Reign of a Billionaire : A Dark Mafia Enemies-to-Lovers Romance

Alexei shot us both a glare that said he’d love to make us hurt.

Man, this expedition was so much fucking fun. Even if it failed and Sofia Volkov walked out alive, I didn’t think I’d be forgetting it anytime soon.

Chapter 45Liana

Alexei Nikolaev was a killer.

I recognized one when I saw one. After all, I grew up surrounded by them. His tattoos screamed Don’t fuck with me, but I was inclined to poke the bear. Maybe I’d developed suicidal tendencies somewhere along the way.

In his black uniform that hugged his muscles, you could say he was beautiful in a lethal kind of way. But one look into his eyes and game-fucking-over. Those were Medusa eyes that could freeze your heart and soul.

And it was exactly that which made me recoil.

I recognized the brokenness and darkness that stared back at me. I saw the same in Kingston’s eyes. And every time I looked at my reflection. I refused to back down, watching my own nightmares play in that pale blue gaze of his.

“Okay, you two,” Kingston interrupted. “Stop this bickering and get moving.” I huffed and Kingston stepped forward, unapologetically invading my space. “Are we going to have a problem, Liana?”

The rhythm of my heart sped up as our gazes clashed, but there was a hint of fire brewing beneath the surface of his dark eyes.

“For Christ’s sake,” Alexei muttered. “Save the foreplay for later.”

My spine straightened as a blush crept up my neck, so I glared back at him. “Stop being a pervert.”

But before he could respond, a loud boom echoed in the air, shaking the ground beneath our feet.

For a moment, I was frozen. Time stood still as my life flashed before my eyes, but the images were so distorted and confusing. My sister. Me.

Where’s Liana?

I thought I heard my mother’s voice in my ringing ears. Who’s Liana? I thought I was dying. All my dreams were dying right alongside me. Louisa died.

And then someone grabbed my shoulder, pushing me to the ground. My knees hit the hard pavement and my chest followed, knocking the breath from my lungs.

I turned my head—left, then right—then registered Kingston’s body covering mine, and Alexei’s savage grip on the back of my head. I tried to lift my head, but he refused to let up. My breathing was labored, my ears were buzzed, and I started to shake.

“I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.” The words left my lips on a chant while my eyes burned from the smoke.

Alexei loosened his grip finally, giving me the illusion of freedom, and it was all I needed.

“Breathe, Liana.” Kingston’s deep voice penetrated through the noise in my ears and panic in my mind. The shrill sound of terrified screams invaded my head. Where’s Liana? I was helpless. Who’s Liana? I was broken.

Louisa died. She died because of me. “Fucking look at me.”

I turned my head to meet his eyes, finding safety in them. My lips parted, and I inhaled a big gulp of air. My body was shaking so hard I found it impossible to stop.

“Another breath.” His command was impossible to refuse. “Good, now another.” My chaotic breathing evened out, and his gaze never let go. “Better?”

I held on to him for dear life, needing his strength. I swallowed and closed my eyes until slowly but surely, I regained control of my breathing.

“Yes, thank you.”

He nodded, and we both turned to find Alexei watching us with those eyes that would make the glaciers of the Arctic jealous. Kingston shifted off me, then helped me to my feet. It was only then that the chaos around us came into view.

Alexei’s men were fine. So was he. But the debris and smoke around us would make it hard to get back to our vehicle. The warehouse was on fire, so we needed to get as far away as possible.

“We better put some distance between us and this place,” Alexei instructed.

He went to move and I reached out, grabbing his sleeve.

“But there’s someone in the basement.” He looked at me, then lowered his gaze to my fingers clutching his sleeve. Startled and surprised at myself, I released him. “Sorry, I… don’t usually do that.”

“Don’t what?”

I cleared my throat, something stuck in it. “Freak out. Or… touch people.” Not unless I had to kill them, but it was best not to say that.

“We need to get to the basement,” Kingston stated calmly, as if hanging out at a bomb site was an everyday occurrence. “They wouldn’t be blowing this shit up if there was nothing to hide.”

“Or maybe it’s a trap,” Alexei pointed out.

I inhaled another deep breath and met their gazes. “I’m not leaving here if there’s a chance there’s someone in that basement,” I said with a note of frustration. “Dead or alive.”

Without another look their way, I tramped through the debris and smiled to myself when I heard their footsteps behind me. Something told me they’d never allow me to go inside alone, and the thought filled me with a warmth I hadn’t felt in so long.

I wasn’t alone. Not anymore.