She set a cup of espresso and glass of water on Sonny’s nightstand and met his guarded gaze with one of her own. She was irritated Rin had followed her and refused to give her space. She was being watched for the full day, according to him. “Hi Sonny.” “Look who decided to come back. Oh, wait, you didn’t decide. You got dragged back.” He said spitefully. “I’m sorry I got you in trouble,” she whispered sitting on the edge of his bed, careful to avoid his leg. “She deserved it and we both know it. I also wasn’t keen on learning you and Rin were sneaking around behind my back. A warning would have been nice. Had you stayed here and been part of the conversation with your grandfather it would have gone better.” “I don’t think so,” she blinked tears away knowing Rin was watching them from the doorway. “Sonny, we fucked up not having security here. You told dad some time ago you fired your team. He didn’t realize Rin didn’t know and didn’t have you watched. D
Her grandfather’s face lit up the screen and she could absolutely understand why Angie had commented about the man’s nose hair. He was so close to the camera it was frighteningly displaying every pore on his ruddy skin. “Dedulya,” she made a face from where she sat on Rin’s lap, embarrassed he wouldn’t let her up and had insisted she stay seated right where she was while the call connected. “You need to back up from the screen. It’s too much. It’s an entire wall of your face. It is a face I love but I want to see less of just it and more of you as a whole.” He leaned back in his seat and adjusted the camera, “better?” “Yes.” “You look comfortable,” he gave a pointed look to where she sat behind Rin’s desk. “Not particularly,” she didn’t bother to lie. “Then why sit there?” “Her choices have been removed for the day,” Rin said bluntly. “It is a personal matter we are working through.” “May I remind you Rin, she is my granddaughter.” “
Sasha sat in Rin’s office and clutched her fingers together as she watched his family filter in. Sonny was sitting in the wingback chair and cast her a serious smile. She wasn’t nervous, she told herself but irritated she had managed to get herself into a situation where her family was demanding she apologize for her actions. It was a first for her. She hoped it was a last. Rin was sitting at the desk, ignoring everyone in the room as he typed furiously into his computer. His mannerisms suggesting, he didn’t give a damn about anyone in his proximity or the frowns on everyone’s faces. Angie was glaring at her, and Concetta was no better. Sasha fought the grin on her face when Angie subconsciously rubbed her jaw and looked to the floor. Sonny kicked her foot as if he knew she was smirking internally but she noted his eyes also danced. Gian took a seat in a chair opposite Sonny, his mannerisms quiet and sulking. Viv burst in last with a wide smile and plunked down r
Sasha prepared Sonny’s breakfast tray and yawned. Despite all the excitement of the morning, it was now eight-thirty, and she was exhausted. She needed sleep. She sat down on a bar stool looking at the tray and wondering where he was going to want to eat his meal. Viv appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, “hey.” “Hi,” she looked at her waiting for whatever the woman would say to her while away from Rin. “Rin and Sonny are still talking to my parents and Angie about her trip to London. I bailed.” She smiled, “so you and my brother huh?” “I wasn’t expecting it and I sure as hell wasn’t expecting marriage from a fling but he’s a hard man to say no to, especially when the entire fucking Volkov clan are behind him. They’re a scary lot. I don’t like it but even I know better than to piss my grandfather off.” She smirked, “though, it doesn’t mean I have to make his life a cakewalk either. Respect is a two-way street and I don’t simply dole it out on demand.”
