his dark obsession

highway

Vladimir POV

It seems like I'm the one always getting out of bed first. Angel lies behind me, sprawled out on the bed in just a pair of tiny lace boy shorts. I swear she sleeps on her stomach like that on purpose. It's like she's begging me to slap that phat, juicy ass of hers until it turns purple and pink. Times like these, in the still moments before the death that's to come, I feel almost sane. I feel almost normal. Maybe almost righteous. Though murder and mayhem aren't exactly the heavenly way. But I've never questioned my destiny. Never questioned the decisions that led to the end of my rope. I don't plan on starting now. Ever since Angelmarie agreed to be by my side, she has filled that final piece I've been needing. Not that I knew I needed it. Ever since I've been in this game, from child to adult, living in Russia, I was dead inside. Rage was there in my body, but it wasn't like it is now.

Now I've got a purpose to keep moving, to do something proactive with my life. I have someone I have to protect now. Someone I love and need to keep safe. Words aren't always trustworthy. But when Angel agreed to be mine, to put not just her life but her very soul in the hands of my psychotic ass, I didn't just hear her say it—I saw her mean it. In her eyes, I saw all the doubt drain away, and nothing was left but the conviction to trust me, to belong to me, TO LOVE ME AND ALL MY INSANITY. To see that she truly meant it and felt the full bearing of those words. Her eyes told the truth; they showed the commitment we found with each other. Words after that were pointless. We're in this together now, good or bad, together.

In the last few hours, we've formed our bond, at times fast, and at other times slow. We've alternated between acting like we're on our honeymoon to sitting on the couch speculating about what the fuck's been happening in our fucked-up world. The tension at times has been palpable. Both of us want to be out there getting this fucking war started and getting the blood we both live for flowing. We want the same thing, even if we argue about who is more bloodthirsty between us.

I truly believe she thinks it's her; I'll let her continue to think so. Moving forward, what I do know for certain is that this will end with every Albanian slaughtered. They have been trying to take over my territory for more than three weeks—too long in my eyes, even when we kick their asses at every turn, it's still not enough.

Daily reports from Vasily and Ivan are vague at best. Nothing's happening out there. The Albanians and Natalia are bunkering in and keeping us guessing at their plans. It's a wait-and-see for the time being. A vibration sound rattles my nightstand as I stare out the back window of the bedroom. It looks out into a large wooded area, and I make sure I don't have any nasty surprises coming toward me before I turn back to the nightstand. The sunlight that guides me back to the phone tells me we've slept half the morning away.

"Who's that?" Angel asks, her face buried in a pillow.

"No clue," I say before picking up the phone. Letting out a growl, I press the connect button. "Can't fucking go seven hours without you fucking bothering me, baby brother."

"Listen here, you fucking cretin..." he snaps out at me before letting out a slow breath.

"Aw, that's all you got to say?" I ask with a grin.

"Get to Highway Four heading east out of town towards the pier. We've got a hit on the license plate of Felix's car," Vasily says.

Instantly switching from fucking-off mode, my brain rattles out a question, "What's the coverage of the vehicle?"

"One unmarked police vehicle with the chief of police in his personal vehicle are in a loose tailing formation. They'll be joined soon by Detective Nikolai in another unmarked. Once we have enough men in the area, we'll pull them over."