Page 6 of Bound By Hate (Born in Blood)

“Are you sick?”

I glance at the sink and slowly begin to nod. “Yes. I think I caught something.” I cross my arms, staring Mila down. “What are you doing down here? Shouldn’t you be rehearsing?”

“I already practiced the dance steps for hours, Vik.”

“That’s not enough. You need to do more.”

She flinches at my harsh tone. “Sorry.”

I sigh and feel the wordsI’m sorryon the tip of my tongue, but before I can get them out, the doorbell rings.

I look between her and the door before deciding to answer the door. On the other side is averyhandsome man I’ve never seen before.

Tall, dark haired, strong jaw.

“Uh …” I’m never speechless.

“Hi,” he says, smiling down at me. “I’m Gleb Vesna.” He extends his hand to me. Slowly, I shake it.

“I’m Viktoriya. This is Mila.” I nod to my sister behind me. She’s also staring at Gleb in awe.

“I know who you are. Boris told me.”

Boris’s name rings through my head like a bell. Mila stumbles back.

Gleb holds up his hands. “I heard about what happened with him. I promise you, nothing like that will happen with me. Boris was instructed to care for you girls after your father died. Well, Boris instructed me to look after you in case of his own death. That’s why I’m here. I have no intention of marrying either of you. Think of me as a father figure, if you will.”

“We don’t need another father,” I say, slowly shutting the door, but Gleb slams his hand down against the door, stopping me.

“I understand, but it’s my job to care for you two now. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

His words are a threat. I hate threats.

All I can think as I stare Gleb down is,Who exactly is this man who wants to be a father figure to us?He’s not old—probably only in his thirties. So, what does he get out of this?

I just know I want him gone.

Chapter

Two

ALEKSANDER

She tries to speak around the ball gag in her mouth as she shifts on her knees, her hands tied behind her back. I stand over her, the surge of power going through my body, knowing I am in complete control of this moment.

“I told you,” I say. “You can’t speak right now. You will do as I say, yes?”

She nods.

I place a kiss on her head, then step back. “Good.” Then I grab the paddle off the wall and smack it against my hand. “Now, bend over, face against the floor.”

She does exactly as I tell her, and I step up behind her and bring the paddle down hard on her ass.

I’ve been practicing as a dom for about five years now. I was introduced to it by my boss, Mikhail Ivanov.

As a guy from the slums of Moscow, I was never a part of extravagance and luxury. Never someone who would join an exclusive club just to fuck women and control their bodies. I know what it’s like to not have food on the table. What it’s like to scrimp and save for every ruble. I never had the chance to partake in anything fun—not when I was striving hard to care for my parents so they didn’t end up on the street.

But then I met Mikhail Ivanov. A man more powerful than anyone I’d ever met. He saw my potential when I tried to steal from him. Instead of killing me on the spot, he offered me a job.

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