I feelgroggy when my eyes peel open again.
Rad is at the end of the bed, shrugging on his jacket.
My heart pounds hard. He looks like he’s been caught in the middle of something he shouldn’t be doing. No question about it. He’s sneaking out.
“So, this was just a … quick thing, then?” I murmur. “A little bit of taboo roleplay, take my virginity, then slip away, ghost me?”
He doesn’t even deny it. Just sighs darkly and looks down at the floor. Runs a hand through his hair,
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” I hiss, instinctively pulling the blanket around my naked breasts.
Even now—when he’s clearly sneaking away—his eyes still blaze when he looks at me. Like Daddy is still struggling to hold himself back. And even now, my body too responds with hungry, desperate aches. What the actual F?
“I shouldn’t have …” He bites down, glances at the wall, at a photo of Dad. “There are things you don’t know.”
My mind pauses. Freezes. No, wait, what! I don’t know why it hits me now. I feel stupid for taking so long. It was there in my mind, but I just did not want to let it in. Refused to let it in.
“Earlier,you didn’t ask my name. You just called me Mara. And it’s not a coincidence, is it, you being so close to me … twice? You were following me. Are you a detective? A PI?”
I leap to my feet, not caring that I’m still naked. He takes a step back.
“Fuck, Mara. No!”
“Tell me!” My arms fold over my body. Covering.
He turns away, as if just to look at me physically hurts. “I should’ve told you before,” he snarls. “But you turn me on. Something savage grabbed me. Us! It was mutual. I know you felt it too”
“Now, Rad.”
He glances at me. Looks away. “I killed your father.”
My world spins fast. Collapses. “You…” A pause, then a volcano erupts in me. “Get out! Get out right this second!”
I throw myself at him. Throwing slaps wildly and screaming, I don’t even aim.
He takes them, lets me hit him in the face, and backs out of the room.
“I’m sorry?—”
“Don’t say that!” I scream. “If you were sorry, you wouldn’t have fucked me!”
I collapse on the floor, boneless, defeated. He stands at the door. Looking like he’s considering coming back. Then he turns away and leaves. Leaves me.Me,on the floor with my messy tears. Naked.
Alone.
7
RADOMIR
I’m in a Bratva bar, nursing a beer.
Four days since I lost my mind and took Mara’s virginity. Four days since I broke her heart. Four days since I left her without an explanation. And four damn days of not being able to get her out of my head.
It’s not just the sex. Not just the way she opened up to me, gave me every inch of her perfect, raw lust. It’s her passion, her spirit, the way her eyes light up when she talks about photography. Her brave, outgoing attitude. Her sass. Her playfulness. Her deep wells of emotion … just,her.
I’m in no mood to do anything except take the next sip.
Across the other end of the bar, Sergei, Alek, and Leo are doing shots of vodka. Leo is the Pakhan's nephew, so he can be as loud as he wants. I’m just an enforcer. A killer when needed. I do the right goddamn thing. But sometimes, it doesn’t feel that way.