Sasha was laying on her side, her back to Rin and the warmth of his body behind her was admittedly a thing she could get used to. His hand at some point during their sleep had slid up under her t-shirt and he was stroking her skin softly, his thumb making small circular motions on her bellyHe must have felt the change in her as he nuzzled her neck, “good afternoon, topolina.”“What time is it?”“Would you believe it’s almost three?”“No way! I slept so long?”“We both did. I think we needed the rest. It’s been a weird few days.” His hand slid up her shirt and cupped her breast. “Since you’re awake,” he let his voice trail off as he pressed his warm lips to the back of her neck.She shivered, “Rin,” she gasped when he pinched her nipple through her bra.“From now on, no bras in bed.” He gave a deep chuckle at her
Sasha was sitting cross-legged on the sofa in Rin’s office reviewing her emails and reports. Sonny was laying down in his room before dinner. Dinner was in the oven being baked off and she and Rin were sitting in the office with the door open to listen for any silliness his family might attempt to start. She prayed the quietness which had descended in the late afternoon continued into the evening. Her mind was too overwhelmed to deal with much else.She suddenly scowled furiously as one of her managers of a clothing boutique had emailed to say they were short staffed yet again.“Why the fuck is it so hard to find decent staff?” she muttered under her breath.She looked to Rin, “I need to make a call.”“Make it,” he didn’t look up from his computer. “It’s not disrupting me any.”She debated doing so. She knew he didn’t know she was the owner of Gina’s and the woman behind
Sasha entered her office in the club unable to stop the smile curving her lips. Before leaving the house, Rin had kissed Sasha breathless before gently putting her bemused and befuddled body into the passenger seat of Achilles’ car and warning him to make sure she stayed safe. Achilles had been very quiet, not saying a word and she had been lost in her own thoughts of her current situation. Chastity was waiting in her office. “Girl, you need to give me the details and now. You sent me a text message saying you were marrying Rin just before I started my shift at the hospital and then nothing since!” “You got off at six and I was finishing dinner with Sonny, Rin, and Viviana. I knew I’d see you here and tell you everything.” She looked to Chastity and frowned noting the sadness in her eyes, “Where’s Orion tonight?” “She’s back and took him from me. Showed up to pick him up at school. I had arranged for him to attend the after-school program until I got off, but she
After Chas was gone, Achilles closed the door and flopped onto the sofa beside Sasha. Achilles looked to Sasha, “my apartment was clean. No bugs or wiretaps.” “So false alarm?” “No. Tyrone followed him a bit after I came into work tonight and caught him meeting with the agent, I thought he was with. He got a recording of the agent telling him we’ve been back and forth from the Allegretti house which means I’m conspiring with mafia. He also threatened him to get him the information or he’s going to jail which means he has dirt on him.” She sighed, “how do you want to handle this?” “I’ll end things with him in the morning. I already sent the boys over to change the locks in my place. I could ask for his key back, but he could have made a copy for all I know and given it to the feds.” “True,” she smiled sadly, “I’m sorry Achilles.” “Me too,” he shrugged. “The agent went too far and it’s clear he’s got a guy watching the Allegretti house if he knows I’ve
“This is bullshit,” Chastity complained as she wiped sweat off her forehead. “Who the hell thought it was a good idea to do this?”Sonny laughed at the woman’s misery as he patted the head of the dog who had just returned with the ball, he had tossed for her. “It’s not so bad. Could be worse.”“It’s hotter than the sun here,” Chas lifted a glass of sweet tea to her lips and chugged it like it was a beer. “I literally just took a cold shower and I’m sweaty again. Texas is too hot.”Sasha opened one eye from where she lay in the hammock and stretched, “he’s right. It could be worse. They could have brought you along on their little cattle drive and then the campout last night. Rin made them eat beans and hotdogs off a campfire.”“How do you know? Did he message you?” Chas sat up and glowered at her. “They said they weren’t bringing p
Sasha curled up next to Rin in bed, the excitement of the last forty-eight hours dissipating and exhaustion taking over. He was holding her tight, her head resting on his bare chest and his fingers playing with the silky strands of her hair as they cuddled.“You won my mother over tonight,” he said suddenly.“I did?” she was surprised.“You had dad at manicotti but the minute you put leather on and rocked out to Janet Jackson she was hooked. It seems it was one of her favorite songs as a teenager.” He chuckled, “also, she said something about being terrified of the way you command the attention of every evil person she’s ever seen. She recognized one of the men in the club as a man she and Dad ran across once in Sicily on a vacation. It seems they pissed the man off and he threatened to end them.”“Really? Who?”“Saul –”Before he could finish speaking Sasha
Sasha stood still while Rin helped peel the almost painted on leather from her body. The entire day she had waited for him to call her and demand she come home. Then she expected text messages of the same. Instead, he’d given her radio silence and she had considered maybe he had just become fed up with her wild temper and stomping out on him.Most of her day she had dreaded coming to the floor and him not showing up. Even when his application and the corresponding fee had come through, she had thought perhaps he was doing it because Sonny had asked him to. This was a place where Sonny had conducted a lot of business in his heyday. It only made sense Rin did the same.Now he was here behind her, sliding the garment over her hips and his lips pressed to her shoulder and she closed her eyes at the myriad of feelings she had. “I thought I might have pushed my luck one time too many. You didn’t call even once today and I knew you were angry about me smacking up your guy.”“Are you kidding?
