Page 37 of Dust to Dust

"Kukla," Anton voiced through the cigarette hanging in his mouth.

My Prada boots came to a halt on the first step. Reaching into my front pocket I grabbed my cherry-flavored lipgloss and swiped some on as Titan aimed his gun at Anton. "I thought you quit." I eyed the cigarette as Anton snubbed it out under his black boots.

Anton shrugged, tucking the gun that had been on his knees behind his back. He wasn't a fool and knew besides Titan's gun aimed at him, at least a dozen more did the same. “Old habits die hard, Kukla.” Anton smiled then shifted his eyes to Titan. "My condolences new King." Anton lowered his head. A gesture he never did for my uncle, his Pakhan, and his leader.

"I know, Anton," I stepped closer, "you played me all along."

Anton laughed. I balled my fist and punched him. He allowed it and didn't move. The impact of his jaw hitting my knuckles didn't satisfy me enough. "We are all being played, Kukla." He twisted his head back towards me. Blood lined his upper lip where a small cut now marred his skin, "After all, we are all dolls," he grinned, "and it is a doll's purpose to play the role given to them."

Titan stepped up and grabbed Anton by the collar. He pressed the barrel of his gun to Anton's lips. Not the cleanest shot, and Titan knew it. If he chose to fire, there was a slight chance Anton would live—without his jaw. "How did you know my father died?"

Anton lifted his emerald eyes. His lips tugged up as much as they could with the gun pressed against them, "Because I'm the one who gave him the poison."

Chapter 29

Iknew Titan could move fast, even for his size, but even I was shocked at his speed. Within a blink of an eye Titan had flipped Anton, wrapped his elbow around Anton's neck, and wedged his knee into Anton's spine which caused his back to arch painfully back at a contoured angle. Maybe Titan did have superpowers?

If he did, did that make Titan the superhero or villain?Ghost asked.

The villain of course. The superhero catches your eye, but the villains hold it Ghost. They trap you and steal you and never let you go. Titan was just as much of a villain as I was.I confessed.

"Don't kill him," I calmly said. Anton's face reddened with a lack of oxygen, but I gave my old friend props. He didn't fight Titan's hold even though you could see the pain rippled down his arched spine. Anton accepted it. Like Lucas.

How peculiar…

Or, did he know Titan would not kill him because we need answers?Ghost thought,Anton is more brilliant than we ever gave him credit for. The man values his life. He would not have shown his face if he knew Titan would kill him.

Titan lessened his hold, and I fell for him even more.

What was better than killing Titan or being married to him?

Controlling him.

Like I just did.

Steps behind me alerted me to Dash joining the party, "Where's Mila?" I questioned already knowing the answer. Dash and I might have made peace, but that didn't mean he was always willing to throw me a bone. He didn't answer but instead opened the door to their campus mansion. Before I followed I glanced at the car Mila was waiting, or trapped in, however you want to view it. Not only were the SUVs we drove in armored, but the car was surrounded by a dozen guards with more scattered around the property. The highly trained men popped up like moles. Just how many men did Titan lead?

Titan nudged his head for me to follow Dash inside. He wasn't willing to let me out of his sight. Dash started to lead us down to the secret room in the basement. The room they held the brotherhood's meetings in. With a palm placed on a scanner and his face close to the wall where a biometric scanner was located, Dash opened the door. I noticed an additional hinge on the inside of the door that caught my attention. "The door will automatically seal shut now," Dash followed my eyes.

I patted his back, "Look at you, Dashy. You can learn from your mistakes."I hope you're just as fast as a learner regarding Mila.

"Can you learn from yours?" Dash goaded.

"Time shall tell," I smiled. "You don't want to start on my bad side when I rite my wrongs, though."

"I agree," Anton said from behind us, "My Kukla is a force to be reckoned with. I'm not even done molding her yet." He joked with a husky laugh which was soon cut off when a grunt of pain followed. Titan had slammed the butt of his gun on top of Anton's head but not hard enough to knock him out.

"She's not yours!" Titan roared. Those butterflies in my stomach started to flutter again. Seeing how possessive Titan was of me made the pulse between my legs beat to a new rhythm. His golden skin reddened as he hissed in Anton's ear, "Keep Nova’s name out of your mouth. Keep thoughts about her out of your head." Anton's skin rippled under the pressure of the gun Titan was jamming into his temple. "You have no idea the monster, I, wasmoldedto be."

Dash started to descend the stairs, and I followed, but I slowed a step behind until I was shoulder to shoulder with Titan, "I don't need you to defend me. I can defend myself." I didn't sneer it in anger but rather a gentle warning. Just because I agreed to play his game of hubby and wifey didn't mean I would turn into a damsel in distress.

Titan leaned closer to my ear so his whispered words would remain between us, "I know you can babygirl, but what you're failing to understand is that you don't have to defend yourself anymore." He kissed my cheek, "Let me be your shield, and I'll let you be my gun."

That was the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to me. Titan trusted me to have his back, and I would protect that fine ass. If anyone were going to stab him in his back it would be me.

Would be?Ghost repeated. She liked to continue to rub in the fact that I cared and no longer lusted to kill Titan. Ghost could be a snarky bitch when she wanted to.

I followed the men into the bowels of the mansion. Deeper into the hidden room. The basement was bare and lacked anything to warm up the atmosphere to make it cozy. An area rug and a few lamps would have done the room wonders. But this wasn't a standard room. It was a war room, and right now, we are about to use it to interrogate the enemy.

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