Page 17 of Sergei
And just like that, there was a shift in his demeanor. His eyes became distant, and his mouth tensed into a hard line. His anger had melted into something else. Something worse. He knew.
He knew what marrying Alek meant. He knew the choices I’d had to make, the battles I’d had to fight, and he could see that it hadn’t broken me. At least, not completely. I was still standing. But there was no guarantee that I’d still be standing tomorrow.
He knew this, too. We both knew the risk I’d taken, and the inevitable fallout that would come if he chose to stand at my side. His eyes drifted to the floor, and for the first time since I’d arrived, I feared he would turn me away.
I needed to say something. I needed to try and convince him that I was worth saving, so I said, “I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t want to marry him. I knew he was a monster. Everyone knew he was a monster. The family. My parents. My sister. You know it, too.”
Still nothing.
He just stood there with that blank expression.
So, I pushed a little harder. “I know there are rules. I know it was my job to please him and to follow his every command, and I tried. God, how I tried. But the only time that man was happy was when he was hurting me, and he did it often.”
“Fuck.”
I lifted my shirt, revealing the deep bruises along my ribs as I added, “It gets worse every time. He would have killed me if I stayed, and he would’ve done it with a smile on his face. I had to get away from him, and Viktor was the only person I could think of that could help me.”
The rage in his eyes returned as he studied the bruises that marked my body. He was struggling with his response when an older man approached. He was tall and broad like Sergei, but he was more weathered and gray. His presence seemed to carry a weight of its own as he motioned his head for Sergei to have a word with him.
Sergei didn’t argue.
He simply stepped over to him and leaned into him, listening intently as he spoke. I tried to make out what was being said, but their voices were too low for me to hear. All I could do was stand there with my heart pounding, wondering if I’d made a huge mistake by coming here.
They spoke for what felt like an eternity, and then, Sergei gave him a nod and turned his attention back to me. I searched his face for any sign of what he’d decided, but his expression was unreadable.
“I can’t make any promises,” Sergei started. “But I’ll talk to Viktor, and we will do what we can.”
Relief washed over me in a way that nearly took me off my feet. Air rushed from my lungs with a shaky breath as I whispered, “Thank you.”
“Thank him.” Sergei glanced over at the man standing next to him. “He goes by Preacher. You’ll be staying at his clubhouse.”
“Clubhouse?” The word slipped out before I could stop it. I had no idea what it was, but it sounded like a place I had no business going. “What about Viktor? Will he be there?”
“No. He won’t be there.” Sergei’s gaze hardened, leaving no room for any more questions. “You will be safe there. That’s what matters.”
I wanted to argue and demand that he let me see Viktor, but I was in no position to make demands. I had nothing. No money. No allies. No plan. Just bruises and broken promises.
So, I did the only thing I could. I nodded and said, “Thank you.”
I hadn’t even processed what was happening when a younger man strolled up next to me. He was a relatively big guy with tattoos covering both arms, and he wore a leather vest like it meant something. He had an easy smile, and he was handsome in a rugged sort of way. But there was something in the way he looked at me that had me wondering about his intentions.
His smile widened as he reached for my suitcase and said, “I’ll take that for ya.”
His gaze swept over me, slow and deliberate, like he was about to make me his next big conquest. On any other day, I might’ve been flattered that a hot guy found me attractive, but in my current state, I wanted nothing more than to grab my things and run.
I was considering doing just that when Sergei stepped forward and snatched my suitcase from his hand. “Forget it. She’s coming with me.”
“What?” the young man gasped.
“You heard me.”
“Hold on, brother.” Preacher’s eyes narrowed as he asked, “You sure that’s a good idea?”
“It’s not up for discussion.”
The young man stepped back with a smirk and said, “Whatever you say, boss.”
I didn’t know if I should be impressed by Sergei’s sudden possessive claim or terrified by it. I didn’t have much time to really think about it before Sergei’s hand clamped around my bicep, and he led me toward the parking lot. His grip wasn’t painful or cruel, but it was a reminder that I wasn’t in control of the situation.
