HER VENGEANCE, HIS OBSESSION

Chapter 10

Maya's POV

“Get that thing off my head,” I hissed.

“Who the hell are you?” Zakhar asked again, his gun still pointed at my head.

I stared at him.

“Seriously? I'm the one supposed to be asking that question here. What the f**k are you doing here, if I may ask?”

His expression remained cold.

Oh, please. I’m the one who should be pissed. He just ruined years of planning by showing up. I could’ve died in there if I hadn’t kept a spare pocket knife in my boots and took care of those motherfuckers.

I'm glad I made them pay, but now I have zero information.

God, I hate this s**t.

I was also covered in blood and desperately needed a bath.

“Answer the damn question,” Zakhar asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“No,” I replied.

He stepped closer, his gun never leaving my head.

“Don't get on my nerves right now, Maya. I'm not afraid to blow your brains out. Who. Are. You?”

“Oh my God, I'm shaking in my boots,” I said dryly. “How about a question for a question? What do you say?”

“Cute.” he deadpanned.

“You were the one who asked for my identity or whatever.”

He stared at me. I stared right back.

He looked like he wanted to speak but paused before signaling for me to continue.

Neither of us spoke.

Eventually, he lowered his gun slightly.

“Fine. You go first.”

I raised an eyebrow but nevertheless answered.

“So Mr. Zakhar,” I made air quotes around ‘Mr. Zakhar’, totally loving the way his jaw clenched. “Who are you, and what are you doing here with guns and those dudes? Are you stalking me or something? I thought you were into business?”

He studied me for a second before answering.

“I am Zakhar Mikhail. Yes, I am a businessman, at least in the public’s eye, but I'm also a Pakhan of the Bratva, and those are my men.” He gestured toward the men behind him, guns in hand ready, prepared to follow their boss' next order.

“Pakhan? What the hell is a Pakhan, and Bratva? You're going to have to explain a bit further,” I asked, clearly confused.

“You wanted a question for a question. You asked yours. Now it's my turn,” he said, completely ignoring my request.

Bastardo!

Translation: Bastard!

“Who are you, Maya?

“Maya Belladonna at your service.” I gave a little salute with the knife in hand.

His jaw clenched.

Check-f*****g-mate, asshole.

“Okay, my turn. Answer the questions I asked.”

I swear, if looks could kill, I'd be somewhere underground by now.

“The Bratva is a Russian criminal organization. I'm the one in charge of the Mikhail Bratva.”

I stared at him.

“So you're basically a Russian mafia boss?”

“Yes.”

Well, that tracks.

“You do fit the brooding mafia boss type.”

I could have sworn I heard a snort from behind him.

He glared at me, opening his mouth to ask another question.

I held up a hand.

“Okay, before you start another interrogation, can we just stop?”

His eyebrows drew together.

“I have another question.”

“Of course you do.” I sighed. “But I'm tired.”

He stared at me.

I gestured toward myself.

“Look, I'm covered in blood, I've been knocked out for God knows how long, and my head is killing me. So, unless your next question is whether I need a bath, save it.”

“So what do you expect me to do about that?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Take me to your house,” I stated.

He looked taken aback, or rather, insulted.

“And why would I do such a thing?” he asked, looking mad.

“Because I'm tired and smelly.”

“That isn't a valid reason.”

“It is to me.”

He scoffed.

“You expect me to take you to my home after everything that happened tonight?”

I shrugged.

“Why not?”

“Look at yourself,” he said.

“I'm looking, and still tired.”

He stared at me like I had just said the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard.

“You're covered in blood.”

“I noticed.”

His jaw tightened.

“And somehow, your biggest concern is taking a bath?”

I shrugged.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, sighed, then glanced at his men before looking back at me.

“Fine.”

“Fine?” I echoed.

“You're coming with us.”

My eyebrows shot up.

“Really?”

“Are you coming or not?” he asked, already heading toward the three SUVs parked nearby.

How did I not notice them?

I hurried after Zakhar, catching up just as he reached the first SUV.

He stopped beside the door and looked at me.

“What?”

“You are not bringing that to my home,” he warned, eyeing my knife.

“Watch me.” I shot back.

He said nothing and got into the car. As the SUV started moving, Zakhar moved before I could blink.

One second, the knife was in my hand.

The next, it was gone.

I heard a clink from outside.

“What the—”

I rolled down the window and spotted my knife.

“What the f**k is your problem?” I snapped at him, but he ignored me.

“f*****g asshole,” I muttered under my breath.

He must have heard me because he gave me a look, but I ignored him and crossed my arms.

We drove in silence until the SUV slowed to a stop.

I looked out the window and immediately recognized the massive iron gates.

We were back at Zakhar's house.

Thank God.

The gates opened, and the SUV rolled onto the driveway.

I stared at the mansion. It looked exactly as I remembered, only now I could actually take in the view.

