Page 42 of Born in Depravity

Mikhail laughed, and it wasn’t nice. “You really think there is anything in this godforsaken world that we can’t do? Do you really underestimate us?”

“Of—of course not. It’s just, she had been so well hidden. I had never even seen her face.”

His eyes roamed over her body, and only from years of practiced control was I able to keep from showing any emotions. I didn’t know when I had started to become so obsessed with her, and I didn’t fucking like it one bit.

Nikolay grabbed Catalina’s hand and moved her inside the house without saying anything to Petrov. She didn’t struggle—much. Perhaps she was learning. I followed him with Mikhail at my back.

Petrov might be a slimy motherfucker, but he was also a smart motherfucker. Had to be, to have survived in this world for as long as he had.

His house looked normal.

As normal as it could look with staff who were all afraid to speak in his presence and a handful of women I walked past who were most likely not here by their own free will.

We came to the huge living room, not far from the front door. Nikolay grabbed a seat on one of the recliners and pushed Catalina down so she was sitting by his knee.

She bit her lip. The fire in her eyes flashed with her anger. I should probably correct her, but fuck me if I didn’t get off on the sight.

I grabbed the seat across from Nikolay with Mikhail next to me, resting his feet on what was no doubt a thousand-dollar coffee table.

Petrov came into the room, his eyes briefly landing on Mikhail’s position, but like the good lapdog of the Bratva that he was, he kept his mouth shut.

He grabbed the seat furthest away from me. I could smile at that move. Did he really think I would attack him now?

“Is there anything you need my help with?”

Nikolay made a small noise at the back of his throat that sounded like a cross between a chuckle and a scoff. “How nice. You always got that ready-to-please look in your eyes whenever we stopped by. I’m happy to see that hasn’t changed.”

Petrov’s lips thinned from his anger, though he quickly composed his expression. “Of course. I am nothing but loyal to myPakhanand his brothers in rank.”

Nikolay smiled, and there was something vicious glinting in his eyes. “Of course.”

An older woman came into the room, pushing a cart of drinks.

We didn’t say anything as she poured the drinks.

Nikolay grabbed the woman’s wrist when she handed him his glass. Her eyes widened and she took one step back before she thought better of it.

“And water for the girl.”

She nodded, letting out a small sigh of relief when Nikolay let her go.

I watched as she handed Catalina a glass of ice water.

Catalina smiled gratefully at the woman and took huge gulps of the water. I wondered when the last time she had eaten or drank anything was today. Mikhail had brought her breakfast, and Nikolay—the weird fucker that he was—had insisted on feeding her himself.

That was the last I remembered her eating anything before we checked out of the motel.

I wasn’t used to caring for another person on such an intimate level. I had expected not to care at all for her.

She finished her glass and held it in her hand. Something white fluttered out from the sleeve of the shirt she was wearing.

Mikhail sat up straighter, staring at her. I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

I could smile over her resourcefulness, or should I call this stubbornness?

Did she really think she would find help here, of all places?

Mikhail glanced sideways at me, the smallest smile tilting the corner of his lips up.

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