Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
ERIK
“ T hat’s the right answer,” Dante says. “Now, come out. No fucking funny business.”
I send a quick text to James, letting him know the situation. The cell service is low in here, and the message is loading. I have no choice but to put my phone away and hope James gets my text.
With a sigh, I step out from my hiding spot and lift my hands. “No funny business.”
Dante comes out, gun pointed at me, while Finn does the same. “Check him.”
Finn approaches me and sticks his hand in my pocket, pulling out my phone. “Looks like he sent a text. Good thing it didn’t go through.” He tosses the phone to Dante.
While that happens, I act.
I grab Finn’s arm and reach for his gun, but he has fast reflexes. He twists out of my grip and fires. The bullet lands by my foot. To my credit, I don’t even flinch.
“You’re a smart man, Erik. I’ll give you that.” Dante throws my phone to the floor and stomps on it. “But I want to have my fun with you, so you can’t leave just yet. Finn.”
Finn walks behind me and ties my eyes hands together with a zip tie. “You could’ve shot me, you bastard. I don’t appreciate that.”
“You’re coming with me.” Dante leads us out a back entrance to a car. Finn forces me to get inside. I could try to fight, but with my hands tied behind my back, it’s practically impossible.
Finn keeps a gun trained on me while Dante drives.
“I’m amazed you drive your own car,” I comment. “I would’ve thought a pretty boy like you would have your own personal driver.”
“Oh, I do.” His eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. “But at this moment, I want it to just be us. I want to drive you to your own death.”
“Curious question. Why did we never work together?”
Dante scoffs. “Because you’re Russian, and I’m Italian. It never mixes.”
“Right. But if we weren’t, you wouldn’t be interested at all in working together?”
He goes silent, either considering my words or trying to come up with a way to tell me to fuck off. “I would be interested,” he finally says.
“Oh?”
“Don’t so sound fucking surprised, Erik. You’re a powerful man. You own a lot of this city. But so do I. If we joined forces, we’d be unstoppable. But alas, I don’t want to join forces. I want you dead so I can take the power you have.”
“Understood. Good to know where I stand.”
“The fucking boogeyman.” Dante chuckles, shaking his head. “I finally caught you. How does it feel?”
“It feels like you fucking talk too much.”
“You’re just bitter that I won. And that you’re going to die. Are you at all concerned about your wife? What will happen to her?”
“Leave Anya out of this,” I growl.
“I touched a nerve. You do know she’s firmly planted in all this. Once you’re dead, Aiden will kill her. We’ll have no use for her otherwise. How does that make you feel?”
“Why do you ask?” I shift my arms behind me, but there’s no getting out of these dam zip ties. Not when my arms are behind my back.
“I ask because Anya wasn’t sure if you would come for her. I’m sure that’s got to hurt. Your own wife isn’t sure if you’ll save her. Ouch.”
“My relationship with my wife is none of your concern.” It does hurt a little, though. But I deserve it after how I’ve treated Anya. She has no real reason to trust me. I did that.
“Doesn’t matter anyway. We’re here.” Dante pulls up to a secluded area by the docks. Since it’s nighttime, no one else is around. Perfect time for a murder.
Finn forces me out of the car with his gun pressed to my back. Dante whistles as he heads closer to the water.
I’m running out of time. It’s a feeling I’ve never felt before. Panic.
We reach the edge when Dante faces us and nods at Finn, who pushes me onto my knees.
“You don’t want to torture me first?” I ask.
“What’s the point? I want you dead, and I want you to know it was me who did it. I won’t bother wasting either of our time. This was inevitable.”
He raises his gun.
I react.
I slam my head back against Finn’s stomach, making him stumble back. I jump to my feet and take off running. Dante fires at me, but the bullet misses by just a hair. I use the large shipping containers as cover.
I use all my strength to break the zip ties, and they finally snap, giving me use of my hands.
Then I hunker down behind a shipping container and wait.
“Where did he go?” I hear Dante snarl and Finn’s mumbled reply.
With no weapon of my own, I don’t really want to take them on. I just want to get out of here to find Anya and save her.
But if Dante doesn’t get the chance to kill me, he’ll call Aiden and kill her right then and there. The problem is: I have no idea where Anya even is.
I hold still and hear footsteps getting closer to my spot. Then it’s showtime.
Finn turns the corner, and I’m ready for him. I barrel into him, knocking him to his back. A gunshot goes off. I punch Finn square in the face, and his grip on the gun loosens enough for me to grab it. I stumble to my feet, but by the time I have the gun up and ready to shoot, Finn has scrambled behind the shipping container, moving out of sight.
