He ruminated on her words and decided to give in to her. “That’s true, but just so you understand, I don’t need any more injuries. I won’t let it slide as easily as I did before.”
“I promise I won’t try to hit you again,” Lana said pleadingly.
Sergei glared at her as if to challenge her statement. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“This one I can. I’m just so tired,” she whimpered. He could see the dark circles under her eyes and relented. Sergei walked back up to her and took the key out of his pocket.
“Remember if you attack me again, I won’t be so forgiving,” Sergei growled while looking down at her menacingly. He may be interested in her, but he was freaking serious. He wouldn’t let it slide one bit.
“Yes, you said that already,” Lana grouched as she threw her head back on the chair and closed her eyes again.
Sergei could tell she was getting irritable. “Somebody’s grumpy,” he laughed as she glared at him.
Lana didn’t fight him as he removed the cuff from her hand. Scooping her up, Sergei carried her to the back of the plane and the bedroom. She was looking up at him with a tender, sleepy smile. Man, I want to kiss her. This would be romantic if she wasn’t my captive, he thought.
Opening the door with one hand, he took her into the spacious cabin. The large bed was the same one that Nikolai and Bianca had shared, and the thought of sharing it with Lana was very tempting, too tempting. Once he laid her down on the bed, Sergei undid the ties at her ankles and hurriedly covered her with the blanket. As he lifted the blanket up to her chest, he saw the damage the cuff had done to her wrist. Guilt flooded him as he looked at the raw, red skin.
Whispering softly in her ear, he said, “I’m so sorry.” Sergei walked out of the room, but not before turning around to get one more look at her before he closed the door.
He sat down on the chair, staring at the room door, fighting the urge to rush right back in there to hold her.
Chapter 2
Lana opened her eyes as she heard the cabin door close. He’d left her all alone and had undid her ties. She didn’t miss him whispering that he was sorry, but she wasn’t sure what he was sorry for. Not to mention, would his remorse get her out of this?
She looked at her hand that he had cuffed; it really ached. The skin was a little raw, but she couldn’t help blame herself for it. If she hadn’t been forcing his hand she wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place. He was rumored to be the right hand man of a mobster, and yet she pressed his buttons daily. What did she expect to happen?
She was lucky he hadn’t offed her already, but something in his eyes said he wouldn’t do something like that to her. His light brown eyes were too kind. Ever since she took it upon herself to find out what happened to Santini, she’d been too interested in Sergei Antonov. She liked the way his hair looked absolutely perfect, how even though he had a beard he was well groomed. She liked how he’d smirk at her when intentionally avoiding answering her questions or trying to hit on her. Every time he’d hit on her she’d blush intensely, like she’d never been hit on before. She hated that he teased her about her clothes. Unintentionally, she’d slowly started to change her style to please him. By the time she had gone back to the old Lana she’d been in college, she was embarrassed that she let herself go bland in the first place.
I hate the way he makes me feel, she thought. She was too captivated by his presence. He always wore a suit, looking sexy all over. She closed her eyes again and tried to rest. She prayed that she would survive, her body and her heart. The problem was, did she just want to survive or did she want more? Before she’d seen him she never thought of more. Men were so far beneath her radar that some on the force thought she was a lesbian. If anyone saw her reaction to Sergei, though, they’d know she definitely loved men.
The bed was so comfortable Lana started to get too cozy. Her eyes had gotten heavy and beat out her thoughts, letting her fatigue take over. Lana was just starting to doze when the door opened and Sergei walked in.
He took a seat next to her on the bed. She flinched when he took her hand. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I just came to tend to this,” Sergei said softly as he lightly caressed around the wounded flesh. The look of remorse was etched in his face, something Lana didn’t fail to notice.
The man confused her, so she asked, “Why?”
“Because despite what you may think, I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Sergei started to massage some cream into the area, sending goose bumps up her arm. The sensation of his fingers caressing Lana’s skin sent her body aflame. After apply the soothing cream, he trailed up her arm touching the raised flesh, so tenderly it shook them both. Both jumped back from the riotous feelings.
“You do realize that that’s absurd. You kidnap me, then you feel bad for hurting me, but you won’t let me go,” Lana said while sitting up and rubbing her wrist, attempting to remove his touch from her skin. The sensation refused to go away. Stubborn just like him, she thought.
Sergei ran his hands through his thick black hair. Damn, he looked sexy as hell with it all messy like that too, she thought.
He grumbled agitatedly, “I can’t just yet. I’m going to take you back to Russia with me.”
Taken aback by his anxious behavior, Lana responded by asking for the one thing she needed from him—space. “Fine…can you please let me rest?”
“Sure.” Sergei took one last look at her before he headed back to his seat. Lana was left to ponder why he was doing this, because it didn’t make sense to her at all. Her mind was too muddled to think anymore, and so she fell fast asleep.
Lana woke up from a wonderful, strange but powerful dream. She didn’t realize how long she’d slept until Sergei knocked on the door. “Come in,” she called out as she sat up slowly on the bed. The rest was definitely what she needed. Her mind was not as mixed up.
Sergei walked in the door, his figure imposing, and offered, “If you’re hungry there is some food out here.”
