Page 34 of Cruel Russian Pakhan
Lev had been meant to marry Artyom’s sister, Vera, as part of some deal. But when she disappeared, he must’ve mistaken me for her, and forced me into marrying him instead. Not once did he admit he’d made a mistake or married the wrong woman. He even introduced me as his wife, carefully avoiding my name.
I sank onto the edge of the bed, burying my face in my hands.
What the hell was going to happen to me?
At that moment, Lev stormed into the room like a force of nature, locking the door behind him. When he turned to face me, his fists were clenched, his face twisted with rage.
I jumped to my feet as he pointed a finger at me and glared.
“Artyom hired you, didn’t he?” His voice was cold. “You’re nothing but a fucking actress. He made me believe Vera vanished, then planted you to screw with me. Make me fall for a fake, then pulled the rug from under me.”
“What?” I stared at him in disbelief. “Are you out of your damn mind?”
“Don’t play dumb,” he snapped, voice rising.
“I’m not the one playing dumb here. You are! I told you from the beginning,” I choked out angrily, “I wasn't Vera!”
He stepped forward. “Because you weren't Vera. That was probably the only truthful thing you told me! What are the odds that you look exactly like her, huh? Artyom found you. He paid you. You played me like a goddamn fiddle.”
“You think I wanted this?” I shouted, stepping toward him. “You think there is any amount of money on this earth that would make me want to marry a man like you? Cold, controlling, and possessive? You think I’d choose to be married to a fucking mafia boss? To be kidnapped, locked up like a damn prisoner, shot at, accused of things I didn’t do? Do you have any idea what I’ve lost because of you?!”
“Lost? Artyom probably paid you millions!” Lev snarled. “Everyone has a price,” he snapped. “For the right amount of money, you’d say yes to anything.”
“Everybody inyour worldprobably has a price, but inmy world, we have morals and integrity!”
Lev didn't say anything. I realized there was no way I'd get through to him this way.
“God, you are so stubborn,” I hissed, shaking my head. “Fine. Let’s go with your logic. Let’s say Artyom did hire me. Let’s say this was all a setup. Explain something to me.”
I marched up to him, jabbing a finger into his chest.
“Why didn't I cause a scene at the party and escape? Why didn't Artyom make you look like a complete fool in front of everyone? He had the perfect opportunity to do that. To take you down a few pegs. And why the hell would I step foot in this place again, knowing you'd probably kill me for betraying you?”
His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t answer.
“What kind of idiot would do that unless she was telling the truth? Trust and believe that I want nothing more than to get away from a man like you.”
I took a few steps back. The silence between us crackled like a live wire.
Lev let out a cold laugh, clapping slowly as he stalked toward me and I stepped back.
“You really are a phenomenal actress,” he sneered. “But since you’re so full of questions, I’ve got a few of my own.”
He didn’t stop coming towards me until my back hit the wall and I had nowhere else to go.
“Was it all an act?” he asked, but he didn't wait for me to respond because he continued.
“Did you fake it when you kissed me?” His voice was dangerously low as his hand reached for my neck, though his fingers didn't tighten. “When you moaned my name? When you came apart beneath my fingers?”
Each word was rougher than the last, rasping from his throat like a growl. His lips hovered just a breath away from mine, causing goosebumps to erupt along my skin.
Before I could gather my thoughts to answer, Lev gripped my waist with his other hand and pressed his lips against mine.
God help me, I closed my eyes and kissed him back.
His tongue teased mine as it explored my mouth. My fingers tangled in his hair, nails scraping his scalp as he deepened the kiss. He was already hard against me, and my traitorous body responded instantly. A low, desperate moan slipped from me.
I hated him for it.
