Page 45 of Caught By the Bratva Boss

“Not a chance.” He yanked me into his body hard enough to force the air from my lungs in a whoosh. “You were all over him, Lily. Do you know how that makes me look?”

“You were the one—”

He smashed his lips down on mine. Completely in shock, I let him kiss me until I felt his tongue slip against my lips. Bile rushed up my throat as I was overcome with the stench of days-old liquor on his breath.

Pulling my arm back, I slapped him across the face as hard as I could. Greg reeled backwards. I made a dash towards the door, but not quickly enough. He reached over my shoulder and spun me around, slamming me against the wall painfully hard.

“If he wants to enjoy what’s mine, then he’s going to need to pay up,” he gritted out.

I could do nothing but stare at him. “I am not asking for more money, Greg. I am not sleeping with him for money.”

His hand came up to close around my throat. His fingers dug into my Windpipe and squeezed until I could feel tears fill my eyes. I scratched at his hand, but he didn’t let go. I couldn’t breathe.

“I need the money, Lily,” Greg continued, like we were having a friendly conversation and he wasn’t throttling the life out of me. “So if he wants to keep fucking you, he will pay up, otherwise.” He thrust his face into the crook of my neck, holding me in place with one hand so his other could tease up my thigh. “Otherwise, I’ll have to remind him and you just who you belong to.”

I couldn’t move. I could barely see through the tears streaming from my eyes.

“Is that right?”

Daniil appeared in the doorway, but Greg was blocking my view. Daniil stepped to the side, and my eyes met him in a silent plea.

“Come here, Lily,” he ordered.

“She’s not going anywhere. She isn’t yours.”

If I’d had the ability, I would have laughed. Either Greg was a fool, and I just never noticed before, or he was blackout drunk and didn’t know what he was doing. Either way, no one spoke to Daniil that way, and Greg would soon know why.

“No.” Daniil took another threatening step forward, his eyes on Greg and not me. “Then why are you reminding me of it? Greg, if you could keep her satisfied, she wouldn’t be in my bed every night, and you know it.”

“She wasn’t that good anyway. Beautiful, you want her, then it will cost you more. Otherwise, I’ll give all the details to the press.”

There was an icy, dangerous note in Daniil’s tone as he threw back his head and laughed. Greg’s fingers tightened around my throat. I spluttered, choking from lack of air.

Daniil’s eyes swerved towards me, and the look on his face was almost enough for me to piss my pants. It wasn’t just anger that showed on his features. It was rage and hatred.

“Let go of her.” The calmness in his voice was completely contradictory to the look on his face. “Now.”

His voice brokered no argument. Greg’s grip loosened, and ducking under his arm, I rushed to Daniil’s side. Rubbing at my throat.

“I’ve done what you asked,” Greg said, straightening. “Now it’s time for you to give me what I want.”

“You’re not getting another cent out of me.”

“Then, I want her back.”

Firmly, Daniil moved me behind him. “You don’t seem to get it, Greg. Lily Ridgeway is no longer your concern. She belongs to me now.”

“I’ll fucking ruin you,” his scream was aimed at me. “Slut.”

I closed my eyes. “Stop, Greg,” I begged him. He was going to get himself killed if he carried on. “Please just stop. You’re drunk.”

There was a grunt, and when I opened my eyes, Greg was on his ass on the floor, holding a hand to his busted lip.

Fuck, had he gone to attack me?

“Please take Miss RIdgeway to my office and make sure she stays there.” Daniil directed his roar to the same man who was meant to look after me the first time. “I need a quiet chat with Greg here.”

“This way, Miss Ridgeway.” He reached for my elbow, but I stood my ground.