Page 101 of Alexei (Belles & Mobsters 4)

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Cold fear was enough to paralyze me, but I kept moving. One step. Two steps. Breathe in. Breathe out.

I glanced at Alexei. He didn't seem worried. Though he seemed slightly pale. I assumed it was an adrenaline rush or something. I kept pacing.

Ihave to keep moving, I kept telling myself, though I knew there was no escaping this cell.

“Do you know that woman?” I asked him, just as I made another U-turn.

Alexei shook his head. “Nyet.”

“I think she’s fucking crazy,” I muttered.

“Da.” Another U-turn. I cracked my neck, heavy tension tightening my muscles.

My eyes sought him out as I made another U-turn in our little prison cell, and to my surprise, Alexei pulled out a knife. Out of his left sock.

“What are you doing?” I asked in a whisper. My steps stopped and I glanced over my shoulder at the heavy wooden door then back at him.

“Sending our location.” His explanation didn’t make any sense to me, but he didn’t pause. He twisted his left forearm. Then he stabbed the point of his knife into the back of his forearm.

“Whoa,” I exclaimed under my breath and rushed to him. Blood trickled down his skin and I desperately searched for something to put on his wound. “Are you nuts?”

He didn’t even flinch, the point of his knife digging further. I had to fight the urge to gag, seeing his flesh.

“Alexei, stop it,” I hissed, sitting down on the dingy little bed beside him. “You are going to hurt yourself.”

Ignoring me, he continued wedging the knife into his muscle and then stilled. Before I could sigh in relief, he shoved the knife deeper and a beep sounded. I stared at his arm, almost anticipating for something to jump out of it.

Then like it was nothing, he pulled the knife out of his forearm, wiped it against his pants.

I furrowed my brows. I wasn’t one to cringe from blood, but for some reason, seeing Alexei hurt and bleeding didn’t sit well with me. I reached inside the suit jacket and ripped through the layered piece of inner material.

“Give me your arm.” Without waiting for him, I reached for it and lifted it, then wrapped the cloth around his wound to stop the bleeding. “So what now? Somehow, I think you left out part of our plan. You told me all about the orgies but not a word about this.”

The corner of his lips tugged up. It was disturbing that he didn’t even flinch when he stabbed himself in his arm. What had he gone through to be able to do that without any emotion to flicker across his expression?

I eyed my handy work. It would have to do for now. I just hoped it wouldn’t get infected.

“I’m still waiting for an explanation,” I reminded him, pushing my shoulder against his.

“My brothers will get this location and come.”

“How long will it take them?”

“Not too long; they are already in Russia.” He must have seen surprise on my face. “We knew Ivan was here, just not the exact location.”

“Oh.” Alexei nor his brother ever explained why they were after Ivan. “Ivan mentioned good old times.” Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. “What did he mean?”

Silence stretched and I held my breath for an explanation. I didn’t want to miss a single word he’d utter. It felt important, the connection and why they were after Ivan. But he remained quiet. Disappointment tasted bitter. Something in my chest tightened and a hollow ache spread.

I thought we agreed to be open with each other. Yet, I knew he withheld information. I knew they had history together. How couldn't they when Alexei seemed so hell bent on finding Ivan. But good old times?

An edgy sensation beneath my skin made it hard to sit still, so I moved to release the irritable energy. Jumping to my feet, I paced back and forth. It was ridiculous that I was hurt by Alexei not trusting me enough to tell me what the fuck was going on. I had gone to a damn sex club with him. Had sex with him… multiple times. Got drugged by him. Got fingered by him in front of a room full of people. For heaven’s sake, I got on my knees for him and let him fuck my throat.

And he couldn’t even fucking tell me his history with Ivan. The very man that took my brother. Kingston. Oh my God, I had to find out where Kingston was. I needed to know what happened to him.

My steps paused again as a thought slammed into me.

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