Köhler (Book 9 of the Köhler Series)

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Talia leaned her head back against the headboard and sighed. Her calling her brother and telling him not to look for her was a mistake, but it was the only way she could figure out what her enemy wanted. Was he really an enemy, though? Clearly, there was more to this Antonina woman than met the eye. Her plan was to find out what was going on before Xerxes and her father stormed in and killed everyone. Nonetheless, she was still forced to face the consequences of taking Alexei's burner phone.

Lia was terrified to find out what kind of torture he would subject himself to once he realized it was gone. She closed her eyes again with a sigh, thinking about her son and twin daughters, only to open them again to the sound of a loud bang on her bedroom door. Alexei was surely on the other side, so Talia hurried to open the door before he could.

"Yeah?"

"Give it to me! I swear you don't learn. Two days ago, you tried to run, and today this shit. Tell me, Kitten, what do you think you're going to accomplish?" He asked as she stood there shrugging her shoulders. No, there wasn't a good reason for what she was doing, but Lia knew if they wanted her dead, she would have been that long ago.

"You're so fucking dramatic sometimes. Why don't you be a fucking man and stop crying about every little fucking thing that doesn't go your way." She smiled, turning back into the room. Talia had intended to reach for the phone, but Alexei caught her before she could. He had no problem physically touching a woman. Even Talia was aware of that. She had seen him beat his "girlfriend" or whatever she was many times over the past week. Despite this, the crazed bitch begged him to forgive her. If he thought that was about to happen with her.

He was dead wrong.

Her father had told her how to take a beating. Especially after those crazed psychopaths kidnapped her the first time. Although it wasn't ideal, she understood that her father was trying to help and that Lexie was doing nothing more than hurting his pride. At least, that's what she wanted to believe.

"I'm not your whore. Beat me all you fucking want and I will still spit in your face and tell you bitchass to kiss my mulatto ass."

Instead, Alexei chuckled and placed a single kiss on her cheek before putting her body back to his. "I never plan to put my hands on you, Talia Köhler, but it seems you want me to. I didn't think you were into that rough sex type of shit. If you like, I could show you how rough I can get, but first, I want you to beg for it. I promise you you won't remember your husband's name when I'm done." He spoke, rubbing his nose against her neck. Talia couldn't lie. She liked it mainly because Dominick was so basic regarding sex. Most of the time, he acted as if he didn't want or wasn't interested in her. Sadly, it made her think he was actually into women and married her to please his father.

"Let go of me! You're fucking disgusting! No one wants you!"

"Kitten, you're saying that, but you are aroused." He smirked, pointing at her hardened nipples, not to mention that her core was dripping. Alexei was sexy as hell, and Talia hated herself for falling for his games.

"For a person seeking his wife sure acts like he doesn't love her."

"I never said I loved the woman Talia. I said I wanted her back... for my own personal reasons. Sometimes when people seek to hurt you, it's best to hurt them back. She tried to take my mafia from me, and I want her to pay. Even after death."

"Don't you think it would be best if you told me exactly who you are searching for, Alexei?" She said as he cocked a brow, confused. As Talia had told him, she didn't know Antonina, but he insisted that she did. Lexie wasn't listening to her family and never crossed anyone by that name. No, she wasn't deep into the mafia part of the family but knew enough to know who the hell they had killed or not.