ESSENCE OF FEAR
by Bethany-Kris
A Boykov Bratva Novel
Publication Date: June 22, 2020
Genres: Adult, Romantic Suspense, Organized Crime. Erotic Romance, Standalone
The allure of fear is learning to love it.
Viktoria Boykov has heard it all—cold they call her. The spoiled bratva princess. She knows very well what people say when her back is turned. She doesn’t mind; let them talk. It’s better for people to assume what they want about her than for them to know the truth … until him.
Pavel Kotov knows what people say—death they call him. The Boykov dog. He’s heard all the whispers locked away in the cells of the Compound. As the reaper for the bratva, his life owned by someone else, he knows what they say doesn’t matter. His life has never mattered … until her.
He’s terrifying.
She’s terrified.
Viktoria only wants to keep running from her past. Pavel doesn’t have a life to run from. Freedom is the one thing they both crave—for entirely different reasons. But this life is vicious, and scars like the ones they wear will never fade.
Together, they could have everything.
Or are they just pawns to a bigger game?
*
Note: Essence of Fear is a Boykov Bratva standalone.
“What is the card for?” she asked.
Pav hummed under his breath and eyed her from the side. “A party to celebrate something beautiful.”
“So, you really do need a generic card?”
“I suppose.”
It took her all of three seconds to find a generic card with the usual congratulations stamped on the front, and the usual platitudes on the inside. She grabbed the matching envelop, and handed it over to Pav, too. He took them with the same smile as before.
“There you are.”
She turned to walk away, but it was his hand quickly curving around her wrist that stopped her. She froze all over, and a small tremor worked its way through her sinew. Air sucked fast and sharp into her lungs.
At the same time, she enjoyed the warmth of his palm against his skin. She liked the way his fingers tightened against her skin, and the pressure of his fingertips pressing into her racing pulse point. There was no way to hide the way his touch both terrified her and confused her.
Excited her.
Viktoria looked back at Pav but said nothing.
He quirked a brow. “I was going to say thank you.”
She nodded. “You don’t have to.”
Now, let me go.
The words came out in her mind, but not out of her mouth. She wanted to say them, and she didn’t want to say them at the same time.
How strange …
“Da. I was going to say it, but now I want to say something else.”
Viktoria wet her bottom lip, muttering, “So, say whatever it is, then.”
“You’re still scared of me?”
She blinked.
Her mouth worked, though.
“Yes,” she whispered.
ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS
Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to four young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.
To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD
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