Desperate Desires (Mergers & Acquisitions #3)

Chapter 26-Ono

F or the first time in recent memory, I woke up smiling.

The warm body beside me was snuggled into my side.

Pressing my nose to the place where her neck and shoulder met, I breathed in my wife’s sweet shea butter scent and hummed deep in my throat.

So soft and warm.

So sweet.

Her plump lips parted and a small sound, something between a moan and sigh, escaped and a feeling of pure possession rolled through me. Followed quickly by complete and utter adoration.

I was so fucked in the head for this woman.

How could I not be with her lying beside me, trusting me to keep her satisfied and safe?

It was a duty, a task I was honored to have.

Keeping Michelle was my new priority. And I meant keeping her safe, happy, warm, and with me.

That was the most important thing. I wanted her with me. Always.

If I could shrink her and put her in my pocket, carry her around all day, I would.

How messed up was that?

She smiled in her sleep, her expression so serene I couldn’t look away if I tried. So, I didn’t bother.

Curiosity burned, and I wanted to shake her awake to ask what had made her smile so sweetly.

But I wasn’t a monster. Waking her up to satisfy my need to know everything about her was not okay.

Instead, I leaned forward and kissed that sleepy little smile on her face just to see if I could taste it.

How had I ever existed without her?

My phone buzzed, interrupting my reverie, and I growled as I rolled to the side, shutting off the sound.

I hated leaving my sleeping wife alone in our bed, but I had no choice.

Business needed seeing to, and I had a duty to those who worked for me. The ones who left the family business to join in my new endeavors.

They chose wisely, backing me in my decision to cut ties with all the low lives.

I didn’t like to wallow in filth. I chose a different road, using the education I’d earned in college and on the streets to rise from hood to mogul.

Was it an easy path?

Fuck no.

But what good was easy?

I wasn’t afraid of hard work. Not then and not now.

Truth was, I was luckier than most men. I had everything I wanted now. Money, prestige, and a wife I was fucking crazy about.

If those boys from my old life needed a war to realize I was never going back, I’d give them war. I had men loyal to me, weapons, and plenty of money to hire even more muscle.

I’d much rather live my life, basking in the glow only the happily married could attest to.

But now I had a problem, and it needed fixing.

I still didn’t know who’d been pulling Freddy’s strings, and this morning I’d woken up to another attack.

This one was on a load of special refrigerated containers that were supposed to arrive by ship from overseas.

Something happened to them after they passed their last inspection and all the goods were damaged and needed to be disposed of, costing me millions.

No, I wasn’t interested in war. But I wouldn’t back down from a fight. I just needed to find out who was behind this, and my resources were tapped.

“Boss? It’s Sammy Ramirez,” Gio said from the front seat, and I grabbed the proffered cell phone from his hand.

I had an idea where this conversation was going to head, and I was feeling kind of anxious about it.

My suspicions were confirmed when I heard his angry snarl on the other end of the receiver.

“You fucking married her? You prick. She’s family!”

“Then maybe you should call to congratulate me, cousin ,” I said, unable to resist.

“Fuck you. Look, Dad knows. And if he knows, so do my uncles. They’re coming to see you today, Ono.”

“I see. And what? You called to give me a heads up?” I asked, surprised.

“Shelly isn’t like the girls we used to fuck around with. She’s special,” he said, and it rankled.

I didn’t need him or any other man telling me how fucking special my wife was.

My wife. Mine.

I stayed silent for a minute to get my anger under control. But apparently, Sammy wasn’t done yet.

“You gotta understand where we’re coming from. When Michaela met her, she was living with this snobby aunt of hers. A real cold woman. She was never there for Shelly. I mean like ever. Not holidays, birthdays, graduations, or nothing. So, we became her family. Understand? You hurt her, I side with family. You hurt her, and you get hurt.”

“Are you fucking threatening me, Sammy? I thought we were friends.” I seethed.

I was equal parts glad Michelle had someone looking out for her, and pissed that Sammy thought he needed to protect her from me .

“I’m not threatening you, Ono. I’m simply telling you how it is. Shelly is like one of the cousins to me. And to Dad and the uncles? She’s like a daughter.”

“You know what? I’m done with this conversation. Michelle is my wife. Hear me? My. Wife. She don’t need you or them. I am her fucking protection.”

“They’re coming today, Ono.”

“Fine,” I grunted, I needed to calm down. “If they come, they come, Sammy. Thanks for the call.”

I hung up, pissed off and spoiling for a fight.

No one had to protect Michelle from me.

I was her protection. I was her fucking shield against the world.

And if someone needed to get that message, I was going to fucking deliver it. But where my wife was concerned, I wasn’t too proud to ensure her safety.

Sammy was right. They were her family. And because of that, I could ask them for help. Lean on them.

“Change of plans, Gio,” I said, trying to resolve myself to this new path.

“Boss?”

“Head over to Volkov Towers.”

I grabbed my cell phone and dialed a number I’d never used before, grinning when the prick answered himself.

“Adrik Volkov.”

“Hello, Mr. Volkov, I believe we have a meeting today.”

“Who the fuck is this?”

“Ono Bottarelli. I understand you have some questions about my wife .”

“Ah. So, you’re the prick who married our Shelly? You think this is a good idea? Calling me like this.”

“I don’t like threats, and I don’t like waiting. You wanted to talk, so I’ll be there in thirty-five minutes,” I said, checking with the GPS before hanging up on the powerful man.

My blood hummed in my veins, anticipation making me giddy.

Did I want the Volkovs for enemies?

No fucking way.

But maybe they could help with this problem I had. If anyone could root out the mystery man behind the attacks on me, it was them.

Asking for help wasn’t in my nature, but with Michelle in the target zone, I wasn’t above it. My priorities had shifted. My company, my men, they were all second now to her safety.

I grinned and rubbed my hand over my face. I never believed people who said the right woman could change your life. But they weren’t lying.

Michelle was the right woman.

And she was changing everything.