Page 32 of Scarred (Russian Sinners 2)

“Want to go out with me tomorrow evening and I can introduce you to a few people?” Katja offered.

“No, thank you,” I quickly answered before Tasha could butt in. “I’d like to get to know Tasha and take it easy for a few days.”

Katja nodded in understanding. “How about this Friday?”

I frowned. That was only three days away.

“You should go meet locals,” Andrey suggested. “Nikolai said you should have some time to yourself and not be stuck in the house.”

I shot him a glare although it wasn’t exactly aimed at him. It agitated me that Nikolai discussed me with his staff but I said nothing.

“Sure,” I grumbled my response to Katja, then I turned to Tasha. I didn’t want her to feel left out. “Will you be okay? Maybe you and I can go out earlier that day?”

“Yay, we can go out during the day. Then at night you go out with Katja and her boyfriend.”

Yay,I thought unenthusiastically about the evening outing.

Chapter Eleven

Nikolai

As soon as I landed back in the States, I sent a short text message to Dimitry and Sergei.

I got an instant reply from Sergei and had to chuckle. He confirmed what Dimitry had told me. The woman he kidnapped was furious and hit him upside the head with a vase. I wondered if he even got as far as to explain that he did it in order to keep her safe. Either way, it was obvious the woman didn’t appreciate it at all.

He deserved it although I’d never let anything happen to him. He was my brother and he, Dimitry, and I grew up together in that hellhole of an orphanage. Sergei was the youngest so Dimitry and I always protected him the best we could, although we were children ourselves. Dimitry was the oldest and often took the brunt of all the punishments. He felt responsible for us, first in the orphanage and then when he got us out from under Boris’ so-called protection.

I knew he blamed himself for putting us in danger under Boris. He was too harsh on himself and felt he didn’t deserve a good woman and family that he so craved. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure that we would have survived if we stayed in the orphanage. I was certain Sergei wouldn’t have.

He was constantly sick and suffering from pneumonia. He wouldn’t have survived another winter in the orphanage without appropriate clothes or heat. We had food because we got good at stealing it. Although it was hard to go out in the bitter cold winter without proper clothing to steal food.

There was no doubt in my mind that Dimitry saved us. He deserved a woman like Anastasia and I hoped she wouldn’t give up on him.

Speaking of women, I wanted to hear how Olivia was adjusting. She wasn’t mine… yet. But she piqued my curiosity. In her striking eyes there was so much vulnerability and despair. She was good at hiding it, just as she was good at hiding her strength. I would bet my entire fortune it was the result of her father. He was the type to hate strength in women and thrive at exploiting them. He was no better than Malcome.

Both Olivia’s vulnerability and strength appealed to the hardened man I had become by the force of circumstance. There were many layers to her and I wanted to get to know them all. She was strong despite the shitty cards dealt her way. She might not see it herself, or she might hide it, but it was clear to me. This poised woman with fiery red hair intrigued me and spiked desire within me unlike any I had ever felt before.

My cock hardened just at the thought of her. She has been the only woman ever to have that effect on me. I would gladly relish in her strength and her standing up to me at every turn. I wasn’t looking for her to be docile. In fact, I couldn’t wait for her spark; it was written all over her. The only place I wanted her submission was in the bedroom and I’d make her pleasure a priority.

She was the only one I wanted, more than any other woman in the world. I wanted to touch her, smell her, hear her racing heart. It made me wonder how loud her soft voice would pitch when I finally had her.

I dialed up Andrey. It was barely seven p.m. in St. Petersburg.

“Da,” he answered on the first ring.

“How are Tasha and Olivia adjusting to each other?”

“Very well,” he replied. I could hear by the tone of his voice that he was very pleased. “They went swimming in the pool. Both girls spent the afternoon in and out of the water jumping and splashing. Afterwards, Olivia fixed us all American sandwiches, she gave Tash a bath, read her a book, and now they are both crashed.”

“Both of them are asleep?” I was surprised. Tasha hated going to sleep and bedtime was the most dreaded time in the household. I couldn’t help but smile at that picture despite the fact I’d miss talking to my niece.

Andrey chuckled. “Yes. Olivia has a magic touch.”

She was mine, I wanted to growl but stopped myself. Andrey knew better than to flirt with Olivia. I knew he wasn’t interested in her. My jealousy was misplaced.

“Any other issues that need my attention?” I asked him, switching subjects from Olivia.

He must have taken a cue from my tone. It was a novelty for me to experience jealousy.

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