Page 21 of Shadow

Anatoly held up a hand, his brow arching in a warning to bring myself back under control. I drew in a deep breath, forcing myself to breathe so I could recenter myself and slip that mask back on. The mask that hid the demon. The monster.

“I will not harm him, Rurik,” Anatoly promised me. “But I want to make him aware of some rules. Remind him of his place. If it makes you more comfortable, you can send some of your own men with us.”

I looked at Malik as he stood from the bed, his shoes now on. His muscles were tight with tension as he met my gaze, his eyes hard and flinty.

“Give us a minute?” I asked Anatoly. But he knew as well as I was that I wasn’t truly asking.

Anatoly inclined his head to me and then left the room, shutting the door behind him. My hand snapped out and wrapped aroundMalik’s throat, and surprising the fuck out of me, he leaned into me, letting me take control of him all while that tension bled out of his shoulders.

Good boy.

“If you don’t want to go with him, I’ll put a stop to this,” I promised.

Malik shook his head. “I’m good, Rurik.” He sighed. “How much trouble am I in?”

I snickered and drew him closer until our lips brushed. His shaky exhale fanned over my mouth, and I barely bit back a groan.

“You actually care about being in trouble, baby?”

He cocked his head to the side just the tiniest bit. “Only if he might take me from you.”

So last night really had been all you needed, huh, Shadow?

“No one is taking you from me,” I promised him. I kissed him hard, reopening that bite mark on his lip. I lapped at the blood there, groaning as the coppery taste of him exploded on my tongue. “I’ll be here waiting.” Releasing him, I grabbed my burner phone and pressed it into his palm, since he no longer had one. “Call me if you need me.”

He nodded once. “I will.”

17

Malik

“You’re quieter than I thought you’d be,” Anatoly commented as his driver slowly navigated the evening traffic. I just grunted. I knew it was disrespectful to not verbally answer him, but I was in a mood. I’d been woken up from the best bit of sleep after the most earth-shattering orgasm I’d ever had, and now, I was being forced away from the one person in the world who could make my head go silent, just so Anatoly could have fucking dinner with me.

“You can speak openly with me,” Anatoly tried again.

I snorted. “Trust me, you don’t want that,” I muttered.

Anatoly hummed. “I used to wonder what Rurik’s obsession with you was. You nearly killed one of my soldiers who was gathering intel for me. I was ready to have someone take you out, but the moment Rurik laid his eyes on you on that security feed, he ordered protection on you. Made you untouchable, even to me. But now…” He cocked his head to the side as he regarded me.

“Now?” I grated, becoming increasingly annoyed.

“I think I see it. You’ve got a nasty temper, Mr. Carter. But if controlled properly, you’d make a damn good weapon, I think.”

I sneered at him, my temper spiking. “I’m not a fuckingweapon,” I growled. “I’m a goddamnperson.”

He arched a brow at me. “No? We’re all weapons, Shadow. Even Rurik is a weapon. I’m a weapon. My own daughter was a weapon I was able to utilize to solidify an alliance with the Ghost Born MC.”

My upper lip curled in disgust. “Think so low of your own blood?”

He shook his head. “I love my daughter. Amaliya has never wanted for anything in her life, and now that she is married to Shaw, she ishappy. They are so blissfully happy, it is kind of sickening to watch, if I am honest. But it does not change the fact that we areallweapons. And I am sure Rurik will have you filling your role soon enough.”

I was so tense, it fucking made my muscles ache. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I snapped.

Anatoly shrugged. “Take it to mean however you want.” We pulled into a parking lot, and his driver pulled up to the front door of a restaurant that I would one hundred percent feel uncomfortable in. It was clearly fancy, complete with a valet and two people ready to open the restaurant doors. Familiar fury crackled beneath my skin, and my hair stood on end. I didn’t want to fucking be here, and I didn’t want to be in Anatoly’s presence a second fucking longer.

But I knew I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. Rurik might think he had me protected and that no one could touch me, but I knew if Anatoly truly wanted me to bend to his will, he’d make me—consequences be damned.

Anatoly’s door opened first, and he slid out. My door opened next, and I narrowed my eyes at theMen In Blackmother fucker who opened my door. I stepped out and made my way around to where Anatoly was standing, waiting on me. “Shall we?” he asked, gesturing to the hotel door.

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