DMITRIMy fist connects with the table, the impact reverberating through the wood. Another dent to add to the collection. Fitting, given the state of my patience.“Why the fuck would you fail? I gave you a simple task!” I snarl at Kirill, my voice dripping with barely contained rage.“I’m sorry,” Kirill mumbles, his head bowed like a scolded dog. “I’ll send them again. I promise I’ll find her this time around.”I let out a dark chuckle, the sound devoid of any humor. “Oh, if you don’t, your head will hang above my door for everyone to see. Get out.”He scurries away like the incompetent rat he is. I run my fingers through my hair, frustration coursing through every fiber of my being. I’m beyond my wits’ end. I passed that point weeks ago.Three weeks. Three fucking weeks since Ana vanished, and I’m no closer to finding her. I’ve turned over every stone, searched every Bratva house, every company, every goddamn hideout. Now I’m reduced to scrutinizing anyone who’s so much as breathed t
The drive is a blur of adrenaline and fury. I race down the highway, weaving through traffic, my knuckles white on the steering wheel. Every second feels like an eternity, but finally, I screech to a halt outside Nikolai’s building.As I stride toward the entrance, I spot a cop, his gun visible in his waistband. He doesn’t approach.Smart man.“Cocky bastard,” I mutter. If Nikolai thinks being in a public place will save him, he’s sorely mistaken. My influence reaches far beyond his petty attempts at protection.I burstinto the outer office, making his secretary jump. “H-hi,” she stutters.“Leave,” I bark. She doesn’t need to be told twice.Without hesitation, I kick open Nikolai’s door. He looks up, a false calm on his face. “Dmitri.” He nods, as if we were meeting for afternoon tea.I refuse to return the courtesy. “You bastard,” I snarl, advancing on his desk. “You knew where she was all along. You sent me on a wild goose chase.”Nikolai leans back, unfazed. “I merely reclaimed wha
ANAThe knock on my door jolts me awake. For a moment, I’m disoriented, unsure how long I’ve been napping. These days, exhaustion is my constant companion.It must be Viktor, I think, my stomach knotting with dread. He’s probably here to tell me my time’s up, that I need to make a decision. I’ve been dreading this moment, putting it off as long as I can.I sigh heavily, my feet dragging as I make my way to the door. What am I supposed to tell him? That I still don’t have an answer? That I’m torn between protecting everyone and following my heart? That I miss Dmitri so much it feels like a physical ache, a constant hollowness in my chest that nothing can fill?My hand hesitates on the doorknob. Maybe if I’m quiet, Viktor will think I’m not home. But no, that’s just delaying the inevitable. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation to come.“Viktor, I—” The words die in my throat as I open the door.It’s not Viktor.It’s Dmitri.Standing right there, in the flesh, looki
EPILOGUEDMITRITwo months later“You know,” Ana says as she picks a slice of watermelon from the fruit plate beside her, both of us lying on the deck of my yacht, watching the ocean as the vessel drifts, “I think I should go ahead and buy myself a jet.”Not knowing where the sudden desire is coming from but used to her saying random things out of the blue—I think it’s a pregnancy thing—I go with the safest response.“Of course. Which and when?”She turns to me, a smile blossoming on her lips and her face positively radiant. It’s hard to believe she’s the same Ana I saw when she opened the door two months ago.The doctor said rest, exercise, and sleep would bring the color back to her cheeks.And I might be biased, but I think she’s more gorgeous too. Lying down on the deck chair with the small bump, her body gleaming from oil and sunscreen, and the little sun hat over her head, Anastasia Orlov looks like a dream cometrue.“You are a sweet man, Dmitri, and you spoil me silly. I might
Book 2 introduces different characters and storyline while still maintaining the forced marriage To the merciless Mafia series. ********* I made a deal with a Bratva Boss, only to lose my virginity and now I’m forced to marry him. He was supposed to save me from a forced marriage not to kidnap me for his own pleasure. Nikolai Yezhov as always been the enemy; older, ruthless, dangerous and handsome. Now I’m knocked up by an older man whose forcing me to be his Bratva Bride. My plan was perfect; outwit my brother and become free of his control. Instead, Nikolai had plans of his own, trapping me in his mansion and claiming my virginity. His passion is cruel, his touch ruthless, but I succumb to his will every time. He has no intention of keeping his word, only to claim me for himself. I might have outsmarted my brother, but this Bratva Boss outsmarted me. He strokes me until I quiver, only to make me cry out with pain and ecstasy. I become addicted to his taste, his touch, hi
NikolaiPresent DayI lit the cigarette, feeling the familiar crunch of the filter between my lips. The flame from the lighter danced before my eyes before I tucked it away. I took a long, slow drag when she sucked, wrapped her fingers around me, and took me deeper until I hit the back of her hot throat. My jaw clenched, and I closed my eyes, letting the rush wash over me. The sound of her gag and feminine moans disturbed the silence in the office, and my fingers sought solace in her hair.I grabbed a handful of her soft locks, guiding her as her mouth went up and down, greedily taking as much as she could. I took another drag on the stick, feeling the tip over the edge coming sooner as the seconds ticked by. Nicotine hit my bloodstream like a freight train, and I hit the back of her throat again.My fingers tightened in her hair, the muscles of my thighs stiffened, and like a broken dam, I released in her mouth. And like a kid teasing the tip of her lollipop, her deep, satisfied groa
