The decision wasn’t hard. Not at all.
I had thought it would be, but it wasn’t.
Daniil walked into the kitchen, his fury barely in check. He stood rigid just inside the door and stated in a low voice, “Beth…” That was all he said. His fists were clenched, and his knuckles were red and almost raw—as if he had beaten someone with his fists.
I stood, and using my better judgment—opposed to how I had early—I walked over to him and followed him out of the kitchen. As soon as we were out of everyone’s sight, I placed my hand on his elbow, gently turning him. And then I wrapped my arms up and around his neck, hugging him in what I hoped was a comforting embrace.
He shuddered hard and instantly wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in close. Dropping his head to my shoulder, he then began speaking softly, telling me what this man had planned. Apparently, he was working alone. Just an outright hater of Daniil and everything Daniil loved. He had been here for months trying to find a way to hurt him. And what he had planned…God, the man was sick.
Daniil held nothing back. Like normal. He told me that the man had planned to kidnap me, take me over to Russia, and place me in the dregs of the prostitution ring…like had happened to someone else Daniil had loved. He didn’t tell me who, and I didn’t ask, but he continued explaining what would have happened to me from the man’s accounting. Oh, and the lovely kicker that I would have been cut a zillion times in the process until I eventually bled out.
I managed to stay strong through it since it appeared Daniil was not at this moment, and I was smart enough to know Daniil was also telling me all these details so I would let him kill the guy. But…the way Daniil recounted what the man said hit a certain ‘vibe’ with me.
So, I asked softly, “I know you don’t want me to do this, but before I make any kind of a decision, I would like to meet him.”
Daniil stiffened around me, and I continued in a hurry, “Just thirty seconds. That’s all.”
He stood there for a good two minutes, just breathing heavily against my neck before he finally stood. And nodded. “I understand.”
I shook my head because I really didn’t think he did. “It’s not because I don’t trust you. I believe everything you said. It’s just that I’ve,” I shook my head side to side slowly, “got this feeling from what you said. I want to see if I’m right.”
Daniil’s body visibly relaxed—some. “Okay.” He paused, hesitating before saying, “He’s a little bloody.”
I tapped his knuckles. “I’m sure he is. And I’d hoped you wore gloves. Diseases are passed through blood, you know.”
Daniil nodded, a small smile lifting his lips. “The leather rubbed my knuckles wrong.”
I nodded once curtly. “All right.” I gestured down the hallway, and we both began walking toward his study. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
He placed his hand on the small of my back, his palm huge against it. “It’s all right. I understand that, too.”
“The pregnancy does things…,” I trailed off but said after a small hesitation, “I also realize I was behaving alittlechildishly. I’ll try to work on that.”
He pulled me closer so our sides brushed as we walked. “Thank you.” He paused, stating slowly, “And I’ll also try to remember this is America. And you want your free-fucking-will and free-fucking-dom.”
I couldn’t help the embarrassed chuckled that escaped even as I elbowed him playfully in the ribs. “Leave me alone. That was inexperience and hormones talking.”
He nodded, grinning softly. “It was a very impassioned speech. Not one I’ll forget anytime soon. In fact, I may have you initiate any new bodyguards I have. You’ll whip them right into shape.” His eyes were crinkling down at me as I crinkled my nose up at him. “But I’ll try not to be so overbearing. It’ll take some time…if I can manage it.”
I stood up on my tiptoes and hopped, kissing his cheek in mid-stride. “Thank you.”
And then we were at the studies door. I sucked in a breath and reached out turning the door handle. I had mentally prepared myself for the worst. But when I viewed the man sitting in the center of the study in a lone chair with his hands and ankles tied to the arms and legs of it, I was a little shocked. Daniil had held back. Yes, the man was bloody, but not like I had expected.
He was a ‘dirty’ looking man with mud brown hair and brown eyes with a normal build and normal facial features, but he had a swelling cheek, blood running down a busted lip and nose, and…well, maybe his right leg was broken. But, all in all, he didn’t look like he was pouring blood from anywhere significant like I had thought most likely with what Daniil had said. He had most definitely held back.
Walking into the room, I glanced around seeing a shit ton—more than I realized were here on Daniil’s property—of bodyguards standing silently against the walls around the room. Grigori was standing off to the side looking decidedly pissed the fuck off, and Kirill stood next to him, watching the man with hard eyes. Slowly, I made my way to this man, Daniil following silently behind me. Daniil had kept his word, so I decided to keep mine and make this short and sweet.
The man smiled at me with blood covering his teeth. “Hello, Elizabeth Forter.”
I stood in front of him, keeping a good four feet of space between us, before bending over and placing my hands on my knees, asking him simply, “Have you ever been diagnosed with a disorder?”
His smile faltered for the barest heartbeat, but he laughed his ass off, spitting blood all down the front of his shirt. “Would you like to be tied up like I am? But have me between your legs?”
I slapped my hands hard, saying loudly, “Focus! I’m asking you a question that will decide your damn fate!” I leaned in a little more and cocked my head, asking him bluntly and honestly, “Do you want to die? Because that’s what’s going to happen if you don’t answer my damn question. Have you been diagnosed with a disorder of some sort? Gone off your meds maybe?”
He laughed again, staring at me hard. “Such a sweet preacher’s daughter. How I wouldn’t love to taste your pussy. Lick the heavens that are surely there.”
“You. Are. Going. To. Die,” I stated each word clearly. “Do you understand that? Death is scary. Even to the toughest assholes, death is frightening in the end.”
