Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
ERIK
I see the moment all the fight leaves Anya’s body.
It’s fascinating. I expected her to kick and scream her way through this, but she’s decided to accept it.
I grab the edge of her pants and rip them down.
“What are you doing?” she gasps.
“I want to spank your bare ass. Hold still for me, Anya.” Sliding her panties down her legs, I admire her backside.
It’s beautiful. But then again, she has a beautiful body. It’s one I want to fuck with everything inside me. I was truthful with Anya—I have no desire to fuck a woman who’s terrified of me.
But that doesn’t make me want Anya any less.
She means nothing to me emotionally speaking, but she’s my wife, and that means something status wise. She’s mine for political gain, which makes her mine regardless.
As a Bratva man, I have the right to claim my wife. Someday, when Anya is begging for my touch, I will.
Right now, though, I’m sure she’s desperate to escape my touch.
I lay my hand against her ass. She startles but otherwise doesn’t move.
Without asking if she’s ready, I spank her ass. Hard . A red imprint is left behind, and it’s a sight that fills me with satisfaction.
Anya tenses and grips the bedsheets between her hands but otherwise doesn’t react.
Mmm. That’s a little disappointing. I wanted her to cry and scream and beg me to stop. Instead, she remains quiet.
I spank her again. Still nothing. Again. She grows tenser, but still, nothing comes out of her mouth.
I continue to spank her ass, each slap deliberate and methodical.
Anya continues to holds still.
I lean over her to speak in her ear. “I’m curious. Why aren’t you begging me to stop?”
“Because you’ll stop when you want to stop. My begging won’t change anything.”
Very interesting. Anya has just become much more intriguing, I have to admit.
“What if I’ll only stop if you beg me to?”
Her eyes flare with anger. “Then you need to tell me that.”
“You have so much fire within you, Anya. I want you to let it out.” I grab her ass between my hands and squeeze. She winces but otherwise doesn’t give anything else away.
“I refuse to beg. Just be done with this.”
“Oh, I’m not done with you yet.” I give her another hard spank, and a small whimper escapes her lips. It’s the first true sound of pain she’s made since we started.
I want to break her down. I want to build her up. No one else has fascinated me this way. Not in a long time.
I keep spanking her ass harder and harder and harder …
Until Anya lets out a small cry.
I go still. “What was that? Do you want me to stop?”
“No.”
I eye her over with curiosity. “Do you like pain, Anya?”
“No.”
“Pleasure, then? I can make you feel good.” I set my hand on her lower ass, so close to her pussy. “I could just slide my fingers between your legs and make you feel pleasure beyond compare. What do you say?”
Her hips shift slightly. “I thought this was a punishment.”
“It doesn’t have to be.”
I’m curious to see how far she’ll go. Surprise me even more than she already has or do the predictable?
I run my fingers along her lower ass. “Does this feel good?”
Her hands clench around the covers.
“Anya?”
“Yes,” she admits.
“Do you want to open your legs for me?”
“No.”
“Do you think you’ve been properly punished for running away?”
“I was just trying to get to my sister.”
“And I said we’d see her tomorrow. You didn’t answer my question.”
She sighs, her body slumping against the mattress. “Yes, I’ve been punished.”
“Then I say we end things right here. Unless you want to surprise me.”
She goes silent for a long moment. It fascinates me that she’s truly considering this. My cock stirs at the idea of getting to touch her pussy.
I’m sure she has a beautiful one to match the rest of her.
“I want to be done,” she finally says.
“All right.” I pull my hand away.
“Just like that?”
“Of course. We had a deal. I spank you, and you get to see your sister tomorrow. I’m a man who keeps to his word, despite everything else about me. I have to admit, though, I’m disappointed. I was so looking forward to touching your pussy.”
She turns her head in the other direction so I can’t see her pretty expression.
“The only thing you need to worry about right now is how you’re going to sleep tonight. I’m sure your ass hurts. That’s punishment enough. Now, you took me away from my work. So, I’m going to finish that, and I’ll come back later. Have a good wedding night, Anya.”
