She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard something else crash. Shit, how many people had broken into her home. Her phone started to ring in the living room.
“Fuck,” Delilah muttered.
She raced to the sidewall to hide when she heard someone running toward the living room. Hiding behind the sidewall, she leaned forward and peeked into her living room. One of the shadowy figures were trashing her living room. The other one had her phone.
“You got the code?” One said.
“Yeah. It’s handled.”
What was handled? Delilah hid back behind the wall when one of them stopped and looked her way. Had he seen her? Damn it. She raised her knife. The sound of them trashing her living room stopped. That meant they had seen her.
Gripping the knife tightly, she eased away from the wall and moved over to her island. She ducked down behind it just as someone ran into her kitchen. She held her breath, trying not to make a sound.
She’d chosen the worst hiding spot. There was nothing she could do about it now. She covered her mouth to keep from screaming when the items on the island went crashing to the floor around her.
“There you are.”
She looked left, just as someone reached for her. She swung the knife, slicing across his gloved hand. His scream let her know she’d gotten more than his glove.
“Fucking bitch,” he roared.
She stood up and took off running only to run straight into the other assailant. “Going somewhere.”
She raised her knife. He knocked it from her hand and slapped her so hard that she tasted blood. He gripped the front of her T-Shirt and pulled her close. She kneed him in the groin. Groaning, his grip on her eased up.
She jerked out of his grasp and took off running toward her living room. Someone grabbed her hair and pulled her backward, she was thrown to the floor. He raised his foot and brought it down, aiming for her face.
She rolled away before he could hit his mark. She crawled under her kitchen table. Her house alarm was still blaring. She was pretty sure it had alerted the police. That was probably the security people who’d called her phone.
Since she hadn’t answered, the police had to be on their way. Yet, she didn’t hear any sirens. Her attacker flipped the entire glass table over. Glass shattered and rained down on her. Fingers dug into her scalp as she was pulled up by her hair.
She picked up a shard of glass as the attacker pulled her to her feet. He raised his fist. She swiped the glass across his face. Blood splattered onto her face as the man stumbled backward, yelling and holding his cheek.
She took off running through the living room, heading to her bedroom where her gun was. Halfway across the room, she froze when the alarm system stopped blaring. Impossible. It was supposed to keep alarming until she turned it off.
She hadn’t turned it off, which meant someone else had. The only security panels were the one she was staring at in her living room. And the one in her bedroom. Someone was in her bedroom.
“On your knees.”
She stared behind her. The guy whose face she’d sliced had a gun pointed at her. That meant the other guy was in her bedroom. But how did he know the code to her security systems?
“You look shocked,” the man said as he flipped the switch on the wall, turning on the living room light. “Oh, you’re probably surprised because we turned your security system off. Boris told us the code.”
Did they know Boris?
“Let me get a good look at the bitch who Boris was married to.”
“How did you know my husband?”
“Oh, Boris is like family to me. Plus, he was banging my sister.” The man started to laugh. “I guess black pussy just didn’t satisfy him the way white pussy did.”
“All pussy is pink, so….” She shrugged.
“Is it?”
Shit. Why had she said that?
“I guess you wouldn’t mind me taking a look to see if that’s true or not.”
Delilah swallowed then tensed when the other attacker returned to the living room. He walked over to the man whose cheeks she’d cut and gave him a folder.
“Boris hadn’t lied. It’s all here.”
What was all there and where had they gotten that from? The dude with the scarred cheek opened the folder and read over some papers.
He grinned then looked at her. “So your real name is Lisa Russel and you’re the one who ruined the Juarez Cartel’s sex trafficking enterprise down in Texas.”
Ice-cold fear wrapped around her. A fear she hadn’t felt in years.
“Where did you get that folder from.”
“Your husband didn’t tell you about the secret opening under your bed? I guess not. I guess you didn’t know your husband as well as you thought. You see, Boris owed us a lot of money. And he put you up as collateral just in case he wasn’t able to pay. Well, he’s dead. So he’s not able to pay. And we’re here to collect.”
“I-I don’t have any money.”
“Did we ask for money? I don’t recall asking for money?” Scarred Cheek tapped the folder with his gun. “I wonder how much the Juarez Cartel will pay to have you back? Boris said your testimony brought them down and ruined not only their sex business but their drug business. You even convinced some other girls to talk. Some important members were put away because of your testimony. You fucked them before they even got a chance to fuck you.” Scarred cheek laughed. “Their leader wants you really bad. He’ll probably pay a small fortune for you.”
“She got a kid too,” the other attacker said. “He’ll probably pay double for the kid.”
A tear dripped down Delilah’s cheek. Thank God, Zariah was with Con. He’d protect her. He’d make sure the cartel didn’t get their filthy hands on her. As for Delilah, well, she should’ve known her ghosts would catch up with her one day.
“Hold her down,” Scarred Cheek said. “I want a piece of her before the cartel tears through her.”
