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“Unlikely, as it’s my security guard.” I watch as the words dampen her happiness. I feel guilty.
“Stop trying to get away. You just keep disappointing yourself.”
“And what? Rather sleep with you? Is that how I’m supposed to spend my time?” she asks angrily.
“Hey, you came onto me, Elena. I told you not to start something you couldn’t finish, and you’re lucky I’m a control freak who can stop himself from hurting women. Other men wouldn’t be that generous.” I lead her to the kitchen and start the fire.
I then lead her back to the living room and get that fire going.
“You took advantage of my vulnerability.”
“You took advantage of my sleep deprivation,” I shoot back. “I’m not going to stand here and argue with you. You tried to seduce me because you thought you could get out of the cuffs, and when that didn’t work, you were too scared to go through with it. That’s the difference between you and me. If it were me, and if I needed to get back to my family, I would have gone all the way and done everything I needed to.”
She looks hurt and crosses her arms. “I’m not a slut.”
“And I’m not a saint, but we’re both here, and you best get used to it.”
I lead her back to the kitchen and start making breakfast. “I promise I’ll make arrangements with your father. He gives up the shops he’s acquired to me, then I will send you straight back to your family. Unhurt and fully intact. If he doesn’t want to give up the shops and he’s willing to sacrifice you, then you’re mine forever.”
That sounds so tempting. Having her bow to my will in both life and bed. I hope her father doesn’t care what happens to her and wants to keep the butchers. I know I shouldn’t let my feelings cloud my judgment, but Elena is on a different level. I think I finally get why my brothers fell in love.
“You’re wrong about my father,” she says as I cook the bacon. “He wouldn’t do underhanded business deals. He’s not petty.”
Oh, God help me. She really does think the sun shines out his freaking ass.
“He is, I assure you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be taking the butchers where I like to work,” I say. “It’s an insult directed at me, and I won’t stand for it, neither will my family.”
“Does your family even know that you have me?” she asks. “Does your Pakhan know what you’re doing?”
“I have leeway that I’m allowed to use at my own discretion. I will contact my Pakhan when the time is right.” I start to fry some eggs.
We sit in silence as I cook. I want to prove to Elena that her father is nothing more than a petty asshole so she can see she’s not missing out on much. But I do also need to contact Kervyn soon. He knows sometimes I lie low, so he won’t be surprised if he doesn’t see me for a few days. But if he finds out I went missing at the same time as a Bratva princess of a rival family, he’s going to put two and two together and arrive at four.
I make toast on the grill and put everything on the kitchen island, including some sauces Lawrence brought. He won’t tell Kervyn where I am. As far as he’s concerned, he’s never been here in his life. Kervyn will probably question him, but I trust him not to let anything slip. The man was a marine, after all.
I sit down and motion to the food. “Eat up. Afterward, I’ll cuff you to the living room, and you can read a book or something.”
“You have books here?” she asks me.
“A few, stashed away for when I need to lie low, and I come here to do that.” I start to eat my breakfast. It's delicious, just the hearty meal I need to see me through the rest of this trying day.
I notice Elena doesn’t put up a fight and actually eats her breakfast without a word. She’s so hungry she takes a second helping of what’s on the table, including the baked beans and toast.
“Can your delivery guy bring some things for me? Like shoes?” she asks me.
“I’m not giving you shoes so you can run out of here and through the woods. Next, I might as well remove your cuff and drop you off in front of your father’s house with a bouquet of flowers apologizing,” I scoff. “What else would you like? A gun to shoot me with?”
“I’ve never shot anybody before,” she says quietly.
“Don’t. It scars you in ways you don’t like. That sort of violence leaves scars deeper than the skin. Marks on your soul.” I finish my breakfast, and I look at her. “You rinse the dishes. I’ll stoke the fire to keep the kitchen warm.”
She rinses the dishes off in silence as I stoke the fire. The cabin is in the shade of the mountain and can get quite cool, so it is best to keep the fires going and stay indoors.
After she’s done, I take her to a closet outside the bedroom. I take down a box of books and carry it to the living room for her. “There’s a whole range in there. I’m not fussy with what I read. I’ll read the ingredients on a cake mix if it passes the time.”
“You’re impatient, aren’t you?” She says, kneeling by the box and starts to rifle through it.
“I'm not impatient; I just don’t like to waste time. If I’m reading or doing something, then I’m not wasting time, and I can reach my next goal quickly.”
