Page 16 of Claimed By The Russian

“That’s…incredible. Wonderful,” I say, not even realizing I’m inspecting him for wounds or blood splatters or anything like that. But he notices.

“I’m fine. Not a hair on my head has been harmed.” He pauses. “And like I said, you are free now too. Everyone wins.”

“So that’s it?”

“That’s it. It’s been taken care of in totality. You’re free. Free to do as you please now.” He pauses again. “Now if you will excuse me, I must make a phone call to my associates.”

I nod, but it’s more than forced.

He turns and leaves the bedroom.

CHAPTER 11

Kirill

Not only do I inform the other criminal and government heads what I’ve done with that low life scum and his crew, but also that Kennedy is my woman. I will marry her next month and they are all invited.

I’d do it today, but I want her to have time and enjoy the anticipation of our upcoming wedding, the one she doesn’t even know is happening…yet.

“Thank you,” I say, as Sergiu brings me the ring I ordered this morning from a lifelong friend, and jeweler.

I inspect it for perfection, making a mental note to tip my friend generously. It pays to have good friends, money, and connections. The fact that he could prepare this ring so quickly reminds me of everything I have, and shows me in some ways I had nothing, until I found her.

And if informing all the important figures in Moscow that she’s mine isn’t enough, this ring will be a constant reminder to them, to her, to me, and the world.

Word will also spread what I personally did to that man, how I dragged it out and watched the pain he experienced. The only thing that pisses me off is that he’s still not suffering. He could be tortured for a hundred lifetimes and it still wouldn’t make up for the lies and abuse he put those women through.

Disgusting.

But that’s handled now, as are my phone calls. And now it’s time to show her who she belongs to, in the symbolic way we humans around the world do…by putting this big rock of a diamond on her finger, and making sure it stays there, like the smile on her face, forever.

I stand quickly, the chair sliding backwards as I move to the bedroom and push the door open so hard it damn near slams against the wall, breaking through the door stopper.

My excitement is beyond high to have this moment with her, and start our forever in yet another way.

But she’s sliding into her coat and there’s a tear running down her cheek.

“Where are you going? What’s wrong?” I ask, stuffing the small, velvet box into my pocket.

Anger rips through me, accompanied by a million questions.

“I’m leaving.”

“You’re leaving? Like hell you are. And you were trying to sneak out too. What’s going on? What’s wrong. We can solve this.”

“What do you mean, what’s wrong? Solve what? There was no problem until you created it.”

I can’t read her for the life of me. I just need to get her calmed down so I can get to the bottom of this, fix this, and show her all the ways I love her.

I move in front of her, blocking her way to the door.

“Get out of my way!” she stomps and storms toward me.

“The only thing I’m stopping is you from making the biggest mistake of your life.”

“Well, you’re too late for that because you are the biggest mistake of my life,” she shouts, flying off the handle and defying what I told her about keeping a united front, always.

I shut the door behind me, which only angers her more.

“You said I was free so why are you trying to stop me now? Huh? Move out of my way and let me be free.”

I grab her by the arms, a smile crossing my lips which only infuriates her more as I sit her on the bed.

“You’re free from worrying about that monster from whom you escaped. You’re free from the pain of trying to support yourself because I will always be your backbone, now and forever. But you’ll never be free from me. That’s never what I meant.”

“I…I thought you were telling me to go.”

“Go where? You’re mine. You live here. You belong here, with me. Always.”

I feel the tension release from her body and I let go of her arms.

“I needed us both free of that man and his people, that’s all. I’d never even heard of him or seen him, but when I knew what he did to you, and those other women, he created a prison in my mind that I myself needed freed from as well. I couldn’t sleep another night knowing he was walking the face of the earth. Now we are at peace. Free.”

“That’s what you meant?”

“That’s exactly and all I ever meant.”

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