Chapter 22
My little mouse snuggles deeper into my chest, smashing her lush tits into me. My cock stirs, even though I just came so hard I saw stars. I sigh, used to it by now. She turns me into a randy teenage boy whenever we’re together.
With a tender stroke, I caress her hair, admiring the way it glistens against the black silky sheets. But as much as I want her to stay wrapped around me, I know I can’t and reluctantly untangle her limbs from mine. She rolls away from me, murmuring incoherently in her sleep as she latches onto a pillow. My lips tilt up. She looks so peaceful lying there, like she doesn’t have a care in the world.
“Sleep well, princess,” I whisper, getting out of bed.
My eyes linger on her body for a moment longer before I quickly get dressed and make my way to the main cabin where my men are waiting. I sit with them, and together, we map out our plan of attack for when we land in California.
I get so lost in the preparations that I hardly notice the passing hours until finally, we’re landing.
That’s when the ear-splitting screeching starts.
It’s coming from the bedroom.
“Cecilia!” I jump up and race over, my men following behind me. But when I reach the door, I turn and tell them to back off. “I’ll take care of it.”
Even if I don’t know what that is.
When I push my way into the bedroom, I find Cecilia in the throes of a panic attack.
She’s on the floor, hunched into herself, her eyes squeezed shut, hands clamped over her ears as she screams and cries, tears streaming down her cheeks.
My heart tightens at the sight.
Lunging forward, I drag the heavy blanket off the bed and drape over her head. Then I wrap my arms around her from behind, just like I did the last time this happened. That seemed to help.
“Shh, it’s okay, dushen’ka. I’m here now. You’re alright. You’re alright,” I murmur softly, rocking her back and forth.
Gradually, her screams subside to sobs, then to pained whimpers. “Maksim?”
“Yes, I’m here.” I pull the blanket off of her and cradle her tear-streaked face in my hands. “You’re alright, dushen’ka.” I plant a kiss on her cheeks, her forehead, her temple, the shell of her ears. Slowly, she relaxes in my arms, and soon enough, even the tears stop.
“Did you have a nightmare?” I ask gently.
She shakes her head against my chest. “No, I think… I think the screeching of the wheels when we landed ripped me awake. The way the plane lurched—it-it reminded me of how T–Trey used to wake me up, yelling about how lazy I was if I ever slept in later than him.”
My arms tighten around her, and I have to make a conscious effort to relax. I’ll get that bastard soon enough. “And being back in California probably doesn’t help either, huh? Don’t worry. It will all be over soon, dushen’ka.”
She nods, then glances up at me with a small frown. “What does that mean? I swear, every time I understand the meaning of your pet names, you come up with a new one.”
Her voice is nearly back to normal, so I chuckle, glad to see she’s getting over her scare. For now, anyway. “You can just google it like you did with the others.”
She pouts, but her eyes twinkle.
“Come on, as tempting as you are naked, you need to get dressed so we can get out of here.” I reluctantly let her go and watch as she puts on her clothes.
“What about our luggage?” Cecilia asks as we get into the Range Rover waiting for us on the tarmac.
“My men will bring it.”
The ride to the hotel is short, and after a quick introduction to the manager, I lead Cecilia to my private elevator. Pressing the P for the penthouse, we ascend together.
“For some reason, I thought you’d take me to one of your homes instead of a hotel,” she remarks, her eyes lifting to meet mine with a hint of curiosity.
“Usually, I would’ve done just that, but the stakes are too high. Rest assured, though, I own this hotel. I chose it because the staff all work for me. They’ll be looking out for your safety, along with my men. The more eyes, the better. There are cameras everywhere, too. Everyone is on high alert. No one who doesn’t belong will be allowed in. You’ll be safe here.”
She nods just as the elevator doors slide open, revealing the penthouse’s lavish living area. Three ensuite bedrooms, a private kitchen, and a study are at our disposal—perfectly suited for our needs.
But as Cecilia gravitates to the wide, full-length window, I hesitate. I don’t blame her; it has a breathtaking view of the water, but I’d rather her stay hidden. “You’ll be safe here,” I repeat for my own benefit. It’s true. She’s safest here. This place is as tight as any military base.
I inhale deeply, grappling with the decision, before finally telling her I need to go. She immediately spins around, the view forgotten. “What?”
“It won’t be long until Trey hears that his location has been compromised. We need to strike before he has the chance to run away.”
So, no matter how badly I want to stay, I need to take care of business. For her.
A soft acceptance washes over Cecelia as she slinks toward me. “I understand. But please, promise me you’ll be careful out there.”
“I promise.”
After a long, passionate kiss goodbye, I get into the elevator and turn to face her one last time. “Your nightmare ends today, dushen’ka,”
Trey and his men didn’t see us coming.