The mansion was ridiculously huge, surrounded by tall iron gates and perfectly trimmed hedges. Dark stone walls, towering windows, and warm lights gave it a luxurious yet intimidating appearance.

The SUV stopped at the entrance.

About damn time. I couldn't stand another minute with this man.

I jumped out, stretched, and followed him inside.

Thankfully, the house was empty.

“Anna will take you to a room for you to take a shower in.”

Before I could ask who Anna was, an elderly-looking woman with a few strands of white hair came in front of me.

She had a polite smile on her face.

“This is Anna, our head maid.” he said, gesturing towards her. There was a hint of softness in his eyes as he looked at her.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked away. I watched as he disappeared down the hallway.

I turned back to Anna, who still wore that creepy polite smile.

“Come with me, Miss Belladonna,” she instructed.

Miss Belladonna? That sounded weird coming from an elderly person.

“Uh, please just call me Maya,” I insisted, following her.

“Okay, Miss Maya,” she replied, walking like her legs had engines.

Meh, close enough.

After a few turns, we reached the room they’d prepared for me.

Anna opened the door and stepped aside.

The room was spacious, with warm ivory walls, dark wooden furniture, and a large attached bathroom.

Definitely not the room I’d slept in last time.

My eyes landed on the bathroom door.

Finally… heaven.

“There are fresh towels inside, and clothes have been prepared for you,” Anna said.

I glanced at her.

“Clothes?”

She nodded toward the neatly folded clothes sitting on the edge of the bed.

Huh. Looks like they'd prepared for my arrival.

“Thank you.” I gave her a grateful smile.

“You're welcome, Miss Maya.”

I sighed, “It's just Maya.”

She smiled politely, “I'll try to remember that.”

“Right.”

Anna gave me one last smile before leaving.

The door clicked shut, and I rushed to the bathroom.

To my surprise, there was a bathtub.

I quickly drew a bath and sank into the warm water with a long sigh.

I wanted to cry from happiness. I pushed the entire tattoo and kidnapping fiasco from my mind and simply enjoyed my first warm bath in months.

After what felt like forever, I dried off, and slipped into the clothes they'd left for me.

Why were they big on me? And why do they smell like a familiar blue-eyed asshole?

Oh hell no.

Don't tell me they were his.

I sniffed them.

Yep. They were Zakhar f*****g Mikhail’s.

I'm going to kill that prick.

Just as I reached for the door, Anna walked in, her polite smile vanishing at the sight of my expression.

“Is everything alright ma'am?” she asked, looking concerned.

“Yes, please do you know where Zakhar is?” I asked, my patience running thin.

“He should be in the study,” she said with a polite smile.

“Can you show me?” I demanded.

Anna hesitated.

“Would you like me to tell him you're coming?”

“No.”

She blinked.

“I want to talk to him about something personal.”

It's going to get personal, alright, when I kick him right in the balls.

“Okay ma'am. Come with me.”

I marched after her through another long hallway until she stopped at a large wooden door and turned to me.

“This is Mr. Mikhail's study,” she announced.

I nodded.

“Thanks, Anna,” I replied, already plotting on how to make him pay.

She gave me her polite smile and left.

I stared at the door for a second.

Well, no point standing around.

I barged in without knocking.

“You asshole.”

He looked up from whatever he was doing and had the audacity to look annoyed.

“Glad to see that you're all cleaned and sparkling,” he remarked dryly.

“What is the meaning of this? Why did you give me your clothes?” I demanded, clearly pissed.

“There weren't any clothes in your size, so take a seat,” he simply said.

Who does this guy think he is?

“I'm not some f*****g dog. If you need someone to bark orders at, boss your men around, not me,” I stated, folding my arms.

A muscle in his jaw ticked, but his expression remained annoyingly calm.

“Are you finished?” he asked.

I glared at him.

“Now, sit your goddamn ass down. I'll ask you questions, and you’ll answer every one of them. You’re in no position to talk back or act like a f*****g brat. If you do, you’ll suffer the consequences.You got that?” he ordered.

I wanted to argue, but the look in his eyes told me he wasn't joking.

So, I plopped my butt onto his precious seat.

“There, happy?” I grumbled.

Those icy-blue eyes fixed me with a hard stare.

“Not quite. Now, Maya Belladonna, who are you?”

“I’m just a person looking for answers.” I kept my expression neutral.

But the look he gave me told me he wanted more.

I internally groaned.

I hate this guy.

“My reasons for being there are mine and mine alone. Just know I had my reasons.”

He stared at me for a moment, seeming to calculate his next move.

His next word knocked the living daylights out of me.

“Until you tell me what your intentions are, you’ll stay here under strict supervision. You won't leave unless at least three of my men are with you.”

What. The. f**k.

“Oh and your job? Forget about it. Starting from tomorrow, you will work for me.”

My blood ran cold, and my body stiffened in my seat.

“Welcome to your personal hell, Malenkaya gadyuka,” he said with a dark smirk.

Translation: Little viper.

I think I bit more than I could chew.