Page 11 of Gilded in Blood

I grin, something dark and possessive twisting in my chest. I shouldn’t be enjoying this. I shouldn’t be this hard over a few toys and her flushed cheeks. But as she turns back to her packing, muttering under her breath, I already know I’m lying to myself.

This girl is dangerous. And I’m starting to like it way too much.

CHAPTER FOUR

Ilya

I watch Milana zip up her suitcase, trying to keep my mind on the mission instead of the way her bralette rides up every time she moves. Then we both hear the front door of the dorm open.

“Oh, that must be my roommate, Sarah,” Milana says quietly.

Voices drift in from the living room. One of them belongs to a woman, her voice trembling with concern. “Milana’s probably still at the police station. I should go back and see if I can bail her out. Her brother said he was sending someone, but it’s already so late…”

A male voice answers, lazy and annoyed. “Come on, babe, you worry too much. She’s fine.”

Sarah’s tone rises. “Of course, I’m worried! She got arrested because she was protecting me!”

“And that’s because you didn’t listen to me. I told you not to go to that party!” The guy’s voice turns pushy. “Now come here…”

There’s a beat of silence, then Sarah’s voice again, sharper. “Get off me. I’ve told you I don’t want to have sex tonight. I’m not in the mood.”

“Don’t be a tease. If I want it, I’m getting it.”

Milana’s eyes snap to mine, wide with alarm. “We have to do something.”

I wince. “Finish packing.”

I step out of her bedroom and into the living room. The scene I walk into, makes my blood boil. Some scrawny, entitled idiot has this girl, Sarah, pinned against the couch, his hands groping at her while she struggles. He’s bigger than her but pathetic. The kind of coward who preys on women when he thinks they can’t fight back.

I walk over and grab him by the back of his shirt and rip him off her in one brutal motion. He stumbles, turning on me with a glare. “The fuck!”

The moment he sees me, fear flickers in his eyes. “Who the fuck are you?” he snaps, taking a wary step back. “Back off, man!”

I step closer, letting the full weight of my presence hit him. My voice comes out low, calm, and ice-cold. “I’m not going to repeat myself. Get the fuck out.”

The idiot actually laughs nervously. “This isn’t your business⁠—”

My fist connects with his nose before he finishes the sentence. The crunch is satisfying. Blood sprays instantly. He drops to the floor, howling in pain, clutching his face like a fucking weakling.

I crouch down beside him, grabbing his hair and yanking his head back so he’s forced to look at me. “The next one won’t be a punch. I’ll carve your intestines out and make you watch while you choke on them. Do you understand me?”

Pure terror floods his eyes. Sarah’s face is sheet-white too, staring at me like I’m unhinged.

“God! You’re a psycho!”

The idiot scrambles backward on all fours, then bolts for the door, bleeding and whimpering.

The second he’s gone, Sarah turns to me, voice trembling. “Who the hell are you? And what were you doing coming out of Milana’s bedroom?”

Is that the thank-you I get? No manners at all from this girl and her friends.

Before I can answer, Milana steps out of her room. Sarah lets out a huge sigh of relief and rushes forward, pulling her into a tight hug. “Oh my God, you’re back! Are you okay? I was so scared⁠—”

I leave the girls to their moment and walk back into Milana’s bedroom to grab her suitcase. My hands are still itching for more violence, but unfortunately, the idiot scurried off before I could land another punch.

I roll out the suitcase and stand by the door, giving the girls a moment. Milana hugs Sarah tightly, both murmuring in low tones.

“I’m okay. Lock the door after we leave and stay safe. I’ll call you when I land,” I hear Milana say.