Page 30 of The Den of Sin
“Didn’t I say to stay the fuck away from her?” he growled and finally I snapped out of my stupor. I shoved off the truck and pounded with my fist against Vasili’s back. I might as well have been shoving at a mountain, he didn’t even flinch.
“What the fuck, Vasili?” I screamed. “Let him go.”
Like I never even spoke a word, he growled. “You will be finished, Ryan Johnson. There won’t be a single record label that will want you now. I gave you a generous offer. All you had to do was stay the fuck away.”
Adrian stood to the side, spitting out some words in Russian but none of it registered. He seemed tense too, his eyes on Vasili like he was a madman. Maybe the guy lost his mind?
“Vasili.” My voice shook and I wrapped my arms around his torso trying to pull him away. “Stop it, please.”
I squeezed hard around him and felt the bulge of a gun, pressing under my arms. I froze, and my body went taut. Fear for Ryan’s life and mine was like acid through my veins. Stiffly, I took a step back, self-perseverance kicking in.
That alarmed Vasili more than all my hitting and screaming. He dropped Ryan like a rag doll and I took another step back, away from the danger. Vasili turned around, taking a step forward, and I immediately followed with another step backwards. Our gazes met, a silent stare down of wills. What did he want? Was his goal to make me miserable? Was that it?
“Come with me, Isabella,” Ryan begged. “I won’t make the same mistake again. Please trust me.”
“Leave now!” Adrian dragged him away effortlessly and shoved him into the truck. “And never come back.”
Ryan fought against him, but he was no match. “Isabella, come with me. I’m sorry, I should have never even entertained this asshole’s offer. You are the only one for me. Please, give us another chance.”
The trust would never be there with Ryan again, but I couldn’t stay around Vasili either. I took a step towards the passenger door when his words had me stopping dead in my tracks.
“You get in that truck, and he’s a dead man.” Vasili’s voice was low and calm, so unlike the rage I had just witnessed. But there was an unsettling threat in that calm voice, I believed he would do it.
Ruthless and dangerous.
I swallowed hard. “Goodbye, Ryan,” I barely choked the words out.
Regardless of Vasili’s threat, it would have been goodbye, but I didn’t want to stay around Vasili either. Now I stayed glued to my spot, scared that maybe this man wanted to dish more revenge for the pain my mother caused his family.
“Bella-”
“Just go, Ryan.” My eyes stayed on Vasili, scared if I looked away, he’d follow through with his threat.
I heard the loud start of the engine, and the next second, Ryan was gone through the dust of the hot, humid air.
I remained still, Vasili holding my gaze. And with each silent second, my anger rose. My mother always said that I went from meek to fury when scared. It was a wrong response but how could I control it? My mother believed it’d get me killed one day. Today might be the day.
Who in the hell is this man?Acid climbed up my throat, feeding my rage. He was a monster, the devil in disguise as a gentleman. But there was nothing gentle about this man. He must thrive on cruelty and suffering.
My hand flew through the air and connected with his beautiful, hard face.
Smack.
The sound rang through the air, or maybe it was just in my ears. His jaw clenched, but he didn’t move. The only betrayal to his anger was the throb of his vein on his neck. It was so fucked up because even as angry as I was, I had to fight my body from leaning forward to lick that vein and taste the pulse on my tongue.
Adrian shifted, muttered something in Russian or broken English that I couldn’t understand and left. I went to move and go with him when Vasili’s big hand wrapped around my wrist.
“Nyet.”No. A simple command and my body obeyed. His cool gaze and voice raised hair on my arms.
My eyes lowered to where his fingers wrapped around my small wrist. Such contrast. His golden tan skin against my pale one. His rough, ink-decorated fingers were big but graceful, and I knew how much pleasure they could bring. But also pain.
“You are a cruel bastard,” I hissed. “You just don’t care what you destroy, do you?” The anger slowly rose inside me and my blood boiled. I snatched my wrist out of his grip, scowling at him. “Want to dish out destruction and pain, Vasili? Bring it the fuck on and be done with it.”
Goddamn this man. I wanted to forget that one night of pleasure with him so I could have a clean slate. I lost pieces of myself that night and nothing had ever been the same. Ihadto move on.
He stood there stoic, unmoving. His jaw locked, ruthless stubbornness and cruelty on that beautiful face that watched me.
“Nothing to say?” I scowled, my voice shaking from anger. I usually never raised my voice but around this man all I wanted to do was scream. When he didn’t answer, I continued, “I’m not that girl from five years ago anymore. I won’t just sit and take your sick, twisted punishments, Vasili.”
