All Chapters of FURY OF THE HEART: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Elara's POV As the tension between us intensifies, Leo's breath seems harsh against my skin and his body seems hotter. Though my heart beats at a furious pace, I cannot look away from him. This man, this frightening, erratic energy, captures me emotionally as much as physically.Leo says, "Elara," low and raw, "you're playing a dangerous game."I ought to back off. Should advise him to cease—that is, to stop everything. I cannot, though. I refuse to.I swallow and my throat dries. "You believe I am ignorant of that?" Though I try to steady it, my voice trembles. "I already live too deep."The moonlight washes across the room, silvery glowing his face, and for a moment he seems softer, almost vulnerable. Still, that's only an illusion. Under that mask of frigid control, a man would burn the earth to fulfill his desires."What are you ready to gamble Elara?" Leo probes, his eyes blazing into me. His fingertips follow the edge of my jaw, and for a moment I forget everything—all except h

Elara’s POV "Wearing dark, tailored clothing, the man standing in the doorway smiles as though he knows something I do not. With cold, calculated eyes, he looks squarely at Leo. "Do you have no idea what's coming?” His slow, deliberate speech seems to be relishing the situation. Leo, you have created far too many adversaries. Now is the moment to pay the cost.With a hard jaw and hands locked into fists, Leo steps at him. The heat pouring from him seems to be barely restrained wrath. You don't scare me.The man laughs, a harsh, nearly nasty sound. "You ought to be afraid. Since your choices are running thin.I try to talk, to be noticeable, but my voice is just a whisper. "Who are you?"? My words falter, I stride forward and my body moves naturally toward Leo. He stares away from me, but I know he feels my proximity.At last the man looks at me; his eyes linger for a while before he turns back toward Leo. "I am the one finishing this. You have run out of time.I don't know. I can har

Elara's POV "I never intended this." Leo's voice breaks, and for a moment I can see the raw feeling in his eyes. I never wanted to pull you into this mess. But right now, there is nowhere out.His remarks float in the air like a dense fog. The room is frigid, there is great tension between us, and my heart is the only thing I can hear. Just moments ago, the surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins is starting to fade and is being replaced by something more dangerous and erratic. Something I cannot quite identify.I ought to have been ready for this. I should have realized that I would be caught in his whirl of violence, treachery, and danger the instant I crossed paths with him once more. But I hadn't expected this—this pull between us, the unspoken connection that defied death, no matter how hard we both tried to bury it.I whisper, trying to steady my breath, "You're not responsible for this," and step forward toward him. I stop myself even though my fingers yearn to reach out

Elara's POV "Don't move."The voice is firmly deep and dangerously close. From my ear, a breath away.My pulse thumping against my ribs, I freeze. My body hurts from whatever hit me before I passed out; my vision is fuzzy. Under me the floor is frigid, merciless. As I blink, my head whirls trying to clear the darkness pushing in.A hand firmly, possessively clutches my wrist. Though my motions are weak, I strive to distance myself."Where is me?" My voice comes out almost whisper-like, hoarse."Safe... for now," Viktor says, his grasp tightening briefly before releasing.Safest? Though my throat is dry and my body is too tired, I want to laugh. My muscles protesting, I gently raise myself. The room is barely lit, and the air is tense. I look about: stone walls, a single light hanging from the ceiling, and a hefty steel door at the far end."Why does it feel like I've been kidnapped?" I say a whisper.Viktor smiles, but his eyes show no fun. "Because you would have been if I hadn't go

Elara's POV “You are not dying for me.” Hiss the words between gritted teeth, yet in the strange silence of the corridor they could as well be a scream. Leo's body shields me like an immobile wall in front of me. His shirt is blood—his or someone else's—but his grip on the gun is solid. Not changed. He does not turn. That is not your choice to make My heart leaps against my ribs. His voice is crisp, edged with something unvarnished. Something deadly. The corridor echoes a slow, delighted laugh. Mikhail Orlov is just steps away, a weapon laid sloppily in his hand. Though he does not raise his rifle, his silver eyes gleam with laughter. He does not need to. His guys have surrounded us already. Viktor is by my side, his eyes darting to every conceivable escape and his shoulders heaving. Not one of them exists. Orlov moves onwards. "Did you really think you could run from me?" Leo stiffens his body. You have two seconds to disappear from my view before I lay a