When I turn around it, he’s gone, having run away.
“I don’t like it when you don’t play by my rules,” Dante growls behind me. Spinning around, we come face to face, both our weapons raised.
“Tough fucking luck. Where’s Anya?”
“Why would I tell you?”
“I’ll make your death quicker.”
“You’ll never find her. She’s where I live, and do you know where I live, Erik?”
I don’t. I have no fucking clue. I’ve searched and searched for Dante’s place, but my search has repeatedly come up empty.
“So, if you kill me right now, you’ll never find her.”
“Then I guess we’re out of options.” We fire at the same time. A bullet lands in my arm, knocking me back and forcing the air out of my lengths. Dante growls as he stumbles, too, clutching his arm.
I fire at him again, but he dives behind a shipping container. I can’t win in a fight with a busted arm. I just need to find Anya and get out of this mess, so even though I want to stay and fight, I force my body to run away.
The old me would have shook his head in shame. The old me would have laughed until I took down every man or died trying.
But now … this new me only wants to make sure Anya is ok.
I keep running into the night until I’m far away from the docks. Keeping to the shadows, I avoid detection as I run to the nearest bar I own. It takes me a while, I know it, and there’s a good chance Anya might be dead by now.
I slam through the door, startling the bartender. “Phone,” I growl. “Now.”
He quickly hands it over, and I call James. “I’m hurt. Anya is still missing. Dante has her at his home. Start digging.”
“We’ve been digging for months now and still haven’t found his home location.”
“Then dig harder,” I grit out. After hanging up, I slip the phone into my pocket. “I’m keeping this.”
The bartender’s jaw drops, but he doesn’t object. Everyone who works at one of my establishments knows who I am. He won’t risk pissing me off.
“First-aid kit.”
After a beat, he reaches under the bar and hands me one. I head into the small bathroom and work on getting the bullet out of my arm. I groan as I dig around, but then I find it, and the relief is instant. I make quick work stitching myself up. After this is done, I’ll need to see my doctor about antibiotics, but that can wait.
Right now, I need to find Anya.
“Do you have a car?” I ask the bartender.
Slowly, he nods.
“Then give it to me. Now.”
With shaking fingers, he hands over his keys.
“Which car?”
“Uh, the white one out front.”
“Thanks.” I find the car easily enough and start driving through the city. Dante took Anya to his home. I just have to think where that could be.
Nadia told me Anya wanted to go to a café. I check the tracker on her car and find that it’s a café near my house. That must’ve been where Aiden and Finn found her. So, if she went there, it only would have taken her about thirty minutes. But Anya was gone for about an hour by the time she called me, which means she was either in the café for that long or she was taken somewhere in that time. Presumably, she called me when she was at Dante’s home, which means the drive there took less than an hour from the café. That helps narrow things down, but they could have gone in any direction.
I call James and tell him all of this. “Send multiple men in different directions from the café. Pay attention to any building. Anything that seems like it might be owned by Dante. Have them ask any doorman or any security guard in any lobby if they’ve seen her.”
“That’s going to take a while, boss.”
“I know. But it’s the only fucking play I have. So, just keep searching. I also have the license plate number of the car I was taken in. Run it.” I rattle off the numbers and James tells me he’ll look into it. I toss the phone to the side and press my hands into my eyes.
For the first time in my entire life, I feel hopeless.
And it’s all because I care about my wife.
ANYA
Aiden remains calm as he keeps his eyes on me.
“How did you get into your line of work?” I ask. Might as well pass the time before I’m murdered. Unless Erik can find me. That is, if he’s truly looking for me.
“Why do you care?”
“I don’t. I’m just curious how one becomes a hitman.”
“You learn how to shoot a gun from a young age, and it’s the only thing you’re good at. It just makes sense.”
“But how do you become a hitman exactly? Is there a form you fill out?”
“Funny. Does Erik like your humor?”
I press my hands against my legs to keep them from shaking. “I’m not sure what Erik likes. We’re not exactly close.” But we were starting to get there, and that gave me hope. I don’t want to lose that.
“You become a hitman by knowing the right people. They hire you to do a job, and then they tell others about you. It’s fairly simple when all’s said and done.”
“You make it sound like another day at the office.”
“For me, it is.” Aiden makes a point of taking out his gun to clean it.
“Do you really kill innocent people? If Dante came in here and told you to shoot me in the head, would you?”
“I would. And I wouldn’t even hesitate.”
I fall silent after that. Talking with Aiden won’ get me anywhere. I need to escape and get back home. It’s the only way I’ll be safe. My eyes fall on a vase on the side table. It could be used as a weapon, but I would have to grab it and chuck it at Aiden first, and that was assuming he wouldn’t shoot me in the process.
