Page 472 of Rage

He tried to convince me a few more times, but I held firm. I wasn’t going to bring all this trouble home. Maybe now I was Katherine Chernova, Ivan’s wife, but before that, I was Katherine Romanova. Husband or not, Ivan wasn’t my priority. My father and my bratva were.

After a few more words, I left the villa, followed by my bodyguards. I waved goodbye as the driver started the car, my mind drifting as I stared out the window, lost in thought.

Then I heard the explosion.

And everything went black around me.

Chapter Two

Katherine

My heart thumped as they brought me into the room. Judging by the massive, imposing table and the sheer number of chairs, I assumed it was used for meetings. The place was vast and austere, minimalist decorated, giving me a feeling of cold elegance.

It also reminded me of a luxurious cage, and I asked myself if this was only because of the position I had found myself in, or if it was something every person who had ever been here had felt.

The brute that led the group of men yanked me toward the middle of the space.

I glanced at him, and I took some pride in seeing the marks I’d left on his face. Whatever Dimitry was going to do to me, at least I knew this one was going to remember me every time he looked in the mirror.

They hadn’t covered my eyes while bringing me here, so I’d known instantly I was in Dimitry’s home. I easily recognized the region, and it wasn’t as if I didn’t expect something like this.

If I get out of this alive, I’m going to cut Ivan’s balls off for dragging me into his mess.

The funny part, if there could be one, was that Dimitry had put more effort into this kidnapping than my husband had put into our entire marriage.

I heard voices nearby, and judging by the tension among the men around me, I assumed they recognized their boss.

My pulse quickened, and I needed all my willpower to keep my fear from showing on my face. I dug my nails into my palms, focusing on my breath. I wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of knowing how fucking scared I truly was.

The door opened, then slammed shut as he entered. The men straightened, confirming my suspicion. This was Dimitry.

He stopped right in front of me, leaning against the table as he took in the room. He didn’t say a word, yet I felt the energy shift as his gaze swept over his men.

They’re afraid.

I took my chance to study him. He was older than me, almost the same age as my husband, somewhere in his early thirties. Despite my attempts to not focus on that aspect, he was handsome. Tall, ripped, with a groomed beard and short, raven hair, he was a walking temptation.

His black suit blended with the dark glass of the table. He braced his palms against the glossy surface and relaxed, his legs falling open as he leaned back. My eyes fell for a moment to his crotch. Given the tent in his pants, he was huge.

Fuck! I have to focus on getting out of this shit somehow, not on how hot this man is.

“Chernov’s wife,” he said in the end, looking at me.

His voice was calm and controlled, almost friendly. But I knew better. His hazel eyes were intense, and my heart beat wildly as I held his gaze. Whatever whirl of emotions was inside me, I wasn’t going to let him see them. Even if the way he looked at me made me feel as if he was seeing right through me.

“Katherine,” I said. “My name is Katherine.”

I hoped my fear wasn’t obvious in my voice. Dimitry smiled and gave me a once-over. I could decipher a mix of curiosity and lust in his eyes.

A spasm of electricity coursed through me as his gaze fixed on my deep cleavage for a moment. I mentally slapped myself as my nipples hardened under his attention.

Fuck, no! Focus Katherine! People always confuse fear with arousal, so stop it! Focus!

“Katherine,” he repeated.

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as the word rolled off his tongue. It sounded like a purr, and for a damn second, I imagined him moaning my name. I mentally kicked myself, again.

Actually, maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea. If he was more focused on how I looked instead of what I was doing, maybe I could find a fucking way to escape him.

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