Tempted by Deception (Deception Trilogy #2) - Rina Kent Page 0,112

his eyes on her and she takes a step back.

“Keep her locked up until I figure out what to do with her.”

“No! I did nothing wrong.” She steps back further and turns to run, but trips over her long robe and shrieks as she falls, her head hitting the counter. Blood splashes on the tile as her body slips down with a thud, her lips open and her eyes blinking slowly.

Kolya reaches for her, but I stop him. “Track Lia. Let Ogla take care of the imposter.”

Then I’m out the door, Kolya following behind me.

The red mist that I only see when Lia is involved covers my vision and all I can think about is that she left.

She fucking ran.

I never thought she’d leave Jeremy behind, but she went ahead and did it. She had enough of pretending and escaped.

Probably to be with her lover.

She not only cheated on me, but she also went to him. They’re probably both laughing at my expense, thinking they’ve gotten away with it.

Fuck that.

If anything, they should both be ready for my wrath. As I promised her, I will kill him in a slow death in front of her eyes and fuck her in his blood.

Then I’m bringing her home.

39

Lia

Rai has agreed to help me.

At first, she was hesitant about going against Adrian since, like the entire brotherhood—or the whole crime world, actually—no one wants to get on his bad side. My husband has the ability to inflict irrevocable damage that no one can escape. He may be silent, but his wrath is lethal.

He’s the type who learns someone’s weakness, exploits it, then suffocates them with it until they wish for death.

I guess that’s what he did to me.

The only difference is that he showed me a side of him I fell in love with, then he took it away, leaving me with painful emotions and hope for nothing.

My gaze strays through the window, watching the empty road go by as Rai’s guard, Ruslan, drives me to a safe house.

I miss Jeremy and his beautiful smile. I miss how he draws me and his father together as if we’re some sort of a happy family. Not seeing him since this morning is messing with my already screwed-up head. I don’t know how the hell I’ll survive a week without his bright energy and contagious smile.

He’s probably asleep by now, having joyful dreams.

I wonder if Winter is sleeping in my bed, fucking Adrian because he looks ‘smoking hot.’ I wonder if he’s already replaced me with her—touching her, driving into her, and cradling her body into his.

Moisture stings my eyes at the image and I shake my head. I will not think about it. Everything has been said and done, and now I have to focus on the future.

But that doesn’t mean those thoughts don’t slice my heart open deep enough to leave a hole.

“Fuck.” Ruslan’s low curse pulls me out of my reverie.

“What?”

“I think we’re being followed, Mrs. Volkov.” He stares at the rear-view mirror.

I shift in the seat to look behind me and my eyes are met with bright, almost blinding headlights.

No.

Adrian couldn’t have found me after all the trouble I went through.

He should be with Winter.

A small part of my heart revels at the idea that her identical appearance didn’t fool him, that he knew it wasn’t me.

But the bigger part wants to break free of my shackles, to just be free of him and his cold shoulder and the way he’s killing me slowly.

“Can’t you go faster?” I urge him.

“Mrs. Sokolov can’t be implicated in this. If Adrian finds out she helped you…”

He will ruin her.

I know he will, and because of that, Ruslan can’t let me implicate Rai. All the doors are closing in my face, and I know I can’t go far, nor can I endanger Rai when she went out of her way to help me.

“Do you have a weapon you can lend me?” I ask.

Ruslan’s brow furrows. “My spare knife.”

“That’ll do.” I’d prefer a gun, but it’s better than nothing.

He reaches into his glove box, pulls out a hunting knife, and hands it to me.

I suck in a deep breath. “Drop me off at a location where they can’t see you.”

“Are you sure, Mrs. Volkov?”

“It’s the only way to protect you and Rai. Please leave before he catches you, or all of you will be in danger.”

He gives a curt nod and accelerates, taking a swift turn toward the forest. Gravel and dirt crunch under the car’s