat, someone else accosted me. “A dance, Mia?” This wasn’t much of a question, as Jeremy replaced Kirill within an instant, this time accompanied by light jazz music. “Are you enjoying the evening?”

“Yeah, it’s nice. Nice to not be working.” I made mindless conversation, Polina’s words bouncing around my mind.

“Mm-hmm. What’s going on between you and that Russian?” Evidently, Jeremy decided to launch right into it. “There’s a lot of him. He’s everywhere. Here, my work, your work.” His twirl was a little too aggressive. “Is he making you feel uncomfortable?”

Jeremy was smart and well connected, and I always thought he was wise beyond his years, but I was sure even he had no idea how fucking deep I was drowning.

“No. Why would he make me feel uncomfortable?” His eyes settled on mine, angry and frustrated, his usual laid-back, joking attitude gone without a trace.

“Where did you just go?” Jeremy’s sudden change in attitude felt like the last straw. Why was everyone on my ass tonight? Viv, Polina, Jeremy.

“I didn’t go anywhere.” I shrugged but was startled when Jeremy led me further away on the dance floor, where I couldn’t see my table or Kirill anymore.

“No. With him. Where did you go with him? He followed you.” What the fuck was this? Jeremy’s questions were playing with the last nerve I had for him. “You know you shouldn’t get involved with clients, Mia. It’s not good for business. ”

At these words, I slowed down and forced us both to stop.

Making sure he heard me and saw me clearly, I told him everything that was on my mind.

“Why are you questioning me about what I do? It’s none of your business who I spend time with, Jeremy.

It’s also not your business to lecture me about what’s good and bad. For me. For my work. For my life.”

I didn’t believe my own words. It was like being around Kirill had stripped me of my need to please others. He did what he wanted; why couldn’t I? Why did I have to conform to all these rules all the time, especially when others stepped over the line?

Jeremy’s cheeks flushed, his expression a little lost, but his grip on me just as tight.

“I’m not lecturing you, Mia. You don’t know this man.

At all.” He punctuated every word as he restarted the dance.

“It’s clear he hasn’t really told you who he is.

” I had no idea what the hell that meant, but all this mystery around Kirill was beginning to settle like a heavy weight on my shoulders.

“Men like him love to corrupt and ruin. Don’t get caught up in something you can’t handle. ”

Those words hit me over the head like a hammer. Men like him. Was there some secret anti-Kirill meeting that I wasn’t aware of? Moreover, why was Jeremy speaking to me like I was some toddler about to get in trouble?

“Are you hearing yourself? Last I checked, I have a dad.” I spat back in annoyance.

Jeremy walked into this one. “Why do you even care so much? For the last ten years that you’ve been my stepbrother, you’ve never, not once, shown any care toward me.

” This was undeniably true, and we both knew that our relationship was purely transactional.

"That’s not true,” he vehemently denied. “I care about you.” His hand jerked mine, and his eyes gazed down at me. “Just don’t be stupid. Don’t get involved with him. He’s not a good man.”

I was on fire.

Everyone’s unwanted opinions twisted all my own principles, kicked me in the gut, and turned my mind into mush. Everyone, except one man. When I got lost in those green eyes, when I heard his deep voice, when his skin touched mine, I finally felt calm. Protected. Heard.

And there they were, those green eyes beckoning me like they were some lighthouse and I was lost in a tempestuous sea.

Without thinking about my actions, I ripped my hands out of Jeremy’s mid-step and headed in Kirill’s direction, only wanting to be beside him.

“Wait, Mia, I didn’t mean— wait!” Jeremy’s last words had no meaning to me.

“You ready to leave, Sunshine?” That tall frame came into view, my legs carrying me to him. That’s what I wanted to hear. He always gave me what I wanted.

“Yes.”