Claimed by Shadows (The Shadowmen #2)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

“I DON’T WANNA LIVE FOREVER (FIFTY SHADES DARKER)” BY ZAYA, TAYLOR SWIFT

IRIS

T he day of the poker game dawns, and as usual, I have breakfast with Sergi and Nik before heading back upstairs to get ready for my daily walk with Nik. There’s a fluttery, empty feeling in my stomach, despite the fact I just ate. I can’t deny that excitement runs through me at the possibility of leaving the estate, even if it’s to be shown off to greedy men who may be worse than Sergi. Nik will be there, so I won’t be alone.

Dima is waiting as I open the door, and like usual, he walks behind me as I descend the stairs and make my way outside. My heart gives a jolt at the sight of Nik, his dark grey shirt open at the neck and rolled at the sleeves, showcasing his ink. The other night, he confessed that he got some done while serving time in prison back in Russia and that many relate to specific crimes that he committed, that they’re like badges of honour, to be earned and garner respect. He wouldn’t tell me what those crimes were and I didn’t push because I want to live in the here and now, not the past.

“You look beautiful, Kotenok ,” he whispers as I come up alongside him.

I glance down at my navy pantsuit and wrinkle my nose as we start walking. “It’s not what I would choose.” The bright day dims as the sun disappears behind a cloud, Nik’s fingers brushing my own as we stroll through the gardens towards the woodland.

“I know, Dorogaia .” He sighs, the shade of the trees surrounding us in their peaceful embrace as we enter the woods. His fingers tangle with mine, the warmth of his hand seeping into me and lending me strength. “But you’d look stunning in anything...or nothing.”

My cheeks flush, remembering the way he made me cry out his name last night, his tongue buried deep inside me. It may seem strange, but his visits after Sergi really do help me to at least push the trauma to one side. They allow me to focus on him and go some way to replace his father’s unwanted touch with his gentle one.

We walk for a few moments in silence, Nik leading us deeper into the woods than we’ve gone before, Dima and Andrei behind us. Then Nik pulls me up short, turning to face me, his eyes tracing all over my face.

“I have a surprise for you, Malyshka ,” he tells me, his voice soft as he uses his other hand to reach into his pocket.

My brows furrow as he pulls out a phone, then swipes over the screen, the sound of a FaceTime call jarring against the noise of the forest.

“Hunter Anderson,” Hunter’s deep voice answers, and my breath stills inside my chest, my eyes burning as Nik turns the phone so I’m looking at the screen.

“Hunt?” The word is a whispered sob as I drink him in. He looks tired, dark circles under his eyes, which are a little bloodshot, as if he hasn’t been sleeping well.

His lowered brows rise, his eyes widening as he takes in my face.

“Fuck, Peaches,” he chokes out while mapping my face as he looks at me, assessing. “Shit, you’re a sight for sore eyes, baby.”

Hot tears drip down my cheeks, my body trembling as I just stare at him.

“Who’s that?” Roman asks, coming into shot behind Hunt, who looks like he’s sitting at his desk in the flat. I almost laugh as Roman’s eyes bulge and he practically pushes Hunter aside, grabbing the phone. “Princess, fuck, is that really you?”

“Hi, Ro,” I murmur, noticing how tired he looks too.

“Rowan!” he yells, never taking his eyes from me, Hunt off to one side, his own eyes fixed on my face.

“What?” Rowan rushes into view, stopping the moment he registers it’s me. “Lamb.” There is a multitude of feeling in that one word. Pain, longing, and heartache all mixed in with a hope that I dared not feel until this moment.

“Hey, Roo. How are you?” I ask, my years of finishing school training kicking in and forcing the politeness from me.

“Shit, never mind how we are,” Hunt interrupts, taking the phone and placing it somewhere so I can see all three of them. “How are you?”

I swallow, nausea swirling in my stomach, and I glance away from them, up at Nik to see his jaw tight, his hand trembling slightly where he holds the phone.

“Princess?” Roman prompts, and I look back down, licking my suddenly dry lips.

“I’ve been better,” I tell them, not ready to go into the sordid details of Sergi’s nightly visits and his control of what I eat, wear, and do. “I’m good now though, and Nik is here.”

“Why the fuck hasn’t he gotten you out then?” Hunt growls, and my gaze flicks to Nik’s, his jaw clenched so tightly now I’m worried he’ll crack a tooth.

“It’s not that simple,” Nik grits out, moving so he’s on the screen behind me. “My father is too powerful, the influence he has is too strong, and he’d just do what he did before and take her away again.”

All three of my Shadows growl, their nostrils flaring as they adjust to the reality I’ve been living since Nik came back.

“We just have to wait,” I tell them, the words tasting bitter in my mouth, because waiting is more attention from Sergi, and the longer it goes on, the more I worry that I’ll never be clean again. “He’s taking me to a poker game tonight. Sergi is, I mean.”

“We’re going too, Princess,” Rowan tells me, and the rush of lightness that fills me leaves my muscles weak. It’s quickly followed by nausea once more though, knowing that they’ll have to see me on Sergi’s arm and none of us can do a thing about it.

