“It’s likely.” I drag my hand over my hair. “Think of it. The girl works as a charter manager. If she works for the enemy, someone within our circle has to be leaking details about our operations.”
“I agree. I’ll get right to it and find out if we have a rat in the crew,” Mikhail says.
“And I’ll run a background check on the girl,” Artem adds. “I’ll make it quick and let you know once it’s ready.”
I nod once. “Good.” Then I leave.
When I make it back to my room, I rip off my clothes and enter the bathroom. As the hot water runs down my body and bites its way down my skin, all I can think of is Elena.
Her beautiful face flashes in my head, her green eyes boring into mine with an intensity that reaches my soul. I imagine grabbing her neck and claiming her lips with mine, then fucking her hard until I get a confession out of her.
Shit.
What the hell is wrong with me? I barely know this woman, or if she’s even innocent. It’ll be my undoing if I let these crazy, fucked-up thoughts consume me.
But my body doesn’t agree. My cock throbs, my heart beating hard against my ribcage with something I dismiss as lust. I can’t let this go on.
After I finish my shower, I throw on a pair of black sweats and head straight to her room.
She’s sitting on the edge of the mattress when I open the door. Her legs are drawn up to her chest and her arms are wrapped around them. She flinches when I slam the door closed.
Her eyes are dim with fear when they meet mine, her lips parting as a small gasp tears from her throat.
Her frame is small compared to mine. Fragile. As if she’d break from the slightest pressure, as if there’s not a single evil bone in her body.
She looks too innocent for this world. Too harmless to hurt a fly.
But I remind myself not to fall for her looks. Looks can be deceiving, and I know many men in the bratva have died because they failed to remember that.
And if she’s truly as innocent and afraid as she seems, then she should be insignificant enough for me to let her go and pretend we never met.
Yet something inside me twists as I look at her. It’s strange, but a part of me wants to keep her regardless of whether or not she’s a threat.
My fists clench at my sides, my jaw ticking. I hate the control this woman has over me.
“What do you want?” she asks in that tiny voice, looking up at me as if I’m a horned devil.
I ignore her question and move closer, then press the back of my hand to her forehead. My body warms up instantly. I’m not sure if it’s from her body’s temperature or something lustful bubbling inside me.
“You’re burning up,” I say.
She moves her head away, but she doesn’t break eye contact. “What do you care? You’re keeping me here against my will.”
“Piss me off, little bird, and I’ll keep you here forever,” I mutter, a smirk playing on my lips at the way her eyes glint with defiance.
But she says nothing and looks away.
I don’t like the way she’s burning up, and if the fever continues, I might need to get her a doctor.
“You need to got take a shower,” I say, and when her brows cock curiously, I add, “For the fever. I don’t want you dying on my property.”
Her eyes grow wide with barely contained rage. I have a feeling she would’ve yelled at me if it weren’t for the fever and her obvious fear of me.
“Then you shouldn’t have kidnapped me in the first place.” Her voice is soft and calm, but it’s impossible to ignore the challenge laced in her tone.
I crouch in front of her. Despite my position, she has to tilt her head to meet my gaze. “You’re not leaving until you tell me everything I need to know.”
“I’ve told you everything,” she mutters. Her eyes gleam with unshed tears. “I don’t know anything else. I promise.”
