Empire of Sin (Empire #2) by Rina Kent

“You need to leave, Knox. I’ll show you a back entrance where there aren’t many cameras…”

I grab her hand and interlink our fingers. “I’m going nowhere. It’s time I meet your family.”

Then I’m pulling her out of the room in the midst of her continuous protests. The moment we step out, she gasps, her hand trembling in mine, and I realize it’s because we’re face to face with an older white-haired man who has Anastasia’s exact eyes but with no innocence in them.

Her relation to him is confirmed when she whispers in a horrified tone, “Papa.”





39





ANASTASIA





A tremor jolts through my limbs and I freeze.

Ever since I saw Knox on the balcony, I knew this would happen.

I knew he’d get caught by someone. Anyone. I just didn’t think it’d be Papa himself.

You don’t get into the Pakhan’s house while he’s surrounded by his leaders and guards and hope to leave unscathed.

But I thought we had more time with the way all of them were preoccupied with the Yakuza stuff. I thought I could make Knox leave before they found him.

I might have let my vulnerability take hold of me for a while. I might have missed him so much that I just wanted to touch him, to make sure this wasn’t one of my cruel dreams that I’d soon wake up from.

I wasn’t jolted awake this time. Everything was real, whether it’s the way he kissed me, held me by the throat, or fucked me.

No, it wasn’t all fucking. At some point, he was making love to me while staring into my eyes.

At some point, he brought his forts down and allowed me to see him. All of him. Not the put-together lawyer who can blind anyone with his charisma, but the boy he once was. The broken, wounded boy he refuses to let anyone see.

But he let me. Only me.

I swear something inside me melted and fused with him at that moment. No idea what, but he’s holding it even now as we stare at Papa, Vladimir, and Adrian.

The most powerful men in the Bratva.

They’re not looking at me, though. Their hawk-like attention is on Knox and his grip on my hand. I try to release him, but he just tightens his hold on my fingers, refusing to budge.

“What is this?” Papa asks in his firm tone that rattles me to my bones.

My throat is dry and the words are stuck, but the stern look in my father’s gaze propels me to fumble for words. “I…I can explain, Papa…he…he’s…”

“I’m the man who loves your daughter and I refuse to leave without her.”

“Knox!” I hiss low, my wild gaze flying to my father’s.

“Then you won’t leave. Not alive, at least,” he says, then motions with two fingers at his guards who charge forward at Knox.

The worst-case scenario materializes in front of me as Papa’s buff guard reaches for him. I don’t even think about it as I jump in front of Knox, trying to ward off their malicious intentions.

“Papa…please don’t do this.”

“I told you to cut off all ties with him, Anastasia, but you didn’t. So we’re doing this my way.”

The guards push me aside and I trip, but Knox grips me by the arm to keep me standing.

I grab onto him as if he’s a lifeline. If he’s going to hurt Knox, he’ll have to hurt both of us.

Knox, however, steps in front of me, partly shielding me from my father. His broad shoulders are the only thing I see and I find solace in that. Safety in the midst of the chaos that’s whirling around me.

“Don’t touch her,” Knox tells the guards, his posture turning rigid and his voice holding a lethal edge.

“Or what?” It’s Vlad who asks in his thick, scary accent. “Do you think you can do anything? Here, of all places? I can put a bullet in your head in the next second for your insolence alone.”

Knox remains in his erect posture, not even a little fazed by Vladimir’s threats. “Is that how you treat possible business associates?”

“Associate?” Adrian asks with a note of curiosity.

Knox stares at Papa. “I have an offer for you, but I’ll not make it unless I’m given your word that Anastasia will be safe and free from any engagement you forced on her.”

“You do not make demands in my own house.” Papa’s voice hardens and I know he’s getting angry. I can taste the thickness of it in the air.

So I soften my voice. “Just…hear him out, Papa.”

I have no clue what type of plan Knox came up with, but any plan is better than nothing at this point.

“What’s your offer?” Adrian asks.

“I won’t say anything until I’m given your word.”

“Speak or I’ll put that bullet between your eyes.” Vlad doesn’t reach for his waistband, but I don’t have to see it to know there’s a gun there.

I release a fractured breath and tighten my sweaty hand on Knox’s, then whisper, “Just say whatever you came to say…please…”

If he doesn’t, Papa won’t hesitate to give the order to kill him. And if I witness that, I won’t be able to survive.

I can tell Knox doesn’t want to budge, but playing hotheadedness with the leaders of the brotherhood is the last thing he wants to do. These are men who are used to violence and wouldn’t hesitate to use it on him.