“Where is he?”
“He’s on his way home,” Luke answered carefully.
“Home from where?”
Putting his hands on her upper arms, Luke tried to push her back to give himself some room to breathe. But Natasha batted his hands away.
“Don’t touch me!” she hissed and all but ran away from him to pace across the living room.
Luke cautiously followed her from a safe distance and leaned against the stone wall separating the foyer from the living room. He could see that the door to Alexander’s bedroom was closed. At least Kat was where she was supposed to be. Now he just had to figure out what the hell was wrong with Natasha.
Her long dark ponytail swished back and forth when she stopped pacing and whirled to face him. Her dark eyes, so much like her brother’s, were glinting with the Petrovsky temper. Natasha was less skilled at keeping it in check than Alexander was.
“What do you do for my brother, Luke?” Natasha’s voice was deadly calm when she spoke, belying the temper that flared in her eyes. “And don’t give me that bullshit line about working for the casino.”
“What are you getting at, Natasha?” Luke stalled. Alexander had always been diligent about keeping the true nature of his business a secret from Natasha. As far as she knew he was the owner of The Onyx - and that was all.
Natasha pointed her finger in the direction of the flat screen TV that hung on the opposite wall. “It’s been all over the news that Alexander was taken into custody for murder. And that this might finally be the break the FBI has been looking for. What does that mean, Luke?”
“I think you should ask your brother when he gets home,” Luke said, turning away and walking into the kitchen. Swinging open the fridge door, he pulled out a bottle of water. When he closed the door, he came face to face with Natasha. Jesus, he thought, she moved like a ninja.
Tears shimmered in her eyes, and Luke didn’t know if they were from anger or betrayal - or both. This, right here, was the reason he had kept her at a distance. He couldn’t bear to think of the look in her eyes when she found out what a lowlife asshole he was. And now that she was looking at him just like that, it made him angry.
Brushing past her, Luke spit out, “Oh, come on, Natasha. Don’t act like you had no idea what your brother really does for a living. You had to have heard the rumors.”
Her eyes went wide as if she hadn’t expected him to admit it. “I never believed he could be involved with anything…”
“Anything what? Illegal? Jesus Christ, Natasha. You can’t be that naïve,” Luke said harshly.
Natasha just stared at him, eyes wide, lower lip trembling.
“Don’t look at me like that. Don’t pretend you weren’t attracted to me because I’m just a little bit dangerous. Well, guess what, Natasha? I’m a whole lot dangerous. Does that disgust you? Because it should,” he shouted. When this conversation had moved from what her brother did for a living to the attraction between them, Luke had no idea. He guessed it had always been about that.
“Stop it,” Natasha begged, shaking her head back and forth.
Luke’s chest was getting tight as he watched the tears spill over onto her cheeks. He wanted to pull her into his arms. But she wouldn’t want that. Not now. Not after she knew the truth that he was little more than a glorified thug.
The shouting from the living room barely registered as Kat walked slowly around Alexander’s bedroom. Had it only been a few days since she had first set foot in this room? It seemed like a lifetime ago. She walked to the wall of windows and watched the lights of the city, alive even at this early hour of the morning. The sun would be coming up soon. A new day. That brought what? Kat had no idea. Her purpose for living was gone. She would finally be able to move on with her life. But what did that mean? Twenty four hours ago, she would have expected Alexander to be a part of her new life. Now?
Kat turned away from the lights of the city and stared at the bed where she had shared indescribable moments of pleasure with Alexander. Would she ever find that again? With someone else?
Alexander had taught her to trust again, and then he had reminded her that she could only trust herself.
Her phone began to vibrate in her back pocket. Kat pulled it out, fully intending to ignore the call - assuming it was from Colin. But it was Alexander’s name that appeared on the screen. He must be on his way back.
Kat accepted the call and held the phone to her ear.
“Hello.”
“Katya? Are you safe at home?”
Kat closed her eyes at the sound of his deep voice. “Yes, I’m at the hotel.” It wasn’t her home. She didn’t have a home at the moment.
“I’ve just been released. I…”
“Why did you do it, Alexander?” Kat interrupted him.
There was a long moment of silence. “The FBI had arrived, and…”
“Since when have you been afraid of the FBI? That’s bullshit, Alexander, and we both know it. I deserve to know why you did it.”
Kat heard him take a deep breath before answering. “Because I have been where you are. Because once you go down that road, there is no going back. Because I want better for you. Because I love you, Katya.”
Kat sank down to sit on the bed, because her legs couldn’t hold her up any longer. He loved her. And yet it wasn’t enough. He had taken something from her. Something she couldn’t get back.
“Katya? Katya, please talk to me,” Alexander pleaded.
“I know who you are, Alexander. I don’t need you to decide what I deserve.”
“Katya, I will be there in ten minutes. Please wait for me, so we can talk through this.”
Kat gripped her cell phone so tightly it was a surprise it didn’t break in half. Talking wouldn’t help. Seeing Alexander’s handsome face and piercing eyes wouldn’t help. Nothing would help. He was right about one thing though. Once you make a choice, there’s no going back.
“Goodbye, Alex,” Kat whispered before dropping the phone on the bed. She was vaguely aware of Alexander’s voice shouting through the phone as she pulled out her duffel bag and stuffed her things inside.
Luke and Natasha were in the middle of a heated discussion in the kitchen as she clipped Blade’s leash onto his collar and quietly left the penthouse. Blade nudged her hand with his cold wet nose as they rode the elevator to the lobby. Walking through the modern luxury of The Onyx, Kat’s vision blurred with tears.
The sky was streaked with the pinks and oranges of the sunrise as Kat and Blade stepped out onto the sidewalk, just as a familiar black limo pulled into the underground parking garage.
Looking down at the only true friend she had, Kat asked Blade, “Which way?”
Kat’s story continues in Black Heart - coming September 2014.
Black Kat Playlist
It’s Time - Imagine Dragons
Black Tears - Jason Aldean
Gunpowder & Lead - Miranda Lambert
Pain - Three Days Grace
Temple - Kings Of Leon
If I Lose Myself - OneRepublic
The Mess I Made - Parachute
Face Down - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Broken - Lifehouse
The Last Night - Skillet
Bring Me To Life - Evanescence
Let Me Go - 3 Doors Down
Taking Over Me - Evanescence
Shadow Of The Day - Linkin Park
Feel Again - OneRepublic
Call Me - Shinedown
Say Goodbye - Skillet
Already Gone - Kelly Clarkson
About the Author
Hello! I am an author of new adult and contemporary romance novels. My husband and I live in Columbus, Ohio with our two young daughters and happy golden retriever. When I’m not spending time with my family, I can be found doing one of my other favorite activities - writing, reading and napping.
My Books
FIRST & LAST SERIES
Safe With You
Just One Reason
&n
bsp; Fourth Down
Bad Girlfriend
BLACK KAT SERIES
Black Kat
Contact Me
E-Mail: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorkirstendemuzio
Blog: http://authorkirstendemuzio.com
GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7067558.kirsten_demuzio
I would love to hear from you!
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