Page 11 of Crown of Hate

I scream even louder. “Help! Somebody, help! This lunatic is kidnapping me!”

No one moves a muscle. The entire street just watches, paralyzed, as I’m stolen away in broad daylight. Not a single person even reaches for their phone to call911.

In no time, Mikhail tosses me into the car like I’m a sack of weightless feathers. Then he circles around and slides in next to me. There are two men in front—one behind the wheel and the other beside him. Both are silent and radiate menace.

“Drive,” is all Mikhail says. The engine roars to life, sealing my fate.

I want to scream more, but my throat’s on fire. Plus, I’m not entirely sure he won’t just put a bullet in me if I piss him off too much.

So, I suck in a deep breath and peer out the windows. It only takes a minute before I realize the route we’re taking doesn’t lead to my home. “Where are you taking me?”

“Home.” He keeps saying home like a fucking robot. It’s getting on my fucking nerves.

Fuck it. He can kill me if he wants.

“This is not the way to my home.”

He twists his head, and a smile creeps in that makes my blood run cold. “I never said I was taking you to your home.”

My heart sinks to my stomach. “What the hell does that mean?”

“I’ve had a change of heart,malyshka. We’re getting married.”

4

MIKHAIL

“We’re… what?” Alya’s jaw drops, those hazel eyes balloon to saucers, as if I’ve just told her the world’s ending. Which, for her, it might as well be.

Christ, how did such a pretty thing come from such a repulsive bastard? There’s something about her that’s downright intoxicating.

From what I’ve been able to gather, she’s only twenty-three—a whole decade younger than me. Which not only makes her notably young, but also less experienced than the women I usually go for.

But holy hell, she’s a spitfire. Reckless. Quick to speak. Shy yet brazen. Her tongue hides and snaps all at the same time. Fuck. I wonder what else that mouth can do…

A groan escapes my throat as I picture her lush lips wrapped around my cock. This girl is driving me to the brink of insanity.

“I made a decision,” I growl, yanking my thoughts back on track. “I’ll marry you just as Akim suggested. But on my terms, not his.”

She’s still gaping at me. “You’re insane. This isn’t funny.”

“I’m not joking,malyshka.”

She flinches at the nickname, but quickly rallies. “You can’t just decide we’re getting married. That’s not how it works!”

I lean in close, enjoying the way she shrinks back. “In my world, it is.”

“Why the hell would you want that?”

I chuckle. “Oh,malyshka,if you could see inside my mind right now…”

Her cheeks flare crimson as if she knows exactly what I mean. “You’re such a perv.”

“You have no idea.” I angle myself over her. “I’ve thought of all the ways I can fuck you, Alya. I can have you pinned against the wall, flipped over my bed, or better yet, riding me like a cowgirl.”

Her hand flies to my chest, and for a heartbeat, I think she’s trying to push me away. But then she grabs my shirt and yanks me closer. “That’s all you’ve got? Wall, doggy, and cowgirl? Sounds like vanilla bullshit to me.”

“Oh really?” My fingers trail her thighs, relishing her tiny gasp as I slide my hand between them. “How about I spread those pretty legs and bury my face between them, right here, right now?”

---