She would fight until the end. She refused to go back to Texas, back to the cartel. She’d rather die. Delilah took a step back as her attacker approached her wearing a creepy grin on his pale face. He lunged for her.
She screamed just as the lights in the house went out. They were plunged into darkness. She tried to run to her bedroom and almost made it to the hallway before her attacker grabbed her hair and then slung her into the wall.
Her head hit the corner of the wall before she hit the floor. In the darkness of the house, she could feel something wet dripping down her face. She tried to get up. It hurt too bad. All she could do was lie there and pray that Con took care of her baby.
She waited for her assailant to attack her. The sounds of screams filled the air. Delilah pushed herself further into the hallway. If only she could reach her bedroom. If only she could reach her gun.
A shot was fired. She stilled. Who was shooting? Who were they shooting at? A wave of dizziness floated over her. She felt to the floor. Though she tried to keep them open, her eyes were drifting shut. Her last prayer was that they killed her.
She’d rather die than be turned over to the cartel.
***
“They’re all dead,” Yury said into his phone.
“All of them?” Con asked.
“Every last one.”
“Good,” Con replied. “I guess it’s a good thing they had the code to her alarm system, that kept the police from getting involved.”
“Yeah, it’s a good thing. I called the cleaners out. They’ve rid her house of all traces of intruders. The Royal Riders club has been burned to the ground.”
“You burned it?”
“The cleanup job was too big. It was easier just to burn the place down.”
“Damn, Yury, how big of a mess did you leave at their club?”
“Their blood coated every inch of every wall in that place.”
“It’s what they deserved. Did you get rid of the files Boris kept on Delilah?”
“I did. No one will be able to use th
at against her again.”
“Where is she now?”
“Asleep. I’m taking her somewhere safe. I’m having Rio watch her house for a few days, just to make sure no one else tries anything.”
“But you killed them all.”
“I want to be sure.”
“Where are you taking her?”
“To my cabin. I’ll bring her back before you all return from Disney World.”
“You gonna stay with her for a whole week?”
Yury swallowed. “I’m going to stay with her for longer than a week.”
“Wait, just last week you said you weren’t going to go around her again. Just last week you had me make Rio watch over her because you said you couldn’t do it.”
“And look at what happened when I put Rio on it.”
“Don’t blame him. Those bikers must’ve been watching her house. They knew he was there. That’s why they attacked him before they attacked her.”
“I’m not blaming Rio. I’m blaming myself. If I’d been there, I would’ve been able to protect her. If I’d been there, they never would’ve made it into the house. So from now on, I’m always going to be there.”
“What if she doesn’t want you to always be there.”
She has no say in the matter.
“Did you hear me, Yury?”
“Yeah, I heard you.”
“Are you going to answer me?”
“Five years ago, you told me to stay out of her and Boris’ business. I did. Look where that got her. I’m not doing it again. I’m not turning away from her again. I’m staying this time. And she has no say in the matter.”
“Okay. Well, if you get arrested for kidnapping, give me a call.”
“Whatever.”
“Good luck.”
Yury ended the call and sat the phone down in the console. Clutching the steering wheel, he steered his car toward his destination. He stared over in the passenger seat. She was still out. He’d given her a little something to help her sleep.
After he’d saved her, she’d been unconscious with a gash on her head. He stitched her up then took her to his house. He gave her something to help her rest then went on a killing spree. When he returned home, he gave her a little more then loaded his car up and headed to his little oasis in the woods.
It was the place he visited when he wanted to be alone. He’d never brought anyone there before. It was two hours away. He hated to drug her, but he hadn’t wanted her to wake up until they arrived for fear that she’d ask to be taken home.
He couldn’t take her home. Not until he was sure that it was safe. Plus, he needed to lay low for a while. He’d gone on an unplanned killing spree. Though the cleanup crew was good at their job, he couldn’t show his face until he was sure he wasn’t on the local authorities’ radar.
The safest place for the both of them right now was his cabin. She didn’t stir again until he reached his cabin and laid her down on the bed in the guest bedroom. Her eyes drifted open and she immediately began to panic.
He gripped her shoulders. “It’s okay. You’re safe. It’s me. I got you. It’s me. Yury.”
She stopped struggling. “Yury?”
“It’s me.”
Tears dripped down her cheeks. His chest began to ache. “It’s okay. I got you.”
“I thought I was going to die.”
“I would never allow that to happen.”
“I was so scared. I tried to fight but…”
“You did well. You fought them off long enough for me to arrive.” He wiped the tears from her face.
“You should’ve already been there,” she cried. “If you hadn’t been avoiding me…”
“I know.” Shit, tears were filling his eyes. He hadn’t even thought that was possible. Yury cleared his throat. “I should’ve been there. It’s my fault. Blame me.”
“Why did you leave me alone?”
“I was scared. But I never should’ve left you alone.”
“Scared of what?”
“You should rest. You got a pretty nasty cut on your head.”
