Page 52 of Savage Surrender

I could only hope I wasn’t too late.

24

IRINA

The last time I slept for more than six hours was when I had the flu a couple of years ago.

My body had been so exhausted that I didn’t get out of bed for three days.

The Sunday after I spent the night at Viktor’s penthouse, I slept. And slept. And slept some more. I wasn’t ill. But I had been exhausted after how he’d kept me up and made sure I didn’t go for long without his filling me and pushing me to come. Over and over. It was a glorious reason to need to catch up on sleep, and I wished against wishes that his idea of a perfect future could come true.

A life with Viktor would be heaven, but it wasn’t meant to be.

He wouldn’t be able to stand up to my father. One sexy professor wouldn’t be a foe for a crime boss hell-bent on being the top leader in the area.

Besides, if I wanted to be selfish and start a life with Viktor, I would have to give up Maxim. I couldn’t protect him if I no longer served Igor.

I woke early on Monday, wondering how Viktor would act with me in his class after having me in his bed. The reason I got up earlier than usual wasn’t because of my alarms going off but because Peter and another guard knocked and entered my apartment.

They never let themselves in like that. My curiosity was piqued, to say the least. I dressed quickly and exited my room. “What’s going on?”

Both of them glared at me like I was the worst excuse for a job in the universe.

“The Boss wants to see you.”

Boss. Never Father.I rolled my eyes. “Now what?”

“Lose the attitude,” Peter growled.

The brightness I woke up with faded. I wondered what His Highness was mad about now, but I didn’t try to make conversation on the ride there.

We arrived, and I got out of the backseat quickly, wondering if this would take long or if I’d make it to Viktor’s class on time.

My father was pacing in the study, furious and impatient. Veins bulged near his temple, and with a streak of darkness, I wondered with glee if he’d stroke right now. He couldn’t have very good blood pressure with his diet and lack of exercise.

“What is it?” I asked, careful not to put any sass or attitude into my “greeting.” Cutting to the chase would be nice, though.

“Don’t fucking talk to me like that,” he roared. “All the shit I do for you, and this is how you repay me?” He lifted his arm tobackhand me, but I raised my arms to deflect him. He may be fat and old and taller, but I was by far more fit and quicker.

“What is your problem?” I asked, already sick of him after being in his presence for ten seconds.

“My problem is you think going to college means you can run around and be a fucking slut!” He paced away then came back, more furious. “My problem is you think being out of this house for two minutes gives you the right to act like a goddamn whore!”

I tensed, bracing for a hit. His words were a direct strike. I didn’t know how he could even begin to think that I was acting like a slut or a whore. I wasn’t. But since I’d recently lost my virginity to Viktor and spent the night at his place, it wasn’t far-fetched to assume he knew about it somehow. He was aware of what I’d been up to. To an extent. Somehow, someone must have talked.

Did someone see us at the library?

Was there someone in the family who was spying on me at campus?

Could anyone have seen me going into Vik’s penthouse?

Questions ran in a barrage through my mind, overwhelming me to the degree that I suddenly felt light-headed.

I couldn’t understand how my father could know anything about what I’d been up to. My guards weren’t ever close. And knowing where the cameras were located at my apartment building, I made sure to leave and get inside without his being in the range of the camera’s lens.

“I’m not,” I said at last, shaking my head.

“You fucking lying bitch.” He clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth as he walked away again, as if the sight of me was too terrible to manage. “You think you can just waltz around and fuck your way through the campus?”

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