Into the Darkness

KAIA

“Mind pouring me a cup?”

Niko’s voice startled me as he strolled into the kitchen. His dark shirt was crisp, his wavy hair still damp—fresh from the shower. The fact that he was Aleksandr’s right-hand man, and likely his spy, put me on edge and soured my mood further.

I spun around, leaning against the counter, and shot him a glare.

“Your hands seem perfectly capable,” I retorted, taking a sip of my coffee after blowing on it to cool it down.

Instead of getting upset, which was my intention, Niko just tilted his head, studying me.

I could guess what he saw. My cheeks were flushed from my lingering anger at Aleksandr and his abrupt departure. My appearance was slightly disheveled from a rushed shower, and I was dressed in yoga pants and an oversized sweater.

My hair was pulled up into a messy bun, drawing attention to the red mark on my neck—Aleksandr’s mark.

“Are you okay?” he asked, reaching for a mug from the cabinet.

I took another sip of my coffee before responding.

“I’m fine.”

He filled his mug and turned back to me. Sensing I wasn’t going to open up, he switched gears.

“Why don’t you take a walk outside? Cool off a bit,” Niko suggested, smirking. “You look like you’re ready to murder my boss.”

His tone was half-joking, but I knew he took his job of protecting the pakhan very seriously. If he thought I was a threat, he wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of me.

His words caught me off guard, and I lowered my mug, looking at him in surprise.

“I can go outside?”

He shrugged.

“I don’t see why not. Samuil will keep an eye on you.” He gestured toward the back door. “There’s a gazebo on the cliff. You’ve probably seen it from your room. Go clear your head.”

***

Without responding, I headed out the back door, following a stone path that led to a small gazebo perched on the edge of the cliffs. The wind was biting, but I didn’t mind.

I closed my eyes, breathing in the salty air, savoring the illusion of freedom.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a large man trailing behind me. But once I sat down on a bench in the gazebo, he turned back toward the house. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw him—Samuil, I assumed—standing near the house, keeping a watchful eye on me.

I sighed, looking out at the cliffs and listening to the roar of the waves below. The sound echoed the pounding of my heart.

My thoughts were a jumbled mess. My emotions were all over the place.

I’d thought that giving myself to Aleksandr would satisfy the mutual desire we had for each other. That one night in his bed would be enough.

I hadn’t expected the need for him to grow stronger, to consume me until it felt like he was under my skin. I hadn’t expected to crave his dominance.

I stood up, spreading my arms wide and gripping the metal railing. I bent my head to watch the water spray against the rocks.

I was angry. Not just at Aleksandr, but at myself. For enjoying the way Aleksandr made me feel. When he’d tied me to the bed, my body had responded eagerly. When he’d bitten me, I’d wanted more.

The more time we spent together, the worse it got. And Aleksandr knew it. He was using it against me. That’s why he’d tied me to his bed and demanded answers when I was most vulnerable.

I could feel my defenses crumbling, and I wanted to curse myself. Aleksandr was not a man to fall in love with. He’d made it clear that what we had was purely physical. But what hurt the most was that he wouldn’t even kiss me!

I gripped the railing tighter, exhaling sharply.

What did I expect?

That he’d care for me? That he’d have any feelings for me at all?

“Yes.” My mind answered for me.

I was alone out here. I had to admit it to myself. I wanted him to care for me. Aleksandr was not the man I had anticipated. He was ruthless, sure. But he was also gentle with me.

It was his gentleness that made me question if I could trust him. If I should just spill everything and get the answers I was seeking. Maybe he wasn’t the monster I’d discovered in my research.

The aroma of bergamot and citrus hit me first. A warning.

“Kaia.”

My body tensed, but I didn’t turn my head. He was bound to know I was here. He had his eyes and ears everywhere.

“I’m not planning to jump, if that’s what you’re worried about,” I said flatly.

I could feel the warmth of his body as he approached me, positioning his tall figure on the bench just behind me. I silently cursed the way my body responded to his proximity. Coming alive, without him even laying a finger on me.

“If I was concerned about that, I wouldn’t have let you come outside,” he said casually, seemingly unfazed by the fact that there was probably a hundred-foot drop just a few feet away from me.

Succumbing to the urge, I turned around and leaned back against the railing to observe him. It was risky to have a predator at your back, after all.

For a moment, we both remained silent, just enjoying the sound of the sea while we stared at each other, seemingly waiting for the other to break the silence.

Making a decision I hoped wouldn’t haunt me, I took a deep breath and followed my instinct. Or more accurately—my ~heart~.

“My name is Kaia Smirnova,” I whispered.

Something flickered in his eyes then. Not surprise. ~Admiration~. As if he was proud of me for opening up to him. It gave me the courage to reveal more.

“I lied earlier. I do understand Russian. I was born in a small town called Lipeshin in Russia.”

I noticed his body tense, but other than that he remained still. He didn’t utter a word. Just let me speak.

“I was honest about needing your help to find Irina. You’re the only one with the connections I need to locate her. But there’s more.”

His expression remained unchanged.

“Go on.”

Feeling a sense of relief, I took another breath.

“Living in Lipeshin, everyone was aware of the ~Vor~ with the large estate on the hill. A man named Akim Rostov who was rumored to have favor with the ~pakhan.~ Because of that, he was able to employ many people from the village, and the villagers kept his secret about the happenings at his estate.

“A few years ago, Akim Rostov’s estate was attacked and everyone there was killed. Irina and I managed to escape with the help of one of the villagers and were smuggled on a boat here. From what I could gather, the order to wipe out the estate came from Vikor Kozlov. Your father.”

Aleksandr rose slowly, before walking over to stand in front of me.

He lifted my chin with a finger, forcing me to look into his eyes. I hadn’t realized I’d stopped looking at him. Probably because I felt guilty for mentioning ~my~ father’s name. For saying ~his~.

“Tell me the rest, kotik,” he said gently, but there was a hint of firmness in his voice. “Tell me what else you want from me.”

Oddly enough, instead of feeling threatened by his towering figure in front of me, I felt comforted.

“I need to find out what happened to my mother, Aleksandr.”

His brows knitted together, so I elaborated.

“There was nothing left of the Rostov estate after the attack. My mother worked there. I need to find out if she was killed. I haven’t been able to find any information about the attack or what happened to the estate. It just… disappeared.”

Understanding flashed in his eyes, and they softened slightly.

“If she was at the estate like you say, it is highly likely—”

“I need to know for sure,” I interrupted boldly. “For Irina. For ~me~. I need to know the truth.”

He nodded.

“And your father?”

My gaze returned to his before I wrapped my arms around myself and stared back out at the sea.

“I have no father.”

The soft rustle of fabric reached my ears, followed by the comforting weight of Aleksandr’s jacket settling on my shoulders. It was like being enveloped in a cocoon of warmth.

His scent, so uniquely him, filled my senses. I had to fight the urge to bury my face in the fabric, to breathe him in even more.

His lips brushed against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

“I’ll be as honest with you as you were with me,” he whispered, his voice a low murmur that made my heart race. “I know who you are, ~Kaia Rostova~.”

A gasp escaped my lips, and I tried to turn around, to face him. But his hands on my shoulders held me in place, his grip firm yet gentle.

“I’ll help you find the answers you’re looking for,” he continued, his voice steady. “But I need something from you in return.”