I leave her alone in our bedroom to think about the consequences of her actions.
ANYA
Erik is right. I have to sleep on my side the entire night because it hurts too much to lie on my back.
I don’t notice when Erik joins me for bed, but when I wake up in the morning, I find the side of his bed messy, though he’s not there. The thought that he slept beside me all night and I didn’t notice sends a chill down my spine.
I find him in the kitchen eating an omelet. A woman is there, cooking at the stove. She hands me a plate with an omelet on it as well.
“My housekeeper,” Erik explains. “Edith. She makes all the meals here.”
“Thank you,” I tell her.
She gives me a tight nod and turns back to the stove.
I set my plate down at the table, sit, and immediately regret it. I wince and try not to show how much my ass still hurts.
Erik smirks over his coffee cup but doesn’t comment.
I hate what he made my body feel last night. Pain and pleasure. When he offered to touch me between my legs, I was tempted. I don’t even know why. It’s all so confusing, and it only makes me hate him more.
“So, I want to see Nadia today.”
“I promise. I’m a man of my word. We can go right after we eat.”
I scarf down my food as fast as possible, and then we’re off. Erik is silent on the drive to my father’s house in the city. I personally have no desire to talk to him. I’m worried if we talk, I’ll end up saying something I’ll regret, and Erik will get under my skin and make me feel things I don’t want to feel.
My father answers the door after we knock.
“Erik.” His eyes settle on me. “Anya,” he adds in a clipped tone. “What are you doing here?”
“Anya wanted to see her sister.”
“Well, Nadia is at school right now.”
“On a Sunday?” I ask.
My father goes eerily still, then slowly opens the door. Already, I’m disobeying his orders. He wanted to keep me far from Nadia, but I’m not going to let that happen.
I storm past him to Nadia’s bedroom. She sits up when she sees me enter. “Anya!”
I stop dead in my tracks. One side of her face is already bruised. My father has already begun to hit her.
“I’m going to kill him,” I seethe.
Nadia rushes to my side and grabs my hand. “Don’t. He only gave me this because he wanted my phone, and I refused to give it. So … he did this. I gave him my phone. If I just follow his orders, this won’t happen again. I’ll be fine.”
“I tried calling you last night. Is that why you didn’t answer?”
“He wants to make sure we can’t talk anymore.”
“Oh, Nadia.” Looking at her bruised face, I realize it was a bad idea to come here. She’ll only get hurt more because of me. The only way to keep Nadia safe is to stay far away or convince Erik to let her come stay with us.
And I’m not sure which option is good because both options are utterly terrible.
“Don’t confront him, Anya. It will only make things worse.”
“You’re not safe here.”
“I’m not safe anywhere. But if I just stay out of his way, he won’t hurt me. But we can’t talk again. I doubt he’ll let you come back to see me.”
“I hate that I can’t protect you,” I whisper as tears fall down my face.
“You’ve protected me all my life. It’s ok that you can’t now.”
Her words are a slap in the face.
A knock on the door makes both of us jump. “Anya?” It’s our father. “You need to leave now. Don’t make me drag you out of there.”
“Would you really do that while Erik is here?”
He goes silent for a moment, then he says, “I’ll do whatever the fuck I want. I’m Sergei Belov. I have just as much power as Erik does.”
I shudder. My father is right.
I hug Nadia one more time. “Just stay out of his way until I can find a way to save you.”
“I will.” She hugs me back so tightly, I almost can’t breathe.
And then, we let each other go.
My father forces Erik and me out of the house in a polite but firm way. It’s only for Erik’s benefit. If it were just me, he probably would’ve beat me senseless.
“So, you saw your sister,” Erik says on the drive back to his house.
“I did.”
“And?”
“If she just stays out of our father’s way, she might be ok. But, Erik, she’s not safe there. Can she come live with us?”
“She’s a minor. She belongs with her father. So, no.”
“But if she weren’t a minor, could she live with us?”
“We’ve been married a day, and already, you’re making demands?”
