Viktor
I stared at the motherfucker’s face. He stared back, his eyes dark with anger and the need to kill. He was raging.
Valentin Solonik was fucking pissed off.
And maybe I was enjoying it a little bit too much.
He came home to find his most trusted man killed. But what he didn’t know was that the person sitting in front of him was the same one who slaughtered his man.
Too bad, so sad. But Valentin was a little late to the rescue.
Holding my fist against my lips, I cleared my throat and tried to look serious. And livid. After all, Igor was supposed to be my man too.
Igor’s murder was a full circle. He was another piece on this chess game. I made a step, I moved the piece to create a path.
Not only to Valerie, but to my game—Alessio’s game.
My King spoke. I listened, and then I made my move.
He made the plans; I made the kill.
“That doesn’t even make any fucking sense,” Valentin snarled, his lips curling back in fury. I saw his fingers tightening around the edge of the table, his knuckles almost white.
I shrugged. “Igor told me he was going to see Diego for an important meeting. He said Diego called with new information about the drug deal.”
Valentin slammed his fist on the table before furiously pushing his chair away and standing up. “Diego wouldn’t kill Igor. It makes no fucking sense. Diego works for Carlos. And Carlos would never attack one of my men.”
“Just because we have dealings with the Mexican cartel, it doesn’t mean we are best buddies with them, Valentin.” My words brought his attention back to me. His eyes were furious, and his glare could kill anyone on the spot.
But I wasn’t just anyone.
“If Alessio is the Pakhan, the King, then Carlos is no less. Carlos is the motherfucking Head. The Mexican cartel is his. Hell, he rules half of the world. The Ivanshovs deal with Carlos, but even Alessio doesn’t want to mess with him. It’s the unspoken treaty between them. But you must have royally pissed him off for him to kill Igor.”
I planted the seed and watched it take root. Of course, Carlos didn’t send Diego to kill Igor.
I killed Igor.
I also killed Diego.
Two birds with one stone. And now we just had to sit back and watch the drama begin.
“Our partnership runs deeper than you think, Konstantin.”
I straightened in my chair at his words. Our partnership runs deeper than you think, Konstantin.
Ah, there we go.
The secrets—whatever Valentin was hiding. I fucking knew it had to do with the Mexican cartel. I just needed him to say the words.
Every piece we moved on the board, we moved diligently. We moved it with a purpose.
We moved it for a bigger picture.
And the bigger picture was right here. The reason why Valentin was so strong.
“What do you mean? Is there something I don’t know?” I slowly asked.
His eyes widened for a second, and then he shook his head. “There are a lot of things you don’t know and don’t understand. Carlos and I go way back. We have been doing business together for decades.”
I sat forward, placing my elbows on my knees and giving him a hard look. “And don’t you think it’s time I know?” I replied with a raised eyebrow.
Valentin lost his angry demeanor. Instead, a nervous look appeared on his face, and his eyes darted everywhere else except on me. He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck.
“All in due time, Konstantin,” he said instead, deflecting my point. “Why the hurry?”
I opened my mouth to rebuke, almost fucking desperate now to know his secrets. Fury curled inside of me, and impatience boiled underneath my skin. Taking this game slowly was hard. Maintaining my character as Konstantin was even harder. And it became worse with every passing day.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself before I went ape shit on him and lost whatever progress we had done. Valentin trusted me enough to speak about Igor’s murder and for asking my thoughts. I couldn’t lose that trust.
Valentin turned his back to me and faced the window, watching the darkness. “If Diego really killed Igor, do you know what that means?”
His words caused me to still, and then I smirked. “It means war.”
He was silent, and then I heard him sigh. “No. We cannot go to war with Carlos. And I don’t believe this. There must have been a misunderstanding.”
I rubbed a hand over my face, infuriated with his reply.
Why was Valentin so sure it was a misunderstanding? Knowing Valentin, he was a man who would not think twice before declaring war.
His most trusted man was just killed—yet he was laying low.
It made no fucking sense.
Either he was a pussy or he and Carlos really did have a partnership deeper than the eyes could see.
“Igor was my man. But I have thousands like him. His death doesn’t cost me anything,” Valentin continued slowly.
I made a frustrated sound at the back of my throat before leaning back into my chair, acting nonchalant.
“But with Igor gone, Valeria—”
I paused at his words, my thoughts going blank and my heart stuttering.
Valerie.
Her name alone was enough to make me forget everything, whatever game I was supposed to be playing. I was no longer Konstantin; I was Viktor again.
Fuck. Get yourself together.
The Devil on my shoulder made his ugly appearance again, laughing his little ass off at my weakness.
I had spent days trying to get her off my mind. After the night I had touched her, worshipped her pussy until her come was covering my lips, I tried to forget.
I tried to get rid of that heavy feeling in my chest. I tried to forget how soft her eyes were when we had stared at each other.
