Free Russian Mobster's Obsession by Bella Rose

protect. All of my men look to me for guidance.”
    “Yet Viktor isn’t part of that family, so he doesn’t benefit at all from what he gives to you.” She was getting angry. Her voice was rising and she couldn’t seem to stop it. “Do you not understand how wrong that is?”
    “Calm down, my dear,” Karkoff said offhandedly. “Viktor is well compensated for what he does.”
    “But it’s not a life !” she argued. “Don’t you think he wants more? Why has everyone always assumed that he doesn’t?” Katie couldn’t sit still any longer. She jumped to her feet and glared down at Karkoff. “He isn’t your monkey. He isn’t your man. He belongs to himself and that’s that! I’m not going to back off, as you put it. I love him. I think I always have. I left him once and look what happened!” She gestured wildly to the study. “He’s stuck being your errand boy. I don’t care what I have to do. I’m helping him get a real life for himself.”
    Karkoff looked completely taken aback by her passionate speech. Then he made a low sound in his throat. “You are truly the pain in the ass everyone says you are.”
    “You think so? Well you haven’t seen anything yet!” Katie crowed.
     

Chapter Ten
     
     
    Viktor didn’t even pause at the front door of the Karkoff home. Denis was standing on the porch staring out into the dark night. Recognition lit his features when Viktor approached, but he didn’t react quickly enough. Viktor smashed the flat of his hand into Denis’s throat and the man sank immediately to his knees, grabbing his throat and wheezing desperately.
    “I think that’s become my signature move,” Viktor commented to Max before plucking Denis’s handgun from the holster at the small of his back.
    Opening the front door, Viktor looked both ways but saw no other guards or mafia men hanging about. Most were probably at the gaming tables downtown, or holed up in a restaurant somewhere listening to a sexy lounge singer and drinking themselves into a stupor.
    “Find Katie,” Viktor ordered Max.
    The dog immediately put his nose to work. He snuffled his way around the foyer before heading down the hall toward the study. Viktor followed, looking around in case Sasha should be lurking about.
    Max stopped right in front of the study door, whining softly and putting his paw up against the wood. Viktor pressed his ear to the door. He laid his hand on the dog’s head to quiet him. There were raised voices inside, ones he knew belonged to Karkoff and Katie.
    “All right, let’s go.” Viktor pulled the slide on Denis’s weapon and prepared to enter the study.
    The door gave easily. Too easily, in fact, as it smacked the opposite wall and nearly bounced back into Viktor’s face. He fumbled his way inside the room behind an eager Max. The dog made a beeline for Katie, immediately placing himself between her and Karkoff.
    “Max!” Katie’s voice registered shock.
    She knelt and put her arms around the dog’s ruff. He licked her eagerly, nosing her as if he wanted to make certain she was unharmed. Viktor crept into the room and let the door slam behind him.
    “You can put the gun down, boy,” Karkoff told Viktor. “It won’t be necessary. Ms. McClellan was just leaving.”
    “So this was a voluntary meeting?” Viktor asked, confused. He looked back and forth between Katie and Karkoff.
    Katie’s expression soured. “No, it wasn’t voluntary.” She glared at Karkoff. “And either you do something about your nephew or I will. I’m sick of his attitude.”
    Viktor was almost dumbfounded with shock at the way she was addressing Karkoff. Nobody talked to the mafia boss like that.
    * * *
    Katie could tell that her behavior was shocking to Viktor, but she was afraid to stop blustering lest the old man start in again about her staying away from Viktor.
    She touched Max’s silky head. The familiar feel of her dog’s presence at her side gave her courage. “I’m really not kidding, Mr.