RosalynOne Week LaterI was a light sleeper. I blamed it on the trauma Ronan and Sean had forced me to endure when we were younger, when Father was away on business.I’d lie in wait, soaked in tears, clutching my pillow to my chest with one eye open because they could pounce out at any time to toss a toy insect on my bed or a real one, like Ronan did once.The slightest ruffle of the pillowy sheets, flash of light, sound of movement, or flutter of the silken drapes stirred me awake. The same happened when a chime on the nightstand vibrated with a hum. I snatched up my phone, groaning as I slid through the multiple notifications on the screen to fish out the message.I groaned, rolled my eyes, kicked my legs off the bed, and went to take a shower. The message was from Hannah: my best friendandbodyguard. She was waiting in the living room downstairs, and I wondered why.I’d known Hannah O’Conner for five years. She’d been nineteen while I was sixteen. She was younger and more vibrant, a
The urge to scratch his face or punch him in the nose was as overwhelming as the desire to run away from this horrible nightmare and not look back. I wanted death, and sometimes I wished I’d gone with Father that day.“I hate you, Ronan.” I resisted the urge to spit when his eyes twinkled mischievously.“Get her the fuck out of my sight,” he ordered Hannah, his eyes still holding mine, “and I don’t want to hear that anything went wrong. Do you hear me?”Hannah gave a curt nod, and he brushed past me, knocking my shoulder with his elbow. We both waited in silence until his steps behind us faded to nothing.****“I’m not getting that wedding dress.”She ran her fingers through her bob and smiled at me as we walked down the front steps. The air was warm, but the black gown made it feel like a hundred degrees. One of Ronan’s men pulled up in a Benz, got out, and handed Hannah the car keys before returning to his station.“He’s going to kill you, Lyn.”I flinched at the nickname and eyed t
I managed a nod, knowing I was bare before this man, standing before him in a wet dress with no bra underneath and no panties. Just me, wearing my heart on my sleeve, giving him total undenied access, knowing fully well that he could squish me in the palm of his hands without blinking.His lips skimmed the inner part of my thighs, and his teeth grazed the skin on his path.“You should know, I do. I love it when we fuck, Rosa.” He looked up, locking me in with his eyes. “And I love you.”He slipped two fingers through my wetness and pushed them inside of me. I gasped, arched my back, dug my nailsinto his shoulders, and groaned in pleasure. My fingers found purchase in his hair, and overwhelming emotion made me rock my hips while the water hit my face.A fuse lit up inside me, assembling all the puzzle pieces and aligning my words. “I love you, too, Niko.”And I did love him, maybe even too much for my heart to contain.“Fuck,” he mumbled and kissed my thighs again.Euphoria unraveled i
“You were part of the best things that could have ever happened to me after Father died. There was almost nothing to laugh or smile about, but you managed to bring smiles to my face. When they pushed me around, you were always there to catch me. When I was freezing cold, you always had a blanket on standby. When I was sick, you made sure I was taken care of. Silent but observant. Cold yet warm, just enough to heat me up. I might never have believed in guardian angels if it weren’t foryou. Aiden, I’m forever grateful for those times. I am thankful that, even if you’ve never expressly admitted it, you loved me.”“I still do.”His outright, sudden confession dealt a sharp blow to my chest. I sucked in a deep breath, the weight of what I was about to do almost crushing me.“Aiden…I’m letting go.”“Rosalyn, wait—”“And it is a bit ironic that I am letting go when, really, neither of us were hanging on. But it is for the best. I will always cherish the friendship we had. But knowing that yo
“Let’s just not talk about the past anymore, okay?” She linked her arm through mine. “There’s a lot I’ve missed, I know. I heard Egor’s marriage announcement; it spread like wildfire, especially since he was getting married to that detective hottie.”“Freya,” I added for clarity. “They have two children now.”Her face grew red, and I knew she was going to cry again. Pulling her in for a side hug, I said, “You’re not going to fuckingcry, Nadia.” I looked at her, letting her see through the tough exterior guarding my heart. “Please.”She threw her head back, blinking the tears back amidst chuckles. “Okay. For that heartfelt plea, I won’t. I know it almost cost you your liver to say it. Wouldn’t want to ruin my makeup either.”“I’ll get you up to speed, but first, come, let me introduce you to Rosa, my wife. She’ll be waiting.”When we walked back to the table where my wife was meant to be waiting, she was nowhere to be found.****I found her by the lit garden, seated on the bench with
