Page 3 of Watch Me, Daddy

CHAPTER2

Irina

Anton didn’t come back to my room that night and there wasn’t a single part of me that was upset about it. Needing to get my mind off the throbbing ache in the right side of my jaw, I dressed in my workout clothes, a short light pink crop top with a built-in bra, and a pair of a dark magenta leggings. The material was thin and breathable and worked well whether I felt like sweating on the treadmill or doing a more relaxing yoga routine. Plus, it made me feel sexy.

“Going to work out!” I called out.

The soldiers that usually stood guard at my door had left about an hour ago, only to be replaced with a second group that didn’t seem to care what I did. I was used to being accompanied everywhere I went. They said it was for my protection, but after having met Anton, I knew it was just to watch over me to make sure I didn’t act out or try to escape.

This crew seemed much more relaxed in their duties. I’d heard several of my usual group whispering in Russian about their plans for the evening, something about celebrating at the Kremlin. I didn’t know enough about Boston to know what they were talking about, but I was quickly considering this a blessing in disguise. At the very least, I could have a night to myself. At the most, I could use this as an opportunity to escape.

A single guard followed me out of the door to the stairwell and I had to cover my mouth to hide my smirk of excitement as this new development.

They were underestimating me.

I had to stop myself from skipping across the hall to the stairwell with my elation. I opened the door and slipped inside in silence. I stopped and looked back over my shoulder, waiting for him to follow. Once he opened the door, I turned back to the stairs and skipped up the first flight before I lifted my head, looking straight into the eyes of the most beautiful stranger I’d ever seen, and stopped short.

He was leaning against the wall, and as I took him in, time seemed to slow for an eternal moment.

He was nothing short of captivating, a rugged Irish man with a dangerous aura that both intrigued and intimidated me. His piercing green eyes locked onto mine, holding me captive with their intensity. Dark brown hair, cropped short and slightly tousled, framed a face that was both strikingly broody and mysteriously cryptic. The short-trimmed brown beard added a touch of roughness to his appearance, highlighting his strong jawline that seemed curiously tense. Tattoos adorned his forearms, peeking out from beneath the sleeves of his shirt, and I found myself wishing to see more of them.

Despite my better judgment, I felt drawn to him. There was something magnetic about him, an air of danger that made my heart race and my palms sweat.

As I stared at him, I couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes scanned me from head to toe, taking in every detail. It was as if he was studying me, sizing me up in a way that sent a shiver down my spine. I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling self-conscious under his scrutiny, yet unable to tear my gaze away from his captivating presence.

My nipples pebbled and I suddenly worried that he would be able to see them through the thin material of my crop top.

He pushed himself off the wall, standing tall and imposing before me. The air seemed to crackle with tension, and I found myself at a loss for words, unable to articulate the mix of emotions swirling inside me. His presence dominated the space, filling it with an intoxicating energy that made my heart race even faster.

This was a man who lived on the edge, a man with a past shrouded in mystery and darkness. I knew I should be wary, but there was an inexplicable pull that drew me closer to him. As he extended his hand, a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his lips, and I felt a strange mixture of fear and desire wash over me.

“My name is Aidan. I’m here to kidnap you,” he grinned dangerously, his eyes a mixture of tumultuous danger and broody mystery.

As I glanced at Aidan’s extended hand, I couldn’t help but be struck by its sheer size and rugged appearance. It was like a rough canvas, weathered by years of hard work and a life I knew nothing about. The calloused texture told a story of labor, of battles fought, and challenges overcome. Yet, there was a sense of safety in those hands, as if they could shield and protect, but also a promise of tenderness hidden beneath the hardened exterior.

“I won’t be taken anywhere,” I spat.

I didn’t know who this man was or what he was capable of. As much as I hated Anton, I at least knew that he wasn’t going to have me killed. He needed me alive for the alliance between our families to continue.

“I won’t allow you to stay here, not with him,” he ordered.

“I won’t have rules dictated to me like I’m a child,” I countered, and his green eyes grew stormy for a moment, like he wanted to say something, but was holding back.

From the floor above us, a group of men filed down the stairs. One of them flew past me and yanked the Russian soldier guarding me through the door. With a hard twist, the man grabbed the guard’s head and broke his neck. The soldier slumped to the floor in silence.

A startled cry flew free from my lips, and I clapped a hand over my mouth. I’d never seen a man die before. A much as I’d helped my father make strategic decisions over the years to put our family in a better position, it usually wasn’t around other men. My father also ensured that I was kept out of harm’s way. I hadn’t fought it. The Bratva was a dangerous world of blood, guns, and violence, and he’d kept me as far away from all of it as he could.

Aidan’s face softened a bit at my response, and he smiled before his expression hardened with a gentle firmness.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Irina. It’s your choice. Either way, you’re going to be taken,” he rumbled.

I didn’t understand it, but Aidan’s growling voice had a way of igniting a primal desire within me, sending shivers down my spine with every rumbling word that escaped his lips. It was a voice that commanded attention, deep and resonant, like the low roar of thunder before a storm. When he spoke, it was as if the very air around us crackled with electricity, drawing me closer to him without conscious thought. I didn’t realize I’d taken a step towards him until I’d already done it.

“Fuck.You,” I snarled, frustrated by the warmth in my body at his firm tone.

“The hard way, then,” he sighed.

This time, his voice carried with it a slight weariness, like he was simply dealing with a naughty girl who refused to listen to her elders. For some reason, that same warmth in my body burned a little bit hotter, and I did my absolute best to ignore it.

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