CHAPTER 19

TIMOFEY

Rooney stumbles back against the wall in surprise. Piper takes the opportunity to drive her shoulder into his chest a second time. Air whooshes out of his lungs. For a second, I think Piper might have won this fight. I might have to step in on Rooney's behalf.

Then he grabs her with his left hand, yanks her towards him, and cocks his right hand high into the air.

I see what's coming, but there's no time to stop it. Not with Benjamin in my arms.

Before I can intervene, James cracks his palm against Piper's face. The slap echoes off the walls and sends her head snapping to the side. She crumbles under the force of it.

"Fuckin' bitch," James mutters, shaking out the hand he used to hit her.

On her knees, Piper presses her cheek to her shoulder, trying to ease the red burn in her skin. Her eyes are wide and glassy, tears welling up like diamonds.

That's what it does.

That's what pushes me over the edge.

The sight of her crying is more than I'm willing to take right now.

Cradling Benjamin in my left arm, I snatch the back of James' hoodie with my right and jerk him away from her.

"If I'd known you were incapable of arresting a woman, I would have done it myself."

He wriggles in my grasp like a landed fish. "The hell are you doing, Viktorov? You saw what happened! She fought me!

"I'm sure that was so hard for you," I drawl. "You only have six inches and a hundred pounds on her."

Rooney's voice wobbles as I choke him out with his own hoodie. "If she was anyone else, I would have Tased her."

"You should reconsider how you speak to me,Officer."The title is as close to a slur as I can muster.

He works his lips together nervously. The regret in his face is palpable. "If you don't want me to touch her, I won't touch her," he says at last. "Okay?"

"I want you to act like you've done your job before," I say. I release him in disgust. "Get her in the car and get the fuck out of here. Act like you're capable of that, at the very least."

His face goes beet red, but he turns to Piper, more determined than ever.

She turns her wide green eyes on me, desperate hope etched in every line of her face. If I had a heart, it would break at the sight of her. She's feeble and trembling, pitiful from head to toe. "Timofey, please. Please don't do this. I'll—I'll do what you say. I won't say anything to anyone. I'll do my job. I'll be good."

"Having a sudden change of heart?" I ask.

Deep down, the sudden change in her demeanor is alarming. Something is terrifying her in a way that words can't capture. That's the only reason she'd ever make an offer like that to someone like me.

You don't give the devil a blank check.

She squeezes her eyes closed and takes a deep breath. When she opens them again, she stares at me with complete sincerity. "I'll do whatever you say. I'll do anything."

The dark part of my mind—though that's not saying much, because there is no light part—hears her words and thinks about the many ways I could take advantage of them. What would those full lips look like when they're being obedient to my every command and whim? What sounds would she make at my feet, on her knees before me?

With her hands cuffed behind her, her shoulders are pressed back and her chest is arched forward. The soft curves of her body are even more visible through the thin material of her shirt.

Her offer is tempting.

Very fucking tempting.

I feel Rooney watching me with narrowed eyes. He's as eager to see what I'll decide as Piper is. The man works for me, but I'd be stupid to think he isn't constantly searching for my weakness. He's the kind of man who will go where the wind blows. For the right price, he'll turn on me and Bratva in a second.

I ought to bury him forever. But right now, I need him under my thumb. I can't let him go just yet.

I look away from Piper to Rooney. "Finish what you started—but carefully, for fuck's sake. I don't need my property coming back damaged."

Piper gasps. "Timofey, please. No!"

He's on her in an instant. He hooks his hands around her biceps and pushes her down the hall. It's easier now than before because Piper isn't fighting—she's just begging.

I turn and walk back to my office with Benjamin asleep in the crook of my arm.

Piper's cries follow me the entire way.