Chapter 19

Alexei

 

Blood coats my skin as I drive the knife further into the man’s stomach. His eyes are wide as I slice him.

“You are really not yourself, Alexei,” Dmitry says from his spot across the room. One of Jimmy’s men hangs from the rope in the basement as I unleash some pent-up frustration on him. What a way to celebrate the New Year.

“Am I not?” I ask pulling the blade free as the man screams louder. Blood slowly seeps from his body as I wipe the blade on his shirt and toss it back on the table. I reach for the pliers next.

“No, you’re not. You aren’t usually part of this job and with good reason. You don’t have to be.” I know what he means, but I ignore him anyway. Dmitry is the killer. He was groomed right along with me, but his skills went beyond mine. Once we were older, he took killing to another level. If people think my emotions are cut off, they haven’t met Dmitry and should hope they never have to.

“I can be whatever I’d like in this life,” I remind him. He chuckles as I pry the now passed out man’s mouth open. The first tooth comes free easily, waking him from his minimal sleep.

“I do know that as well. What has you bothered?” He asks. Dmitry knows me better than my own family. In fact, he is more like my family than they are.

“Many things,” I say with a grunt as I pull another tooth. The man screams louder and it’s music to my ears. Growing tired of hearing him, I toss the pliers on the table and grab the knife, slicing it over his throat. He gargles for a few minutes before the screaming stops forever. Dmitry shoves off the wall and walks over, appraising the job I’ve just done with his arms still crossed over his chest.

“A little overkill don’t you think?” he asks looking over at me. I just shrug.

“I’d like to call it free therapy if you will.” Dmitry chuckles and lowers his arms, slapping a hand on my shoulder.

“You know how much I care about you, Alexei. You are family to me. If I can help with something, tell me.” I wish I could tell him. The fact of the matter is I can’t. I can’t tell him that Clara has sunk her claws into me. I can’t tell him that I want to keep her by any means necessary, because I am becoming too obsessed with her to let her go. All my thoughts revolve around her lately and I fear that is going to cause me to make mistakes.

“There is nothing. I’m unnerved by this wedding we are to attend. I don’t like so many of the bosses in one place at the same time. There are bound to be repercussions. I’m also on edge about Stepan. He needs to be handled in a timely manner but what of Lev?”

“What of me?” I turn to see my cousin walking toward us.

“двоюродная сестра,” I say as I watch him move toward me.

“What are you worried about me for?” He asks looking around me at the dead body.

“We were discussing your father.”

“Ah, yes that. I have been thinking that over. I am ready to step up, Alexei. I want to be a part of this family in all aspects. I have watched my father do despicable things and hold no authority. I don’t want that for my future,” he informs me. I raise an eyebrow wondering where he’s going with this. Lev has always been a part of this family, but my uncle was never a man of authority. He holds no power which means neither does Lev.

“What do you want, двоюродная сестра?”

“I want in. I want more responsibility. I no longer wish to live under my father, Alexei. I will take any position you can give me.” I nod my head hearing his words.

          Lev is not a weak man. In fact, he trains a lot with my men. I could easily find a place for him.

“What about Alina? Have you spoken to her about how she would feel if your father was no longer in the picture?” I can see his face fall and that tells me all I need to know.

“I haven’t, but after what she has been through, I don’t see that as an issue,” he assures me. I nod my head and look to Dmitry. He gives me his nod of approval since he will be the one most likely dealing with Lev.

“You will start at the bottom just like any other man.” He nods his head, a smile curling his lips.

“I never expected special treatment, Alexei.”

“And you shall receive none. You can live here if you’d like or take over your father’s residence when the time comes. For now, you will start training with Dmitry.” He looks to him and gives a curt nod.

“Thank you. When do you think my father will be handled?” he asks. I like the initiative in him already. Straight to business.

“Soon, very soon. There are some other pressing matters that I must attend to first.” He nods his head.

“Help Dmitry dispose of this waste of life, would you?” He nods his head and I start to leave the room when I spot her peeking through the door.

“Come here!” I roar when I catch her gaze. The guys move to stand next to me sensing something is off. They follow my gaze and see her standing there, her arms wrapped around herself.

“What the hell is she doing?” Lev asks softly.

“I don’t know,” I respond. She watches the three of us, her eyes jumping from one to the other. My anger rises since I do not want her looking at anyone but me. She’s mine and I’ve already laid claim to her. When her eyes finally land back on mine, her lips part slightly. She can see what she’s done. She knows she made a mistake.

“Come here, воробей,” I tell her once more. She moves slowly, taking small steps toward me. When she’s standing in front of me, I reach out and grab her around the throat. Lev gasps but Dmitry chuckles.

“What are you are doing sneaking around down here?” I ask her keeping my eyes fixed on hers. I want to see if there’s any fear. I want to see if there’s any fear at all, but what I find shocks the hell out of me. I see intrigue and wonder glittering in those blue eyes. Not what I expected to find and that alone makes me curious.

“Leave us,” I tell the other two. They quickly walk around us and leave the room. I keep my bloodstained hand around her neck as I lean in and run my tongue over her lips.

“I didn’t mean to sneak,” she says softly. I bite her lip roughly between my teeth until I taste the coppery liquid on my tongue. Clara winces but moans. Such a sweet contradiction this girl is to me.

“You didn’t mean to sneak? Yet you were peering through that door. How much did you see?” I ask licking the blood that trails from her lip down her chin. Each drop is like an aphrodisiac to me. It heightens all my other senses. It pleases me in ways that it probably shouldn’t. Clara takes a deep breath and blows it out slowly.

“All of it.” I grin and pull back keeping my grip on her loosely.

“And what did you think?”

“What do you feel when you do it?” Her question surprises me, and I lower my hand from her throat. There are many questions in her eyes.

“I feel calm. It takes away everything else that is on my mind. It’s a strange sensation to have but one that I crave. It makes me feel powerful, holding life and death in your hands.” I watch her eyes as they take me in. She hangs on every word that I say and the intrigue in her gaze only grows.

“I want to feel that,” she whispers softly. “Show me.” I raise my eyebrows, my cock twitches in my slacks. I don’t want to ruin her with blood on her hands. I don’t want to see that fire in her eyes, but I do. I nod my head and take her hand in mine leading her to the table where the tools are still laid out. She looks down and runs her free hand over them as I watch, my pulse racing in anticipation of what she may do. I never thought that I’d see this in her, and yet here she is surprising me.

“What is your pleasure?” I ask seductively. Something about seeing her here, in my domain of death is pushing every limit inside of me. She’s already destroyed so many walls I’ve built and now she’s after something I’m not willing to give.

My heart.