Captured by a Sinner (Sinners, #5)

by Michelle Heard

Then she looked at me, and I swear the ground shook beneath my feet with the force of a thousand earthquakes. Rosalie Manno is nothing short of an ethereal vision. She makes me feel fucking overprotective but also brings out a dark side I never knew I had. It’s different from the one that doesn’t think twice about ending a life. It’s savage and predatory. I want to protect the girl, but at the same time, the beast in me wants to feel her tremble and use her tears to satisfy the hunger growing in my chest since I first laid eyes on her.

Rosalie’s fear when I licked the tear from her cheek was palpable. It created an inferno of protectiveness and possessiveness inside me.

No woman has ever had this effect on me. Sure I feel protective of the women in my family, and I’d die for any of them in a heartbeat. But Rosalie triggered different emotions within me.

“Do you know who I am?”

“N-no.” “Viktor Vetrov.” My name registers with shock and terror, draining the color from her face. She’s definitely heard of me.

Oh. My. God. Viktor Vetrov is the head of the bratva. He made a name for himself two years ago when he took over control of the bratva and eradicated part of the Chechen mafia for setting foot in America. My grandfather was highly impressed and spoke about it for days.

Viktor is also known as the Hellhound. It’s said there’s nowhere you can hide because he’s the best tracker. He’s highly intelligent, ruthless, and kills without hesitation.

Christ. I’m going to have my work cut out for me with the prickly thorns Little Rose is starting to show.

Before I can stop myself, a smile stretches over my face. Viktor’s lips part, awe on his face as if he’s looking at one of the wonders of the world. “Jesus, you should spend every second of every day smiling.”

I had to try and escape, and I’ll continue to try every chance I get because Viktor is a monster who rules over the bratva. He’s one of the men who killed my family. He kidnapped me. I can never forget that. I can never think of him as an ordinary man because that’s the last thing he is. He’ll always be my enemy, and now I’ve upset him. My heart beats heavily in my chest as all the fear creeps back.

For the second time since I took her, a smile spreads over her face, transforming her into an otherworldly being. But the instant she notices I’m staring at her, the smile fades away, and it feels as if

the sun is setting on my world. “You have a beautiful smile, Little Rose,” I compliment her.

“I know it’s going to take time, but one day you’ll realize I’m a man of my word.” She turns her gaze to the books. “Don’t hold your breath.”

“It doesn’t matter where you run to, Little Rose, I’ll always find you.”

“Until I’m ready to let you

go, you’re mine.”

“I don’t care if I have to be the villain in your story. At least I’ll keep you alive, and it’s the only thing that matters.”

“Christ,” I whisper when I watch her smile on the screen after I found the book she wanted. I’m dead sure I want to make her smile again.

“She’s your birthday gift, Little Rose. You get to name her.” He got me a dog.

I’ll never admit it out loud, and I’ll only think it this once – maybe Viktor did save me.

God damn, the powerful emotions I felt when I heard Rosalie laugh scared the shit out of me. I watched her fall in love with Luna and got jealous of a puppy.

And just like that, all the progress I’ve made with Rosalie is gone, and I’m back to being the villain in her story.

“You exhaust me, Viktor.” He freezes, his eyes burning into mine. “That’s the first time you’ve said my name.” A pleased look curves the corner of his mouth into a hot as hell grin, then he orders, “Say it again.”

All of my friends married the women of their dreams, and I’m forced to say goodbye to mine. There were so many things I wanted to share with her, but Rosalie never allowed me to cross the line. I couldn’t even take her to Luca and Mariya’s wedding. She also doesn’t want me to share anything about my day or things happening in my life. Rosalie has built an insurmountable wall between us. Christ, she’s so much stronger than me.

It feels like I’ve already lost Rosalie. You never had her.

I thought I’d be able to make her fall for me. I thought, with time, Rosalie could forgive me. I was wrong. Christ. Every single memory of her is ingrained into my mind. Her rare smiles. Her even scarcer laughter. How beautiful she looks in a dress. The love shining from her whenever she looks at Luna.

I refuse to admit how I feel about Rosalie. I can’t think the words, never mind say them. If I do, I’ll go back on my word and keep her forever. And I can’t do that to Rosalie. I can’t be selfish with her. Just like every other day during the past three years, I have to put Rosalie first. I have to do what’s best for her. And I’m not it. I’ll always be a reminder of what she lost – what the Priesthood took from her.

Life is so unfair. If it weren’t for the fact that he’s the head of the bratva and part of the Priesthood, we could be together. He’d just be an ordinary guy I could fall in love with.

“Are we going to lie to each other these last two days?”

“I can’t face the truth.”

“Then we’ll lie, moya Malen'kaya Roza.” It feels more intimate when I call her my Little Rose in Russian.

Viktor's hoarse voice stops me. “Rosalie.” I don’t turn back to face him. “Yes.” “Tell me one last lie.” My body starts to shudder as tears spill down my cheeks. “I hate you, Viktor.” A sob escapes me, and the rest of my words come out strained. “I won’t miss you at all.”

She needs this, Viktor. If she comes back out of her own free will, she will be yours to keep. Forcing her to stay is everything your family is against.

It will never pass. I just watched the woman I love leave. I need to fucking fight, and bleed, and kill.

There’s a hollow ache in my chest as if my heart’s been ripped out. It has, and it’s flying to New fucking York.

“Is she worth this?”

“Yes. She’s worth every drop of blood on this fucking planet.”

“She’s worth everything.”

“I’m not going to survive without Rosalie. Christ, Luca, I love her. I can’t face a day without her.”

He wraps his arms around me and holds me in a tight grip as I struggle to breathe. “We’ll get through this.” No, I won’t. A life without Rosalie is unimaginable. Who would’ve thought a girl with soft brown eyes would be the end of me? I’ve fought wars and k...

I miss playing with Luna and having her sleep next to me. I miss hearing Viktor come home and nag me to join him for dinner. I miss his scent, the way he walks, the intense look in his eyes, and his strong arms. God, I miss them so much.

God, I wish Viktor was here. The thought hits me square in the chest, and I grab hold of the rose pendant, needing to touch the last thing he gave me as I realize I felt safe with Viktor. Holy shit. I trust Viktor.

I’d give anything to be back with Viktor and Luna. He made me feel safe and treated me with respect. Even when I fought him, he never raised a hand against me. Those last two days, he made me feel so loved and cherished.

I’m so glad he was my first because if I don’t manage to escape, the memory of Viktor will have to carry me through the dark days ahead.

He might be a villain, but that’s what I need right now. Because only a villain will do what’s necessary to save you. He’ll burn down the world if he has to. With every fiber of my being, I know Viktor would do that for me. If only I could let him know what’s happening. He never lied to me. He kept every promise he made.

“Moya Malen'kaya Roza,” he murmurs, a flicker of pain on his face when he sees the state I’m in.

“Viktor,” I whimper,

He’s a sight to behold, all power and wrath – and nothing like the man who was kind and patient with me while I stayed in his house. There’s nothing sweet and caring about him. The head of the bratva is here to take what’s his. Thank God.

Viktor came to save me. Viktor’s eyes lock on mine. His eyebrows narrow, and his features grow tenser. “Who laid a hand on her?”

For a moment, Viktor closes his eyes as if he’s a second away from losing his shit, then he growls, “Who. Hit. Her?”