Page 5 of The Savage

“Problem boss?”

Leo interrupts my dark thoughts, and I shake my head.

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

“So, what’s the plan when we land?”

I sense the interest around me because my men are as intrigued by this situation as I am.

All they’ve been told is we are kidnapping the lord’s daughter for ransom and need to hide her until he pays up. They don’t know the real reason I targeted Charlotte Richmond, and I wonder how they would react if they discovered what it was.

“You leave us at Norilsk, and I’ll call when we need a ride.”

The fact he looks relieved about that makes me smile to myself. Dubbed the most depressing place to live on earth, Norilsk can only be reached by air as there are no roads in. My family keeps an apartment there if we need to lie low and I wonder what Miss. Richmond will make of the rather basic standard of living we enjoy there. Unlike our many other homes around the world, this one is pure minimalism. The bare essentials only because it’s not a place we frequent much. Hell, I’ve only been here once myself and that was as a punishment for answering my father back. No, this will not be an enjoyable stay at all and that gives me way too much pleasure just imagining my perfect princess slumming it for once in her life.

After playing poker with Leo and a couple of my men, I yawn loudly and nod toward the cabin at the rear of the aircraft.

“I’m grabbing some sleep while I can. Make sure our guest remains uncomfortable and if anything happens to her, I will not be happy, understand?”

The spark of fear in Leo’s eyes reminds me how much they fear me. Ivan Volkov, the son of Konstantin Volkov, Bratva Pakhan, the head of the largest crime syndicate in Russia and I’m his unlucky heir. He started life in the KGB and soon progressed to organized crime with the full support of the government. An oligarch of the deadliest kind and a man many call the biggest bastard in Russia.

It amuses me how easily he agreed to help and set about contacting one of his spies in London to help stage the kidnap.

Pavel Semenov was only too happy to oblige because he has always sought approval from the motherland and would have pissed gold if my father asked him to.

The fact I can’t stand any of them is a minor irritation, which is why I was so keen to join Club Mafia, along with my friends from college who are my brothers from other mothers. We have our own plan, and it involves world domination.

Angelo, the boss, has already sorted his shit out and is now the don in charge of the Sontauro family in Boston. Flynn Vasquez is the second one of us who has stepped up and is the reason the hapless Miss. Richmond is my guest. I wonder what she would do if she discovered the real reason she’s here. Not a lot, I’m guessing, and it amuses me to choose my moment to wipe that smug grin from her face when she learns what her future holds. Hell on earth is a place, and it’s preparing her room.

I leave my men to drink vodka and gamble and head to the cabin reserved for members of the Volkov family only.

Inside is a huge double bed that will do nicely because I have been up for sixteen hours already and need sleep and a shower, so I’m ready to entertain the angel I’m about to sacrifice.

* * *

I’m notsure how long I slept, but as I wake the sun is rising and floods the cabin with its warm rays. As I stretch out, I allow my mind to adjust and remember a successful mission yesterday. Noting how hungry I am, I swing my legs to the floor and walk naked into the shower room attached to the cabin. My father likes his luxury, which I am glad about because the hot jets of water are extremely welcome as they wash away the sleep and dust from the day before.

My bag is on hand to retrieve a fresh set of clothes and as I run my fingers through the jagged edges of my hair, I reach for the toothbrush.

As I stare at myself in the mirror, I raise a small smile because now I’ve slept, I’m a lot happier about this mission. The fact the girl is so stunning certainly helps, and I’m keen to drag that bad-assed attitude out to play to keep me amused. Maybe she will prove a worthy adversary, I certainly hope so because life could get boring very quickly if she isn’t.

I head outside and the flight attendant is hovering by the door, looking as if she wants to jump me. I don’t miss the desire lit in her eyes, or the small smile of encouragement she flashes me as she whispers huskily, “Is there anything you need, sir?”

“Food and lots of it. Coffee too. I’ll take it with the girl.”

If she is disappointed, she covers it well and just nods. “Of course, sir.”

I walk past my men who are stretched out on their reclining seats trying to sleep and as I approach the front of the aircraft, I feel like a bastard when I see Charlotte sleeping upright with her head to one side. Her wrists are still handcuffed to the seat, and I can see angry red marks surrounding them as the metal grazes her skin.

I’m not even sure why I kept her chained up like an animal and for some reason it doesn’t sit well with me, so I grab the key from my pocket and carefully insert it into the lock, taking care not to disturb her.

As I work, I can’t help but stare at a woman who surprises me every time I look at her. Her long lashes brush against her pale skin and her lids flutter as she somehow manages to dream. Her soft sigh does something to me inside and I blame the fact I haven’t been laid in a week. I briefly wonder whether to take the stewardess up on her obvious invitation, but she doesn’t even compare to this beauty in front of me.

Then I’m surprised and taken off guard when a sharp blow lands flush against my cheek, causing my head to snap sideways and the pain makes me wonder if I’ve broken a bone.

Recovering quickly, I stare into two pools of fiery rage as the English rose, who looked so perfect a moment ago, stares at me with all the fury of Hades in her eyes.

“You fucking bastard.”

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