At His Mercy (Beasts In The Dark, #1)

by S. S. Richards

  I watch as the asshole gets up from his seat.

  “I said everything I had to say. That’s my deal. Kill her, or I will. I guess that’s more than fair.”

  With a slight nod of his head to Daniel, he walks toward the door and heads out. I watch him intently, flames of anger shooting through my body. As soon as the door closes behind him I turn my attention to Daniel.

  “Maksim, you need to understand that I’m not on his side,” he says firmly.

  “Then why did you stop me from killing him?”

  He shoots up from his seat and makes his way to the mini bar. He pours himself a drink then takes a sip, finishing the liquid all in one gulp.

  “I just thought whatever Leonardo had to say would probably bring your war to an end. But by the look on your face, I guess killing the lady won’t do it. You’re really going after his blood.”

  I shake my head and head to the door. Aleksandr follows me silently. As soon as my palm lands on the doorknob I turn toward Daniel and say my final words to him.

  “Do me a favor, Daniel. From now on, mind your own fucking business.”

  He nods and raises his glass in the air. I inhale sharply and walk out of his place before I burn him and everything in it down.

  I know Daniel thought he could help, but truly he just fucked it all up. Because killing Elena is not an option. And I’d rather burn in hell before I let a monster like Leonardo put his dirty hands on her.

  Maksim

  The ride in the jet is silent for five minutes only before Aleksandr decides to speak his mind.

  “Maksim, I know killing Elena won’t bring peace to your soul because you’d rather go after the main monster himself who killed your father. But I personally think you should kill both of them. His blood runs in her veins. She’s a Romano just as much as he is.”

  I swallow thickly and decide to remain silent despite the ringing in my ears and the throbbing in my temples. Why is everybody trying to get me out of control today? I look through the small window beside me, ignoring Aleksandr’s words.

  “You’ve been acting weird lately. Like something is going on, but you’re not telling me about it,” he mumbles, but I heard him nice and clear. I turn toward him and narrow my eyes at his words.

  “What the fuck do you mean? How about you get straight to the point instead of playing these games.”

  “Fine, you want me to be straight up? I know you brought a man to your house, one of Leonardo’s workers, and killed him. And I know it was for the girl and that it had nothing to do with your father.”

  “And how do you know it had nothing to do with my father?”

  “Because I know the story and I know who killed your father, who’s also my uncle.”

  I swallow the lump in my throat.

  “So what now? Should I be getting your permission on what to do with my damn life?”

  He shakes his head and sighs deeply.

  “That’s not what I mean, man. I just think this woman succeeded in making you do things for her. I don’t really know what’s going on between you two. But you need to be careful. Because the only thing you’re gonna get from that woman is trouble.”

  My body feels hot with the heat that only keeps increasing rather than decreasing. Every time somebody mentions her name, I can’t help but feel like drawing blood.

  I know Aleksandr is just worried about me. But the last thing I need right now is someone telling me that protecting what’s mine is a sin I’m committing.

  “I know what I’m doing,” I say firmly and he responds with a simple nod.

  As soon as I arrive home. The first thing I do is look for her. I take the stairs two at a time while rolling up my sleeves. My heart is pounding in my chest and the beast is excited to claim her. I open the door to her room, but she’s not here. I frown and step back into the hallway where I notice Yeva walking toward me.

  “Hi, Yeva, where is she?”

  “Hi, sir, I believe she’s downstairs in the kitchen.”

  I head back downstairs to find her. I slow my pace when I get closer to the kitchen. Her mumbling is enough to make my dick stand up and throb painfully for her. I enter and for a moment, I freeze and enjoy watching her. Her back is facing me and she has no idea I’m in the room with her. The rectangle of light coming from the open window falls on the side of her face and hair. She is making herself tea. A drop of hot water lands on her index finger, so she gasps and brings her finger to her mouth so she can lick the stinging pain away. My heart picks up its speed. For a fleeting second, I feel the need to grab her by the waist and hold her in my arms for as long as I can.

