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CHAPTER NINETEEN
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2024-10-29 19:42:56ALEXEI
The air was filled with the rich aroma of leather and expensive cologne, setting the stage for the impending meeting with the Polish Don and his crew. These men reveled in luxury, surrounded by velvet and mahogany, a far cry from the gritty days of my youth. The Poles demanded elegance, and I was not one to settle for less.
Yaz and Viktor, kept a close watch, their eyes scanning the room for any signs of trouble. In this world, even among supposed allies, trust was a scarce commodity, especially after Mikhail's betrayal.
Today, my focus was on the Polish, a man whose influence resonated like steel, his seasoned gaze a testament to a lifetime in the underworld.
Leaving Yelena and Zoey with Ivan gnawed at me, a familiar knot of unease tightening in my gut.
They were an unlikely pair, the fiery journalist and the golden princess, yet their laughter had become a balm to the silence in this rich prison. I had only glimpsed
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BLOODSTAINED HEARTS CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
ZOEYMy fingers dug into the skin, the pain grounding me as my heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. Alexei's retreating figure, broad and sun-kissed, receded into the twilight, each step a hammer blow to my already bruised ego."Shakily" doesn't begin to describe the way my body betrayed me. My legs trembled, the ground beneath them suddenly unsteady. My breath, shallow and ragged, hitched in my throat like a sob I refused to let out.The kiss, oh God, the kiss. It was a supernova, a collision of galaxies that left me breathless and dizzy in its wake.No one, not the awkward boys in school or the drunken fools at parties, had ever kissed me like that. Alexei's lips, rough yet tender, had claimed mine with a possessive hunger that sent shivers down my spine. His hands, calloused yet somehow gentle, had cupped my face, tilting it up to meet the storm of his desire.And
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ALEXEI I was in my office, the heavy oak door framing a picture of stoic control. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting dancing shadows on the bookshelves crammed with leather-bound volumes, each a silent testament to the Pushkin legacy. Yet, I couldn't focus on the crackling flames or the comforting aroma of pipe tobacco. My mind, usually a battlefield of strategic maneuvers and calculated risks, was consumed by the memory of her kiss. Zoey. Her lips, soft and yielding beneath mine, had ignited a fire within me, a wildfire that threatened to consume the carefully constructed walls I'd built around my heart. I poured myself another glass of amber liquid, the rich burn of the vodka offering a poor substitute for the lingering warmth of her touch. My fingers traced the rim of the crystal glass, the echo of her name resonating in the stillness. Little sparrow. The nickname had slipped out, a possessive murmur against her ear, a stark contrast to the cold, calculating persona I pre
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ALEXEIThe air was thick with tension as we stepped out of the salon. Zoey's anger radiated like heat waves, and I couldn't help but find her defiance both infuriating and intriguing. She had a spirit that refused to be tamed, and that was both exasperating and exhilarating."Welcome to the family, Zoey," I said, smirking at her obvious discomfort.She shot me a withering look. "Don't get too comfortable, Mr. Pushkin. This marriage changes nothing for me."I chuckled. "We'll see about that."As we made our way back to the estate, Zoey walked beside me with an air of defiance. I couldn't deny the thrill of having her by my side, even if it was against her will. This marriage was a strategic move, a way to bind her to me in a way she couldn't escape.Back at the estate, the news of our impromptu wedding had spread like wildfire. The guards and staff greeted us with a mix of surprise and curiosity, their whispers following us a
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ZOEYAfter the so called celebratory feast, Alexei led me to his private wing in the estate. Though I was angry with him, that did not stop me from marveling at his part of the mansion.It was exquisitely beautiful and breathtaking.But as we entered the private quarters, my mind raced with thoughts of escape. This marriage was a nightmare, and I refused to accept it as my reality. Alexei seemed to revel in his victory, but I wasn't about to play the obedient wife.He gestured toward the opulent room. "This is our new living space. Get used to it."I scoffed, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. "I don't need your fancy rooms. And don't get too comfortable thinking you've won."He chuckled, infuriatingly amused by my defiance. "You're a feisty one. I like that."I shot him a glare. "This marriage is a joke. I won't be your puppet."He leaned in, his gaze intense. "You may not have chosen this, but
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ALEXEIThe room was dimly lit, the air thick with tension as Mikhail's piercing gaze met mine. The moment felt suspended in time, the weight of our shared history palpable in the charged atmosphere.I took a step forward, my eyes never leaving Mikhail's. "You didn't think I'd come knocking, did you?"Mikhail chuckled, a sardonic smile playing on his lips. "Alexei, my old friend, I must admit, this is unexpected. What brings you to my humble abode?"I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at his feigned innocence. "Cut the act, Mikhail. We both know the game we've been playing."He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "Game? This is no game, Alexei. It's survival. And in this world, only the strong survive."I scoffed at his pseudo-philosophical posturing. "Survival doesn't justify the lives you've ruined, the chaos you've sown. You've crossed too many lines, Mikhail."His eyes narrowed, a flicker of irritation
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