Page 82 of Alexei (Belles & Mobsters 4)

I remained still as he crept into the room, all the way until he was at the foot of our bed.

I swiftly pulled out the gun I had hidden behind my pillow and pointed it at him.

“Est’ li shto-to, shto ty hoches’?” I asked him in Russian.Is there something that you want?

He knew if he made one wrong move, I’d blow out his fucking brains.

“I came to talk,” he responded.

My gun still pointed at him, I waited. There was nothing he could say that would convince me that he’d come to talk. He probably hoped to blind side us and get his filthy hands on Aurora.

“She’ll have to be put under,” he finally broke the silence, his eyes hungry on Aurora. “I can’t have someone like her know the location of my home.”

“Nyet.” He was crazy if he thought I’d let him inject her with anything.

“It’s the only way. She’s related to the senator.”

It didn’t surprise me he learned her identity. I didn’t bother hiding it, and it’d make this whole thing more believable. She was the girl that helped me get out, and now I was bringing us back.

“I’ll take care of it,” I gritted. I didn’t want to but backing out of this wasn’t an option.

His next expression was smug. “I’ll bring drugs-”

“No need,” I cut him off, icily. “She’ll be under before we get into the helicopter.”

“I’ll give you mine,” he insisted. He was a fool if he thought I’d ever use anything he gave me. I had an emergency med kit in my duffle bag and two shots of a sedative. I’d use it for this.

Though as I pushed that needle into her neck and saw a flicker of betrayal in her eyes, it tore at my chest. She was out within seconds, and I lifted Aurora’s lifeless body into the helicopter, positioning her next to me. I was doing a really good job ensuring she’d hate me when we got out of this. But it was either Igor or me, and I wouldn’t trust Igor to get within five feet of her. He’d been leering at her from the moment he spotted us in the club, like she was the last drop of water he’d ever get.

The fucked up thing was that I couldn’t even blame him, because she’d become my saving grace at the tender age of five without even trying. She just had that light about her that drew you in.

The helicopter took us to the private plane, and for the next ten hours I spent with Aurora’s drugged body next to me. I refused to leave her alone for a fraction of a second, even to use the restroom. Igor snickered when I took her with me to the back of the cabin and locked the door. The sick bastard probably assumed I ravished her while she was unconscious because it was something he would undoubtedly do. But all I did was lie her down on the large bed and then use the bathroom. Then instead of going back to the main cabin, I remained with her, seated on the sofa, and watched the young agent sleep on the bed.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“We are descending,” Igor’s voice came through the door.

I didn’t bother answering. Cold sweat rolled down my back, but I ignored the dread that followed. I fucking hated this country. I hadn’t been back in ten years, and before then, it was another ten. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings if I never stepped foot on Russian soil again. Nothing but dark and bitter memories came with each visit. My eyes lingered on the dark-haired woman sprawled on the bed.

No matter what went down, I’d have to ensure she got out of it unharmed. I had enough blood and death on my hands without hers. And somehow, I didn’t think this world could handle me if something happened to her.

I stood up from my spot and went to the bed, lifted her into my arms, and, pulling open the door to the main cabin, carried her through. I sat down with her secured next to me as I held her body upright.

Her dark, silky hair blanketed her face and I gently pushed it out of the way. She didn’t belong in the cruel world of Igor and Ivan. Or in the FBI. Yes, she was strong and fiercely protective of the ones she loved. But she cared too much. It would destroy her, and my heart squeezed with contempt at myself for using her. I should have found someone else, anyone else, but the young agent was already going after the same villain I was.

“She’ll be out for a while,” Igor said with a stupid grin on his face. “Might be days. Kind of like when they drugged you and stuck you in the basement for those two bitches.”

I had to clench my hands to refrain from reaching for him and choking the living daylights out of him. He thought I used his stupid syringe. I didn’t. But the fact that he expected her to be out for days if I used his needle told me the fucker had enough tranquilizer to put out a horse, never mind a woman.

I tore my gaze away from her and shot him a murderous look that instantly wiped the smile off his face.

“Better watch yourself, Igor,” I told him, icily. “Might end up on the wrong side of the bars. And it won’t be for sex.”

He knew exactly what that meant.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

AURORA

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