The house lights lowered around the booths and seating areas and tables surrounding the main stage. They must be nearing show time, Rin considered as the crowd were making their way to tables or inching up to the bar.Rin noted the stage was massive, the big black curtains likely made of velvet were shut. While there were absolutely poles which ran from fixtures, the set-up was definitely more of a Vegas show than what he expected. It was high-end and now he understood where his million-dollar membership fee was going. When he’d balked at the fee, Sonny had laughed at him telling him it was a one-time fee and the best money he’d ever spend.He felt Marcello’s hand on his shoulder warningly and he looked up and then followed the man’s gaze. Edik Volkov was heading straight in his direction. He got off the bar stool and accepted the man’s hand but the older man pulled him into a tight hug.“Rin, I just left Sasha backstage. What
Rin was working in his office and struggling to get through the day. Sleep had been near impossible for him without Sasha laying next to him. He considered sending her a message or calling her but he wasn’t sure what he would say. He missed her but something about Regal’s warning the night before had him pausing. Give her space. She’ll come to him when she’s ready.“What are you doing?” his grandfather asked as he entered the office without knocking. “You should be getting dressed!”“We have lots of time,” he looked up and then raised an eyebrow at his grandfather’s appearance. The man was dressed to the nines. “You’re going to a strip club.”“You can’t wear jeans and a t-shirt in Gina’s, Rin.” Sonny scoffed at him. “Even your father and mother are dressed up and your sister is wearing something scandalous, or it’s how she described it.”
Rin wiped his hands off on a towel and exited the cell and grimaced at Marcello. “What kind of fool believes he can come into my house, my house,” he repeated angrily, “and try to steal from me using the little devices in his pockets.”“He’s not going to use those little devices anymore,” Marcello said smugly.They both looked up as one of their security agents came down the stairs in a rush.“Now what?”“It’s Miss Smith, sir,” Eddie said scraping his finger over his forehead. “She got upset when Tiny tried to take her out of the lounge and away from Regal.”“Did she now?” Rin exchanged an annoyed look with Marcello. “Let me guess. She threw a fit, stomped her feet, and demanded you leave her alone?”“Um, well no.” Eddie appeared embarrassed. “She said she was going to leave and was going to call her security to come
Dinner was over and Sasha and Rin were sharing a quiet moment before heading back to the suite when Marcello poked his head into the room.“Aw, don’t you two look cute and cozy.”Rin held her hand up, “she said yes.”“She had no choice,” Marcello mocked him. “She’s making the best of a bad situation in being saddled with your cranky ass.” He winked at Sasha with a grin.Sasha gave a snort of laughter at his teasing.“Can I steal your fiancé away from you for a minute?” Marcello asked her curiously. “We have a situation I know you will want to weigh in on, Rin.”Rin frowned at him, “you cannot deal with it yourself?”“Our friend you personally banned is sitting at the blackjack table. I believe he thinks you were still out of the casino this week.” Marcello met his gaze directly.Sasha noted Rin’s posture imme
“You are like a cat with a canary,” Rin laughed at her as he sat down. “You knew it would nettle him to know he had to have permission to come in with me to the club.”“I did and he does.”“You can just grant the permission or did Sonny put his name on the application?”“No. I don’t think Sonny even considered him to be truthful. I can grant the permission. I am the one who processes the applications and completes the vetting process.” She met his surprised glance with a cocky smirk.“Are you suggesting you could have let me in all along?”“Yes, but I know Sonny has been the one who wants to show off Gina’s to you and I wasn’t taking it from him. As I’ve said before, it’s not your run of the mill strip club, not that it matters. However, I know he wants to be the one to introduce you. Chas finally gave him permission to return so when he come
Sasha ground her hips against Rin’s as she straddled him on the sofa and dug her fingers into his thick hair. He tasted of alcohol and smelled undeniably of his signature body wash she had become accustomed to. He was getting hard under her movements and his moan of approval as she took the kiss from him was exhilarating.This was a make-up kiss and she knew it. He had actually apologized for his behavior and said she was his world. She felt as if she were wielding power over the raw masculine energy of the man who was kissing her back as if she were the most precious thing in the universe.His hands were kneading her ass beneath the hemline of her skirt and he was grinding her on him roughly.“Topolina, if we don’t stop,” he broke the kiss, “I fear we will be even later to dinner.”“It’s not like they’ll cancel the reservation,” she whispered against his lips, “you do own the entire place