Page 39 of Perfect Stalker

I laugh humorlessly. “You’re delusional if you think I’ll just hand over my empire to you.”

“Oh, I don’t expect you to hand it over,” he says. “I’m going to take it. Piece by piece. Starting with what matters most to you.”

My heart stops. Jenny. He can’t possibly know about her, can he?

As if reading my thoughts, Alexei continues, “That woman staying with you? The lovely Jenny Graham. She’s quite beautiful in a plain American girl way.”

Rage explodes within me. “If you so much as look at her?—”

“You’ll what?” Alexei interrupts. “Kill me? You can try.”

I struggle to keep my voice steady. “Stay away from her. This is between you and me.”

He laughs again, and it’s a cold, grating sound. “Everything is fair game now, old friend. You should have thought of that before you crossed me by telling Vyacheslav I wasn’t suited forBratvalife. I guess I showed you and him I was. I built everything I have by myself. I guess I was always alone.”

The line goes dead, leaving me in stunned silence. I lower the phone, my mind reeling from the implications of Alexei’s words. It’s clear he’s punishing me for being honest when Vyacheslav asked me if I thought Alexei was cut out for our life. Back then, I’d considered him too reckless and too prone to be driven by anger to take an active role.

I’d been trying to spare him and theBratvawhen I told our mentor to give him something in administration instead. Alexei had been enraged at being undercut, as he saw it, and internalized that anger toward me instead of Vyacheslav.

Marcus, who has been standing silently by the door, clears his throat. “Boss? What do we do?”

I exhale raggedly, forcing myself to think clearly. “Make sure Jenny is protected at all times. Then get me everything we have on Alexei’s operations in Atlanta. Maybe even back to Russia, since he might have connections there that overlap here. I want to know every safe house, every associate, every whore, and even every damn coffee shop he visits. I want to know it all.”

Marcus nods, already pulling out his phone to relay the orders.

I turn to the window, staring out at the city skyline. Somewhere out there, Alexei is plotting his next move, and Jenny, my sweet, innocent Jenny, is caught in the crossfire.

“I’ll protect you,” I whisper, more to myself than anyone else. “No matter what it takes.” Needing her home, I pull out my phone, dialing Andre’s number. It rings once before he answers.

“Yes, boss?”

“Bring her home,” I say, my voice leaving no room for argument. “Now.”

Almost an hour later, the elevator doors slide open with a soft chime, and Jenny bursts into my penthouse like a hurricane. Her cheeks burn bright red. The sharp click of her heels against the marble floor echoes through the space as she marches toward the kitchen, shopping bags swinging from her arms.

“Are you happy now?” She slams the bags onto the pristine white marble counter, the impact making my crystal decanter rattle. “I had to make up some ridiculous excuse to my mother about why I needed to rush home.” She whirls to face me, crossing her arms over her chest, the silver-gray sweater she wears bunching with the movement. “What could possibly be so urgent that I had to abandon her in the middle of Lenox Square two weeks before Christmas?”

The muscle in her jaw ticks as she glares at me, waiting for my response. Even furious, she’s beautiful—though I know better than to tell her that right now. Each step toward Jenny is deliberate, my shoes silent against the plush carpet. “I received a call from Alexei Morozov.”

Her brown eyes narrow, and she drops her arms to her sides. “The one who’s threatening you?” Her voice carries a mix of confusion and disbelief.

My hands curl into fists at my sides. The words scrape against my throat, harsh and raw. “He threatened you specifically.” I swallow hard, trying to keep my rage in check.

Jenny’s face pales. “How does he even know about me?”

“He’s been watching.” I close the distance between us. “Like I have.”

She stiffens. “About that. How long exactly have you been watching me, Ivan? The truth this time.”

“Since the night I saved you from Stephen.” I maintain eye contact, willing her to see my honesty. “One year ago.”

“That’s it? Nothing before then?”

“No. I saw him attack you, stopped him, and after that...” I run my hand through my hair. “I needed to ensure your safety.”

“For a year?” Her voice rises. “You watched me for an entire year without saying anything? I still find that hard to believe with how…intense you are.”

“You stayed single that whole time.” A possessive satisfaction fills my voice. “Made my job easier. No competition to eliminate.”

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