ENORA Nikolai definitely chose Mikhail to chaperone me out of spite, that much I was sure of. The man hadn’t moved his eyes away from me since we entered the tattoo shop, but that was less of a problem compared to the fact that he hadn’t spoken a single word to me for the past three hours since we left the house, not even when I asked what type of tattoo his brother would like.Truthfully, I’d only asked because I wanted the exact opposite of what Nikolai would like, but when Mikhail returned my question with a glare more terrifying than death itself, it made me feel like I was being ridiculous. He was probably one of the old-school kind of guys that thought women had no right to tattoos. Most men in our world were like that, closed-minded and misogynistic. Ewww!“They’re so pretty,” the tattoo lady said to me with a beam. “How did you think of something so lovely?”I glared at Mikhail standing by the door like a mannequin made for the gym and then gave the tattoo lady my kindest sm
ENORA“I need something expensive.”She gave me a full-length glance, condescension lurking being her polite smile. “Uhm…”“What? You think I can’t afford to buy something expensive?” I’d worn another set of Nikolai’s oversized baggy shorts and tees which I understood could make me look shabby, but they were designer and looked as expensive as they felt on my skin.“No, ma’am, not at all.” She gestured for me to follow her. “I’ll show you our new arrivals.”“Thank you,” I said, holding a confiscated smile.I spent the next hour picking out new clothes, bags, and shoes and by the time I was done, my knees were weak and my stomach was rumbling. I regretted not having breakfast before leaving.“Your bill is fifty thousand dollars, ma’am.”I removed Nikolai’s credit card from my shorts with glee and handed it to Sophia. It felt good spending someone else’s money, at least someone who wasn’t my papa, not that he limited how much of his dirty money I spent. I just didn’t enjoy spending it a
NIKOLAI Enora Patrizio was going to be the death of me—that was a fact I didn’t need to deny. Sitting in this dark container with these freaking Chicago Al Capone was the last place I really wanted to be, especially not when I had an ass as soft as Enora’s to get back to.It’d been five fucking hours since I left her earlier today, yet I couldn’t get the image of her naked body out of my head. Her delicate olive skin, her full breasts that kicked every sexual nerve in me into action, and Christ, her loud moans.I took a pack of cigarettes out of my suit jacket, pinned one between my lips, and lit it. Every pop sent smoke and dirty images of my little slut to my head. I’d even lost control and fucked her so roughly that her skin was purple with marks this morning. It was probably for the best that I marked my territory on things that were mine.My phone bleeped; it was a message from Mikhail. He’d sent a picture of Enora’s tattoo; she’d made one that looked almost like mine except f
NIKOLAIThis woman was driving me beyond my limit. “Don’t test my patience, malysh.” I didn’t mean for it to come out as a roar, but it did.I kept banging on the door for the next few minutes while Enora completely ignored me. I moved back and with one kick of my leg, the door flew open. Enora was still wearing the dress she came back with, and she looked stunned that I’d actually managed to open the door.She probably hadn’t learned that I didn’t bluff.“What the fuck is wrong with you?!”“I should be asking you the same, Enora.” Animosity seeped through us both. “Who do you think you are to hurt my friends.”“He wasn’t your friend,” I yelled. “You’re not allowed to have any friends, Enora. Not a single friend.”“And who are you to make that decision for me?”I covered the space between us. “I own you, Enora, you better get used to that.”“Own me?” She scoffed. “No one owns me, not even you or my fucking dad. I’m not a piece of furniture or a gun you fuckers use to do your dirty bus
ENORA “There’s no way I’m wearing that,” I said to Valentin, pushing the box of a designer dress in his hand away. “I prefer something more modest.”Valentin squinted at me, probably not believing me.All my life, my papa had me dressed up in revealing clothes. How else could I attract men to their deaths if I didn’t seduce them first?Remembering it made my tongue bitter and I would really vomit my whole stomach out if I didn’t stop trying to replay the memories in my head.“What do we do? He shopped these for you himself.”Nikolai and I had been getting along pretty well for some days now. I no longer got mad when he called me wife and he’d been pretty nice to me as well.He still teased me sometimes though. The man couldn’t help his mischievous nature, and I still made out time to taunt him whenever I wanted to as well.Other than that, we were cool with each other. Almost like a married couple who cared for each other dearly. Who…loved each other.Love was out of the equation, b
ENORA There was only one thing I could think of, and my eyes watered as I tilted my head toward Nikolai. He had his eyes on the road as if there wasn’t a driver navigating the car in the front seat.“Are you taking me back to my papa?”Nikolai didn’t reply, he didn’t even bother to look at me, and I had my answer then. “I guess you are,” I said quietly.Panic rose in my chest and my nerves were a wrecking mess. If Nikolai was taking me back to Carlos Patrizio, then I had no choice. I would have to kill my papa tonight and kill myself.Death was a better fate for me than returning to that hellhole.“I’d be dead by morning if that’s where you’re taking me.” I smiled, my eyes filled with tears that I didn’t even bother to hide. Bold of me to even assume Nikolai cared whether I lived or died.He was being nice to me, and I’d overestimated my importance in his life. I’d forgotten my place. Despite the diamond shining on my ring finger, I was still nothing but a prisoner.Nikolai finally t
