Freedom.
It might be fleeting, but it felt so good. I tipped my head back and relished in the sensation of the sun on my skin, the salty air on my tongue. I could hear the waves crashing in the distance, and a jolt of happiness shot through me.
I started walking, then running, faster and harder, my muscles screaming from the effort. Sweat rolled down my back, the jeans I wore too hot for this. But I ignored it all.
It felt like hours of running, although it couldn’t have been more than five or ten minutes when I stopped abruptly.
White sand greeted me and I stepped onto it, my shoes squeaking. The sun cast a beautiful shade of bubblegum pink in the sky, its reflection bouncing off the smooth surface of the water. It was a picture-perfect sight.
The fingertips on my left hand zinged in that old, familiar way, eager to grip a pencil and sketch, immortalizing this view. I brought my right hand to my left wrist, wrapping my fingers around it as I twisted it in a circular motion, a habit I’d picked up somewhere over the years.
I kicked off my shoes and unbuttoned my jeans, pushing them down my legs. Left in my panties and T-shirt, I walked down to the water. I waded up to my thighs, reveling in the salty water lapping at my legs.
The cool water felt refreshing and relaxing, my tension slowly seeping away. A prickling sensation traveled down my spine, and I looked behind me. Dark eyes were trained on me, making my breath catch.
Kingston.
His presence hovered over the beach like a dark cloud as he studied me. Slowly, I waded out of the water, holding his gaze until my feet touched the sand again.
“You’re ruining my sunny day.”
No answer, just that heated gaze touching my skin.
My blood thrummed in my ears, our last encounter still fresh in our minds. Something in his gaze held me captive. I could still feel his hands on my body, his hard body pressed against mine. A bead of sweat rolled down my spine despite the cool water and light breeze caressing my exposed skin.
I realized it wasn’t my best move to be caught with my pants down—literally—as one of the most lethal men in the underworld aimed his attention on me.
“How about some privacy?” I asked, reaching for my discarded jeans.
“It’s too late for that. After all, I tasted your pussy. Privacy is a moot point now.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Nonetheless, I’d like some now.” I held my breath, waiting for him to move. Or to at least acknowledge me. He didn’t do either. “Fine, stare away.” I rolled my eyes. “I shouldn’t be surprised you’re not averting your eyes like a gentleman.”
I held his eyes as I discarded my wet panties and put on my dry jeans. To his credit, his gaze didn’t dip lower. He folded his muscular arms over his chest, his dark tattoos on full display, and his eyes locked with mine.
Ever since that game of Russian roulette, I’d been captivated by this man, and it turned out he might be just as nuts as I was.
“I’m not.”
“You’re not what?” I said, tilting my head to the side.
He studied me for another second before speaking, his voice deep. “I’m not a gentleman.”
“You could have fooled me,” I remarked wryly.
He tilted his chin toward the sea. “Isn’t snow more your thing?”
I shrugged. “Isn’t hell more yours?”
A ghost of a smile appeared on his face, and something fluttered in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t like it. The things I was feeling were disturbing and unwanted. Yet, controlling it was as futile as swallowing oxygen underwater.
Chapter 44Kingston
She hadn’t tried to kill me despite the toll my questioning had on her. Yes, some of her questions enraged me, but if I was honest, it was more self-directed. Every second of Louisa’s torture that I had to witnessed flayed me to this day.
Liana was right, I should have saved her. Neither one of us should be here without her. And yet…
I looked out the window only to find Liana, a mere faded version of my past lover, roaming the grounds. It would be so easy to forget that Louisa died and pretend she was here with me, but I knew better than to think that would work for Liana.
The woman was infuriating, beautiful, and cunning.
Sofia had made her into a femme fatale killer, but she had also lost control of her daughter along the way. Liana used her skills to protect herself and the innocent people who crossed her mother’s path.
I trailed her movements as she headed to the gazebo. She kept kicking up rocks with her sandals, and the image reminded me of what she and her sister used to do when they had nothing else to entertain themselves with.
When Sofia first assigned me to be their bodyguard, the twins were wary of me. After all, they’d witnessed me murder a man in cold blood. But as the months went by, slowly but surely, we became fast friends who shared a common dream: escape.
As if she could feel the weight of my gaze on her, Liana lifted her head and eyed my office window. Her brows drew together, huffing a breath of frustration.
“Stop staring,” she mouthed.
I slunk back behind my blinds.
For years, I’d suffered, refusing to be open with anyone. And now, for the first time since Louisa’s death, my heart was beating steadily and my soul was a little less scarred.
I stood from my seat, ready to go join her outside because it would seem I was unable to keep away from the woman, when my phone buzzed.
Alexei: Sofia has been spotted in Montenegro.
I frowned. What was she doing there?
Me: Do we know why?
Alexei’s response was instant.
The word on the street is that she’s looking for the Popov guy.
I read the message several times. Barely a year ago, I’d helped my brother Winston rescue his wife from Danil Popov. Danil was a criminal, but he didn’t seem like the type of man who’d engage or work with Sofia Volkov.
Me: Danil Popov?
Alexei: I’m guessing. Know him?
Me: Know of him.
I dialed up my brother, the ringing on the other end of the line the longest I’d ever heard, but it wasn’t my brother’s voice that picked up. It was my sister-in-law’s.
“Hello, Kingston.”
“Billie.” I didn’t waste any time getting to business. “I need Winston.”
“Ummm, he’s talking to Danil right now.”
Surprise, surprise. Winston had made an unlikely friend in Danil, not that I understood it. Personally, I’d have gutted the man and then pulled out all his teeth.
“On the phone?” I asked.
“No, face-to-face.” My jaw clenched. Winston would have already given me the entire fucking story by now, but instead, I was having to drag it out of Billie. I knew I made her nervous, so I tried to be considerate, but there were times—like now—where it’d be easier to just have her step aside.
“Where and why?” I needed to know whether the lead on Sofia was reliable. “Actually, tell him it’s urgent, and it concerns Danil too.”
“Huh?”
“Billie, put. Winston. On. The. Fucking. Phone.”
Fuck, Winston was going to be pissed off when he learned about this. To Billie’s credit, she just huffed, and I could hear her faint voice through the headset as she spoke to Winston.
“Kingston wants to talk to you. And he’s being a cranky bitch.”
I let out an exasperated breath. Time to stop handling my sister-in-law with delicate gloves. It turned out she’d grown a set of balls sometime over the last year.
“Kingston,” Winston greeted me.
“Watch Danil’s expression,” I instructed. “And put me on speakerphone.”
He didn’t hesitate. “You’re on speakerphone, Kingston.”
I got straight to business. “Danil, are you meeting or have you already met with Sofia Volkov?”
His response was immediate. “Fuck no. That bitch is crazy.”