“Sure, can you give me a minute?” Lana asked as she pulled the blanket up to her chest.
He nodded before he walked out, closing the door behind him. Lana got up and went into the bathroom to rinse up. She looked at herself in the mirror and said a silent prayer that he wouldn’t hurt her, and that she would get past the need to know him in every way.
Why does he have to be so handsome? He’s too tantalizing for me, and my heart goes freaking insane when he’s around. I hope he didn’t notice it. When he massaged the cream into my wrist I wanted to moan and purr. Damn him and my attraction to him!
Her mind had been wandering so long that she’d forgotten that Sergei was waiting for her. She heard the door to the bedroom open and close. Then Sergei called out, “Lana!”
“I’m coming,” she shouted through the bathroom door. Lana hoped that he wasn’t angry and was going to tie her back up. Once she got out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, she said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to take so long. I promise you don’t have to tie me back up. I’ll behave for now.”
“For now? So you’re planning to escape later, are you?” Sergei growled as he grabbed her uninjured arm and escorted her back to their seats.
Lana lightly pulled her arm away from his grasp. “Maybe. I can’t make any promises beyond this plane ride.”
Sergei seemed angry about her pulling away from him. “Fine. Let’s eat because I am fucking hungry, I’m not very nice when I’m hungry.”
They took their seats, where the food was set up for them. Sergei waited until Lana sat down before he took his seat, confusing her. “What was that about? Are you afraid I’m going to do something stupid?” she asked suspiciously.
“No. I was just trying to have some manners.”
“You do realize how strange this all is, don’t you?” she said, amused by the situation. There were moments where he really muddled her mind.
“You’re really beautiful when you smile.” His words made her blush brightly, but
she wasn’t the type of girl to be taken in by a man’s charm. She had been interested in him since the first time she’d seen him, but he was a mobster like Claudio, and no way was she going there.
“Thank you, Mr. Antonov,” Lana said formally, attempting to distance herself from any of the familiarity he made her crave.
“It’s Sergei, and I’m only stating the obvious. You’re uncommonly beautiful.” Her blush darkened, making her more uncomfortable. Seeing this, Sergei commanded, “Now let us eat before we get ready to land.”
Dinner was eaten in silence, as they both felt uncomfortable by his words. The awkwardness of their situation had been escalated by the attraction they possessed for each other.
Lana stared at Sergei as he drank his glass of vodka, watching the way his Adam’s apple bobbed with each drink. Fascinated by it, she didn’t notice that Sergei had been watching her as well. She also didn’t know that the movement in his Adam’s apple wasn’t because he was drinking, but because he was gulping down the air and his excitement from her shameless admiration for him.
After he put his glass down Lana licked her lips, suddenly feeling extremely thirsty.
“Please excuse me,” Sergei gulped as he stood and walked back to the bedroom lavatory. Lana watched him rush by so fast she wondered if his food had not settled well.
Lana sat by the table thinking about what brought her to this point. Working nonstop to find Claudio had become an obsession. Everything for her had hinged on finding him. She had been unlucky so far until she came to work in Texas, and she had let her life and need for closure go too far. After chasing down Rykov and being warned that she was to drop the matter and pursue it no further, she had moved onto his sidekick. What she hadn’t expected was the need to see Sergei on a daily basis. It had even taken over the need to find Claudio. Now, she was being held captive by a man who made her feel bubbly inside. Her fate was in his hands, still undetermined.
††††
“What the fuck is wrong with me?” Sergei growled to himself in the tiny mirror. When he looked at Lana, he didn’t want her as just his captive. He wanted to see her to see him as the man he tried to be. He didn’t know if it was a lost cause, but he hoped this nutty plan of his might work like it did for Nikolai. He managed to win Bianca overnight. Sergei knew that there was no way of stopping his feelings for Lana.
After calming his pounding heart and settling down his desire, he walked back out to see Lana reading the book he’d been reading earlier. He smiled because at least she wasn’t trying to escape.
“Are you enjoying it?” Sergei asked as he took his seat across from her.
“Actually, I read this when it came out, but it’s one of those books that is good for a re-read,” Lana replied before handing it back to him.
“You could still read if you’d like,” he offered.
“Thanks. I might need it.” The implication was there, and there was no way to get around it. Lana was his prisoner, not his guest, and he needed to remember that.
Anika returned to inform them that they would be landing in half an hour. They prepared for landing and strapped themselves in. Lana didn’t make a fuss, and so Sergei questioned her motives.
“So Miss Grey, are you planning to behave then?” He sat upright and raised a brow, doubting the possibility.
Lana replied with a lot of sass. “I said I would behave at least until we landed, but I can’t guarantee afterward.”
“Very well, but if you try to get away I’ll only catch you and keep you longer,” he warned. Sergei tried not thinking about wanting to keep her forever because that would be a lost cause.
“So you’re planning to let me go?” Lana asked hopefully.
“If you’re a good girl, yes.” He didn’t like that she was so anxious. That seemed to pacifier her, at least, and set the tone for the ride to the Rykov estate. As Nikolai’s right hand man, Sergei had access to all of Nikolai’s homes. There was an SUV awaiting their arrival as planned, and to Sergei’s relief, Lana walked down the stairs with him and didn’t give him any trouble.