NIKOLAI I knew the look on Enora’s face well enough. She’d never thought I’d betray her. She was hurt and angry.Her gray eyes had turned pale black and her chest rose and fell heavily with fury when she breathed.My poor little wife had no fucking idea I’d tear out my limbs one after the other before I let any of the fuckers in this room lay their disgusting fingers on her.These men were from each of the families here in New York. Someone had ratted me out to them, telling them I had our mutual enemy’s daughter in my home.Honestly, I hadn’t even thought of bringing Enora to a place like this. I’d planned to take her on a date to the countryside where we could watch the sunrise together tomorrow morning. I had no idea why I wanted to do that, but I just wanted to.Romance had never been my cup of tea. I usually just fucked and discarded women. I spent my money on them too sometimes, but I’d never even gone as far as buying a flower or shopping for a woman myself.But it was differe
NIKOLAII crossed my car in front of her so that she’d have no place to pass through. “Enora,” I called out to her as I came down from the car. “Get in the car.” I wasn’t certain if it was a command or if I was pleading with her. I just needed her in the damn car.“Go screw yourself, Nikolai,” she barked. “You must think so little of me. I hate you!”She tried to walk past me, but I grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “It’s not what you think, okay?”Her eyes were crimson with rage. “What was it? You used me as a bargaining chip you cheap asshole.”Most of the passersby had their eyes in our direction. The last thing I needed was for one of them to make a video and bring unnecessary trouble to me right now. I wasn’t prepared to take care of Carlos Patrizio at the moment but if anyone captured Enora and me in this moment and uploaded it on the internet, Carlos would seek me out.That was the reason why I had to end those old farts.“Come with me.” I held her wrist. “Let’s find somewhe
Prologue LyraThe smell of grilled steak and fresh lobster filled my senses as our dishes were placed in front of us, accompanied by beautifully lit candles and glasses of red wine. My mouth watered at the perfect presentation, feeling nearly starving.Jazz music floated through the restaurant. Everything about the establishment was luscious, but while I’d told Valentin that takeout and a couch were enough, he always insisted on the nicest restaurants money could buy.Money was never an issue for Valentin Lantsov or his brothers. He belonged to New York’s most powerful family, with the world at his fingertips. While his brothers were serious, he enjoyed letting loose and indulging in the lavish things their success granted.The waiter bowed and left. Valentin’s dark blue gaze, crystal clear as water, looked me up and down before a fleeting smile flashed across his lips. It vanished faster than it appeared. He reached for his wine.We’d been seeing each other for some time. What start
ENORA Eight months later…“It’s a girl!” Nikolai announced to the room at large, filled with glee and a kind of excitement I’d never seen him wear. “It’s a baby girl.”The doctor and nurse gave me a knowing smile before giving us our privacy.Nikolai came to me and placed the baby in my arms. “She looks just like me,” he boasted. It wasn’t a lie; she had his dark hair and the same blue eyes the Lantsovs were known for. “Looks like you lost the bet, Mrs. Lantsov.”I gave a weak smile; twenty hours of labor was no joke for this cute tiny human to come out looking just like her papa. “What do you want, husband?”He seemed lost in thought for a second, before whispering his answer into my ear. “Kiss me.”“A kiss?”He nodded.“That is all you want with a wish like that?” I rolled my eyes at how naughty he was, suddenly feeling strong enough to give a wide grin. “Choose wisely, Mr. Lantsov, you may never get an opportunity like this one again.”“That is what I want,” he insisted.“Alright
NIKOLAII hit the wall in frustration before looking over to the source of the annoying voice. Dimitri and Valentin were standing in front of the mahogany door leading into my office. Their expressions were grim, which only pissed me off more. “What the fuck do you want?” “There’s a problem,” Mikhail’s voice chimed in as he joined us, his tone clipped. “Carlos Patrizio knows where his daughter is.” My gaze snapped to Enora instinctively. I could sense Mikhail’s dislike for her radiating off him, but it didn’t matter. She was mine. No one would lay a hand on her, not even him. “You didn’t think to tell me earlier?” My voice was sharp, each word carrying the weight of my rising fury. “I’d have told you if only you picked up your damn cell.” I shoved my hand into my pocket, pulling out my phone. Ten missed calls from Mikhail. Six more from Dimitri. Damn it. “My papa won’t sit back if he knows I’m here. He’d put—” Enora’s words were cut short by a deafening gunshot from the
