Page 25 of Taming a Ruthless Heart

Nadya reaches out and pats my shoulder gently.“You don’t have to worry about Rose.I’ve got a degree in early childhood development, and from what I’ve seen, she’s doing remarkably well.She’s an adorable little girl with incredible social and language skills.Look at her interact with Pete—she’s been so carefree and natural with him since the moment they met.”

I follow her gaze and watch as Rose’s giggles fill the air.There’s no hesitation, no fear in her steps.Just the pure joy of a child who, for once, doesn’t have to worry about what comes next.

“You’ve got nothing to worry about,” Nadya says firmly, her voice kind but strong.“If anything, I think the closet is her comfort zone.Somewhere she can control.”

“Maybe,” I breathe, watching as Rose catches up to Pete and throws her arms around him in a playful hug.“She looks pretty comfortable now, though.”

Nadya laughs softly.“Looks like she’s leaving her shell.”

I smile at the sight, my heart swelling with warmth.Despite the terrible situation we’re in, the uncertainty of what comes next, something wonderful is happening.Rose is finding joy here, even if it’s only temporary.And for a moment, that’s enough.

A low, distant rumble catches my attention, and I glance up through the glass ceiling.A black helicopter flies overhead, so close I can make out Dave’s tall frame inside.I glimpse at his scowl.My stomach tightens at the sight, a foreboding sense of dread settling over me.

Minutes later, the doors to the pool area burst open, and in strides Dave, his expression hard, the tension in his shoulders speaking louder than any words.

“Alexia, my office.”His voice is clipped as he turns and disappears back into the house, not waiting for me.

My heart pounds in my chest, the brief warmth I felt a moment ago dissolving into a cold knot of anxiety.I scramble to my feet, casting a glance at Nadya, who offers me a tentative smile.I hurry after him, wondering how bad the news he’s bringing me is now.

Dave’s study looms ahead, the heavy mahogany doors slightly ajar, as if waiting to swallow me whole.The weight of his command—Alexia, my office—still echoes in my ears as I step inside, the soles of my flip-flops making the faintest sound on the polished hardwood floor.The scent of leather and aged wood envelopes me, wrapping around my senses, grounding me.

I’ve never been in this room before.Its austerity and grandeur only heighten the sensation that I’m actually stepping into an interrogation chamber.

The first thing that strikes me is the sheer opulence of the place—the dark, intricately carved shelves that line the walls, filled with books, their spines worn and aged like they’ve held secrets for generations.Gold accents catch the light, giving the space an almost regal atmosphere.The kind that could make someone feel small—if they weren’t already feeling that way.The large windows let in just enough light to create shadows in the corners, deepening the tension that’s thick in the air.

Dave stands beside the massive desk that dominates the room, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the estate.His silhouette is imposing, his broad shoulders tense, as though they’re carrying the weight of the world.Maybe they are.I can feel the anger radiating off him, a tangible force that makes my breath catch.His sensual scent—crisp French cologne with an undercurrent of power and something darker—permeates the air, making my head swim.

My heart beats harder, the sound loud in my ears as I close the door softly behind me.The latch clicks, and it’s like the start of something I’m not sure I’m ready for.I hesitate, standing just a few feet from the door, unsure of what to say or do.I’ve been dreading this confrontation, but I know there’s no avoiding it.

“You’ve got a lot to explain.”His voice cuts through the air like a blade.His words plunge an imaginary knife into my chest, twisting it, stealing my breath.

He doesn’t turn to look at me, his gaze still fixed on the lawns and distant woods lying beyond the glass.The calm in his voice is deceptive.It’s the kind of calm that precedes a storm.

My pulse quickens.

“I—” I start, but the words die in my throat.What part of my truth could I offer that he would accept?There’s just so much I can say right now.None of which, I believe, would matter in this situation or protect me from his evident wrath.

He finally turns, his eyes locking onto mine, dark and unreadable.But there’s something beneath the surface—an edge, a crack, like he’s barely holding himself together.His steps are measured, deliberate, but I catch the way his fists clench and unclench at his sides, as if he’s holding back.The distance between us shrinks with each breath, and the tension stretches like a live wire, crackling between us.

“You need to tell me everything you know about Igor’s operations.”His voice is flat, emotionless, but his eyes are burning.Desperate.“Now.”

My mouth goes dry.Flashes of memories flicker in my mind—Igor’s men, the things I’ve seen, the things I’ve overheard—each one more damning than the last.Without intending to, I’ve uncovered things that could get me killed.That’s why I asked Dave to help me escape.The problem is now this secret could get him killed.And I can’t have that.

I square my shoulders, meeting his gaze with a calm I barely feel.“I’ve already told you everything I know,” I say, my voice steady, controlled.He takes a step closer, but I don’t flinch.I push down the instinct to retreat.“I’m not your enemy.You want answers, but you’re looking in the wrong place.”I refuse to tell him what he doesn’t need to know at this time.

“You’re good!”Dave’s eyes narrow, his expression hardening.“You almost convinced me there for a second.”He steps closer, and I instinctively move back.We keep this infuriating dance routine until my body presses against the cool wood of the wall.My heart pounds as he closes in on me, his presence overwhelming.“Your hesitation betrayed you.”He runs the tip of his index finger down the left side of my neck.“Your body did, too.”His proximity plays havoc with my emotions, while the vein pulsing under the pressure of his finger is the proof he is talking about.

He’s so close now, I can feel the heat radiating off him, smell the mixture of cologne and raw power that clings to his skin.It seeps into my lungs, clouding my thoughts, making it hard to think straight.My knees weaken, and I grab onto his forearms to keep myself steady.His muscles are taut beneath my hands, through the thick layers of the black suit and white buttoned-down he’s wearing.I feel his pulse—steady, unyielding.I scramble for the right words, something to throw him off, to end this line of questioning.

If I tell him, I’ll put him in danger—and I’m not ready to carry that burden.So I put on a brave face and give him part of the truth.“Yes, I’m nervous.I’m overwhelmed, actually.That’s what you do to me.That’s why I’m reacting like this.I don’t have anything to give you on Igor.”

“Flattery will take you nowhere with me.You must’ve forgotten that about me.”His smirk hurts me.“You’ve been married to the man for more than five years,” he whispers, his voice low and dangerous, slicing through the space between us.His anger simmers beneath the surface, and it makes my skin prickle with unease.“You’re a smart woman.How could you not have picked up on anything?”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, the accusation behind them sharp and biting.Dave never shouts.The angrier he is, the quieter his voice becomes, each word dripping with a cold intensity that sends shivers down my spine.

I swallow hard, my throat tight, and I force myself to meet his gaze.“Igor kept me away from his business,” I say, my voice shaking.“I wasn’t involved.He made sure of that.”

Dave’s lips curl into a bitter smile, one that sends a chill down my spine.“Protecting his little princess, huh?”The words are laced with sarcasm, and they ignite something in me.Memories of Igor flood my mind—the way he treated me, the cold and the cruelty hidden behind his careful facade.

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