I took the paper, read the threat over and over and had to force myself not to shake.
Being hated in this game was always going to happen. Being told, however, how they were going to murder you and then dispose of the body was another thing altogether.
“This is graphic.”
“It is, Saranna, and it’s serious. Because of that kind of detail, they mean they’re watching you; they know what you do when you get home, they know when you go out, and who you go out with. They know more about your ins and outs than they should.
“Which is why I could only ever trust one man for this job. He would protect you with his life. He owes so much to me that I know I can count on him for anything.”
I started to shake my head, already knowing where he was going with this.
“Anyone but him,” I begged. If having someone constantly around was my fate right now, I sure as hell didn’t want it to be with a man who I pinned for and who had rejected me in the past.
“Saranna, you don’t know who I’m going to say,” Marcell scolded but I knew. And he knew I knew. “He really is the best. Just don’t piss him off, please.”
With that, the one I swore I wanted nothing to do with, stepped into the room, looking as gorgeous as ever in his black suit, black shirt, and polished shoes. I choked back the snarl as I stared at him, his lips lifted slightly in a smirk.
“Hello, Saranna,” he said and I fought the shivers that wanted to race over me. I tried like hell to get this man to notice me and when I finally had the guts to ask him out, he said he couldn’t date his bosses’ family.
It wasn’t a cruel let down, it was the truth, but I had seen him flirt with other people in the family, so why would he tell me that? Roman Volkov was a pain in my ass, and it seemed my body’s reaction to him hasn’t changed or dimmed down any.
“Ah, Roman, still doing my cousin’s dirty work I see. Aren’t you tired of working for the Italian’s?”
“Saranna,” Marcell hissed, but Roman waved him off, clearly showcasing how such good friends they were.
“Still have a nasty bite, I see. No wonder someone wants you dead.”
I lifted my head slightly. “Thanks to you, they won’t get a chance.”
“So long as you listen to me, little one, we’ll be good.”
And therein lies the danger, because I was just plain horrible at listening to this man.
Chapter 2
Roman
When Marcell asked me for this favor, I wanted to turn him down. In fact, his eyes that saw everything saw the smallest flinch and before I could utter anything, he begged me.
The boss, the man of the hour, the one who controlled this empire begged me.
No, he didn’t get on his hands and knees, which would have been funny no doubt. But he did grab my shoulder, look me in the eye, and say please. That his cousin’s life was on the line, and he trusted no one to handle this. That he and I had been such good friends and even though he knew about the past, about how badly she wanted me, he still asked me.
The fucking problem?
I wanted Saranna as badly as she wanted me, but I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.
Sure, I flirted around with the ladies, but that’s all it was.
Anyone I screwed was someone so far away from this world, because the one woman I wanted, I couldn’t have.
And Marcell knew that.
So, he knew how badly I would fight to keep her alive.
It still wasn’t a role I wanted to take on, but I had no choice. I might be Russian, but Marcell was my best friend, the only who saved me and understood me, and he would forever have my devotion.
Although, with this minx currently glaring at me, I’m not sure I wanted to keep giving it to him.
