Page 107 of Twisted Proposal

Damien had whispered something to Kostya as we watched her being picked up, and he snickered. I had wanted to stab both men. The only thing that stayed my hand was Gregor putting his hand on my shoulder and shaking his head, telling me to ignore it.

He saw what I saw. He saw the threat, as clear as if it was against Samara instead of Viktoria.

"They are just jealous, cousin. They had to chase their women much further than you did."

"So did you," Damien scoffed.

"It doesn't matter how we get our women, what matters is that we protect them and we keep them safe."

The rest of them shut their mouths and we watched Gregor's men grab Viktoria from behind, one of them with his hand securely over her mouth as she thrashed.

"She is a fighter," Gregor said with a note of appreciation.

"You have no idea," I deadpanned, and our brothers started laughing again.

I had no idea what they found so funny.

Yelena had hit Damien with a fucking brick, and Marina had gotten Kostya arrested.

"Go easy on her, cousin." Gregor slapped me on the back. "But make sure she understands the risks involved."

That was what I was doing now, sitting in front of Viktoria as she still stared at that empty screen.

"This is your fault," she gasped, pulling me from my thoughts.

"How is this my fault?"

"I would never have been in danger if you didn't decide to make me your pet project."

"You are far more than my pet project,moya ptashka."

She finally looked back at me and scoffed.

"No, that is all I am to you. You cut me off from the rest of the world. You canceled my classes, then you sent those girls to try to convince me you actually care about me?"

"I do care about you," I said, pinching the bridge of my nose, not sure how this became a conversation about us.

"Then you show me this horrible snuff film to prove that men are after me? You're saying that my father owed these men money and so they're coming to find me?"

"No, these men aren't looking for you, but you're putting yourself in danger and?—"

"No, if they're not looking for me, then they're looking for you. So you're putting me in danger by having me so close to you. You say that you care about me, but all you're doing is controlling me. That isn't caring about someone."

"I'm trying to keep you safe," I yelled as I got to my feet.

She stood just as quickly to face me.

I moved around the desk, trying to calm myself down so I could have a rational conversation with her.

"Then let me go. If you care about me at all, you will let me go. You are the thing that I need protection from."

Just like that, my control snapped.

"Never," I growled as I grabbed her by the side of her neck and pulled her body toward mine, slamming my lips down on hers. If she wouldn't believe me when I told her how I felt about her, then I would just have to show her.

CHAPTER34

ARTEM