Chapter 5

Misha

I burst out laughing.

Then I noticed his raised eyebrow and head tilt. I forgot about the humour.

"Oh, you're serious," I say.

He gave a nod.

"As I previously stated, you cannot afford my services."

"I told you to clean up a dead body—nothing you can't handle, dude, you are overpriced," I scoffed.

"I was able to save your brother." He sipped his drink, place  the glass on the table, and leaned forward, his gaze fixed on me.

"Ah," I pretend to think."there was no saving him; you have my brother, and I am here to negotiate the terms of his release," 

"No, he is a guest on his own accord," he said, pointing to the large glass windows behind him that open to beautiful all-green gardens where He and Omar appear to be frolicking. This is the first time in the last two years that I have seen the kid smile and felt this sensation in my heart. No way, no how. No guilt, no self-pity; that stupid, impulsive kid made things difficult for me as well. I'm not going to hold it against myself.

"I am not offering just marriage, but rather protection."

"How come you're offering any of it?" I locked my gaze on him. My sense of humour had vanished. Whatever it was, I knew I wasn't going to like it.

All of this is a joke.

"You and Jack have been on the run for two years, with your mentor organisation in ruins, and you have enemies all over the world,"

"I made it two years; I'll make it another hundred, and you're not doing it out of a kind, cold heart."

"I'd be lying if I said yes."

 "You were the focal point of an organisation that traded information ranging from personal affiars of the mafia's family to government nuclear codes. The Russians have now managed to be the cause of your demise. It's just you and Jack left. Now I know you're both wanted by them.

"You want to know what we have on Russians?"

"I want to destory them," the dead and dangerous look in his eyes said it all; there was more to it than just business.

This is all coming together now, and I smile wryly.

"If I choose to tell you, you want assurance that I will not abandon you,"

"Marry me, and we can exact our vengeance together," he said, his eyes darkening.

Killan's stare was unwavering; I crossed my legs and laced my fingers on my knees. It was an offer of blood, vengeance, and safety.

"Not possible," Even though I stiffened my back and squared my shoulders, I could hear a shortness of breath in my voice. I've never given in to my desires, but I've never felt them this strong, like a current in the air that you can't escape. Every fibre of my being screamed for some relief. In our lives, there are only two things that can kill us: trust or desire. I can't trust him; if my body hadn't reacted the way it did the moment I saw him, I might have thought about it, but his proximity to me is dangerous.

"You said the same thing about coming to me, love." He stood up and walked around the table, and I turned away as he sat beside me.

I wish I could slap that smug grin off his face.

"You are an asset, and I want you under my wing." I shivered as he leaned into my ears, our thighs brushing against each other, and he curled his finger in a lock of my hair.

Killan's every move was tracked, as was every breath. I raise my head to meet his gaze.

"Is that what it's called these days, under your fold?" I mumbled something and slowly rose, but he grabbed my hand and pinned me under him on the couch. Killan's one hand was cupping my neck and holding it in place, while the other pinned my hand over my head. The heat cracked between us, and I could feel his breath ripping as we got closer.

"You're good at it—deflecting," he said, moving his gaze from my eyes to my lips, releasing my hand and pulling me closer. And involuntary moan left me as our hips pressed together. My hands brushed against his shoulder, feeling the toned muscles in his chest, moving down to his torso, and bursting through his obvious bulge. He leaned in closer as I bit my lower lip. I swooned as I felt the heat rush through my veins. When that smug smirk returned to his face, I ran my legs up to his, and my boot straps were just out of reach. Killan's hands vanished from beneath me, and he held my knife in his hand.

"Are you looking for this?"

Then he pressed the knife's edge against my neck, and my breathing became laboured.