“Not a demand,” I say. “A question. Answer me honestly.”
“I have no interest in taking on a charity case. You’re my wife, Anya. Your sister means nothing to me.”
“I mean nothing to you?”
He glances at me, then sets his eyes back on the road. “Exactly. You’re my wife, but that doesn’t mean I care for you. Don’t make that mistake again.”
I flinch. He can be so cold sometimes.
“Why did you not put a fight when I spanked you?”
“Why does that matter? You don’t care about me.”
“I’m just intrigued. Most women would have screamed and begged me to stop, but you didn’t. Why?”
“You want the truth?” There’s no point in denying it. Keeping things from Erik or letting him know more about me doesn’t change anything. I’ll still get hurt. Nadia will still get hurt. “My father would beat me constantly. I’m used to pain. I’ve learned how to work through it. Spanking my ass was nothing compared to what he’s done to me.”
Erik’s hands clench the steering wheel, but I’m not sure why. Upset that he didn’t hurt me more? Or … upset that my father has hurt me?
It’s probably the first one, but I let myself believe for a second that it could be the latter.
ERIK
Sergei and I meet up for drinks at the bar I own.
“How are things going with my daughter? It’s been a few days now.”
It has been, and during that time, Anya and I have mostly avoided each other. I can’t let myself become too fascinated with her. Becoming fascinated with someone makes them a weakness, and I can’t have any weaknesses.
After she told me how her father used to beat her and how my spanking was nothing to her, it pissed me off. That was a signal I can’t get too close to her.
“Anya is a fine wife. She’ll do.”
“I expect grandchildren by the end of the year.”
“You’ll get grandchildren when you get them,” I snap. “I’m not a man you rush, Sergei. You know this about me. I’m not some small pup you’ve taken under your wing. I’m your business partner.”
“You’re right. I just want to build my family’s legacy.”
“And you’ll get it in time. Now, we’re here to discuss business. So, let’s discuss.”
The door to my bar opens and in walks two men in black suits. Both young, twenties or thirties. One has reddish brown hair and the other one has jet black hair, but it’s unmistakable that they’re related.
They don’t look afraid at all that they’ve just entered a Bratva bar.
They don’t look afraid at all as they approach my table.
“Erik Koslov?” the black-haired one asks.
“Who are you?”
“We work for Dante Moretti.” He whips out a knife so fast I barely have time to react. The knife comes right for my face, but I grab his arm, shove it back, and whip out my gun.
Sergei falls back into his seat, scrambling for his own gun. I roll my eyes at how fucking slow he is.
The two men take out guns, too.
The couple other people in the bar run out. Good. There’s no need for innocent casualties, but these two men before me are not innocent. They deserve to die, and I will gladly peel the skin from their bones and laugh as I do it.
“Who are you?” I repeat.
“Finn Murphy,” the black-haired one says. “And this is my brother, Aiden. We were hired by Dante to kill you.”
“You’re hitmen. Irish by the sounds of it. Part of the Irish mob?”
“In a way,” Aiden says. “But right now, we’re all in with the Italians. Dante wants you dead, and we’re here to deliver.”
“Well, you did a shitty job at it seeing as I’m not dead.”
“The goal wasn’t to actually kill you right now,” Finn explains. “The goal is to make you scared. Dante wants you paranoid before you die. He wants you looking over your shoulder so fucking much you take your own life.”
“Tell Dante that won’t happen. I have no desire to kill myself, and I never will. I don’t scare easily.”
“Shame.” Finn’s grin is as savage as my own. “I love scaring people.”
“This is clearly a warning,” I say. “So, why don’t you leave if you’re not actually going to kill me right now.”
“Just know we’re out there watching you,” Aiden says.
“Tell Dante I’m watching him, too.”
Aiden and Finn back out of the bar with their guns raised. It’s not until they’re gone I allow myself to relax back in my seat. I still keep my gun out, though, just in case.
“What the fuck was that?” Sergei hisses, sitting back up and looking around frantically. “Those fucking madmen.”