I tried to forget how she melted into my arms when I gently kissed her lips for the first time.
But women were my weakness.
Valerie was my weakness.
I knew she was awake that night, awake and aware enough to know it was me touching her. Valerie had thought it was real, but then I fucked it up.
While I had her in my arms, knowing I had full control of her thoughts in that moment, I fucked her mind up.
Broke her heart and told her it was a dream.
But I had to protect her. Even from herself.
That night, I found out the true meaning of being fucking obsessed.
Because after that night, no matter how hard I fought myself, I still went back to her.
I should have stayed away, but I went to her in the morning. She was surprised, but my presence was welcomed. She was the object of my obsession, to the point that I had sat there silently, like a fucking psycho, and watched her eat. It was just a simple act of eating, but I had been completely ensnared.
I remembered the look in her eyes. She had appeared emotional and so lost when I gave her that paper swan.
A gift for my silent myshka.
After I had walked away, I told myself I wouldn’t come back. Not so soon. But fuck it, I hadn’t been able to stay away.
In the darkness, every night, I joined her in bed. I watched her sleep. I held her in my arms, felt her breathing against my neck. She would pull me closer, she would hold me to her—and in return, I would hold her to me.
We just held each other.
She slept peacefully. I surrendered to her embrace and slept too but always left before she could wake up.
I didn’t touch her intimately again. Only because I knew, next time fucking her pussy with my mouth wasn’t going to be enough.
Next time, I had to have my cock inside her tight pussy.
The need to take her was strong, but for some weird, fucked-up reasons, I waited. The thought made me smirk.
Waiting always made the forbidden fruit taste better—or, in this case, feel better.
“Forget it,” Valentin said, pulling me away from my thoughts.
My eyebrows scrunched in confusion. “What were you saying about Valerie?”
He swiveled around and gave me a hard, deadly look. “How do you know about Valerie? Did you see her?” he growled low in his chest.
I shrugged, trying to act like she was nothing—as if she meant nothing.
“I stumbled upon her room. I was exploring,” I replied slowly.
He nodded, losing the angry look again.
A deep and fruitful exploring. Just not the type of exploring you’re thinking of, you little piece of shit.
Valentin walked over to his desk and sat down on the chair. With his elbows on the surface, he leaned forward, his expression serious—businesslike.
“With Igor gone, I will have to find someone trustworthy to keep an eye on her,” he shared with me.
I internally smiled. It appears I have won your trust when it comes to Valerie.
“Why do you need someone to guard her?” I asked, acting curious for his sake.
He blinked and then looked at me like I was stupid. “To keep an eye on her.”
I laughed, mocking him in his face. “You look and sound weak, Valentin Solonik. Having a bodyguard twenty-four-seven, watching a helpless woman. It doesn’t leave a good impression on you. If anyone ever finds out, they would think you’re useless.”
My words made him straighten his back, and he gave me an emotionless look. But I knew I had hit the target, so I continued.
“Even I thought you were weak. And the moment someone thinks you are…weak, then you’re going down.” With my hand, I made an act of an airplane crashing down. Just for the effect.
He swallowed hard and stayed silent. I could almost see the wheels turning in his head, my words taking root deep within.
“You don’t need a guard for her. A woman like her doesn’t need guarding. We can’t waste manpower on her. Fuck, she looks as dumb as they come.”
The words tasted bitter on my lips, and my fingers dug into my knees, hating myself for even saying those words.
And I hated myself more when I opened my mouth again.
“Please tell me she at least sucks dick good.”
Valentin laughed at my words, like we were best buddies sharing a joke. I wanted to punch him in the face and then gouge his eyes out.
“Oh, she does. She’s a fucking professional. Her pussy will suck your cock just as nicely.” He winked before standing up.
My heart clenched, but I kept my eyes on Valentin. I didn’t let him see my weakness.
I didn’t let him see that Valerie—my beautiful nun—was my weakness.
I played the cards right. I became Konstantin, and I gained his trust.
“The image is making me fucking hard, Valentin. Looks like I need to find some whores and a pussy to dip my cock in.” I chuckled and stood up. “Or an ass. I don’t mind breaking and fucking some tight assholes.”
Valentin smiled sinisterly and clasped me on my back. “I’ll send a virgin pussy and ass for you. Have fun tonight, son,” he said.
I nodded, even though I was shaking with fury inside. “Best fucking idea you’ve had in a long time, old man.”
He winked and then started to walk away. “It looks like I will be having my fun too. Time to see my wife.”
Valentin walked out of the door, and I stood frozen—silent. My breath left me in a loud whoosh, and my knees weakened.
I closed my eyes and turned my head toward the ceiling, trying to get rid of this sick feeling inside of me.
My heart clenched, and I couldn’t breathe. My stomach churned painfully, and I fought against the urge to retch at the thought of Valentin touching my sweet Valerie.
I am sorry, silent myshka.