  “Delicious?” I say softly and she jumps, turning around fully and facing me.

  She brings both of her hands to her chest and exhales deeply.

  “You scared me.”

  “I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to.” I approach her. Her eyes don’t leave me and her breathing gets more pronounced with each and every single long stride I take. I only stop when I’m standing right in front of her. She lifts up her chin and peeks at me through her eyelashes. Lust, desire, and hunger are displayed as clear as day on her beautiful face.

  “Run,” I say coldly.

  She swallows thickly and takes a small step backward.

  “Wh-What?”

  “Run,” I repeat, sliding my hands in my pockets. “I’m going to chase you. If you’re able to reach your room upstairs before I catch you, then you’re free. However, if I get to you before that . . .”

  Her breath comes faster.

  “Free as in out of this place?”

  I nod slowly. Her eyes gleam as she stares at me like she doesn’t believe me.

  “Is this one of your games? One that’ll only get me into trouble?”

  I stare earnestly into her eyes.

  “It’s a game, yes. And getting yourself in trouble depends on your running skills.”

  She arches an eyebrow and bites her bottom lip. She then takes a step forward until there’s absolutely no space between us.

  “If I win, I’m out.” She rolls up her sleeves. She kicks off her sandals, then takes off. I count till three before I follow her. I know she’s gonna lose anyway. And I know she knows that herself.

  When I reach the stairs, I lean on the rail and watch her run up. Suddenly, she glances over her shoulder and her eyes widen when she realizes I’m quickly and easily gaining on her.

  I like this game very much. I let an evil chuckle out and pace behind her like I’m the hunter and she’s my prey. When she gets upstairs, she slows her pace. Either she’s tired or she really wants me to catch her. I grin widely at the thought, my heart jamming in my chest as I get closer to her, even with my steady and even tread.

  Right before she reaches her room, I tackle her. She lets out a quick yip and stares into my eyes. Her fear is delicious. I can smell her arousal already. She wants this. She wants me just as much as I want her.

  I push her against the wall, boxing her in. Silence prevails as we struggle to steady our heavy breathing.

  “You never told me what would happen if you catch me,” she whispers, her eyes pinned on my lips.

  “I think you already know what awaits you,” I answer hoarsely.

  She smiles wickedly and my hands instantly reach for her jeans, unbuttoning them.

  “From now on, you’re not allowed to wear jeans while you’re in this house. Understood?”

  “Why?” she whispers.

  “Because it takes longer to get you undressed.”

  I slide the pants down her soft legs and a gasp escapes her lips when I put my hands in her panties. She opens her legs wider for me, inviting me in.

  I thrust three fingers into her wet center. Fucking her right in the middle of the hallway. She closes her eyes and lifts her head up, exposing her neck to me. I lean in and lick her skin. She hugs my neck and pulls me in. I bite and kiss her neck all while finger fucking her.

  “Scream for me,” I order and without hesitation, sh
e allows herself to moan loudly in the empty hallway. She is wet. So fucking wet it’s driving me insane.

  As soon as she convulses into another climax, I turn her around until she’s facing the wall. I unzip my pants and release my heavy cock, pointing straight toward her wetness. She’s ready for me, and I’m ready to claim what’s mine.

  She lets out a cry as soon as I slide into her. I grit my teeth then take a deep breath to slow my pace a little before I rip her insides open. Feeding the beast inside of me, I don’t stop, driving into her as she sobs and begs for more.

  “You always fight me and it doesn’t help. It makes me wanna fuck you hard, and you know that. You fucking know it, hence why you provoke me. Don’t you?” I hiss through gritted teeth. And when she doesn’t answer, I pull her hair.

  “Answer,” I order.

  “Y-Yes.” The words are breathy, almost soundless.

  My hips slam into her hard, making her body jerk.

  “Good. Forever at my mercy.”

