Page 6 of Disgraced (Russian Sinners 3)

Sergei

Eight Years Later in Russia

Iwas in a foul mood, and my right-hand man knew it. Michail was avoiding me like a plague. And he was right to avoid me, because I was ripping into everyone for even the slightest mistakes, or even breathing out of turn.

You don’t get to the top of the food chain by being a softy, although I usually didn’t allow my mood to dictate my behavior. Vlad came to visit me and that man always sours my mood. I hated seeing the bastard. Dimitry and Nikolai felt the same. The only reason Vlad was on the payroll was because he helped us put Boris away. And Dimitry always kept his word. I loved my brother but, in this case, I wished he’d say to hell with his word. He should get rid of the man. Vlad was a snake in the grass. I knew it, we all did. Just couldn’t prove it.

His whining and grinding about going legal was irking me, like the sound of nails against a chalkboard. I had bigger things to figure out than his fucking bullshit. My source indicated Scarlett O’Brady was scheduled to arrive in St. Petersburg today. It was the only reason I came to check on the business here. I would figure out how to accidentally bump into her.

I paid a visit to O’Brady a few months ago. It was supposed to be a short visit, just between him and I. But his daughter, my soon to be wife, came home earlier than expected. The conversation I overheard between daughter and father was still fresh in my mind. I could still hear the anger in her voice when she objected to the marriage. What did a man have to do to get married for fuck’s sake? The rejection hurt although I knew it had nothing to do with me personally. Who could blame her for wanting to marry a guy she would fall in love with?

Unfortunately for Scarlett, I decided eight years ago I’d make the whole marriage ordeal a business arrangement. Scarlett’s father needed a big favor and I helped him out in return for his daughter. The old man agreed reluctantly. I knew he’d end up accepting it because he needed money and the timing was right after his daughter pulled a stunt at her school.

I should have insisted from her father to keep the marriage arrangement between us only. He refused to keep a secret from his wife and his daughter. His wife stood by him begrudgingly while his daughter right out rebelled even more at the thought of being married off. To say Scarlett didn’t take the news well was putting it mildly.

I should have visited and gotten to know her. But I had no interest till she was old enough. As the agreed upon date of marriage was approaching, I inquired about meeting her but by that time, Scarlett was barely seeing her parents and avoided spending time at home. Of course, her father blamed me. Over the years, he had offered to pay me back the money again and again, with a hefty interest. But I wasn’t willing to let go.

Her coming home at the time I was visiting her father was a mere coincidence. And good fucking thing because one thing O’Brady failed to mention was that his daughter was a knockout. The only picture I’ve seen of Scarlett was her high school picture. To say her high school picture did her no justice was an understatement.

When she opened the door to her father’s office, it was like a goddess standing in the doorway. She didn’t realize I could see her reflection in the mirror her father had in his office. Her eyes lingered on me, hesitance in that dark gaze that gradually turned into curiosity. There was something about her that intrigued me.

I knew from O’Brady himself; mother and daughter never interrupted the old man’s meetings. But hell was I glad she did.

Holy fucking shit!

My cock hardened the moment I saw her. Her petite, slim body was in a short pink dress and she had curves exactly where it counted. Her glorious dark hair fell down her slim shoulders. I couldn’t wait to wrap my hands through her hair as I fucked her. I had to ball my hands into fists, tempted to stride to her at that very moment and try it.

I’m sure her father would love to see that, I thought wryly to myself. He might have been in his late sixties but he had no qualms about protecting his family. It made me respect him even more.

As I listened to their conversation, her father trying to prove to me his point of letting his daughter off the marriage hook, I realized my huge mistake of not meeting her earlier. Even if she experienced a fraction of the attraction I felt, she would fight it. Because she was cornered. I couldn’t blame her father for attempting to regain her freedom. But a deal was a deal and now that I saw her, I wouldn’t let go.

Of course, it had nothing to do with love. But lust and attraction were a pleasant surprise.

As I exited my St. Petersburg casino by taking the hotel lobby way out, and I cut through the marble hallway, I ran straight into a woman almost knocking her down.

“Fuck,” I spit out reaching my hand to prevent her from falling, and steadying her on her feet.

“My apologies,” I muttered in Russian, cursing myself for dreaming about a woman and not paying attention. Things like that could cost you a life. I have spent too much time thinking about Scarlett O’Brady since I laid eyes on her.

“Oh, crap,” she muttered in English, not even looking up as we both kneeled down to gather the contents of her purse that spread all over the floor. She was rushing, trying to grab her lipstick, and some other little things spread all over the floor. I didn’t look at her but just tried to help since I plowed into her. I grabbed her phone and something that looked like a small notepad. I looked up to her and felt like I was struck by lightning.

Scarlett O’Brady was in front of me, in the flesh. I forced myself to blink to ensure it wasn’t my brain playing tricks on me. Maybe the damage to my brain from outbursts and few of the beatings I endured finally caught up.

No, that was certainly her. I couldn’t believe my luck. Somebody was certainly smiling down on me. She was still fumbling with her items and shoving them back into her little purse, not paying attention to me at all.

“I’m sorry about that,” I switched to English as I handed her things back to her.

“No worries. I should have paid attention to where I was going.” She didn’t even look up as she continued trying to fit her things back into her purse.

“Visiting for the first time?”Look at me, making chitchat. If only Michail could see me now!

She finally looked up smiling as she took her phone out of my hands. Her dark eyes flashed and barely audible gasp escaped her lips. Her cheeks blushed light pink and I wondered if she recognized me. Although I didn’t think so. She couldn’t have seen my face back at her father’s home nor when I was in the car. After her heated argument, she quickly packed her things and left her parents’ home. Michail and I left her father’s house with her right behind us. She didn’t even spare me a glance when she zoomed past me on the highway. Good thing too, since she was going way past a sane speed limit.

“Yes,” her smile was genuine and I wondered what she was saying yes to. Then I remembered I asked her a question. “Visiting with friends. Russia is our last destination this summer.”

I felt like a hungry man watching his prey. She was even more beautiful up close. Her dark eyes shone with excitement. There was mischief in her eyes and just pure happiness. Even if I didn’t know about her rebellious tendencies from conversations with her father, I’d know it now. She had very expressive eyes.

Her father told me she took a summer to travel Europe with her friends. He refused to share her itinerary but what he didn’t know was that I already knew it. I’ve had a guy hack into all her social media accounts and tracked her travel plans.

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