Page 35 of Disgraced (Russian Sinners 3)

Exiting the vehicle, I surveyed the parking lot and heard the light tapping of heels on the blacktop. I narrowed my eyes, checking the area and couldn’t believe my luck. Scarlett’s friend, Anastasia, was walking towards me. She was alone. This was some dumb move on her part and damn Irish luck on mine. And there wasn’t an ounce of Irish blood in me. The thoughts of my parentage caused fury within me, but I quickly tampered it down. It wasn’t this poor girl’s fault my parents were shitty as fuck.

I lurked in the shadows to ensure she couldn’t see me. Shuffling with something in her hand, her attention wasn’t on her surroundings.

Stupid girl.

She was beautiful, in an exotic kind of way. Not my type but still breathtakingly beautiful. Her dark mahogany hair fell down her shoulders in thick waves and her fair skin almost glowed in the dark. Her confident walk reminded me of a princess, a rightful heiress that was born into this world with all the love and comfort to help her strive and succeed. There was nothing she wore that screamed money. No jewelry, no expensive watch… just the air about her that spoke volumes. In her little golden shorts, a black sparkly top, and her confident stride, she shone more than any diamond.

Fuck, I don’t want to kidnap her and hand her over, but I can’t risk Scarlett’s safety now that she is on the radar of Boris’ men.

I saw Anastasia whip her head around, her eyes darting around, as if she was aware of me but couldn’t see me. She was barely ten feet away from her vehicle, the only one parked next to me. She turned back around and her walk sped up, moving quickly to the car.

Quiet as a jaguar, I snuck up behind her.

Her hand reached for the door when I finally spoke up softly, “Don’t move. I have a gun pointed at your head.”

She went to turn around, and I quickly pushed a cloth over her head. The sound of her keys and purse hitting the ground was the only thing breaking the night. For a fraction of a second, she froze, her reaction delayed. But it was all I needed. Lifting her up and throwing her over my shoulder, I rushed to my car.

Her initial shock wore off quickly, and her screaming and pounding her fists against my back started. It barely caused me to flinch.

She should really work on her strength,I thought wryly to myself and felt like the worst bastard at the same time.

“Let go of me right now, you asshole!” she screamed while punching my back.

“Stop it, princess,” I ordered her in a soft tone, “Or I’ll have to knock you out.”

The warning didn’t stop her. Instead she kicked and hit even harder, then screamed at the top of her lungs. With a light hit on her head, I knocked her unconscious and her body went lax.

“Fucking Boris’ legacy,” I muttered to myself as I placed her limp body in the back of my car. Even with him behind bars in another country, he was causing damn issues. I just couldn’t have his men showing a slight interest in Scarlett. Not now. If she found out my way of life and the arrangement before she was fully committed to me, she’d bail.

Anastasia didn’t even stir in the back seat. She wouldn’t wake for another few hours. I got behind the wheel without delay and drove to the rendezvous spot. I didn’t want Scarlett’s friend waking up while I still had her. It was best if she never saw my face, especially since her and Anastasia were friends. She might even be invited to our wedding.

While driving, I dialed up Michail.

“Allo,” he answered in Russian.

“Be ready to get Scarlett,” I told him, not bothering with pleasantries. There was nothing pleasant about what we were getting ready to do. “Her friends will be getting back to the hotel very soon.”

“I’m ready,” he confirmed. I had not communicated to Michail why the need to kidnap Scarlett. And nobody knew about me kidnapping Anastasia.

“Take her to my residence outside St. Petersburg. Not the penthouse! Don’t tell her anything and keep her safe. Make sure she has everything she needs and is comfortable.”

“I got it,” he retorted dryly. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

Fuck, last time he asked that, we ended up chained in a basement in Poland.

“Yes, this is the only way,” I answered.

“I have to tell you, Sergei,” Michail tried one more time. “This doesn’t seem like a good plan. If there is a threat, we should communicate it with the Boston group.”

“No,” I barked. They would want to bring her back home and put her under their protection. And how do you explain the threat was indirectly connected to my past?

“Sergei-” Michail tried one more time.

“This is the safest way,” I told him. Plus, it kept her close to me.

Fuck, I might have to orchestrate a rescue. These damn lies were piling up like shit.

I was approaching the meeting spot, so I quickly ended the discussion. “Text me when you have her. And when you are both safe in St. Petersburg.”

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