GavrilI walked into the building, Anatoly at my heels, and ignored the men gathered. Word had gotten around that the Pakhan was back in Russia, and my whereabouts were now public knowledge.In a sense, the streets around the car were clogged with people, some wanting to talk to the Kirilenko leader for business or patronage. It always happened whenever I came home that people who wanted money, drugs, women, or a business alliance would find me and try to discuss matters. Sometimes I set up meetings with a few worthy men or women, trying to keep the peace among my own people before heading back to America.Tonight, I wasn’t there to do that. “Pakhan,” one of the men near me said, inclining his head. “Right this way.”Anatoly moved to my side, his hand touching the gun at his hip as we moved to the elevator, piling in a moment later. While we were on our home turf, it didn’t mean that the threats stopped there. There were rivals, even in St. Petersburg, that would love nothing more tha
NaomiI heard the words coming out of Gavril’s lips, but more importantly, I saw them reflected in his eyes. He truly would protect me.Not Sveta, but Naomi Spencer. Even if he didn’t say it, I believed that was who he was talking about anyway.So, I stood on my tiptoes and brushed my lips over his, wanting to be close to him again. When we were having sex, we were on the same page.He groaned and took over the kiss, though his movements were gentler than they had been in the past.Almost like he cared.Tears sprang to my eyes, but I refused to shed them, forcing myself to focus on Gavril’s kiss. His lips roamed over mine, seeking, tasting each and every corner until I gasped and he swept in, dominating the play of our tongues.His hands slid around me, and he held me against him, kissing me until I had to pull away, breathing heavily. “I haven’t seen your bedroom yet,” I panted, earning a chuckle from him.“Well, let me rectify that,” he answered, tugging one arm loose to lead me tow
Gavril“Everything is in place with the shipment. It will leave today.”I held the phone to my ear, staring out of the bank of windows that gave me the best view of the river as the sun rose. “If anything is wrong with that shipment when it arrives in LA, I will hold you personally responsible.”“Of course, Pakhan.” Surov laughed. “I will not fail.”I ended the call before he could say anything else and tucked my cell phone back into my pocket. I had thought bringing Naomi here would be good for her. But now, after what she’d told me last night, I wasn’t so sure anymore.Sighing, I let my shoulders slump momentarily and drummed my fingers against my thigh. So much was riding on this shipment. Not only my personal future, but the future of the Belaya Bratva as a whole. I needed the Krasnaya brigadiers to be on my side, and delivering this shipment of women to them was going to be the only olive branch I would extend.A token of goodwill so that they would believe I was looking out for
“On one condition,” I replied, walking to the door that connected the bedroom to the living room. “You need to get dressed.”I didn’t wait for her response, wondering why the hell I felt like I was walking on clouds at making her happy this morning.Or teasing her.Or laughing with her.She was supposed to be a tool.And now she was going to be my ruin.When she walked out, I gave her outfit a cursory glance before leading her to breakfast. I had been told that we would be in the formal dining room this morning. When we arrived, it was clear that we were late.“Good morning, Gavrushka,” Katarina said brightly from her chair, her plate already full of food. “And Sveta.”Naomi’s hand tightened in mine, and I gave her a brief squeeze as my mother looked both of us over, her sharp eyes betraying nothing.“Good morning,” I said as I led Naomi over to the chair, pulling it out for her. “I trust that you are all well?”“What about you, Gavrushka?” Aleksandra stated, arching a brow. “Are you
NaomiOne week laterI turned in different directions in front of the mirror, checking my outfit.“I think it’s great,” Katarina said, her legs swinging as she sat on the side of the bed. “You look great. More than great, actually. You look hot.”“Gavrushka will not be able to keep his hands off you,” Aleksandra added, winking. “Not that I think he ever had a problem with that.”I blushed as I turned to the two younger girls. They weren’t far off from the truth. Despite my cold one-on-one meeting with Maria, my time in Russia had been nothing but amazing. Gavril was incredibly attentive, taking me on boat rides with just the two of us or taking me out to dinner so that I could see more of his home city.And St. Petersburg was truly a beautiful city. Growing up, I had imagined all of Russia to be a dreary, gray place. But Gavril had shown me a city that was vibrant and alive. And under his watchful eye and careful guidance, I could almost have believed that we were in America.Tonight,
NaomiHis long fingers brushed over my center, and I parted my legs to give him better access, my nipples tightening painfully. My breathing became ragged as he slid his finger past the small scrap of lace and directly into my wet, inviting warmth.“You must remain quiet,” he whispered, hot breath tickling my ear. “Or they will make us leave.”I clenched the armrests with my hands as Gavril started to move his finger, his thumb pressing against my swollen numb lazily. He seemed to play me like an instrument, his skilled fingers brushing over the aching parts of me while his finger moved in and out of me to the tune of the music, pushing in with each crescendo and pulling out in time with every decrescendo.“Gavril,” I gasped as I felt the heat start to build. “Please.”“Please what?” he murmured, his beard chafing my shoulder as his other hand slipped underneath my bra, rolling my sensitive nipples between his devilish fingers. “Tell me what you want.”“I…I want,” I told him, biting m
GavrilI was fucking furious underneath my cool facade. I knew I couldn’t kill the little man before me, but I wanted to snap his fucking neck for even coming to my house and attempting to garner information.He looked over at Naomi once more before tucking the paper back into the folder he had been carrying. “Well, I will bid you all a good night.”“I will walk you out,” I told him.He nodded and I walked him to the door, ensuring that he got back into the car he had come in before shutting it firmly behind him.Fuck.My mother was waiting in the receiving room when I made my way back, along with a pale-faced Naomi.“Bed,” she commanded my wife. “I need a word with my son.”A word. She wanted a word?She was going to get a fucking word from me. I walked over to Naomi, took her hands, and found them trembling.“Go on,” I told her softly, pressing my lips to her forehead. “I will be there soon.”There was a flash of fear in her eyes, and I realized that it was fear for me. She was afrai
GavrilI stripped off my coat next and threw it so that it could join the tie. “None of your concern. I want to know why the embassy would care about a missing American.”The visit wasn’t common. If Naomi had been a senator’s daughter or some high-society princess, I could understand, but nothing in her background suggested either, and I wanted to know who would be looking for her.“Who did you tell?”“No one,” she answered, throwing up her hands. “I have no means to tell anyone even if I wanted to.”I stalked toward her, and she shrank back, causing me to pause. “I’m not going to hurt you.” Even agitated as I was, I wasn’t going to take it out on Naomi.Something flickered in her eyes before she looked away. “I know.”Was my mother right about her? Was she keeping secrets from me?Could Naomi ask me for anything, and I would be powerless to turn her down?“Then tell me,” I said. “Why was that man here tonight?”Naomi looked down and became silent. It took me a few moments before I rea