As I consider what to do, the front door bangs open and in storms Dante, blood dripping from his arm. Finn is right behind him.
“Damn him,” Dante mutters.
“Did Erik do that?” I ask.
He shoots me a withering look. “Your husband is a problem.” He nods at Aiden. “Shoot her. But take her somewhere else. I don’t want to get blood on my couch.” He storms into the bathroom and slams the door behind him.
“Come on,” Aiden says, grabbing my arm. “Let’s go.”
“You’re just going to kill me? Please. Don’t do this.”
“He pays me. It’s my job. It’s nothing personal.”
His words remind of me when I first married Erik and he told me nothing was personal. That I was used to help him gain power. That was all. And now, I’m going to be used to hurt Erik—if Erik will even be upset when I’m gone.
Aiden walks me out of the apartment building without anyone noticing the gun pressed into my back. The streets are crowded. This is my chance. There’s no way Aiden will shoot me in front of this many people.
I force my body to go slack, and he looks at me with a frown. Using that to my advantage, I stomp on his foot and pull away from him and run down the street, screaming as I go. “That man is trying to hurt me!”
People look in my direction, then Aiden’s. He doesn’t follow. His only reaction is to turn around and casually walk back inside.
“Help me!” I keep screaming. “Help me!” I run into a group of women and beg them to pay attention.
“We’ll help you,” one of the ladies says. “Are you hurt? What do you need?”
“I just need to get home. Please. I need a ride. I can pay.”
After some deliberation, the women decide to give me a ride back home. They’re kind and don’t push me for too many answers because I don’t have any answers to give. To explain what happened would be to tell them I’m married to a mob boss, and I can’t tell them that. It would only bring the police involved, and honestly, I don’t want Erik getting arrested for anything.
When I first married him, I would’ve love to have seen him taken away in handcuffs, but now …
The moment I see Erik’s large house behind the large gate, I practically sob. “Thank you.”
“Do you need help getting in?”
“I’m good. Thank you so much.”
“You’re very welcome.” They drive away as I head up to the gate. Jerry gasps when he sees me.
“Anya?” He quickly opens the gate and ushers me inside.
“Is Erik here?”
“He’s out looking for you. But I’ll call him.”
He’s out looking for me . Which means he survived Dante. Which means he came to save me.
A part of me feels numb as I head inside and fall onto the couch. Everyone from the party is gone. Blessedly, my father isn’t here, or I’d probably have an aneurysm.
I escape death by sheer luck. Aiden underestimated me. Sexism helped save me today, ironically.
The front door bursts open, and Erik comes running inside. He stops once he sees me, and I look back at him.
“You’re alive,” he says.
“You’re alive, too. You came for me?”
“I tried. Dante had you some place I didn’t know where. But I was looking. I was trying every avenue.”
“I thought you didn’t care about me.”
He scoffs softly. “You know that isn’t true anymore. Anya, I … I was presented with a decision. Kill Dante or give myself up to save you. I gave myself up. I’ve never made such a selfless action before.”
His words settle around my heart, and some of the ice surrounding it cracks. For the first time since marrying Erik, I’m truly happy to see him.
And I’m tired of fighting my growing feelings for him.
I stand up and run over to him, and he pulls me into his arms. And before I know it, we’re kissing. It’s so passionate and intense it almost scares me. My hands grip his arms, making him wince and pull back.
“Dante shot my arm.”
“But you’re ok.”
“I’m ok.” He gives me a curious look. “I think that’s the first time you’ve ever wondered if I was ok.”
“Things change.”
“They really do.”
He captures my lips again, and I’m careful not to grip his arm too tight as he backs me up against the couch. Our lips are like two starving people in the desert. We’re hungry for each other.
Erik has brought pleasure to my body in a way I’ve never experienced before, but my mind was always against it.
Now? My mind wants this. I want to be in his arms and feel that he’s real. He gave himself up to save me. No one has ever done that for me before.
I gasp when he grips my legs and picks me up, carrying up the stairs. We don’t stop kissing once. If we stop, then everything ends, and I’ll wake up from this dream I’m in. I can’t lose that.
I can’t lose him.
Erik sets me on our bed and stands over me. The lust in his eyes sends shivers straight to my core. My inner walls clench at the memory of the pleasure he’s shown me before.
Without a word, he sits me up and unzips the back of my dress. I let him take it off me until I’m in nothing but my bra and panties. Erik has seen me naked before. Hell, he’s had his mouth on my pussy. But at this moment, I feel truly vulnerable with him because the walls between us are starting to crumble.