  She doesn’t say anything but moans. I wound one of my arms around her until my fingers grip her throat tightly.

  “Understand?” I hiss in her ear.

  “Yes, yes, Maksim. Oh God,” she cries and our orgasms finish together.

  I spill my seed deep inside her pussy. I hold her tight, wishing I could merge the both of us together. She almost falls to the ground, but I grab her by the waist and pull her up. We remain standing still for a while, our heavy breathing the only sound filling the quiet hallway.

  I close my eyes and burrow my nose in her soft hair. I inhale the smell of it like it’s the last time I’m smelling her. I want to hide her away, lock her up so nobody else could ever get to her. I want to be the only one to fuck her and make her cum. I fucking want her to die under my command. I’m sick. Fucking sick and she’s my cure.

  But . . . I can’t.

  I slide out of her soaking folds and zip my pants up. I help her get dressed until she regains her equilibrium. I want to hold her in my arms. I want to tell her how much she makes me and the beast inside happy. But instead, I make my voice icy and say, “Let’s go to the washroom to get you cleaned up.”

  Without looking back at her, I head to the washroom. I get the bath warm and ready for her while she stands still at the door.

  “Undress,” I tell her and do the same. I get in the bath and motion for her to join me.

  She sits in between my legs. Her gaze is hazy and cheeks an adorable shade of pink. I hug her waist and dig my nose in her hair. Closing my eyes, I murmur, “Rybka,”

  “Yes?” she murmurs.

  “What do you wish for the most?”

  She doesn’t say anything for a moment. Then she tilts her head and looks straight into my eyes.

  “To have my freedom and live in a city where nobody knows me. New identity, new name, new everything.”

  Her words feel like a knife to my aching heart. Whether I like admitting to myself or not, I am keeping her here against her will, preventing her from having the one thing she wishes for the most. I close my eyes at the thought and inhale her scent deeper as I hold her against my chest. For a moment, I wish she wasn’t who she is and I wasn’t who I am. I wish we lived in another world, where I wasn’t the Russian Mafia Don and she wasn’t the niece of the head of the Italian Mafia. I wish we lived on a deserted island where I can be sure that nobody can hurt her. I just fucking wish . . .

  Elena

  “Good night, angel,” he says, placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

  He leaves and closes the door behind him. With sadness tearing at my chest, I sink into my own sorrow. I lied to him. Or more like, I didn’t tell him fully what would make me the happiest woman on earth. I would love to have my freedom. But I want him to be part of it. He’s the first and only man in this world to make me feel things I don’t really know how to describe. The way my heart picks up its speed every time his eyes land on mine, or the way my body reacts to his like it knows who its master is. When he holds me in his arms, this ugly world ceases to exist. Before I met him, I had wanted to die. Now I want to live because for the first time in my whole entire life, I believe in hope and most importantly, I believe in happiness.

  I close my eyes and sink into a deep slumber.

  For once, I’m at peace.

  I open my eyes slowly. I know I’m not alone in the room. I place the palm of my hand on my forehead. I don’t know where this headache is coming from, but it’s sharp and intense.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up,” says Yeva.

  I pull myself into a sitting position and smile at her.

  “It’s okay, Yeva. What are you doing?”

  “I’m cleaning. Sir ordered not to disturb you and to let you sleep in. I’m so sorry.”

  I shake my head. “Stop apologizing. It’s all good. I have to get up anyway.”

  She smiles, but I can’t help but notice her curious eyes. She’s not acting like the Yeva I know. I narrow my eyes at her and she smiles timidly.

  “Yeva, come over here,” I say firmly and watch as she walks toward the bed, and sits by my side. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing,” she blurts out and I arch an eyebrow at her. She lets out a deep sigh and says, “Fine, I just saw how sir was acting this morning. Are you guys on good terms now?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He seemed calm and at peace. I don’t know. I just haven’t seen him like that in a while, even years,” she explains, the smile never leaving her lips.