RosalynI finally met Nadia.I’d walked in to see her seated at our table with the most elegance. She was decent, at least toward me. Nice, friendly, and warm. Basically everything her brothers weren’t. I hadn’t gotten a chance to meet the oldest Yezhov sibling yet, Egor, but judging from Nikolai’s mannerisms and disciplined work ethic, I suspected there might have been a rub-off from thePahkanof the Bratva. Talking to Nadia had been like conversing with an older version of myself, a more resilient, focused, and successful version. In the short time we spent dining with her, she inspired me, and I was happy when Niko said we’d be seeing her more often.Now, we were back in the hotel room.Quietly, he went into the closet to do whatever he wanted to do there, and I walked over to the glass windows, brushing my fingers through the light curtains. I wanted to stop caring, but my heart refused to comply. Fuming, I let my hand drop from the curtains and folded my fingers into fists, diggin
“Let’s just not talk about the past anymore, okay?” She linked her arm through mine. “There’s a lot I’ve missed, I know. I heard Egor’s marriage announcement; it spread like wildfire, especially since he was getting married to that detective hottie.”“Freya,” I added for clarity. “They have two children now.”Her face grew red, and I knew she was going to cry again. Pulling her in for a side hug, I said, “You’re not going to fuckingcry, Nadia.” I looked at her, letting her see through the tough exterior guarding my heart. “Please.”She threw her head back, blinking the tears back amidst chuckles. “Okay. For that heartfelt plea, I won’t. I know it almost cost you your liver to say it. Wouldn’t want to ruin my makeup either.”“I’ll get you up to speed, but first, come, let me introduce you to Rosa, my wife. She’ll be waiting.”When we walked back to the table where my wife was meant to be waiting, she was nowhere to be found.****I found her by the lit garden, seated on the bench with
NikolaiI never thought I’d enjoy an evening dinner at a fancy restaurant so much thatIdidn’t want it to end. This moment with Rosa was beyond the physical attraction, that magnetic pull that just made me want to drag her back to the hotel room to fuck her as hard and as greedily as I wanted to.Something else was there. Something tangible that sparked a deeper interest as she revealed more sides of herself. The simmer started from the moment I saw her walk down that aisle. And after last night, I deluded myself into thinking I’d gotten that insane drive out of my system. Then, during our flight, it hit again, more forceful than before.Those darn leggings. The skin-tight fabric clung to her, every dip, curve, and soft angle pronounced. Watching her without being able to touch on that fucking jet was torture. So, I chose work over admiring.And again, the more we talked, the more I realized that a pantyhose and smart mind combination made it even more difficult to keep my shit togethe
“That dress was made for you,” he said, his voice dangerously low and husky.A flush rose to my cheeks as he approached me, his eyes never leaving mine. He reached out and gently adjusted the strap of my dress, and his cool fingers brushed my shoulders, his touch sending shivers down my spine.He smelled like soap and aftershave, and I wanted to bury my face in his neck.After a brief count of fifteen minutes, he was dressed in a plain black dress shirt, matching pants, and chestnut brown Italian leather soles. Then, he walked up to me. Undeniably handsome and drool-worthy.He offered his arm.“Shall we?”****We were both laughing until a teardrop slipped from my eyes.An hour since we’d arrived at the famousLa Coeur de la Vie, and we were already having a most splendid time. I couldn’t remember the reason for our laughter. The memory was vague, but I recalled pieces.It started from the menu. I didn’t know what to order, couldn’t even pronounce the words, butof course,Nikolai was fl
Paris?Now, reeling back to the present, we sat in an uncomfortable, awkward silence, facing each other in one of his private jets.“You’re staring.”I blinked, playing with my fingers and bouncing my sneakers on the beige cabin rug. “No, I’m not.”“Yes, you are.”“No, I’m not.”He turned off the iPad, slid it to the messenger bag, and folded his arms across his waist, looking up at me. Mirth lingered in his gaze, and he shrugged a shoulder.“Yes, you are.”I shifted my foot, crossing one leg over the other, and faced him squarely. The jet jerked under a wave of mild turbulence, and I glanced at the roof, calming my racing heart before responding. That quick scare somehow made me even more nervous.“How would you know?”“Easy. I could feel your eyes on me.”“I was looking out the window.”“Then, I guess, I’m the window.”A small smile tugged on my mouth. He was just so full of himself, wasn’t he? “You’re just proud. You think you’re the center of attention.”Mimicking me, he crossed h
Rosalyn“The name of the song is ‘Carry You Home’ by Alex Warren.” I put the phone down and looked up at him. “And Hannah was right; it isn’t a country song. The singer dedicated it to his wife. How romantic.”The corner of his lips made the smallest curve in a smirk, but he didn’t glance away from his phone. He kept tap, tap, tapping away. “You get a new phone, andthatis the first thing you decide to check.”I shrugged, folding my arms. “I guess.”Dismissively, he scoffed, returning his full attention to whatever business he had to attend to, and pulled out his iPad from the messenger bag on the passenger seat beside him.Shyly, I ogled him, sweeping my eyes from the snug fit of his bold Matcha green cashmere sweater to the black skinny jeans framing his lean, muscled thighs and then the suede glow of his black Timberlands. He looked delectable, and it almost hurt to look at how beautifully perfect this man was, so I looked out the window instead. Regardless, his image was permanentl