However it wouldn’t be long before Lana would try and make her escape. Sergei had no doubt of that, but that was something he was prepared for.
Chapter 3
The moment they arrived in the estate, Sergei escorted Lana to her room. It was late and they needed to get accustomed to the time change. Sergei was getting a little irritable with the whole situation, and it was noticeable to her when he turned into a total prick again and put his captor attitude back in place.
“Your clothes will be brought up in a few moments. Don’t think of escaping or trying to contact anyone. The phones and the internet signal are both locked. Just get some rest and behave.”
“Oh, really? Well, don’t test me, Mr. Antonov. I may just find a way out somehow.”
“No one here will help you escape, and you have no money. The only thing you’ve got of value is your body, which I’d say is a valuable commodity. If you trade that to flee, then you’d be a fool.” His words struck a chord, pissing her off.
“Whatever, jackass. I’m going to sleep.” Lana slammed the door in Sergei’s face and locked it. If she was going to be trapped she wasn’t going to be a nice girl anymore. She paced back and forth in the very elegant room. Her blood was at a boiling point. When she let her guard down for a moment he reverted back to her kidnapper. She wouldn’t let her guard down again, or at least she’d try.
~~~~~~
Sleep didn’t come easy to either of them, so it was late in the morning when they both woke up. Sergei was pissed that he had overslept. He had plans to go into the city and to the company headquarters to get started on the plans Nikolai wanted executed.
“Have you asked Miss Grey if she would like something to eat?” he asked one of the maids as he sat down for breakfast.
The maid looked skittish, so Sergei knew he wouldn’t like the answer. “She didn’t want to dine outside of her room, sir.”
“Very well. I’ll be leaving after I eat and will not be returning until late this evening. Please make sure that she eats enough and show her the house and grounds, if she wishes. Remember she has been forbidden to use any technology except for the television and the movies in the theater room.”
“Yes, sir.” The servant rushed from the room because it was clear Sergei was not happy. He felt ready to punch something, but it was to be expected.
After working all day and night, Sergei returned to a quiet house, and instantly he checked on Lana’s whereabouts. The staff informed him that she was sitting outside with a glass of wine. He decided to join her too see if he still felt the same as he did when he left. His anger had worked out well for him at the office, and he’d managed to get a great deal of business done before he called it a night.
Peering out, he could see Lana staring out at the night sky. He slid open the glass door and stepped onto the stone-paved patio. It was a serene, peaceful and clear night. As his feet hit the patio stone, Lana must have heard him because she turned around quickly.
“I didn’t mean to startle you.” Sergei approached and took a seat next to her at the patio table.
“You didn’t. I was just seeing who was approaching.”
Sergei could tell that she was lying about it, but he let it go. He didn’t really want to argue with her. “I know this is a stupid question considering everything, but how was your day?”
“It’s not that stupid. Well, only a little, but it was okay. Your maid showed me around when I asked, but like you said, she refused to let me use anything electronic besides the TV,” Lana said blandly.
He paused then asked, “Did you get to watch anything special?” The conversation was stilted because he knew that she wasn’t going to be happy being his prisoner. Hell, he didn’t like it either. He’d rather have her here as an invited guest or better yet, his wife.
“Surprisingly, you had a great deal in English to choose from. I thought everything would
be in Russian. I ended up watching Mission Impossible 3.”
“Ha. What, are you trying to find a way to escape? Did you learn anything from Ethan Hunt?” he teased.
She giggled with the pretty blush that Sergei noticed, then she added, “If I was looking for a way to get away, I would have went with Shawshank Redemption.”
“You’re going to dig a hole through the wall and run?” Playing along, Sergei smiled at her and she smiled brightly back. Suddenly hoped filled his chest. Her face was unbelievably beautiful and her smile was breathtaking.
“I don’t have twenty years for it, or a sexy poster. Plus, Mexico is so far away,” Lana teased right back at him. “So why is almost everything in English here? Even the staff members speak English.”
“Well, Nikolai and I spent most of our growing years in England. We grew up as English gentlemen, so we prefer movies that were made in English originally rather than their dubbed Russian counterparts. Being away from here for so long has stilted our Russian, so we like to have staff that speak both just in case we start speaking in one then switch to the other.” He was embarrassed by the revelation but just shrugged it off.
“I can understand that. So you and Nikolai Rykov are super close,” Lana commented.
“Was that a statement or a question?” Sergei asked, looking at her strangely.
“I guess a little bit of both,” she said, seeming to have confused herself. Sergei wanted her to know him, but he was afraid to divulge too much to her just in case she went to the cops after he freed her.
He paused and looked down at his hands before looking back up at her and said, “Yes, we’ve been friends for a very long time, and had each other’s backs during rough times.”
Lana looked at him like she was wondering how his life could have been tough. He knew she would think that, anyone would, but it wasn’t his life in England that was terrible. “Living as English gentlemen doesn’t sound like a rough life,” she scoffed.
Sergei's Stubborn Captive (The Captive Series Book 3) Page 3