Page 118 of Sinful Scars

This time, there is no hesitation as she nods.

I tilt my chin at her clothes. “Get dressed.”

I crouch on the floor and feel beneath the bed for my weapons stash. There’s not much, only a couple of handguns, but it’s better than nothing.

A heavy thud sounds overhead, and Elle whimpers as she glances anxiously up at the ceiling.

“It’s okay,” I soothe, despite the fact that it sounded like a body hitting the floor.

I tuck both guns into my belt and get to my feet.

Something has clearly happened that has Igor’s men spooked, which has me wondering whether someone has shown up who wasn’t invited.

“Elle!” a male voice shouts from above.

Elle’s eyes widen as she glances at me.

“Alexei,” she mouths.

I guess that’s my answer.

“I know you’re in here! Let her go, Lev!”

Elle goes to run to the stairs, but I hold up a hand to stop her.

“Could be a trap. Stay here.”

Elle cowers in the corner as I tread lightly up the steps toward the trapdoor. There’s no quiet way of sliding the bolt across, which means if Elle misheard, and it isn’t Alexei, we could both be dead in a matter of seconds.

With one last deep breath, I slide the bolt across and brace myself for whoever is waiting for us on the other side.

The moment I push the trapdoor open, my eyes stare straight down the barrel of Alexei’s gun.

“I fucking knew it.” Blood splatters cover his face and hands and from how deathly quiet it now is, I know he’s taken out every single one of my father’s men.

“Alexei?” Elle calls from below, capturing his attention.

“Get out of my fucking way!” Alexei roars.

Alexei storms past me down the stairs to get to Elle.

I grind my teeth as he places a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and she smiles up at him like he’s her knight in shining armor.

Asshole.

“Are you okay?” He eyes her and then the bed. Between Elle’s flushed cheeks and the extremely rumpled sheets, it’s pretty fucking obvious what we’ve been doing down here.

Alexei seems to realize as he turns to face me with a murderous expression on his face.

“You’re fucking dead?—”

“I’m fine, Alexei.” Elle places a hand on his arm. “Truly.”

Her eyes find mine, and she offers me a small smile.

“That doesn’t mean I trust him.” Alexei’s eyes narrow on me.

“If it makes you feel any better, the feeling is mutual.”

---