NIKOLAI I didn’t take Enora to the other clubs she’d been to; I chose to take her to the biggest Lantsov club in New York. The one where the richest guys with the biggest influence in the city came to have fun at night. I’d wanted to show her off to the whole fucking world and mark her as mine. I also wanted to make it clear that no one was allowed to touch her or hurt her.Flickering that bore my eyes to death welcomed us into the club as we entered, where strippers on heels and spoiled rich kids danced the night away, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes clouding the atmosphere. I watched Enora to make sure she wasn’t irritated by the smell or sound, but she seemed okay with it.“This is the biggest club you own?” Her loud voice pierced the air.I nodded.“It’s really nice,” she said with a gleam touching her face. Her eyes sparkled in the lights, and the smell of her perfume seeped into my senses. “Can we dance?”I wasn’t pleased with that question. I looked at her from head to toe
ENORA I sniffled the smell of omelets and fried beef. I hadn’t eaten those in so long and I don’t know if it was because of the baby, but now that I perceived them, I had a feeling I’d crave them all day.I’d fallen asleep on Nikolai’s chest while discussing possible unisex baby names for the little Lantsov growing inside of me. Nikolai had chosen Liliya because he was positive it would be a little girl that we’d cherish like the lily flower. I’d had a different opinion though; I’d chosen Aleksis because I had a strong feeling it would be a boy.We’d gone ahead and made a bet on one of us granting the winner a wish. I giggled because I knew I’d be right. I had to start thinking of what wish I’d ask Nikolai to fulfill. I moved my hands behind me in search of Nikolai. I supposed he’d rolled away from me in his sleep but quickly opened my eyes when I realized the bed was empty.Sunlight poured into the room, lighting dust particles in the air. I glanced around, noticing the portrait of
I forgot how to breathe.We stared at each other.“God, baby.” He gripped my waist, making my clitoris brush on his hard dick. Only a psycho like him could have an erection during a conversation like this, and I was just as much of a psycho as he was because I needed to be satisfied—pulled onto him and ride him till I came. “You think I don’t love you?”“I know you don’t.”“That’s bullshit, baby.” I loved the way he called me baby; I think I loved it as much as I loved when he called me malysh. “I would burn the whole fucking world to the ground if you ask it of me, I would lay my life at your feet if need be for it, I want to worship the very ground you walk on. If that isn’t love, then I don’t know what the hell it is.”“Wait…did you just—”“I’ll kill every single person who touches you, malysh.” He held his hand over my belly. “Fuck, you don’t know how much I want to give the world to you and our baby.”A tear rolled down my eyes without warning. I glanced away in shame, these fu
ENORA I knew Nikolai was lying when he said he hadn’t hurt Camilla, yet a part of me wished earnestly that he had at least spared Maria. It was true that she was the one who informed Camilla that Nikolai was away, but that was all the part she played in what happened yesterday and I honestly didn’t think it was something she deserved to die for.It was also hard to blame Nikolai if he had killed either of them. Aside from the fact that he was a ruthless Russian crime leader, I’d recognized the look in his eyes yesterday as fear. The way his dilated blue eyes bore into mine, the trembling of his hands as he held me, he must have realized he was about to lose the greatest asset he had to bring my papa down.An asset. I guessed that was all I could ever be to him. I rubbed my hands on my belly, it was hard to shake off the feeling that right now, he only wanted me because I was carrying his child. He would probably dump me the moment I gave birth to this baby, and the idea of that made
Truth is, I really hadn’t come up with another solution for the fucker. Killing him had always been my intention, and I may still consider it despite knowing the effect it would have on Enora. He’d spilled the blood on my bed, and I needed to spill his in return. Plus, he’d been a pain in my neck since I became the leader of the Bratva, so it would be good to get him out of my way once and for all. “I’ll think of something.”“And Enora?” Valentin’s extreme concern for her was getting on my nerves. I’d have kicked him in the crotch by now if he weren’t my brother.“I’ll handle Enora,” I responded simply. “No one must speak of this again.”Clearing of throats filled the air around me, but none of them dared to ask or comment further on Enora being pregnant. “What is it you wanted to tell me?” My question was directed at Dimitri.He stared at Valentin, then at me. “Valentin’s fucking Barnes Chester’s daughter.”Fuck. As if I hadn’t dealt with enough problems for a lifetime. Barnes Che
NIKOLAI “We can’t just give her back to Carlos. I know she is his daughter, but he may kill her,” Mikhail complained. He didn’t seem to like her the first time I brought her here, but he’d warmed up to her now.“Do you think I’d hand my wife to that animal?” I put a cigarette between my lips and lit it. “I won’t.” I wouldn’t give up either my wife or my baby.I stared at the pool in front of us. The mere fact that I was sitting in front of the pool where that bitch Camilla almost killed Enora and our baby made my muscles quiver. I gritted my teeth and threw my head back on the upholstered chair to look at the sky.The ornaments in it shone very bright, beautifully, I would reach out and pluck some stars and even the moon for Enora if I could. It pained me that I couldn’t, being human sure came with a lot of limitations.Mikhail furrowed his brows as if he hadn’t expected me to say that. “You’re sensitive when it comes to her.”“And you need to get laid, maybe you’ll cool off a bit.”