  I bite my bottom lip, recalling the events of last night. The wonderful time he held me in his arms and fucked me hard until my eyes rolled back with pure pleasure. Then bathed me like he hadn’t had enough of me yet, and never will.

  But I can’t tell Yeva about it. Even if she’s the first friend I made in years. If there’s one thing my father taught me that stuck with me all these past years, it is to never trust anyone. Because even the closest people to me could deceive me.

  I lift my chin up and smile warmly at her. “Yeva, I’m still here against my will. I don’t think I’ll ever be okay with what Maksim does to me.”

  A pang of disappointment hits her as she looks down at her lap. The smile disappears, replaced by a pout.

  “I can tell you value Maksim a lot. I always wondered why.”

  She lifts her chin up and looks at me with wide eyes.

  “He’s a great man, Elena. I told you before, he saved me and my family,” she explains, but I know there’s more to it. I know she’s hiding something from me.

  “Saved you and your family from what exactly?”

  A moment of silence takes over. I watch her steadily. I can tell by her facial expression that she’s hesitant to tell me what happened. How did Maksim save her? How can all his workers think of him as an angel when all I see is a beast who’ll kill anybody who comes his way? I place my palm on her hand and squeeze tightly.

  “You can trust me, Yeva,” I say to her gently.

  She nods. “My father worked for your uncle Leonardo. Back in the days. When your uncle ordered him to kill your father, he refused and that’s when your uncle began threatening my father by killing me and my mother if he didn’t follow orders.”

  My eyes widen as I gape at her in disbelief. My heart races in my chest and my body begins to tremble.

  “Sir was young back then, still helping his father when he figured out that our lives were all in danger. So he helped my father and my mother and sent them back to Russia. I insisted on paying him back for saving their lives, so I decided to serve him till the day I die. I get a good paycheck and he still takes care of my family back home. I couldn’t ask for a better boss,” she says with watery eyes.

  I freeze, not believing how evil my uncle is. With shaky arms, I lean in and hug her tightly as tears spill down my cheeks.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper in her ear. My throat thickens with sobs as pain grips my chest. She hugs me back, our sobs filling the room. I wish I could
make it up to her and to all the people my uncle has wronged. Guilt torments me and shame engulfs me from within that I’m related to a monster like him.

  “There’s nothing to be sorry about, Elena. They’re safe and that’s what matters.” Tears still stream down her face.

  I don’t know how long we stay in the same position, hugging each other and allowing our hearts to speak the words our mouths cannot. I pray silently that her family is safe, wherever they are, and that she doesn’t hate me for what my uncle did to her.

  I pull away and look into her eyes.

  “Do you hate me?”

  She places her hand on my cheek and shakes her head slowly. Her expression softens and it melts my heart.

  “Never. Why would I? You’re a victim just as much as I am.”

  “You have no idea how much hate I have for that man,” I tell her honestly.

  “And that’s why I love sir. You probably don’t see it yet, but believe me when I say his heart is big and full of love. If I’m not mistaken, I think you’re a little bit more special to him.”

  I smile at her, but inside, I’m hoping, praying, and wishing I’m special to him just like he’s special to me.

  “Where is he?” I ask.

  “He left early this morning.”

  “What kind of work do we have to do today then?”

  Two hours of learning how to bake a cake with Alyona and I think I’m a pro by now. We didn’t only bake a cake, but we also made cookies and Mr. Jones’s favorite carrot muffins. I’m slowly learning the things I should have learned in my own house. Only if I had a normal uncle who didn’t lock me up in a room and treated me like a fucking prisoner.

  “Leave us alone.”

  A voice comes from behind me. I turn around and find Aleksandr standing at the door of the kitchen. Alyona doesn’t say a word but rushes out of the room. My heart drums and my chest tightens with fear. He takes two steps forward, his eyes glued to me. I freeze as every hair on my body stands up.