Page 35 of Savage Surrender

“Am I promised to anyone!” It was a question, but I couldn’t frame it as one, too angry to stand still. Fisting my hands at my sides, I fought the urge to leap over the table and throttle him. Let him choke on his dinner. “Am I promised to an Ilyin?”

He scoffed, relenting at last to answer me. “Of course not.” He let out an exasperated sigh. “Of course, I don’t want you married to one of those idiots.”

You fucking asshole!He could’ve just told me that first. He could’ve answered directly, but no. He had to fuck with me and play mind games just for his enjoyment, just to peeve me.

“Why would I want you married to the losers I want to push out of power?”

I didn’t reply, seething and too furious to speak.

“Just play along with it. In fact, ignore it. Don’t even speak about this. Do as I ask, and that’s it.” His expression hardened once more. “Do as I tell you and spy on that campus. That’s all you need to worry about. And if you give a shit about that worthless brother of yours, I can count on you to do your duty.”

I stared him down, damning him for ever taking advantage of my love for Maxim.

“Are more drugs being circulated?” he asked. “Are there new dealers after the Ilyins’ last shipment to the area?”

I didn’t reply.

He pounded his fist on the table, but I didn’t jump, used to his dramatics. “Answer me!”

“No.”

He stood. “No, you’re not going to answer me?”

“No, to the best of my knowledge, there are not any new drugs being traded or sold.”

“What about Marcus James and Eric Benson? Is anyone trying to get any favors with the dean’s office?”

I hadn’t even tried to snoop there. And I didn’t want to. With him pressing me for answers, all I wanted to do was run. Run far and fast and never stop. This wasn’t the life I wanted.

Without another word, I turned and stormed off. Enveloped in fury, I walked right back out front where the driver was still standing outside the car, smoking a cigarette.

“Already?” he asked.

As if I’d ever want a visit here to be long. “Yes. Can we leave?”

He shrugged, tossing his cigarette then smashing it with his shoe on the icy pavement.

I got in the backseat and asked, “Can I go visit Maxim?”

“He said no. Until further notice.”

I fisted my hands again, uncaring how my arms vibrated and tremored with the force of my muscles being used. I was so desperate to feel some hope. Some love or minor concern. More than anything, I craved the security and consideration I felt when Viktor helped me at the party. The deep pleasure and shocking relief when he’d made me come in his office.

I wasn’t on the hunt for naughtiness with him. I was just so sick of feeling this loathing, this hatred and rage. It was consuming me, from the inside out.

I’d never been so mad at Igor, stunned that he would play a game like this to lead the Ilyins on. He’d let them think I’d marry into their family when he had zero intention of ever letting it happen.

I stared out the window, fuming, but I couldn’t be too upset about not seeing Maxim at this hour. It was late for him. But I couldn’t just simmer and sulk at my apartment, left to nothing but an idle mind and too much anger.

After I was dropped off, I grabbed my tote bag and walked to the library. Reading and studying probably wouldn’t solve anything, but I was that eager to get out and do something before I drove myself insane.

17

VIKTOR

Ididn’t see Irina for two days. She didn’t show up to her poetry class. There were no signs of her at her usual haunts, the café, the cafeteria, the coffee shops, the library, and the gym. I didn’t spot her once.

Aggravated that I was so hung up on her, I tried to talk myself down from missing her. She couldn’t matter like that. Sure, she had the sweetest pussy I’d ever tasted, but she was still a target to spy on. A source to get intel from. A Mafia princess from a rival family.

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