ISABELLA
Shock waves keep shuddering through me as I make my way to where Ana’s waiting.
Tonight was a failure of epic proportions.
Shit.
The girls.
Pulling over the side of the road so I can take a moment to process my failure, I climb off the bike, and then I let out a frustrated scream.
I yank off my helmet and ski mask and throw them to the ground.
Alexei Koslov.
My God.
The freaking devil I had sex with turned out to be the head of the bratva.
My God.
I breathe through the rampant emotions waging war in my chest. My disappointment for not being able to free the girls. My shock of having Alexei freaking Koslov help me get out of there.
I wouldn’t have escaped alive otherwise.
When the bodies started dropping around me, I was totally caught off guard. But there were too many men for me to fight on my own.
God, my mother sent an army.
I stop moving, and feeling drained, I suck in deep breaths of air as I stare into the darkness around me.
Just then, the unmarked SUV I saw at the harbor pulls up a couple of yards behind me.
He knew I’d be at the harbor.
My eyes dart to my motorcycle.
Shit, he’s been tracking me, which means he might know everything about the double life I’ve been leading.
There’s a sinking feeling in my chest as everything I’ve worked so hard for begins to crumble around me.
Knowing I have to face off with Alexei at some point, I pull my Heckler & Koch from behind my back and train the barrel on the SUV. Alexei and his custodian, Demitri, climb out of the vehicle, looking every bit like the powerful duo they are.
Demitri Vetrov. I think I can take him.
But I can’t take them both.
I have no idea how good Alexei is. If he’s better than Demitri, I’m dead.
I move my aim to Alexei, the uncertain threat.
“You have a tracker on my motorcycle?” I ask as they come to a stop.
“Of course,” Alexei answers. It’s too dark to make out his features clearly, but I can hear the amusement in his voice. “My turn,” he says as he takes another step closer to me. “Why are you freeing the slaves?”
“They’re not slaves,” I bite the words out. “They’re innocent people.”
I can make out as Alexei nods. He moves a little closer, and my finger tightens around the trigger as a wave of danger washes over me. The power this man holds radiates into the night.
Unlike where it was a turn-on the night of the party, the tiny hairs on the back of my neck now rise in apprehension.
Alexei Koslov is known to be unpredictable and ruthless. He’s deadly and the most feared man. Those facts alone should make me take the shot while I can, but for some unknown reason, I don’t.
He’s also my mother’s biggest enemy.
He can destroy her.
“Why are you watching me?” I ask.
“Actually, I’m watching Sonia. Discovering you was a pleasant surprise,” he replies.
Another step from Alexei has me biting out, “That’s close enough.”
“So you’re the party crasher?” he asks.
Goosebumps spread over my skin, as a flash of him thrusting inside me throws me off balance for a moment.
Keeping my voice neutral, I reply, “It was a moment of stupidity.”
Alexei lets out a sexy chuckle. “It’s too late for lies, little one.” Little one. It sounds more like a term of endearment than a derogatory pet name.
Demitri keeps still, but I can feel his presence.
“What do you want from me?” I demand.
Another sexy chuckle from Alexei sends a tremble through my body. “I wouldn’t say no to a repeat performance, but for now, I’d like to offer you an alliance. Of course, that’s assuming we have the same goal.”
“What goal?”
“Taking down your mother.”
“What makes you think I’ll work with you? You’re no different from her.”
Alexei slaps a hand to his chest. “That hurt. I’m nothing like Sonia Terrero.”
It’s my turn to chuckle. “Right. You don’t kill while ruling the world with a ruthless fist.”
Alexei shakes his head, and ignoring my warning from earlier, he takes a couple of steps closer to me. I fire off a shot in the ground by his feet, but he doesn’t even flinch. Instead, he lets out a burst of amused laughter.
Demitri has his gun trained on me so fast that I didn’t even notice him moving.
Alexei doesn’t even bother looking at Demitri as he says, “Lower your weapon, brother.”
Demitri listens, but his body is wound tight and ready to explode into action at any moment. Looking at him, a smirk forms around my lips as I say, “You’re no match for me, Vetrov.”
“Want to put down your gun so we can find out how good you really are?” Demitri asks.
“Another time. I have a mess to clean up,” I answer before turning my attention back to Alexei. He takes a final step closer, which will make it easy for him to try to disarm me, then he tilts his head and says, “I don’t kill innocent people.”
I’ve heard people say that about him.
Now that he’s closer, I can make out his features. He’s attractive if you’re into being devoured by a wolf.
Like I was.
I lower my gun a couple of inches until it’s no longer trained on his chest but instead on his cock.
Again Alexei laughs. “Do you really want to deprive the world of the ecstasy you felt when I fucked you?”
My left eyebrow shoots up. “Vain much?”
“No, just confident.”
Lowering my weapon completely, I’m still on high alert as I ask, “What’s your proposal?”
“We take down Sonia.”
Cynical laughter bursts over my lips. “And then? What guarantee will I have you won’t kill me after I’ve helped you?”
“You’ll have my word,” he states as if it should actually mean something to me.
Giving him a condescending smirk, I shake my head. “Thanks for the offer, but I work alone.”
Alexei crosses his arms over his chest, looking more like a god than a man. “It’s only a matter of time before your cover is blown.”
“Is that a threat?” I bite the words out, taking a threatening step toward him. Our eyes lock, and for a moment, there’s a power struggle between us before he lets out another bark of amused laughter.
“Fuck, are you real?”
He asked me the same thing while we were hooking up.
This time the corner of my mouth lifts with confidence. “Yes.”
Alexei meets my smile as he looks at me with admiration. I’ve never had anyone look at me like that, and it makes a weird sensation ripple through my chest.
His expression turns serious, then he says, “Join me, Isabella. Together we can take down Sonia. I’ll owe you a favor.”
A favor from Alexei Koslov? Damn, that’s tempting.
I actually take a moment to think about it but knowing this man is still my enemy, I shake my head. “As I said, I work alone. Thanks for the offer, though.”
I take a couple of steps back, raising my weapon on Alexei again. “You can leave.”
Alexei stares at me a moment, then he says, “Until we meet again.”
Which will hopefully not be any time soon.
I watch as they walk back to the SUV, and only once they’re driving down the road do I shove my gun behind my back and pick up my helmet and ski mask.
As interesting as that was, it’s time to get back to Ana so we can decide where to go from here.