They’re not fully gone yet, but I’m starting to see more of the real Erik, and it’s both exhilarating and frightening all at the same time. He grips my hips and draws me to the edge of the bed, where he quickly pulls my panties down.
I gasp. Still not speaking, Erik parts my legs and sets his hand on my clit. My hips buck up on instinct. He runs his finger up my slit and shows me my wetness.
“I want to fuck you, Anya. I want to take all of you. Will you let me?”
Once again, it has to be my decision. If Erik were to just take me, I would hate him for it, but if I give my consent, I’m agreeing to be with him. A monster. The boogeyman.
My husband.
And I know I want to be with him. I want to know what it feels like to be fully consumed by another person. I’m tired of being alone and having to fight so hard.
So, I say the one word that seals my fate. “Yes.”
His eyes darken, and he tugs on my hips once more, pulling them straight to the edge. I cry out when his lips settle between my legs, flicking over my nub. I roll my hips around, seeking more friction, needing some sort of release of the pent-up emotion inside me.
Erik draws me close to the edge with his mouth before he pulls back. “I want to be inside you when you come.”
He stands up and slowly takes off all of his clothes. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him naked. His cock stands to attention. It’s an intimidating sight, but it turns me on.
Bending down, he takes my bra off and kissing along my breasts. I arch into him as a breathless whimper escapes me. Never have I been this aroused before. Tonight isn’t about torture.
It’s about us taking a leap in our marriage.
Erik kisses down to my stomach before sitting up. “I want you to show me that you really want this.”
“I never thought it would matter to you.”
“It fucking matters, Anya. I see that now. That’s why I want you to be on top for this.” He lies on his back and grabs my hips, pulling me onto his lap. His erection presses against my inner thigh.
I gasp and steady my hands on his chest. “Why? I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“I know. I’ll teach you. But if you really want this, you’ll show me. Ride my cock. I want to see you come.”
A part of me wants to beg him to do just do it himself, but he’s right. I was always the one unsure about him. If I want this, I have to be the one to take it.
I blush as I line his cock up to my entrance. “What if it hurts?”
“Then it hurts. You’re used to pain. Embrace it.”
With one large inhale of breath, I lower myself onto him. There’s a small amount of pain that makes me gasp. Erik pulls on my hips until I’m fully seated on top of him.
Neither of us moves as I catch my breath.
“How does it feel to have my cock fully inside you?”
“It feels good,” I admit now that the pain is starting to disappear.
“Good. Move, Anya. Show me how much you want this. Don’t be afraid.”
Don’t be afraid. He’s right. It’s time I embrace us. No more fighting. No more fear.
I dig my nails into his chest, making him hiss as I begin to rock my hips back and forth. This sensation draws him in deeper, making me choke from pleasure. Every time I move my hips forward, my clit brushes against his body, sending zaps of pleasure up my body.
It’s intense yet perfect. God, is it perfect.
Erik doesn’t take his eyes off me once. The way he’s looking at me—with so much desire and lust—makes me blush, but I don’t look away either. I can’t be afraid of him, not after he tried to save me.
It’s then I realize something: I want to try with Erik. I want to make this work.
I rock my hips faster as my breath comes out in pants. I don’t even feel embarrassed as my hips move frantically. It feels too good to worry about embarrassment.
Erik growls and grips my hips tighter. Suddenly, he sits up and presses our chests together. His hands grip my backside and pull me flush against him as he thrusts into me.
I cry out and grip his arms, tilting my head back.
“You’re so fucking beautiful when you let yourself feel pleasure,” he says against my neck.
“Oh!”
Erik rolls me onto my back and sits up on his knees, grabbing my legs and pinning my ankles to his shoulders. Then he really shows me his dominance.
He thrusts me into me roughly. It hurts a little, but I don’t care. In fact, the pleasure is even more intense when it’s mixed with a little bit of pain.
Erik is claiming me roughly because he can. Because he knows I can take it. Because he knows I like it.
The pressure inside me builds and builds and builds …
“Erik,” I gasp as my orgasm hits me.
He continues to thrust me into as he lowers my legs around his waist and presses his chest to mine. My body trembles through all of it.
He thrusts once more into me before he comes. I feel his seed enter me, and I know what that means. I could end up pregnant someday.
It’s sort of a scary thought, but it’s also comforting. To have someone who’s part of me makes me feel calm.
Erik groans as he slips out of me and rolls onto his side. Neither of us touches each other as we stare up at the ceiling.
We both know what having sex means.
Nothing between us will ever be the same again.