“Dante is hiring Irish hitmen now. He wants to play a game. Trust me. If he really wanted me dead right now, I probably would’ve been.” I’m confident in my skillset, but I’m not insane. I know I’m only human. I can die just as much as the next person.
“So, not only do you have a deranged Italian coming after you, you also have deranged Irishmen coming after you, too?”
“Looks like it.” I flash Sergei a smile. “Happy you’re working with me?”
“Not really,” he grumbles. “Becoming allies with you was supposed to help guarantee strength. If Dante is playing these games, then we need to show him he’s not allowed to come for you. We need to make a stand. We need more allies.”
“Who do you have in mind?”
“I know a man. Ivan Romanov.”
“I’ve heard of him.”
Sergei inclines his head. “We’ve worked together in the past. He would be a good ally to have against Dante, especially if Dante is trying to start a war. I can set up a meeting.”
“Wonderful. You do that.” I tap the table and stand up. “Well, this bar isn’t a secure place anymore. Not now that Dante has decided he can send hitmen here to threaten me. We’ll meet up again. I want to meet Ivan. For now, I’m off to spend more time with your daughter.”
“How has Anya been? Making you happy, I hope?”
“Seeing as we’re still partners, Sergei, she hasn’t pissed me off yet.”
He visibly relaxes into his seat. “That’s good, that’s good. You know, Erik, if for some reason Anya doesn’t please you, I do have my other daughter, Nadia.”
“Are you offering me your other daughter?”
“I want to keep our alliance strong. I’m just putting it out there.”
“Isn’t she only seventeen?”
“She is. But you could wait until she was eighteen. It’s only a year away.”
I chuckle. God, Sergei is a weird, little man. Most powerful people are weird and little. “I don’t want your other daughter, Sergei. I’m more than content with Anya, trust me. But I do have an idea. We could use Nadia to gain another ally.”
“Who?”
“Viktor Smirnov.”
Sergei blinks, then coughs into his fist before smiling. But when he realizes I’m not joking, he roughly shakes his head. “Viktor Smirnov is not a man to be messed with. He prefers to be left alone. No one has worked with him in years. How would he be a good ally to us?”
“Because he has money. He’s one of the wealthiest Bratva men in the city. You know it. I know it. Having an ally with money would be beneficial. More money for guards. More money for an army to take Dante down. If I were you, I’d consider marrying Nadia to Viktor.”
“But I’ve never even met him. Who says he’d even want my daughter? Nadia is a beautiful girl, but she’s quiet. Reserved. She doesn’t stand out in a crowd.”
“I didn’t marry Anya because she stands out in a crowd. I married her to gain power with you, Sergei. Viktor might be interested in the same. I’ll reach out to him and set up a meeting.” I pause. “Though, I doubt Anya will be happy about this.”
Sergei scoffs. “What does it matter what Anya wants? She doesn’t get a say in her sister’s life.”
“Oh, I know. But she thinks she does. And I know she won’t be happy about Nadia being married off to a stranger. I’m going to have to deal with her attitude when I tell her. That will be … interesting.” Maybe another chance to spank her, perhaps? The idea of spanking Anya again excites me. Her body and presence excites me.
“So, don’t tell her.”
I blink. “Why wouldn’t I? She’ll want to know what happens to her sister.”
“Anya doesn’t need to know anything. It’s for your own benefit you keep things from her. Otherwise, she’ll just cause problems. Mark my words.”
I stare down at Sergei, taking in his squinty eyes and wrinkled forehead. He always looks so … angry.
“Sergei, do you beat your daughters?”
He coughs. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Just answer the question.”
“I may have disciplined Anya a few times. But nothing she didn’t deserve, trust me. But I don’t beat my daughters. I’m not a fucking monster.”
“Oh. Well, I am. So, good to know one of us is. I was just checking.”
“Why?”
“Because the more information I have on Anya, the better.” I give Sergei a grin. “Let’s talk more. Contact Ivan, and I’ll contact Viktor. Let’s become unstoppable.”
