Page 71 of Dark Seduction
There's a hardness in his eyes that suggests he's no stranger to violence, yet there seems to be genuine anger in his voice.
Part of me is wary, wondering if I can really trust him, but his reaction seems sincere. I find myself continuing, drawn in by his apparent sympathy for my situation.
"I'm just not sure I'm safe with Lev anymore."
He nods again, his gaze meeting mine with a depth that surprises me. "I understand," he says simply. There’s an odd reassurance in his words that makes me feel slightly more at ease, at least for the moment.
Alexei finally takes a moment to sip his wine, his gaze wandering as he ponders our conversation. After a thoughtful pause, he refocuses on me, his eyes serious.
"This is a very complicated situation," he begins, setting down his glass. "I just reached a truce with Lev and the Ivanovs. It wouldn't be right for me to take you in without giving him a heads-up."
"Yeah, it's definitely a tough scenario," I agree, the reality of it all feeling increasingly heavy.
Then a strange look comes over Alexei’s face.
“There’s more, Dalia,” he says.
“More what?”
“More. The Ivanovs and I have a history they are unaware of.”
“What do you mean?”
He taps his fingers on the table, as if debating whether or not to tell me.
Then he shakes his head. “No. Not now. There’s too much to take care of before I even begin unpacking all of that.” He turns to me, intensity flashing in his eyes. "First things first, you need to be protected. I have a safehouse here in the city. It's an apartment I set up for emergencies, secure as a bank vault. We can head there and you can settle in to think things through. Then we'll figure out what to do next."
Alexei looks around the restaurant, a hint of urgency in his eyes before turning back to me. "I hate to rush you, but we should probably get going soon," he says. "Don't worry, there's plenty of food at the safehouse. Plus, I've got a doctor on standby just in case you need anything for the baby."
"Thanks," I manage to say.
"Anytime," he replies with a smile, dropping a couple of hundreds on the table as we get up to leave. I'm still on edge about trusting Alexei completely, but he hasn't done anything yet to make me doubt his intentions.
We head out to the parking lot and walk toward his sleek black car. It's starting to get dark, and a knot of anxiety tightens in my stomach.
Suddenly, a voice cuts through the evening air. "Hey!"
We both whip around. A guy dressed all in black, wearing a face mask, is standing right behind us. He wastes no time pulling out a gun and firing at Alexei.
The sound of the shot reverberates sharply in the quiet lot. Alexei groans and drops to the ground.
I let out a scream, frozen in shock for a split second. But before I can do anything, the masked man turns the gun on me. I feel the coldness of the weapon slam against my forehead before everything goes dark.
Chapter 31
Lev
"Iswear, Vanya, I’ll burn this whole damn town down if that’s what it takes to find her and protect my child."
As I barrel down the road, fury courses through me like wildfire, Vanya beside me in the passenger seat, his presence barely registering. My grip on the steering wheel is iron-tight, knuckles white, every muscle in my body tensed with unrestrained anger.
The information I received is fragmented but damning. One of Alexei's lieutenants messaged me that Alexei had been shot, and worse, that Dalia was with him at the time and now she’s missing.
Vanya attempts to offer some calming words, trying to pierce the veil of rage that’s descended over me, but I’m beyond the reach of reason. I don't respond, my jaw set, my mind racing through scenarios, each more violent than the last.
As we race back toward the hospital where I’d learned Dalia had left on her own hours before, my mind is a whirlwind of strategy and fury, plotting the downfall of those foolish enough to targetwhat's mine.
I will do anything, cross any line, to ensure their safety. The entire city will feel my wrath if a single hair on Dalia’s head has been touched.