Page 45 of Crave

Slowly, I pull the knife from where it’s hidden at my lower back. I won’t go down without a fight.

“No need for that, Alexei.” A woman’s voice comes from the smaller man.

What?

When they are only a few feet away, I can see the dark eyes of Tatiana behind the beard.

“You beckoned?” she asks, a smile tugging up the thick fake fur covering her face.

“You’re crazy, you know? Pretending to be one of them?” I glance up at the bigger guy.

He winks at me, then cracks his knuckles.

She shrugs. “I have insiders in every faction. It lets me go where I please.” She crosses her arms over the vest. “My patience is wearing thin. Talk.”

“Lara was taken and Mikhail thinks it was by one of Ivan’s men.” The words tumble out of me.

They make a knot in the back of my throat.

It’s been over a week since I’ve seen her.

“So?” She raises one eyebrow.

I wonder if it’s her real one. How detailed is that makeup?

When I lean closer, she bats me away. “I’m going to ask Damon to break your neck if you do that again.” One long manicured nail bounces off of my chest. “Time’s up.”

“Wait, no.” I reach out and grab her arm.

The big guy backhands me hard enough I bounce off the bricks. “No touching.” He spits in a thick accent.

“I need her back. I need her here, with me.” I can’t stop the whine from lilting through.

Her mouth twists the hairs around it. “This is Nikolai’s sister? Ivan’s daughter?”

I nod.

“You know what it means, asking for my help?” Her fingers tap her chin as she watches me.

“Yes. I’ll do anything.” I look at her with the most sincerity I can muster.

“Max told me you have no limits. That can be handy. You’ll work for me until I deem the debt paid.Khorosho?” She holds out her palm.

“Okay.” I agree to her terms. I extend my arm to shake hands.

“No, fool. The knife. You’re swearing a blood oath.” She snaps her fingers and points to my back.

My blood runs cold. I could be signing over my life.

Shit.

Flipping the handle towards her, she takes it and hovers it over my open hand.

With a single slice, she marks me as hers.

CHAPTER 19

LARA

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