Page 47 of Tainted Essence

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry I forced you to make that stupid bet and betrayed you.”

I scrub my hand down my face. “I know you are, but without that bet I wouldn’t have got to hang out with one of the coolest chicks I have ever met.”

“You really like her, don’t you?”

“We just started talking again, Kimber, don’t push your luck. Go get your kid,” I say, ignoring her laughter as I end the call and head out to meet Kyros so he can take my bruised ass to the airport.

Saying goodbye to Russia is fucking easy, if I never stepped foot back in this country I would be totally okay with that. Canada may be cold and small but it’s nothing like this place. I’m the only one on the private plane aside from the crew, so I use the alone time to close my eyes and dream about the blonde-haired beauty that I refuse to admit hasn’t been far from my thoughts for the past three days.

“You look comfortable.” I snap my eyes open and stare up at the woman who gave life to the woman I was currently envisioning, bending over the arm of a sofa as I sank my cock into her perfect ass.

“What are you doing here?” I blurt.

Anya rolls her eyes as she peels her coat off and hands it to the flight attendant before claiming the seat opposite mine. She crosses her legs and rests her hands on top of them. Guards file onto the plane and claim seats around us but none of them even look at the two empty seats on either side of us. Anya and I don’t utter another word until the plane takes off and levels out in the air.

“I had business to attend to here.”

Unwarranted anger unfurls inside me. “You don’t think that could have waited? You know, maybe your daughter might have needed you after what she went through.”

Anya’s face reddens in anger. “You think you know what my daughter needs because you spent mere weeks with her? Or is it because you were sleeping with her?”

I school my features making sure to give nothing away. The men in their family may be ruthless, cunning and powerful, but the women are just as bad if not worse. I know Anya is baiting me and I need to make sure I play my cards right.

“Why are you really on this flight?” I dodge her question and from the twitch of her upper lip I can tell she isn’t pleased by that.

“I thought you and I should have a chat.”

“About?”

“My daughter.”

I scoff. “No thanks.”

“You don’t have a choice. You answer my questions and I may allow you to leave this aircraft breathing.”

“What the hell is it with your family and always threatening to kill people?” I am fed up with always being threatened by them.

“You don’t get to where we are by keeping your hands clean. Unlike Kiara and Clare, who don’t enjoy inflicting pain, Allison, Carlina, Koby and myself, we all enjoy getting down and dirty with the guys.”

“My mind just went to the gutter and I am fighting back the gag that wants to break free.”

She purses her lips and narrows her eyes, clearly unimpressed with my joke at her expense. “She’s a twenty-five year old girl.”

“And your point is?” I clap back.

“You’re thirty-three, established and have a life you’ve built for yourself in Canada. Destiny will never give up being in the ring, her father is her everything?—”

I scoff. “You clearly don’t know your own daughter well,” I grit out.

“Be very careful here, Taylan, I won’t tolerate being disrespected.”

“You don’t like me? Cool. Then kill me,” I taunt, then push on before she can speak. “Instead of sitting here trying to analyze me, you should think about trying to get to know your daughter better, Anya. She fights because she was told she couldn’t do it. She does love her father but she idolizes you!” Her face scrunches in confusion. “She also fights because she wants to prove to you that she is just as strong as her mother, she is trying to show that she is worthy of you.”

“You fool! She never has to prove anything to me.”

“Yes, she does!” I roar, gaining the attention of her men. They shift in their seats ready to strike me down if I make the wrong move. “You constantly work at those shelters with your sister-in-laws, you work with Gage and the others and she feels like she is just an afterthought. You never spend time with her, she thinks you hate her fighting?—”

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