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
NikolaiWhen the anchor mounted the podium and tapped on it, the microphone gave sharp, screeching feedback. The music and chattering buzz turned to a hush as other guests settled on the chair.“Ladies and gents, the Bercyna auction will be starting now,” came the brittle voice with a heavy English accent on the mic. The navy blue on his double-breasted suit gleamed under the light as he looked around the room. “As such, kindlyensure that you have your bidding boards beside your seat. We should already know that no individual here can place a bid without it. So, distinguished guests, the first item tonight is the Chandelier.”I flipped my bidding board. The number seventy-five was boldly printed on a white board in black. Anatoly smirked in the chair beside me and remarked on my consistency with the number at every auction event.Two blonde girls dressed in gold feather and sequin gowns wheeled out the piece from behind red velvety curtains. The Chandelier was a distorted painting of
“I’m surprised by a woman like you.”“A woman like me?” She appeared flustered. “Whatever do you mean?”“You’re bolder than the lot I’ve met. A woman who knows what she wants and doesn’t hesitate to go for it. I like that because I don’t hesitate. If I believe it’s mine, then it is, and nothing,no one, can stop me from having it.”She lightly tapped the window like a woodpecker would a tree. I flipped my head to the side long enough to catch the distant look in her eyes. In that sliver of time, she wasn’t the audacious bidder battling for a piece of art in an auction. The glimmer in her eyes dulled, and the smile on her lips wobbled.“I don’t know much about that.” She huffed, and before long, the façade was back. “We’re here.”We drove into a quiet estate, and I parked the car on the pavement by the front porch of a perfectly designed craftsman house with a touch of twenty-first-century modern style.I killed the engine, but neither of us made a move out of the car. Her fingers playe
I scoffed.Funny little thing.“My presence in this place doesn’t come cheap. And fifty thousand dollars is cheap. Quit beating about the bush.”Her silence was sudden, neither brooding nor final, and her eyes carried that longing I’d seen barely half an hour ago. She teased the tip of her hair between perfectly manicured fingernails and bounced the ball of her foot on the tiled floor.“Nikolai.” My name rolled off her tongue like a sultry tune and sounded unbelievably better than the last time I’d heard it. “I want you to kidnap me.”My eyes narrowed.This was the first time I’d gotten that kind of offer. Why would a woman willingly want to be kidnapped? The idea was as crazy as it was serious.I filled one of the glasses before handing it to her. Her fingers curled around the stem while I searched her eyes for a hint of sarcasm, or humor, or something that would indicate a trap.I found…nothing.She was as open as a blank canvas.That meant there were two things involved; she was eith
I was grateful.Andrei’s face creased with worry. “Are you okay?”I drifted back to the presence and nodded. “I just thought of Dad. I mean, isn’t it funny how I was able to meet you because of the shipment he hid?”“Tell me about it. You think Peter had this all mapped out before he died?” Andrei asked with a playful grin. “That he wanted me to meet you?”I shrugged. “He was a genius. It’s not completely out of the box. He worked with you, so he must’ve known how great of a person you are.”Andrei chuckled. “Your father watched me murder men in cold blood a few times. There is no way he would have wanted a man like me for his daughter.”I looked him straight in the eyes and corrected him. “Every father wants a man who would love and protect their daughter. You’re all of those things, and I’m sure he would have approved.”Even if Mom hadn’t been a fan of it at first, she’d adjusted pretty well.Andrei took my hands and kissed the back of my palm. “And I promise to always love and prot
GiselleSeven Months Later“It’s your birthday in less than an hour,” Mom said over the phone.For the first time since Dad died, she sounded happier, as if she’d finally gotten to that final stage of grief.Acceptance.The stage where even though the pain was still there, it just became easier to live with.I believed I’d also gotten to that stage.There were days when I missed Dad so much and wished he was still here, but those days were fleeting, and I found myself cherishing the memories we had when he was here.I’d shifted my focus to finding my own path in life and living in the moment. Andrei was the moment; because of him, I could live happily and smile freely again, something I never thought I would experience after Dad died.I stared blankly at the wall above me and sighed. “Yes, Mom. It’s my twenty-third birthday in an hour, and the only company I have is an empty house.”It was the first time I’d ever been home alone for a while now. Andrei made it a duty to always come ho
“I think we need to celebrate.” She leaned in and whispered. “Let’s sneak away from here.”I took her hand in mine. “Come with me.”She squinted. “Where are we going?”“You’ll see.”I led her to the rooftop of the building, closing the door behind us to avoid any interruptions and burying the noise of the chaos below.The rooftop was quiet, and the city stretched out before us, a glittering expanse of lights and movement. The night breeze was cool, carrying with it the distant sounds of cars racing down the street.Giselle stood beside me, her hands covered in mine as she admired the full moon and the bed of stars in the sky.Our fingers grazed, and it felt like the entire world had been set ablaze, the heat licking through my veins and the air cracking with a jolt of tension.The weird feeling in my chest intensified, and my pulse raced. It was a reminder of what she meant to me—what I’d just discovered she meant to me.I watched her, something in my chest fluttering as I admired how