“How did you get an invite?” Nik asks, and I can feel the tension that thrums through him behind me. I lean back into him and his free arm wraps around me, pulling me closer.

“Lucifer invited us,” Hunter says, and I frown, not knowing who he’s talking about. Nik clearly does, a breath puffing out of him.

“I wonder what their game is?” he muses, and the guys look pensive too.

“Who’s game? Who is Lucifer?” I question, wanting to know why they all seem a little on edge.

“He’s the leader of the Fallen, Malyshka ,” Nik answers, and I glance over my shoulder at him.

“Who are?”

He smiles. “I forget you are not of this world like us. The Fallen are a branch of the Enlightened, a society that is shrouded in mystery but has incredible power.”

A shiver runs down my spine, a sense of something foreboding making me lean more into Nik as I turn back to look at my Shadows.

“And you know them?”

“Not exactly,” Roman answers. “Turns out one of our Irish cousins is one of the Fallen, Azazel to be precise.”

“That is a good connection to have,” Nik states, and he sounds impressed, but also like he’s trying to work out how we can use that to our advantage. “What did you do to earn an invitation? My father has been working on them for months just to get an in.”

“We’ll owe them a favour, no doubt,” Hunt answers, and Nik stiffens.

“You know they could ask for anything?” My eyes narrow, that forbidding turning into razor-tipped butterflies that swarm inside me.

“There was a dried iris in the envelope. It will be worth it, whatever it is,” Hunt replies, and my eyes widen.

“How did they know I’d be there? And that would be something you’d want?” I ask, my tone hushed like these mysterious guys might be listening right now.

“They deal in favours, Solnishko . They gather information, there is nothing they can’t find out. Just like some of the other branches of the Enlightened deal in weapons, the sex trade, and money laundering.”

“So, we want them as our friends?”

“Yes,” they all answer, and I’d laugh if it wasn’t such a crazy situation. It’s like ultimate conspiracy theory territory.

“Okay, so I’ll see you later on at the poker game?” I ask, getting back to the most important part for me.

“Yes, Lamb. We’ll all be there and we won’t leave without you, even if we have to kill every fucking Russian in the room,” Rowan states, and my heart thuds inside my chest even as horror leaves me feeling almost lightheaded. It’s far too dangerous because they’d have the whole Bratva on their tails for the rest of their lives.

“That would be a declaration of war,” Nik states, his voice grave. “Are you equipped for that?”

“Your comrades seem to think so,” Roo replies, and Nik freezes.

“You’ve been the one killing off my father’s men and leaving them for us to find?” He sounds more impressed than pissed. I guess he benefits from there being less men loyal to his father.

“I have.” There’s no regret, no shame in Rowan’s admission, and there’s something hella romantic about a man committing mass murder to avenge you. Or maybe that’s just me. “And I’ll keep doing it for as long as it takes to eradicate them.”

That shouldn’t be hot, yet my body lights up like a fucking firework at the violence lacing his tone, at the vow he makes.

“But it’s a different thing entirely to declare war on the Bratva. My father may be the leader here, but there are countless others who would jump into his place and seek revenge. You’d be watching your backs for the rest of your life, Iris would be in danger wherever she goes, which is why we have to be smart about this and take it down from the inside out.” Nik’s arm is clenched tightly around me, and I know that this is just as hard for him. Unlike my Shadows, he knows what I’m going through night after night, and I know that he feels helpless because of his father’s position and the power he currently wields.

Rowan’s expression becomes pinched, his lips pressed into a white slash, then he sighs, gives a nod, and drops the subject.

“I fucking hate this,” Roman murmurs, and tears sting my eyes.

“Me too, Ro,” I whisper, trying to take a deep inhale and mostly failing. Nik places his lips against my head, pulling me even closer so not a breath of air is between us.

“We should go,” Nik says softly, and my heart feels like it’s dropped down onto the forest floor.

“I love you, Peaches,” Hunter tells me, and I’m unable to stop a hot tear from falling down my cheek. “And we will see you later, okay?”

I suck my lips between my teeth, nodding as I try to swallow past the lump in my throat. I can’t say anything even though I’m desperate to tell him that I love him too.

“You are stronger than you think, Lamb. One day, we will kill them all, and you can bathe in their blood as you slit every last one of their throats,” Rowan tells me, and a small huff of laughter leaves me.

He’s really embraced the darkness that no longer lurks under the surface. It’s out for all to see and I love him even more for it. For making me believe that I will get revenge and I will be the one to deliver the blows. That I don’t need anyone else to do it for me, and while I should probably be horrified at the thought of murder, fuck, mass murder at this point, I’m not. These weeks have changed me, morphed me into something that I never knew I could be.

“We’ll see you tonight, Princess. I love you so fucking much,” Roman says, and more tears fall down my cheeks. It’s like I’m a tap that just won’t switch off. Again, I dip my head, unable to utter a fucking word as my desolation threatens to drown me.

“See you later,” Nik states, then I shatter as the screen goes dark.