Page 18 of Unholy Tsar

“I’ll find you. And when I do, your punishment won’t be quite as pleasurable as what I have in mind for you right now.”

What he has for me right now? Fuck, I want it. I want it so badly I nod meekly and walk out of the bathroom. Maksim follows me closely, probably to make sure I go where I’m told. As I open the door of the study, I glance back at him, and he gives me a hard, fiery gaze. It’s enough to get me inside.

Restlessly, I sigh and take in the room, wondering how I’ll pass the time while waiting for him here. From experience, he still has about an hour and a half left to teach Bree. Could I really wait in here that long without getting bored?

A distinct click suddenly fills my ear, and I whip around to look at the door. He wouldn’t. I rush toward it and try the handle, but it doesn’t budge.

Did he just lock me in here?

“You bastard! What happened to finding me even if I ran away?”

“This way, we won’t have to waste our time playing a useless game of cat and mouse. You have no choice but to stay put.”

I fume quietly as his footsteps retreat.

7

MAKSIM

I don’t know how I make it through the lesson with Bree, but somehow, I do. Then I escort her outside to her car.

“Wait, what about Cecilia?” My niece demands as I open the car door for her. “I’m not leaving without her.”

“She has detention. I’ll make sure to send her on her way after I’m done with her.”

“Detention? Wait, we can get detention? Why—”

“No more questions, Bree. Class is done for the day. I’ve done a background check on your friend.”

“But–”

“You’re going home, Bree, or I’m going to tell your father you just met the girl last year, and she isn’t Cecilia Lombardi, the daughter of a don—like you’ve been lying about.”

She pales visibly. “How did you find out about that?”

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re going home while I deal with our little liar.” Done with the conversation, I turn to leave, but Bree grabs my arm.

“Be gentle with her, Uncle Maksim. She’s been through a lot. She-she’s more fragile than she seems.”

“What?” I ask, but she scurries into the car and shuts the door. “Fuck,” I grumble, wiping a hand down my face.

Just how much does my niece know about this liar? No matter. I shake my head as I leave the car, instructing Vincent and his men to go with her. He gives me a short bow.

Despite the prickling sensation crawling across my skin, I wait until Bree and her security detail are out of view before making my way back into the house. Then, I text Dante to have my men move closer to the house.

I know I’m going to be distracted for the next couple of minutes.

The butler is nowhere to be seen as I climb up the stairs two at a time. When I get outside the study, I pause to catch my breath and regain control. When that’s handled, I open the door—and just like that, the patience I’d just managed to gather flies out the window. Because the little mouse I trapped in here earlier races toward me with a thick book raised over her head.

I immediately grab her arms and twist until the book slips to the floor with a thud. “You fucking asshole. Motherfucking sonofa—”

I cut off her curses with my mouth. She resists for a whole three seconds before melting into my arms with a moan. The sound shoots straight through my chest and into my cock. It's been hard since our encounter in that bathroom.

“You’ve been a bad girl,” I grumble, blindly walking us backward until her ass hits the back of an armchair. “It’s about time someone punishes you.” With a quick push of my hip, I move the chair out of the way, biting down on Cecilia’s lip as we stumble around the huge study until my back hits the bookshelf.

Perfect. I spin her around, lifting her up against the wall.

“You already punished me enough,” she gasps. “Locking me in here like an animal…”