Page 7 of Bluff

The night I approached her at the club, she was finally looking for companionship. I wasn’t going to allow her to be with any man but me. I’d watched her for weeks. I’m known more for observing than participating at the club… until her.

I took her to my private room and had my way with her, again and again, until she dropped into sub space. When I walked out of that room, I was determined to never have her again.

Now, that’s not possible.

She’s too close. Having her body pressed against mine night after night without taking her is fraying my nerves.

As I walk down the hall, I glance into each classroom until I find her. Ainsley is seated at the front, which makes it easy for me to stay by the door and watch her without being noticed. She doesn’t take the longest on the exam, but as other students begin filing out, I look at my watch. She’s been in there for a couple of hours when she finally stands and hands in her paper.

Ainsley turns and sees me standing in the doorway. She drops her head, giving a small shake, then walks back to her desk to grab her stuff.

My phone buzzes, and I check it. Her team is waiting outside. She approaches me slowly.

“Come on,” I say, not giving her the chance to lie or apologize. “Next time, just tell your team you have class, and they will bring you.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch her beautiful brown eyes focused on me. She’s shocked that I’m giving her this. But I know if I take away her schooling, she’ll fight me. And I don’t want that.

“Mikhail.” She places her delicate hand on my arm, stopping me. I look down at her. “You would’ve let me come?” she asks, surprise flickering in her eyes.

“I don’t want to cage you, zayka. I just need to protect you.”

“What does that mean?” She bites her lip, and I slide my hand against the side of her face.

“Darling,” I lie to her. I move my hand to the small of her back and guide her out to my car.

We exit into the cool night air. She shivers as we weave through the parked cars. I take her hand in mine to hurry our steps.

“What?” She looks up at me.

I glance down at her in the glow of the parking lot lights, my eyes focusing on hers. I’m about to respond when I notice a red dot moving across her skin. I don’t think. I react. Wrapping my body around hers, I take her to the ground just as a bullet shatters the car window beside us. She screams, clinging to me as I reach for my gun with one hand and my phone with the other.

“Shots fired,” I tell the team in Russian. Another bullet hits lower on the door. We have to move. “Hold on tight, zayka,” I order her as I pocket my phone.

Keeping low, I crawl us toward the next vehicle. When the next shot hits exactly where we just were, I know I made the right decision.

“Is it the Italians or the Irish?” she whispers, her lips brushing the skin of my neck.

“Neither. The penance was already paid to the Irish, and we’re still in negotiations with the Italians. Pakhan is taken care of too. Whoever this is, they’re not on the list. Anyone else you’ve pissed off, little one?”

She huffs. “No.”

I hear her team moving around us, so I crawl toward another car. I need them to distract the shooter long enough for me to make a break for my car. It’s not bulletproof, but at least I can get us out of here.

Damir, the head of her security, calls out that they have him. He starts counting, and I know the plan. Before he hits three, I jump up and start running. A bullet slams into my shoulder, and I grunt in pain but keep going. Ainsley screams as I stagger. The sound of her team’s gunfire rings out behind me. Another shout echoes, and then there’s silence.

I open the passenger door and quickly get her inside.

“Buckle up,” I grit out through clenched teeth. I need to get her home before the pain overtakes me. I’ve been shot before, so this is nothing new.

Climbing into the driver’s seat, I start the car and take off before dialing Andrei.

“Need the doctor at my house. Just a graze,” I say as way of greeting, speaking in Russian.

“On it. The team notified me. I’ll see you there.” He disconnects the call, and I focus on the road, trying to block out the pain.

“What did you mean when you said penance was paid? What about the Pakhan?” Ainsley’s voice breaks through my focus. I turn to look at her, and she has her arms crossed over her chest. “I’m waiting, Mikhail. I’m not some bumblehead. Explain.”

“Zayka, we all have to pay penance to the Pakhan for your transgressions. Why do you think Dmitri had to get back in the ring?” The pain has my tongue spilling the truth instead of keeping the secrets it should.

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