AndreiThe air was thick with the aroma of burning cigars, the low murmur of laughter and conversation blending with the shuffle of cards and the clinking of crystal glasses.My fingers drummed idly against the felt-covered table, my gaze sweeping across my opponents.They were all seasoned members of the Bratva with hands that were scarred from bloodshed and dark eyes that threatened death.Antonio Morozov and Victor Volkov.We were all cut from the same cloak—all three of us—bred with cruelty, brutality, and bloodshed. Different in many ways yet similar in more than one.And at this table, every card we tossed was a matter of our pride. The joy that came with victory surpassed winning a war with a rival family.I’d always been a good player, only lost a game a couple of times. My skills were unbeatable, and everyone here knew it.But it was different tonight. Giselle’s presence made it different.She sat on the edge of a leather chair across the room, her back straight and hands fol
I wrapped my arms around his neck, reveling in the heat seeping from his body and into mine as he carried me to our room.His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his body pressing against mine and enveloping me with warmth.We barely made it past the bedroom door when I shifted from the position in one fluid motion, wrapping my legs around his hips and tracing his lips with mine.His arm snaked around me, and one of his hands slid under my swimsuit, finding my bare breast and cupping it.I raked my fingers through his hair and kissed him. It was a hot, searing, primal kiss that evoked something deeper than lust from both of us. It was need, mixed with deep yearning.He deepened the kiss, dragging his thumb across my nipple and twisting it lightly.I moaned into his mouth, bucking when I felt his erection poke against my sex, and ground against him, desperate to ease the throbbing between my thighs.He slid a hand through my thong and cupped my sex, and then, fisting the thong, he ripp
I swam toward him, resting my elbow on the edge just by his feet and tilting my head to look at him. “It’s called a two-piece swimsuit.”“Ah, I see.” He whipped his head around and glared at his guards, a silent signal for them to look away.I laughed. He hadn’t just grown more protective; he’d become even more possessive and jealous as well. It was cute to see. “You know they’ve been watching me swim every day for weeks now, right?”“Well, they’re not allowed to watch you swim anymore. No man is allowed to watch you swim beside me.”I huffed. He’d just saved me from having to discuss the bodyguard situation. “How was work today, husband?”“I had a couple of meetings with thePakhanand a couple of members of the Bratva. All I could think of while I was there was coming back home to you.” He placed a finger beneath my chin and leaned in. “I missed you.”“Me, too.” I squinted and grinned. “I think I missed you more.”He pretended to think for a moment. “I doubt it.”Something about the w
GiselleIt’d been two months since the whole fiasco with the FBI and Tyfun-1. Luckily, the cops hadn’t found anything to implicate me with the drugs, and the news about it had become irrelevant.A lot of things had changed—like my relationship with Andrei.I’d started to truly enjoy his presence, with no fear or doubts attached, and I missed him in his absence—like a part of me had been torn away.He’d changed a lot, too, over the months.Although he was still that dominant, fearful, and brutal man others feared, he’d become softer with me. He smiled more now and didn’t have to pretend to be cold whenever we were together.To be honest, I didn’t think I could’ve pulled a better man than him on my own, even if I tried.It was the middle of summer, and the weather outside was scorching. Andrei wouldn’t be home until evening, and I’d grown tired of watching TV.I went to the pool outside, sliding off my robe and slipping into the water. I groaned as a blissful chill cascaded over me, was
And there was no way in hell I was going home tonight without the damn camellias.***When I got home, Giselle was standing in the living room, arms crossed, waiting. Her hair was loose, falling in dark waves over her shoulders. Her lips parted slightly as her gaze dropped to the box in my hands.She held her chest and exhaled. She ran to me, pressing up on her toes to hug me.I snaked one arm around her waist, hugging her back. She smelled jasmine and vanilla tonight—delicious and sweet.“I was so worried, Andrei,” she whispered, hugging me tightly, as if I would vanish into thin air if she pulled away. “You told me you were coming home hours ago.”I pulled back first and pressed a kiss on the top of her head. “I was coming home until I saw something that looked just as beautiful as you.”She peered at the box again but completely ignored it. “Did you get into trouble? Was thePakhanmad at you?”I looked at her long and hard—the way her brows creased with worry and her emerald eyes da
“I’ve seen how you men live. I’ll be damned before I let myself become that kind of a mess.”I nodded. I’d thought the same thing months ago, and here I was, risking it all for a woman I never thought I’d meet.She’d been freaking worried this morning, afraid of how this would turn out. I needed to go back home to her. I needed to see her face and watch her give that delightful smile when I broke the news to her.Rising to my feet, I smoothed out my suit and nodded to thePakhan. “I’ll be leaving now. I’ll give you an update if there’s any soon.”He nodded back. “Khorosho.”Dobryn was leaning on the white S.U.V. when I reached the parking lot. His face wrinkled with concern when he saw me. “How did it go, sir?”“Luckily, he wasn’t angry.” I climbed into the back seat, pulling out my phone to text Giselle that I was on my way home.The car roared beneath me, and soon, Dobryn reeled it out of the parking lot. “Where are we going now?” he asked, peering at me through the rearview mirror.