Hidden Monsters (Volkov Bratva #4)(18)

Circling the car, he nearly ripped the door off its hinges as he snatched it open, his hand slapping down on her bare thighs as he dragged her across the seat, not caring that he was exposing more than just her legs to the cold air. For just a moment, his eyes drifted down to the apex of her thighs, but she snatched the front of her dress down before he could see anything. Hooking an arm around her waist, he easily lifted her out even as she fought against him, carrying her around the front until he got the passenger door open, and shoved her inside.

One look from him told her that if she moved an inch, she would regret it.

Once Natasha had climbed in the back, albeit reluctantly, Luka peeled out of there.

The sun was just breaking over the horizon, muted shades of peach and orange bracketing out by the time they made it back to the city. Natasha was dropped off first and Alex told herself not to pay attention, that there was no point, but she couldn’t help but gaze over and immediately wish she hadn’t.

Natasha was embracing him, whispering words that only he could hear, and at the very last second, her gaze connected with Alex’s as Luka returned her embrace. She could have played innocent, acted as if she didn’t realize the effect seeing that had on Alex, but instead, she smiled.

She wanted Alex to know that she had won a fight that Alex hadn’t realized the other girl was playing. And to make sure she got her point across, she kissed Luka’s cheek as he drew away.

Turning away, Alex faced the other direction, feeling like more of a fool than she had all night.

Unrequited love, Alex thought as Luka climbed back in, felt dangerously similar to a broken heart.

Heading back into the city was a silent affair. He was still angry with her, that much she could from the way he rhythmically squeezed the steering wheel. By the time they reached the penthouse, Alex was drained and more than ready to call it a night.

Swinging the car into a parking spot, Luka cut the engine, snapping off his seat belt, but he made no move to get out. She waited, expecting him to say something, but when he didn’t she reached for the door handle, turning to face him to say thanks. She might not have liked the company, but she was still grateful he had been there.

“Luka, th—”

“What you did was f*cking stupid, and if you—”

“If you’re about to lecture me,” she said cutting him off as he had done her. “Save it. I don’t need that shit from you.”

“You obviously need it from some-f*cking-body because it’s obvious not getting into that pretty little head of yours. Do you not realize that you could have died out there?”

“I know, Luka,” she snapped back. “I get it. I f*cked up. I admitted that. It won’t happen again, and next time I’m in trouble, I’ll make sure to call someone else.”

Exasperated, he slammed his fist down on the center console. “That’s not what this is about. Don’t you get that? I want you to call me whenever the f*ck you want, but not when shit has already hit the fan. You’re having a shit day, call me and let’s work that shit out before you feel the need to drink do reckless shit like wreck your brother’s car. You do realize he’d going to be pissed when he gets back…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll tell him it was my fault so you don’t—”

He twisted his body so he could see her better, and so that she could see the seriousness in his expression. “You really think I give a shit about that?”

“That’s the only conclusion I’m reaching.” But she knew that wasn’t completely true.

“You don’t think I care about you?” he asked, his voice gone soft in a way that made her really look at him. “How the f*ck is it obvious to everyone else but you that I give a shit what happens to you.”

She didn’t think she had ever heard him say those words aloud, and if she had heard them at any other time, she might have been giddy, but she didn’t feel none of that right then. “If you cared about me, then you wouldn’t have brought her with you. I mean, I get it. You’re f*cking her. Good for you. But don’t pretend you don’t know how I feel about you, and even if you don’t feel the same way, you could at least tell me that so I won’t—” she trailed off as she angrily wiped at her cheeks, hating the fact that even when she was mad, she cried.

“So you won’t what, Alex?” he asked, reaching to pull her hands away from her face.

God, she didn’t understand him. Why did he need to see the hurt in her? Why couldn’t he just say what she wanted him to say so she could walk away from him and be done with it all?

“I’m over it, Luka.”

Her grip on her hands grew stronger. “Don’t say that.”

“Why not?” she suddenly shouted back at him. “Why can’t you just say it, Luka. Just say, I don’t want you, Alex. Maybe then I can get past these stupid f*cking feelings.”

“Because I won’t ever lie to you. Even when I want to.”

More confused now than she had been before, Alex shook her head, pulling free of him as she climbed out of his Jeep and headed for the building without looking back.

He didn’t follow.





9

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Hiding





She felt like shit because she had nearly killed herself and had managed to nearly total Mishca’s car. Something he was not going to be happy about once she told him since he and Lauren were back home from Sardinia. Since that night, she had adamantly avoided Luka, even ignoring his phone calls. She only sent him a text now and again to let him know that she was okay so he wouldn’t come looking for her, but she knew that would only keep him away for so long.