Chapter 4

•Vladimir•

~•~

I stood at the base of the grand staircase, dim lighting casting shadows that stretched like dark tendrils across the marble floor. My hands were shoved in my pockets, fingers tapping rhythmically against my thighs as I waited for my prey tonight – Sergei Petrov.

The anticipation was a slow burn in my veins, simmering into something darker.

Tonight was not just a normal night—it was a battlefield, and I planned on winning.

When Orlov descended the stairs, bringing with him one of Sergei’s men captured by my subordinates, a slow grin formed on my lips. I had never been excited about dealing with riffraff before, but tonight, I was. And all because of Daisy, my little hellcat who had decided to walk back into my life at the perfect time.

For three years, I’d combed every inch of the city, Illinois was her hometown, searching for any sign of her, but she had vanished into thin air. And now, she had willingly come to me. Who was I to reject such a beautiful offer? The only thing was that coming back to me would be the worst decision she had ever made.

Orlov brought the man to his knees. His face was battered, lips swollen as though stung by a bee. Orlov knew how to handle things to my satisfaction.

“I’ll be straightforward. Where is Sergei?” I asked in a calm tone.

The man shook his head, blood spilling from his mouth. He was in pain, sure, but not enough for me if he doesn’t decide to tell the truth.

“I don’t know where he is. I’m honest, believe me!” he cried.

“Okay.” I shrugged and walked to the metal table by the corner of the wall. I picked up a sharp blade and returned to him.

“Since you’ve proven yourself useless, I might as well wish you farewell to hell.” With that, I raised my hand and sliced his head off, ignoring his screams as blood splashed across my face. His head rolled to the ground.

I stared at the blood on the blade and released a deep growl. Shit. I wasn’t satisfied.

“Where is that little rat?” I asked Orlov slowly.

“Sergei figured out we were in Chicago for him, so he’s on the run with his men,” Orlov informed.

I chuckled. That silly little rat. “Location?”

“The car is already prepared, sir,” Orlov said. I nodded.

“Have someone discard his body to the vultures,” I ordered and walked away.

Locating Sergei was almost too easy. My chest burned with anticipation, ready for a long game, but it didn’t work out that way. My men had successfully rounded up the shabby place where Sergei was hiding, and as I stepped out of the car, gunshots erupted into the night.

The bastard was already aware of our presence. Well, that made it more intense.

In no time, Sergei’s men were down, leaving only him, pressed against the wall, occasionally throwing fearful glances my way. Orlov moved to act, but I stopped him with a wave of my hand. Sergei was mine; I would deal with him personally.

I pulled my gun back, reached into my jacket pocket, and brought out a pocket knife. Targeting the part of Sergei’s body that wasn’t fully hidden by the wall, I threw the knife.

A yelp escaped his lips as he fell to the floor, grunting in pain. Nice catch.

I strode toward him, and before he could reach for his gun, I kicked it away with my leg.

“If I knew capturing you was this easy, I wouldn’t have flown all the way from Russia to Illinois,” I said, pressing my boot into the arm the knife had cut. He howled in pain.

“But I don’t exactly regret it,” I continued, thinking of Daisy. Knowing she was in my penthouse, waiting for me, I wanted nothing more than to finish this quickly and go back to her.

“Save me, please. I didn’t intend to infiltrate your clan,” Sergei blurted in pain.

“I know.” The hilt of my gun hit his skull once, twice, then thrice.

“I’m giving you an easy death. Be grateful.”

I struck him again and again, indentations of mottled flesh and muscle forming with each blow. Blood dotted my lip, and when I was satisfied, I dropped the gun. But my leg lifted at the same time, driving my foot into his face with full force. By the time I was done, there were no remaining features to recognize him by, the mangled mass of his corpse lay like an offering for burial rites.

My eyes glinted with satisfaction as I moved away, wiping my bloody lips with the back of my palm.

“Take care of his body,” I ordered sternly and began walking out. Sergei was gone. Now Daisy was next.

The drive back to the penthouse was short; I had instructed Orlov to speed past the usual limit. Because of my bloodstained clothes, we used the back door and took the elevator to the 100th floor. Not that I cared about people seeing me covered in blood, I just didn’t want unnecessary drama.

Reaching the penthouse, my steps faltered when I saw her: Daisy, lying on the large sofa, deeply asleep.

My eyes didn’t leave her as they wandered over her milky legs. She looked fucking delectable. Her long chestnut hair cascaded down her back in perfect spirals, begging me to run my fingers through it.

And I realized the lover she had left me for must have had a better view than I did from here. The surge of anger that coursed through me was almost suffocating.

Daisy blinked, forcing her eyes open. When they met mine, she sat up in fright. Her eyes widened as they landed on my bloodstained clothes, and she gasped loudly.

I didn’t care. All I felt was anger and pure rage toward her.

When I took a step closer, she shifted back, yelling, “Don’t come closer!”

I ignored her screams and leaned closer, bending to her level. “You see this?” I pointed at the blood on my clothes. “It’s human blood. And if you don’t behave yourself, your blood might be next.”

Her eyes widened, but she said nothing. She couldn’t.

I could taste her fear, and it was intoxicating.

“Good girl,” I said, patting her cheek, then stood up. “Sleep all you want tonight. We leave for Russia tomorrow.”