Daniil's POV
"I can't!" I heard her murmur, the words slow enough for both of us to hear. Her legs shifted back, clearly ready to bolt.
I couldn't help but smile faintly at the reaction when moving closer, I seized her lips with mine.
She struggled, trying to pull away, but I pulled her closer, devouring her lips like I'd been craving them all my life. She wasn't the first girl I'd kissed, and she wouldn't be the last.
She stepped hard on my toes with her heels, and only then did I release her, savoring the look of defeat on her face. The satisfaction I got from it was almost too much.
The wedding had ended in a blur, and now we were walking hand in hand toward the car. I could feel someone's gaze on me, ever since I arrived at the hall. Even though I glared back, the person didn't avert their eyes.
"It was her father!" I realized suddenly. "Rowan Bravona. Camila's father."
I was puzzled about why he had been avoiding me all these years, only for his wife to handle all the in-law duties. She was the one who proclaimed the marriage alliance, yet I had never seen him or Camila until today.
I wasn't really curious to know, but the way he glared at me made me question everything. He had been looking at me with a mix of empathy and sympathy, which confused me even more. His daughter was in a pitiful state, yet he was staring at me sadly.
I looked back into his eyes, and a memory flashed in my mind. I closed my eyes, tightening my grip on Camila's hand while clutching my head with the other.
He was familiar! He's someone I know! But I can't place it.
I opened my eyes, but he was gone. He had left the crowd without a trace.
There was something ominous about him, something I had to uncover.
"Will you stop this and get in the car already!?" Camila snapped, pulling her hand away from mine and slamming the car door angrily.
I smiled faintly, turning back to face her. "Nobody says a word. Nobody dares to."
"Bless you," the priest said again, and I nodded in response before getting back into the car.
The ride was silent. No one spoke.
I unbuttoned my shirt slightly to breathe more easily. The silence was thick, tension filling the space between us.
"Which kind of person is your father?" I asked, breaking the silence with a question.
"You're marrying the daughter of someone you don't even know?" She replied sarcastically, a smirk creeping up her face.
"I don't try to dig too deep into the lowlifes in the Mafia," I sneered, my devilish smile spreading. "You know he's trying to climb the ranks by selling you to me."
"Who are the lowlifes? You crazy bastard!" she cursed, her fist clenched with fury.
I stood up suddenly, my movements quick and calculated. I pinned her down, a mischievous grin on my face. "Crazy bastard? Should I show you what a real crazy bastard is?" I asked, my fingers lightly caressing her cheek before moving toward her lips. I let my hand travel slowly down to the zipper of her dress, pulling it down just enough to make her tense.
I moved my lips closer to her neck, and I could hear her weak pleas.
"Please…" she begged softly.
I could sense it, her fear and the arrogance that had been there just moments ago evaporating.
Something inside me shifted. I wasn't the kind of man to feel sympathy for anyone, especially not women, but for some reason, I felt it for her. The way her body tensed when I touched her, the way she reacted to me, it felt familiar.
I let go of her, sitting back in my seat, trying to shake off the strange sensation.
"I've touched tons of girls," I told myself. "Why should she be any different?"
The driver's voice broke through my thoughts.
"We're here, sir," he said, opening the car door for me.
Damien and the others were already waiting in front of the hotel. "Shit! I forgot I had a meeting," I muttered, exhaling sharply as I walked toward him.
"You should be on your way now," Damien said, offering me a smile. I grabbed my jacket and turned to Camila.
"Follow him," I commanded.
With that, I climbed the stairs to the second floor where the meeting was taking place.
"Can't you move anymore? Fake groom?" I heard Camila's voice behind me, and I smiled faintly.
The girl who had been terrified just moments ago had already regained her arrogance.
I reached the door to the conference room and pushed it open, only to be greeted by the one person I hated more than anyone else in this world.
"Vadim Varkanin," I spat, my elder half-brother.
"Hi, younger brother," he exhaled, waving lazily from his seat. He looked too comfortable, sitting back with his legs crossed.
"Be my guest," I said, voice dripping with disdain as I stormed out, slamming the door behind me.
"That bastard will never stop coming after me," I muttered, my anger simmering. "Not until he takes my life."
I had barely walked a few feet away from the room when the realization hit me. Vadim's presence in this hotel wasn't a coincidence. He was here for something. Something easier to capture than me.
"It was Camila," I thought. "He's here for her."
I rushed back to the room and slammed the door open. To my surprise, it was exactly as I had imagined, it was empty.
"The bastard has already vanished."
I turned to leave when Damien and some of the guards rushed toward me, panting heavily.
"Vadim's guards are all over the place. Camila disappeared a few minutes after I left the room," Damien explained, struggling to catch his breath.
"Have you located which floor he's on?" I asked, my tone calm despite the storm brewing inside me.
"The club on the 7th floor," he replied quickly.
"The secret room? With Camila?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Bingo!" I declared, grinning as I turned toward the elevator.
"Away we go, big brother!" I smirked, my laughter echoing down the corridor as I walked toward the elevator. My footsteps were heavy with purpose, and I knew that blood would soon be spilled.