“Fuck that. I almost died tonight. I would’ve died without any answers from you. Right now, tell me what you’re so scared of.”
“Delilah, you need your rest. You’ve been through a lot.”
“Yury Drozdov you either tell me what you’re fucking scared of or take me home right now.”
“Going home isn’t an option right now.”
“If you won’t take me, then I’ll walk. Either way, I’ll leave you.”
Yury sighed. “I’m sorry, Delilah, but leaving me is no longer an option either.”
“What?”
“I tried to stay away. I really did. I tried to keep this from happening. I couldn’t. And now it’s too late.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Delilah, from now on, you’re mine.”
“What?”
“You belong to me. I should’ve taken you and Zariah away five years ago. I knew what kind of man Boris was. I knew you deserved better. But I let others talk me out of doing it. That was the worst mistake I’ve ever made. I’m not going to make that mistake again. From now on, I’m going to take care of you and the little one. From now on, you’re my family. And I will always protect what’s mine.”
Yury stood up. “Get a little rest while I go run some water for your bath.”
That said, Yury exited the room. He closed the door behind him then placed his back against it. She was finally his. Now, he just needed to figure out a way to may her want him the way he wanted her.
And he had a week to do it.
Chapter Six
Cabin Fever
She was about to go crazy in this damn cabin.
She’d been there for three days and during that entire time, Yury barely said ten words to her. All he did was chop wood for the fire and fish. They ate fish every day. And while she loved fish, she was ready for some chicken.
Hell, even an alligator would do. Anything other than fish. At night, she chatted on the phone with Zariah. After talking to Zariah, she always chatted with Con for a little while. It was Con who’d told her about everything that happened at her house after she passed out.
Not only had Yury saved her, but he’d also killed all of the men who were after her. Every last one of them. And he’d burned their club to the ground. He’d also burned the files Boris had on her. According to Con, she was now Yury’s woman.
Fuck that. How could she be his woman when he didn’t even ask her to be? He wasn’t even talking to her. Whenever she asked him something, he grunted and left the room. She was sick of it.
Wearing one of his T-shirts, she laid back on the guest bed and stared up at the ceiling. He hadn’t had a chance to go to the store yet. He was still waiting for his cop friend to make sure it was safe for him to go out.
Since he hadn’t gone to the store yet, that meant she didn’t have any clean panties. So, at night, she slept in a t-shirt and no panties. Which was fine with her. Whenever she had to leave the room, she just put on a pair of jogging pants Yury had given her.
No problem. Lying on the bed, she could hear him in the living room area watching television. Earlier, when she’d been in there watching television, he’d stayed in his room. But when she went into her room, he ventured into the living room to watch television.
What would he do if she went in there and sat down to watch television with him? Would he run away like he did that night at her house? Or would he man up and talk to her like normal people did?
Delilah smiled. She wanted to find out. She rose from the bed and walked over to the door. She pulled it open. His gaze jerked to hers then his gaze dropped to her legs. His T-shirt was baggy and dropped to her knees.
She was decent. Still, he quickly looked away like she’d stepped out of the room butt naked. Smiling on the inside, Delilah walked over to the couch and sat down. He scooted to the edge of the couch, away from her.
She wasn’t going to
let his pettiness deter her. She was done playing games with Yury. Tonight, she was going to push him to his limit. Either he was going to show her what he was made of or he was going to break.
“Thanks for scooting down,” she told him. “Now I have room to lie down.” She laid down on the couch and rested her head on the armrest. Her feet stopped just shy of touching his thighs.
His shirt was long enough to still cover up her butt while she was in this position. A pity. She moved around, trying to get comfortable. His gaze kept darting from her to the television. She kept moving until the shirt rose, revealing her butt.
And since she didn’t have on any panties, it revealed more than just her butt. His gaze darted her way then stopped. She watched him from the corner of her eyes as he stared down at her ass. Feeling brazen, she parted her legs a bit, revealing more to him.
“What the fuck are you trying to do, Delilah?” he growled.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play with me,” he told her, eyes still on her ass. “You should go back to your bedroom.”
“I’d rather you fuck me.”
“You…” he paused. “What did you just say?”
They were too grown to beat around the bush. She turned over onto her back and spread her legs apart, letting him see everything. His eyes zeroed in on her pussy. He licked his lips. A shiver raced down her spine.
“Yury, you told me that I’m yours now, right?”
He nodded.
“All of me, right?”
“Every inch of you,” he growled.
“How can I be yours when you haven’t even claimed me yet,” She told him then sighed. “You haven’t even tasted me yet.”
He squeezed his eyes shut. “I need you to take a few days to think about what you’re saying.”
“Why would I do that?”
“You just should.”
She didn’t want to. He was right, five years ago she should’ve listened to her heart and divorced Boris. She hadn’t. Look where it had gotten her. She knew what she wanted. She knew who she wanted. No, he wasn’t a prince charming.
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