Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Valentina

He turns and walks away, leaving the door open behind him. My heart is racing, my pulse hammering in my neck. I can hear the blood whooshing in my ears. This is not me. I am a controlled and together person. No man makes my heart race like this, nor my panties wet. Yet here I am. Watching his broad shoulders, tapered-down hips and tight ass as he enters the gold-effect lift.

I hate myself for getting hot and flustered over a man who is my enemy. Okay, not per se, but his family. I know that Maksim was too young to have been involved with the attack on my father. He and I, we are around the same age; I think there is only a two-year difference between us.

As the elevator door glides open, his back still to me, he stops with one hand on the door to keep it open. “You should stop drooling and panting over me like that, Kitten.”

Indignation rises inside me. Who the fuck does he think he is?

“You would be so lucky, motherfucker,” I snarl back at him.

“Indeed, I would be.” He steps into the elevator without so much as glancing back. What the hell just happened to me? I didn’t even ask how he knew. I’m guessing he has snitches all over the place. I mean, he is from one of the most powerful Russian families after all. Yet, I thought my cover was secure. The only thing I can think of is maybe he caught sight of the glint from the scope. It’s possible. Fuck, I need to be more careful.

My mobile rings from the bed where I left it, then I realize I am still standing in my lace underwear with the suite door open. The man has knocked me for six. He has robbed me of the ability to even think. I could slap myself. In fact, that is probably what I should do to get my shit together.

“Fuck,” I mutter as I slam the door to my suite closed. The mobile continues to ring. Bloody thing. I go towards the bedroom suite and pick it up off the bed. I can see it is Hans.

“What’s up?” I ask him abruptly, taking my pissed-off situation out on him.

“Hey, what’s got you?” I can hear people in the background.

“Where are you, Hans?”

I sit down on the bed, then throw myself down so I am staring up at the fan light whirring around. The phone still to my ear.

“At a café not far from you. The flight is in four hours. Be ready to leave.”

“Good. Thanks for getting that done.”

“I don’t know why we can’t fly on your father’s jet,” he moans. We have this same conversation all the time. He knows the answer.

“Hans, not again with this already. We are undercover, not coming in on a Santangelo jet. See you at the airport in three hours.”

“Be careful; word on the street is that Silov has paid some men off. You don’t know who you can trust. Apparently he knows you are here and why.”

Hans always has his nose to the ground, and with his tech expertise, he can hack into any communication channels. As annoying as he can sometimes be, he is the best man to have by my side as my partner.

I refrain from telling him that he is delivering old news. The man himself was here, standing tall around six-five, muscles for days and a pissed-off look followed by a cocky grin. I wish I’d have punched him in the face, or got my Glock and taken a shot at him.

We end the call. I lie there for a few moments, then haul ass and head for the shower. Stripping off my lingerie, I then pull my hair up into a messy bun atop my head do avoid getting it wet. I’ll wash it when I am back in Manhattan. The cool water feels refreshing against my skin. The thoughts of Maksim and his closeness, the fragrant scent of musk and spice still fills my senses.

My nipples peak into buds; my arousal begins to take over. I will not, I repeat, I will not fucking get myself off in the shower to the man who is my target. I need to focus and not go off track.

His father is our sworn enemy. Why my father never took matters into his own hands is beyond me. As a young woman at just twenty, I wanted to run to the motherfucker and chop his balls off, and hand them to him to stuff in his mouth.

My father, Nico Santangelo, on the other hand, decided to deal with things differently. He began buying out the companies Silov was invested in. He wanted to break him financially. However, a man like Silov is too deeply involved with the rats in the sewers and will always control his side of Russia.

I have asked my father on numerous occasions what he intends to do. He always says the same thing. “Valentina, sweetheart. His time will come when he least expects it. For now, we lead a peaceful life. He didn’t get what he wanted, and he isn’t stupid enough to try again. I run in clean waters now. He runs in the depths of hell. He will have his time one day when he thinks he is safe.”

Yes, well. My father may have a long-game plan. I on the other hand, do not. I have waited long enough for the revenge. Killing a man like Silov isn’t good enough. I need to attack his precious Maksim.

So, why does that make my stomach drop and feel like there is a brick sitting inside of me?

Out of the shower, I reach for a white, fluffy towel and dry myself off. From my black duffel bag, which I travel with everywhere, I pull out some black skinny jeans, a loose-fitting, off-the-shoulder black rock T-shirt, and a sports bra. Once dressed, I sweep the room to make sure I have everything I need. I will dispose of the Glock on the way to the airport.

“Zeus,” I say as I step over him to grab my mobile I left on the bed. “Let’s go, buddy.”

Zeus stands instantly, allowing me to put his K9 harness on and clip his lead in. He doesn’t really need it; he is trained to the highest level. He cost me a handsome packet, but he is worth it. Not just as my ops dog, but as the other part of my heart and my soul. He keeps me grounded. He shows me how to love. And let’s face it, that is something I can’t do with another human, outside of my brother, Marco, and my parents.

Outside, the sun is still strong, but now that it is late afternoon, it is not quite as harsh. “Going somewhere?” I hear a familiar Russian voice say that catches me off guard.

I try not to show my surprise. I do not show emotion. It is a weakness that I did learn from my father and my mother. The strongest woman I know. Theirs truly is a love story. Arranged marriage. Enemies to lovers.

“Are you stalking me now, Silov?” I don’t turn to him when I speak. Zeus is close to my legs. The driver pulls up in a black Sedan that Hans had organized.

“I don’t stalk, Kitten.”

I want to turn and slap him. The mere presence of him disarms me, something I am not familiar with. It’s like he can get under my skin. I feel myself heating up.

“What do you call this then?” The driver steps out of the vehicle and opens the door for me. I give him a nod to let him know I will be a minute. A few people pass by.

I can feel the closeness of the asshole behind me; I can smell his intoxicating scent.

“Keeping an eye on you, Valentina. Someone has to.”

“I can take care of myself, asshole.” My voice is cold and harsh, yet my body feels as if it is molten.

“Funny, so how did I manage to get to your suite and catch you naked?”

I do not reply. Instead, I start to walk towards the vehicle with my duffel bag over my shoulder, and Zeus glued to my left leg. I motion for him to get into the vehicle. He enters the Sedan and sits on the rear seat. I throw my duffel in the back of the vehicle that is open for me. The driver stands close by.

Once I am inside the vehicle, he closes the door for me, as I go about clipping the seatbelt through the harness of Zeus to keep him secure.

The driver gets into the vehicle, just as I hear a knock on the window.

Maksim stands there, looking too hot for his own good. HE is not hot, he is your enemy. Don’t lose your shit for this motherfucker. Stick with the plan.

He motions with his two fingers to wind the window down.

Irritated, I do. Why? Fuck only knows.

“Stay safe, Kitten. And no more trying to catch me with a bullet between my eyes.” He gives me a panty-melting smirk that I want to scratch off his face.

“No such luck, fuckhead. Watch your back. I’ll be coming to get you.”