Page 51 of Dark Seduction
Lev strides back to the front of the room, turning to face the gathered men, his voice deep and growling with unrestrained anger.
"What the fuck happened?" he demands, letting the words echo ominously across the quiet room. Everyone's attention is fixed on him.
He continues, the fury in his voice building, "How did danger get so close to my sister and my woman?" He pauses, his gaze flickering to me for a brief moment.
A part of me thrills at the designation—it carries a possessive ring that, under the circumstances, feels strangely right.
"They were nearly killed tonight," he asserts, his tone hardening further. "I want to know how the hell two separate attempts on the lives of my people were nearly pulled off."
The raw rage in his voice sends a spike of adrenalin through my veins. It's a side of Lev I knew existed but have yet to see fully unleashed. The room remains silent, the gravity of his words settling heavily on all present.
Lev's voice cuts through the tension in the room like a blade. “It willneverhappen again. I promise you that.”
He pauses, letting each word sink in before he continues, his voice growing darker, more ominous with each syllable. "I'm going to rip apart, piece by piece, whoever the fuck dared tocome near my family with violent intent. I'll destroy them, their associates, and anyone who stands in my way.”
Lev then turns to his lieutenants, his gaze fierce and commanding. "All attention is to be focused on this matter," he instructs them. His orders are clear, his authority absolute. "Prepare for war."
The lieutenants nod, their expressions resolute, as they begin to rally, understanding the gravity of his commands. Watching Lev in this moment, I can’t help but feel an undeniable thrill, an awe at the lengths he’s willing to go to protect his family, which now includes me.
He goes on. "Our work begins tonight. I will not accept failure.” His voice resonates with a lethal calm.
He then dismisses the room, signaling for his family, Vladimir, and Vanya to stay. As the room clears out, leaving only the requested few, Lev’s demeanor shifts slightly.
He addresses them. "I want extra protection on all of you."
Luk nods in agreement. "Maura and the kids are at home under heavy guard.”
Elena chimes in next, her usual vibrant tone tempered with seriousness. "My apartment is like a fortress already, and I'll be working from there. No one’s getting through."
“You know my head’s always on a swivel,” Yuri says.
Vanya adds, "I’ll be watching my back, don't worry about me."
Lev nods at each of them, pleased with their arrangements but his eyes betray a lingering concern.
Vladimir steps forward, his tone all business. "I’ll be meeting with my people, putting them on information-gathering duty.”
Lev thanks them then turns to dismiss the group, pausing as he addresses Yuri.
"Make sure Elena gets home safely," he instructs.
One by one, they leave the room, until only Lev and I remain. Alone with him, the atmosphere shifts. The intensity of his earlier commands lingers in the air, and I find myself both frightened and inexplicably drawn to the fierce protectiveness he exudes.
It's a disturbing realization, a mix of fear and attraction. His commanding presence has always affected me, but tonight, the stakes feel different, higher.
My heart races as I watch him, the earlier anxiety morphing into a different kind of beast now that we're alone.
I feel a flush of heat, my body reacting in ways that both confuse and excite me. I try to steady my breath, my gaze locked on Lev, aware of every move he makes in the quiet aftermath of the storm.
He rests his hand gently on my shoulder, and the simple touch sends a jolt through me, making my breath hitch. My heart pounds fiercely in my chest.
He looks into my eyes, his own searching, and I'm caught, unsure of what he'll say next. The room suddenly feels too small, every sound amplified.
"I'm sorry for putting you in harm's way," he says, his voice low and sincere.
"It’s not like you did it directly," I manage to say. “It’s okay.”
He shakes his head, his expression tightening. "It's not okay, not until the people who have done this pay," he insists. Then, shifting topics slightly, he asks, "Have you started moving in?"