Page 154 of Shattered Altar (Makarova Bratva Duet)

“Where were you?” I demand.

He comes to a stop, but he refuses to meet me in the eyes. “I… I was just… using the restroom.”

“Here’s a tip: next time, try doing it without shoving your cock in a maid first. It might go a little faster.”

His eyes go wide with guilt and he drops his gaze immediately. “I’m sorry, sir. I… it won’t happen again.”

“Get out of my sight,” I snap. “And take him with you. It’s cold out and he needs another blanket.”

Mike jumps into action, leaving little time for Father to say his goodbyes. He mumbles something that Mike doesn’t bother translating. The nurse just gives Olivia an awkward nod and embarks back up the path.

“Was that necessary?” she explodes the minute they’re out of earshot.

“I’d say so.”

“What even was that about?” she demands. “We were enjoying a peaceful chat by the lake and—”

“There’s no need for ‘peaceful chats’ about anything with my father, Olivia,” I say. “I expect you to keep to yourself and not involve yourself in my affairs.”

“You’re kidding. I know you’re kidding. Tell me you’re kidding.”

I don’t answer immediately. She takes a step towards me and pushes her finger into my chest. “It’s because I’m getting too close to your life, isn’t it? You’re scared that I’ll find out things you don’t want me to know. You’re terrified that I’ll learn what’s behind that big, scary mask you wear all the time.”

I scowl down at her. “The last man who poked me in the chest lost his finger. Then his head.”

She doesn’t back off, though she trembles from head to toe. She just stands her ground and stares up at me. “Go ahead then. Take my finger, take my head, I don’t give a shit. You’ve taken everything else already.”

I can tell by the way her chest is rising and falling that she’s not used to this kind of anger. No one has ever pushed her this far.

But now that she’s unlocked this part of herself, she’s having trouble reining it in.

“Is that what you want, little lamb?” I murmur. “You want me to start taking body parts?”

She nods fiercely. “Like I said, go right ahead.”

I’ve seen that expression before. It’s false bravado. And it’s going to start wearing off soon. She’s high on adrenaline right now and the anger is clouding her judgment. But the moment it starts to fade, so will all her courage.

I take another step forward. Despite her best efforts, she finds herself caught between me and the trunk of the ash. I put one hand on the tree and lean in.

“Don’t you see, Olivia? I’ve already taken what I need from you. I took your body the first time I ever saw you. Actually, that’s not quite true. You gave it to me before I ever even needed to ask.”

Her hand lashes out in a slap aiming for my face, but I stop her before she has a chance to strike me. I twist her hand back just as lightning zig-zags through the sky. A storm rolled in when I wasn’t paying attention. An ugly, violent storm.

How fitting.

“Nothing to say now?” I press. “Have you run out of arguments, Olivia?”

She grits her teeth and tries to rip free from my grip, but I’m not about to let her go anytime soon.

Resisting her has been more difficult than I anticipated. Every time I’ve ever wanted a woman, I’ve had her. Then the desire fades.

But with Olivia, it’s different. My craving for her has only increased with proximity. There’s something about those soft brown eyes and the innocence that still clings to her.

She’s begging to be ruined.

And I’m just the man to do it to her.

“I have no one here,” she whispers. Her voice quivers, but it’s shot through with steel at the same time. “The only people who have been kind to me are your parents.”

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