Chapter 23

Alexei

 

I saw her and now I know exactly who she is. Does that change the fact that I want her in more ways than one? No. Does it change the fact that I want her riding my cock and staying with me? She’s becoming an obsession that I can’t stop myself from wanting. I saw her with her father regardless if she knew it or not. I find myself breathing heavily trying to keep my anger under control. I’m curious as to why she’s never mentioned him before now. Every time that I’ve asked if she wanted to go home, she says no. Something dark lingers in the back of my mind, something sinister and it wants to lash out at her.

“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Dmitry asks when I jerk my gaze to meet his.

“Of course, I am.” Turning my gaze to the middle of the basement, my uncle is tied to the chair unconscious. Lev stands next to me an angry scowl on his face. Now is the time I will see what he’s made of. This has more to do with him than me. He wants to play a role in this family, he will have to prove his worth just as the others have.

“You have two choices, Lev. You either dispose of the piece of shit that left your sister to be raped, or you walk out of my home and run,” I tell him. His eyes meet mine and I can see the understanding along with the fear. He wants this life with us, but he also isn’t sure about killing his own father. I pull my phone out of my pocket and send off a few texts and emails while Dmitry wakes the asshole. I find myself extremely calm today knowing what I know now. I also find myself on edge with that information as well. She’s walked the house like always and doesn’t suspect a thing. It bothers me to a point. I find myself wondering what her role is in the O’Kelly family if any. They aren’t high up on any list that should cause concern. In fact, as far as I know, the O’Kelly’s have been out of the mafia business for many years now after losing most of their family in a war.

“He’s awake,” Dmitry announces as I slide my phone back into my pocket.

“So, he is. Fancy seeing you here, uncle.” He glances around and jerks at the bindings that keep him in place. I want to laugh but I have questions first.

“Why did you do it?”

“Do what?” he hisses.

“Leave Alina to be taken? To be raped and brutalized! What the hell were you planning?” My anger gets the best of me when I think of the two of them in those cells being hurt. They did this. They put them in that position.

“I did no such thing!” Lev moves in, his fist colliding with his father’s cheek. His head jerks to the side and I smirk.

“How dare you Lev?” his father hisses in his direction.

“How dare I? You left Alina to those monsters! Why? How could you?” Lev questions him. Dmitry and I share a glance and I nod my head quickly letting him know that Lev has the floor for now. I want to see what he can do if he’s to be a part of all of this.

“You know nothing,” his father spits. Lev nods his head and moves to the table, picking up one of my favorite tools, the cutters. He walks back to his father and grabs his hand, bringing the cutter to his finger.

“What the hell are you doing, Lev?” He asks sounding panicked.

“I’m making things right for Alina,” He growls before cutting through his flesh and bone. My uncle screams loudly, and I find myself drawn to the scene in front of me. Lev is proving himself worthy.

“Tell me, father. Why did you do it?” Lev asks calmly moving to the next finger.

“You’re as crazy as your cousin!” Stepan screams. Lev cuts through another finger, blood spraying his clothing. He doesn’t seem to notice as he continues to the next.

“I was forced into it! They knew!”

“Who knew what?” I hiss moving closer this time.

“They knew that if you went after Alina you would take Zia!” My eyes move to meet Dmitry’s and the same confused look etches across my face.

“Who? How did they know I’d take her?”

“Her father! Christ, he wanted you dead!”

“And you were in on this how?” Dmitry asks stepping up next to me.

“It was easy. He wanted a takeover. With you out of the way, he could do it. He could overthrow you and use me as leverage to gain the empire. We were to lead together!” A laugh escapes me. Overthrow me? Now that is a challenge I will gladly accept.

“And how do they play into this? The girls?”

“Alina was clueless. I didn’t know what they would do to her. They were supposed to wait it out for you to show up.”

“What if I hadn’t shown up? What then? Had Lev not informed me of the situation I would have never known,” I grit my teeth trying to keep control. If I lose it, I will kill him before I ever get enough information from him.

“We didn’t plan that far,” he admits. Lev moves quickly before any of us can speak or react. In seconds, he’s behind his father, his head in his hands. In one swift motion, he snaps the man’s neck and takes a step back. Unhinged chaos dances in his vision. At this moment, he reminds me of myself.

“Well, that line of questioning is over,” I muse. Lev’s eyes move to meet mine but there is only confusion.

“Dmitry will handle disposing of him. I do believe one of those fingers should go to Mr. O’Kelly.” I nod toward the finger on the floor.

“I will have it taken care of,” Dmitry says moving around the room. Lev stands in stunned silence. Maybe this was his first kill, I don’t know for sure.

“Lev. Walk with me.” He nods his head, looking at his dead father before his feet move. He walks next to me as we leave the room.

“What are you feeling?”

“I don’t know. A little numb, if I’m being honest,” he says in a low tone.

“That’s to be expected. The first time will always make you feel numb. It’ll pass,” I tell him.

“You’re used to this. It gets easier, yes?” I look over at my cousin and nod.

“Traitor. He was a traitor. Remember Alina every time you think of him and what you did to him. You gave her life back, Lev.” He nods his head as if he understands.

“What about Clara and her father?” I don’t like her name leaving his lips. She’s mine but I know rationally, she’s here for another purpose. The question is why hasn’t she completed her orders?

“I will handle them in time.”  I leave Lev to his own thoughts and head upstairs to find my little Irish Sparrow. As soon as I walk down the hallway, I stop at her door peeking inside. She hums softly to herself while flipping the pages of a magazine. I find it hard to believe that she, of all people, would be sent to kill me. She isn’t a threat, at least not to me. I can overpower her at any time. Although I have been training in her self-defense, she still doesn’t hold a card to me.

There’s just something more to this girl that I don’t want to let go of. Perhaps keeping her as my prisoner is the route to go. Chains have always amused me and seeing her attached to the other end would make my cock hard. I don’t know how long I’ve stared at her when she finally looks my way. A smile curls her lips as she flips her long red hair over her shoulder.

“Hi,” she says softly. A thought comes to me. I will show her. I will show her what kind of monster I am. What she’s dealing with.

“Hi. What are you reading?” I ask nodding toward the magazine. She holds it up to show me.

“Alina gave it to me. She thought I might like to look at the articles.” Why does she seem so happy? How can she play that part so well when she knows what she’s doing here? The thought alone makes me angry and I find myself wondering just how good an actress she truly is. If she’s lying to me, about all of this and our time together, she very well should be in Hollywood.

“And do you? Like the articles?” I ask. She shrugs her shoulder.

“They are pretty boring,” she giggles. I give her a soft smile as I walk into her. She climbs off the bed and meets me halfway, there’s a look of lust in her big, blue eyes. Is that an act as well? It couldn’t be. She craves me the way I crave her. She wants my touch both good and bad. I see the way she lights up, and that fire blazes in her when I give her the pain that she’s grown accustomed to. Her arms wrap around my waist, her head resting on my chest. I wrap mine around her as well, holding her near to me.

“What is this for?” I ask not understanding the meaning of this hug. Of course, I’m not complaining that she’s touching me, but after what I’ve come to know, I’m on edge.

“For letting me stay. For giving me things that no one has ever given me before,” she whispers into my shirt. I tense at her words. Clara pulls back and looks up at me, that sparkle in her eye. Confusion has become my new best friend when it comes to her. I don’t know how she can play the emotion card so well. She stands here staring up at me with the look of lust and admiration, yet she is the devil.

“Change into something warm. I want to show you something,” I tell her. Leaning down I press a kiss to her head and shove her toward the closet. She giggles but she goes as I turn to head into my room. I hope to hell this makes me feel a little bit calmer.