Heart of My Monster (Monster Trilogy, #3)

by Rina Kent

I...

“Why did you dis...

“I was captured after I sent you that initial text, and then they got rid of my communication...

“How did you ge...

“One of them hel...

“Who are they and them...

“Anton Ivanov and Sasha. Though you probably know Anton as Yuri. He was fucking lying all these years, Boss. Actually, he killed Yuri five years ago, fake...

“Wait. Go...

My throat grows dry with ...

“Did you just say...

“Yeah. She said, and I quote, ‘I’m alive. Though you probably know by now that the body was a ploy. Next time I s...

“She…is a...

The words strangle me on their way out. “Yeah. She managed to escape the bombing, but that’s not the point right now. She helped me leave Russia because her family wants to kill everyone in this house, including your family. She said she wants to set up a meeting for just the two of you so no one else gets killed in this war. She’s doing this behind their backs, so they can’t find out…” Maksim trails off when I drop the bottle of vodka. It crashes against the ground as I throw my head back and bark out a long, deep laugh. Life rushes through my limbs all at once, washing away all emptiness and the hell that came with it. I’m breathing. No. I’m alive. Fuck. Fucking fuck. She actually got me. S...

His dream of leadership is finally coming true. At least up until now. Because I’ll shatter everything he’s worked for—including his life.

The moment my feet touch the ground, a shiver rushes down my spine as warmth envelops my back and hot words penetrate my ears.

“Miss me, wife?”

goosebumps erupt on my skin that ignites at the proximity of his warmth. It doesn’t matter that it’s been over two months since I last saw him. One encounter. A few words. His presence. And it’s like we haven’t spent a day apart. My stupid dead heart pulses as if it’s attempting to resurrect itself from the ashes. I’ve dreaded this moment for weeks, the moment where I have to clash with the only man I’ve ever loved. The man I gave my heart to on a silver platter, only for him to crush it in the palm of his hand. But I never thought I’d be shaking with emotions like I am right now.

His gaze measures me from my feet up to my face, not bothering to pause at the weapon I’m pointing at him. I keep my glare even as a smile breaks on his lips. Kirill isn’t the type who smiles—at least, not genuinely—so to be a witness to this version of him makes bile rise to my throat.

“It’s really you.”

His voice drips with what can only be described as…awe. Disbelief...

“You thought you got r...

I snap, unable to control the overwhelming rage flooding my veins. How dare he look okay after he blew my world to smithereens? How dare he look at me like when I married him after he stood at the altar with someone else? I didn’t expect him to be an emotional mess like I was every fucking night, but I’d at least hoped he’d be rattled ...

“Too bad for you I didn’t die that day you sent people to bl...

His brow f...

“What the fuck are you talking about? Why would I send someon...

“So you could have a sec...

He laughs, the sound vaguely amu...

“Sasha…Sasha…your problem is that you always take things too seriousl...

He pulls his hand from his pocket and I tense, thinking it’s a weapon, but he lifts it up so I can see. Something glints in the air and my lips part when I make out the ring I put on his finger during our sham wedding. Why does he have it? No. This is another tactic of his ...

“You are my...

I snort, feeling my expression close off until it’s too tight to even speak, bu...

“If you think I’ll fall for that, then you’ve really overestimated your abilities, Kirill. What a shame. Seems your new position and life h...

“Something did, all right, but it’s neither my new positio...

He pauses and glares at me as if he is th...

“It was your fake death. You got me there, but it won...

“Nothing will happen again. As I said, I’m going to kill you today. For everything you’ve done not only to me, but also ...

“Are you...

His tone sounds light, amused, as he takes a step forward. I lift my r...

“Not another move or I’ll ...

“Do...

He taps his...

“Right here so it’s fatal ...

My chin trembles. What the hell is he doing? Is this another tactic? Will I be ambushed by Viktor or someone else who’s hiding in the bushes? Will he try to disarm me or shoot me with some gun he’s hidden? I tight...

“I’m not falling f...

“Falling for what? You said you’ll shoot me and I’m tell...

“Is that all you have to say fo...

“I didn’t realize there was an open submission b...

“Don’t fuck with me,...

I inhale and exhale heavily in a hopeless attempt to bring my brea...

“What do you have to say for your actions? I won’t believe you, but let’s hear it. Let’s hear the reasons you thought it was ...