Shit, with how dangerous Cecilia built him up to be in her head, I’m almost disappointed at how easy it is to take his operation down. Pathetically easy.
“How are you funding your activities? There’s no way you’re funding it yourself,” Dante repeats, chainsaw hovering above Trey’s right leg. His left leg is already nothing more than a bloody stump. We had to break it off after he refused to answer our questions. Fortunately, we brought along a doctor to help stem the blood loss and keep him alive.
I haven’t even gotten to the hell he’s going to pay for what he’s done to Cecilia.
Dante lowers the chainsaw. Trey whimpers.
“Wait! Wait!”
“Are you going to talk? Don’t waste our fucking time.”
“Okay, okay, listen. Fucking listen! I ran out of money a few years ago, and someone got in touch with us. A supplier who preferred to stay anonymous. He-he drafted a contract for us to bring drugs into the country, free of charge. In return, we only had to split the profits in two.”
Dante and I exchange worried glances. That sounds like the same supplier giving us trouble in New York.
“Ha, nice try. You expect me to believe that load of bullshit?” Dante bluffs, lowering the chainsaw another inch.
“That’s the truth, I swear! Last year, I even demanded a phone call with the supplier so I could confirm he was legit. Based on his accent and the approximate location my men were able to trace the call to, I-I have reason to believe he’s from Russia.”
Russia? My heart sinks as my thoughts fly back to my former home.
A supplier from Russia who’s big enough to juggle a large-scale drug business between New York, California, and God knows where else? Fuck. That’s bad news for us.
“I’ve told you everything I know. Please, spare my life. Please.”
“Do you think we’re doing this because of your pathetic drug business?” I ask, speaking to him for the first time since we tied his ass to that chair. “That was just a little side story. I don’t give a shit about any of it.”
“W—what? Why else would I be on Maksim Smolov’s radar?”
Well, well. So, he recognizes me. Huh. I take a few steps forward and Dante moves aside so Trey’s full attention is on me. “Cecilia Bianchi. Does that name ring any bells?”
He frowns. “How the fuck do you know about—”
“Answer me!” I roar.
The fear in his bloodshot eyes explodes, and he stammers out, “Yes, I know Cecilia Bianchi. She’s my fiancée. Last I heard—”
“Ex-fiancée,” I correct him. “Continue.”
“Last-last I heard, she was in New York. I’d been trying to track her down because I was worried about her. I sent men, but they’ve been having trouble making contact. Apparently, she’s being protected by some big shot, and—” His eyes widen in dismay as he puts two and two together. “You.”
“That’s right. Me.” I press my hand down on his stump, and he throws his head back, squealing like a little girl. “Your worst nightmare.”
I let him go, and he slumps forward, blood dripping from his mouth onto the floor. I may have broken a few of his teeth in the scuffle before we got him tied down.
“I—I had no idea that she was yours now, I swear! You—You can have her. I won’t send my men after her anymore. She’s yours now, so please, just please, don’t kill me. Please,” he babbles and starts to sob.
Weak. I almost wish Cecilia could see him in this state and realize how pathetic this scumbag really is. If I had my way, she’d shoot him herself. But I know better than that now.
She needs to be protected from this darkness, not dragged further into it.
She’s dealt with enough shit for one lifetime. Now, it’s time for me to shield her from it.
“Fool. You had that girl and you let her go? You had her at the altar and you ran away? Idiot. You don’t run away from a woman like that. You run toward her. Fast.”
“I know, okay? I know,” he groans miserably. “That’s why I was looking for her—to beg her forgiveness and get her back.”
“It’s too late for that, Trey. The only thing you have to look forward to now is hell. Say hello to the devil for me when you get there.”
“No, no no, please I–” His head jerks back as Dante shoots him in the forehead. Life slowly drains from his eyes, and he stares vacantly up at the ceiling, his thoughts and words disappearing into a dark void.
“Dispose of the body and clean up here. I’m going back to the hotel.”
Dante nods, and I leave.
When I get back to our room, Cecilia is fast asleep. I toss my bloodied clothes into the hamper in the bathroom—my men will take care of it tomorrow—and take a hot shower. Once I’m done, I crawl into bed with my girl.
“Sweet dreams,” I murmur, pulling her into my arms. She snuggles into my body, and I smile, pressing a kiss to her temple before closing my eyes as well.
I’ve decided to bring her to Russia with me. We leave in the morning.
Tomorrow, we’ll finally get to the bottom of this anonymous supplier disturbing my empire. And I’ll show Cecilia the world I came from.
Though I can’t introduce her to my mother, I can introduce her to the country of my birth. The country I lost my family in.
Soon, it will be the country where I start a new life.
A life with her.