We stepped into the penthouse and it was well past twelve. I threw my jacket onto the counter and sighed as I undid my cuffs. Ria kicked off her shoes before collapsing into the couch. Grabbing the book she had been reading for the past few days, she curled up. I knew she was reading some young adult books in full Russian to help her with the language. Apparently it was a good one. Looking at the center of the living room, it always blew me away.
Ria had finished her painting on the floor. It was a pond with fish in them. The fish themselves were not based off any real fish. However, they looked so realistic that you had to question whether or not they were. There were ripples and lilies that I had to remind myself weren’t actually there.
Around the edges, where the floor stepped up, she’d painted it to look like a wood box was holding the pond in. Her ability to capture the grain within the wood pieces, the nails and how they sunk into the wood and even sm
I expected Ria to climb into bed after a little while. I’d tossed and turned until four in the morning. She still hadn’t come to bed. My alarm went off at five-thirty and I didn’t even know when I feel asleep. Groaning, I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Looking behind me, the blankets weren’t even moved. Opening the door and heading downstairs, it was quiet.I thought maybe she was asleep in her room but the door was swung wide open. It was empty and I pursed my lips. Looking at the kitchen, it seemed like she had already made a morning shake before leaving. Pulling out my phone, I dialed Aleksei. He answered but not only did he sound like he was breathing heavy but there was wind.“Where are you?”“Good morning to you too, sunshine.”I rolled my eyes. “Aleksei.”“Don’t you Aleksei me! Not now! I’m dying, Marek. Dying. You get Keenan back here. Becau
We both were breathing heavy and as Ria looked up at me, she started to shake her head. I stopped her from being able to move. That same look in her eye that I had seen before. The conflict of wanting to tell me something but being worried how I might react. I wanted her to trust me; needed her to trust me.“Stop. I am not going anywhere. No matter what.”I watched her swallow and then slowly she nodded. “I…when I did work for my father…I worked under a different name.” Her body was so rigid and I could feel the slight shake in her arms.My brow furrowed. “A name? Like a code name?”Ria nodded slowly, still conflicted until she let out a strained breath. “Marek…I’m Kharon. I’m…I’m the one everyone is afraid of. I’m the one who they tell their kids at night that will come get them if they misbehave. I’m…I’m our boogie man.”
*** Rosaria’s POV ***Someone was knocking on the vault door and I looked around from the painting I had on the easel in the corner of the room. Aleksei, who had been lounging on the couch, looked back confused as well. The fact that someone was knocking meant that they made it up the elevators. Sitting up, I set my paints aside and put my brush in the cup of water I had next to me.“Stay here.”He took gun from the counter and tucked it into the back of his pants. Walking over to the door, he pulled up the tablet before he huffed. Opening the door, I looked around to see Lev, Marek’s brother, standing in the entryway with two baby carriers on the floor next to him.“Hey Aleksei, is Marek home?”Aleksei shook his head. “Why would he be home? It’s the middle of the day, Lev. He’s at work. Like you should be. What the hell are you doing here?”Lev looked frazzled. Dark c
Aleksei started to pace like I was and he seemed to be doing it more for his sake than the baby’s. I did watch him out of the corner of my eye just in case he needed to be saved. It was hard not chuckle as probably the two most unqualified people now had two babies lives in their hands.After a while, the one in my arms woke up but they were content just sitting on my chest as I laid back on the couch. Aleksei had sleepy head who slept through another phone call and him slamming his phone down on the kitchen counter. The door opened and Marek walked in with Lec. The two of them froze, looking at us and I gave a quick wave.“Who in gods name thought it was a good idea for Aleksei to hold a baby?” Marek pulled off his jacket while Lec brought in the four or five bags of supplies they bought.“He’s been doing really good. Sleepy head has been very comfy. This one wants to explore but I haven’t been able to grab a blanket or anyth
I stretched and fell back against the headboard. The sheets were pulled up to my chest since I didn’t have anything on underneath. Marek didn’t even say anything to his family as he stormed up the stairs. He didn’t even let me walk into the house, picking me up and mumbling that I was too slow.We were undressed before either of us hit the bed and Marek made sure I matched his orgasms. The last one he used his tongue, but it was nearly as earth shattering as the others. His brothers pulled him downstairs a few minutes go because apparently someone had seen him just outside the city but it was the same day that he went missing. Sighing, I closed my eyes and started to fall asleep.My phone buzzed and I sat up, reaching for it on the nightstand. Wizard had messed me about twenty minutes ago.Unknown: I’m having some issues locating him. His signature is scrambled.
Pulling up to the casino entrance, I lifted the door before the valet could get to me. I was ready with my purse and I shoved the keys in his hands. He stepped aside as I walked around the car. Looking up, I could see the multiple cameras facing the entrance. I guessed I would be able to get maybe seven steps into the main lobby before the manager got in my way.The doors slid open and I strode into the main area. Wizard had texted me as I pulled up at that Lev was currently at the poker tables, completely drunk, as he threw money away like there was an infinite amount of it.They were behind as I made it fifteen steps before I caught the manager rushing over to me with two associates and one security officer. He was rubbing his hands together as he got to me, stopping my side.“Miss…Miss Bernardi…we didn’t realize you would be gracing us with your presence.”“No. That would defeat the purpose of me being here, now wo
We hit the morning rush hour traffic in the city as six rolled around. I’d had to take the crazy route through since, as I predicted, they were waiting for us to enter the city. Lev had fallen asleep and hadn’t wokened up since about two in the morning. I was exhausted but the tail into the city shot some adrenaline through me.Now though, as I drove the empty space between the city and the mansion, I was staring to crash. I’d changed back into my normal clothes after the first fuel up so that helped make me feel a little better. However, it also dropped me out of fight or flight mode.“Lev. Lev, wake up. We are almost back.”I hit him across the chest and he snorted before he jumped up in the seat. He hit the ceiling of the Ferrari and I laughed shaking my head. Rubbing his head, I wrinkled my nose.“You really need a shower.”“Yeah, well, you decided to pick me up like that.”Sighing, I
The explosion threw me back, my head hitting the pavement but I scrambled to roll over and stand. Not caring anymore if the assholes in the trucks saw me, I raced over to the burning car. Flames were shooting up into the air and the heat alone started to burn my clothes. Aleksei was so close though and I wasn’t about to lose him.I was hesitating though. I hated that I was. The fire burned and the smell of smoke overpowered everything. My fear flaring to life. Being anywhere near a fire, being trapped in a fire, that was my ultimate fear. My burn on my shoulder itching. Screaming in frustration, I pulled out the gun from behind my back. Flicking off the safety, I put the barrel in forearm. Pulling the trigger, a shot ran out and I screamed against the pain.It woke me up. Suddenly, it was all I could feel. Throwing the gun, I raced forward into the flames. The door was already open and I felt my skin start to char. Reaching down, I saw Aleksei’s body laying