I leave Sergei behind as I contemplate his words. It’s obvious from his answer that he really did beat Anya. I can tell she’s not making that up for sympathy—not when she gave in to my spanking. She’s used to pain.
For just a moment, I feel a flicker of guilt that I’m going to cause her more pain by using her sister to gain power.
But that flicker of guilt only lasts a second before I push it away.
Anya is at the kitchen table, eating dinner alone, when I return home. She looks so sad and lonely, which makes me smile.
“Why do you look so chipper?” she grumbles, stuffing a piece of potato into her mouth.
“Because your father and I have a plan for your sister.”
Her fork clatters to the table. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing is set in stone. But just like you, she could be used to make an alliance with another Bratva member. Your father didn’t want me telling you this.”
“So, then, why are you?”
“Because Nadia is your sister, and you clearly love her, so you deserve to know if anything happens to her.”
“Erik, you can’t marry her to someone. She’s only seventeen.”
“As I said, nothing is set in stone. I just wanted to tell you. I don’t believe in keeping secrets.”
“Why do I get the sense you think you’re being kind by telling me?”
I lean in closer to her. “Oh, Anya, I’m not being kind. You and your sister are just a means to an end. More power means more power, and I want that. I just thought you should know.”
“You’re a monster,” she hisses and throws her fork at me, but I dodge it.
“I never claimed to be otherwise. Your sister’s age is protecting her right now. But if she can be used to make an alliance, she will be. Just like you.”
Anya’s entire face crumples. I can tell she wants to cry, but she holds back.
I stand before her and, once again, feel a flicker of guilt. I push it aside and walk out of the kitchen. Anya can handle it. She’s a tough girl.
I only married her for power, not because I care about her.
I keep reminding myself I don’t care about her at all.
Sergei sets up the meeting with Ivan Romanov.
He’s in his forties, with a bald spot and a large gut. But he’s one of the most powerful men in the city.
“Come in, come in!” he says cheerfully, motioning us inside his expensive brownstone.
I spy a young girl on the couch in the front living room. “Your daughter?”
“Yes. Elena, go to your room.” His tone is kind, unlike the way Sergei speaks to Anya.
Elena bobs her head and leaves the room without complaint.
“Well-behaved daughter,” Sergei says. “She could teach my oldest how to behave.”
“Elena has always been a well-behaved girl. She’s only fourteen, but she’s already showing a lot of promise in her life.”
A pretty blonde woman appears in the doorway to the living room. “Ivan? Who’s this?” Unlike Ivan, this woman’s tone is clipped and cold.
“Erik Koslov and Sergei Belov. They’re here to discuss business, dear.”
She looks me over like I’m scum on her shoe before walking away.
“Your wife, I take it?”
“Yes. But I don’t want to talk about her. I want to talk about you two. Why are you here?”
“We want to work with you,” Sergei says, cutting straight to business. “Dante Moretti wants to start a war, and we need all the allies we can get. We need you on our side, Ivan. Can you do that for us?”
“Sergei, you and I have worked together before, but I’m looking to retire soon. I don’t want to get pulled into a war.”
“It could help save your daughter,” I say. “You don’t want her to get hurt, do you?”
“Well, no. Of course not.”
“So, work with us. The more power we have, the weaker Dante will be.”
Ivan looks uncertain. “Can you promise me that?”
I smile down at him. “I promise.” I’m a man of my word after all, but that doesn’t mean I’m telling the truth. Ivan could get hurt. Any one of us could get hurt in this war.
But what Ivan doesn’t know won’t hurt him.
“I would want my Elena safe,” he says.
“Of course,” Sergei responds. “If you work with us, she will be.”
Slowly, Ivan nods. “All right. Let’s discuss more. I’m interested.”
I glance towards the stairs and spy Elena sitting there, eavesdropping. She’s so young and tiny. So innocent.
All I can think about as I look at her is that girls like her only get hurt during Bratva wars. I should know.
I’m already hurting my wife.