Sofia
I’ve made it a point to steer clear of the men who work for my father.  I have no intention of getting tangled up in that lifestyle.  But there’s something about Roman, an irrepressible energy that snaps and sizzles between us.  From the moment we met, his dislike was palpable.  And nothing has changed in the three years I’ve known him.  If I were smart, I’d stay away. But I’m not smart. 

Roman
The moment I saw her, I knew she had the power to destroy everything I’d spent years trying to accomplish.  I can’t allow that to happen.  Most days, I’m barely civil to her, because I know all hell will break loose once the floodgates open.  Nothing I’ve found douses the combustible energy that flares to life between us.  It’s as frustrating as it is dangerous.  One of these days I’m going to get burned. Or end up with a bullet in my head.
Claiming What's Mine was created by Jennifer Sucevic, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author. 

Claiming What's Mine

My eyelids snap open as a shrill, earsplitting sound fills the air.


The house alarm has been triggered, I realize.


Roman bursts through my bedroom door wearing only a pair of unbuttoned jeans and clutching a gun.  He grabs me by the elbow with his free hand and hauls me out of bed.


He freezes when the sheet slides off of my body to reveal I’m not wearing pajamas, his fingers continuing to bite into my flesh.  When I wince, he comes alive and drags me to the bathroom.


“Stay in here until I return,” he orders gruffly.


“What’s going on?  Did someone break into the house?”  My mind conjures up an image of Victor Dmitriyev, knife in hand, coming for me just like he promised.  A sliver of fear scampers down my spine.  


“I don’t know, but I’m sure as fuck going to find out.  Don’t open the door for anyone.”  His gaze turns stern.  “You got it?”


I nod and move further into the bathroom.  Even though his eyes never deviate from mine, I’m uncomfortably aware of my nudity.


Chapter 26: Sofia