Chapter 7
SEVEN
PRESENT DAY
I ignored Tatiana for the next two weeks, cancelling all our appointments, my thoughts and mood growing darker.
Apparent-fucking-ly, I was a masochist.
During the day, I tortured myself with thoughts about how that night could’ve gone better, how she had opened herself to me, just as I’d hoped, then how everything went to shit after that.
At night, I dreamed about her and Rook kissing, twisting and turning it into something more than it had been.
Because when I was awake, I knew that they didn’t love each other, not how we had, and that their relationship could never be more than what Tatiana and I were meant to be, ever.
But in the dark, I couldn’t stop the nightmares. Couldn’t stop seeing that cum marked panty, over and over.
The day Tatiana had shown up in Vegas, I’d instantly known that she was still mine. That despite our past, we belonged together, and nothing would keep us apart.
And then, Rook entered the scene.
He had a contract controlling most of her life, including who she fucked, but they didn’t even seem to need it. She was devoted, wholly and heartily, to him.
I’d refused to believe it for so long, but there was nothing like evidence punching you in the face to make you confront reality.
But now, tensions between the cartel and the Kings were going to explode, and I didn’t trust Rook to keep her safe in the aftermath.
I would do anything, pay whatever the cost, hurt or kill anyone, to have Tatiana back.
I needed to change things up; we were too embedded in old, destructive, habits.
We lived to hurt each other but, from here on out, we needed to live for each other.
I settled in the comfortable leather seat of my Range Rover, ready to wait the long hours of the night. I sat outside a large, Spanish style house that was quiet except for the soft glow of a light in an upstairs room.
My source said that Poppy would be receiving an important visitor tonight.
Poppy was Benny's wife of two years. She was barely legal, only nineteen, but had managed to somehow snag one of the top capos of the old Don’s outfit. She was an active socialite, showing up at parties and the clubs we owned, where she danced and drank like a Kardashian.
But there was more to her than she was often given credit for.
Benny had avoided getting married for over forty years, devoting his whole life to the mafia. He was also known for his cruelty to the women he fucked.
Poppy had actively pursued him and, within only two short months, was flashing a ten carat diamond wedding ring.
The fact that she'd intentionally set out to marry one of the most brutal members of Nero's men said that she was more than the pretty party girl she portrayed herself to be.
A movement up the street caught my attention—a man out jogging, with an unleashed border collie by his side.
My eyebrows furrowed as I scanned the street. It was dark and still, in the kind of neighborhood made up of overpriced mansions, excessive monthly car payments, and neighbors that used the nighttime for sleeping.
Narrowing my focus, I watched intently as the jogger made his way down the street and towards Poppy's house.
As they drew closer, the man paused, still jogging in place, staring up at the house. I could see the sweat running down the side of his face and back. The black and white collie sniffed the air, obediently waiting for his owner.
This neighborhood was enclosed by a wall and had a security guard. Those kinds of things made people feel secure but safety from men like me was only an illusion. I pulled out my Beretta and clicked off the safety.
As if sensing danger, the collie looked in my direction, and began to bark, making the man jump.
He broke out of his trance and turned, looking in my direction. Finger now on the trigger, I held the gun up, aiming right at him over the steering wheel. His eyes roamed the property, trying to figure out why his dog was barking. The windows in my Rover were tinted too dark for him to see me inside.
After a long, drawn out tense moment, he turned away from the house, barking out, "Colbi, hush."
I inhaled a deep breath as the man jogged away, taking his dog with him. Once he was out of sight, I put the safety back on, tucked the gun away, and waited.
Fifteen minutes later, the sound of blaring music preceded the red hot convertible Mercedes, and I groaned in annoyance. Hair blowing about her face, Tatiana drove up the street and jerked to a stop in Poppy's driveway. She didn’t get out right away, but turned up her music and sang loudly.
Clearly, she wasn't bothered to hide her presence.
What the hell was she thinking? Didn’t she know that Benny was number one on our hit list right now? Of course, we'd be watching Poppy's house.
Poppy’s door opened and her face split into a grin as she bounded down the long walkway and towards the car. She was wearing sweatpants, a crop top, and had hair piled in a bun on the top of her head.
At the sight of her, Tati turned off her car and the brief silence was suddenly palpable. It was quickly broken as Poppy gave her a hug and they talked excitedly as they headed into the house.
As soon as the door closed behind them, only confusion and a mute stillness was left in their wake. I sat in the SUV, fuming.
What business could Tatiana possibly have with Poppy? And why the hell did she have to conduct it in the middle of the night, during the time when she had to know we'd be watching his house?
I had several options, the most tempting one to waltz right into the front door, tie Tatiana up on the kitchen table, then eat her out until she confessed what the fuck she was doing. Just when I’d decided to do just that, the front door opened again, and Tati breezed out of it, a small smile on her face.
I watched her closely as she got into her car, then rushed down the driveway. Instead of driving off, she pulled to the side of the road and stepped out…headed straight for me.
Damnit .
Without even looking my way, she strode across the front of the car, then, at the last moment, cut to the passenger door and got in.
The car instantly filled with a scent that reminded me of hot, sweaty Cuban nights and star-blue eyes that ate my heart out. I realized with a start that she was wearing the perfume I'd bought her years ago—as if she'd known I would be here and had worn it especially for me.
Frowning, I stared out the window and watched as palm tree leaves danced in the wind. “You shouldn't be here."
"I disagree. In fact, I would say that I have more of a right to be here than you.” I could feel the heat of her angry glare as it prickled my skin. "I was actually invited."
"Why?"
She snorted derisively. "Wouldn't you like to know?”
"I would.”
Once again, we were ignoring what had happened between us.
I finally turned to look at her. Lips painted Chanel Brazen red, she was stunning in a matching crimson, deep V-neck dress that showed off the generous curves of her tits. It was tight, accentuating the cinch of her narrow waist, but was long enough that I didn’t feel the need to gouge out any another male or female who looked in her direction.
I reached forward, then stopped, surprised at myself. It had been an automatic reaction, one I hadn’t had since I was a kid: I was going to pull on an imaginary braid.
But braids and red ribbons were now long gone, replaced with perfect, cascading waves, disheveled to look like she’d recently been fucked, yet tidy enough to tempt you to fist it.
Innocence and naivety had also vanished, replaced with a steeliness in her eyes that would never go away.
We were worlds apart from what we'd been as kids, and yet, I still wanted her as badly as I had back then.
I caught my hand just in time and placed it on the center console. “You’re wearing my necklace.”
“Of course I am.” There was a pause, a stare off between us. “Will you tell me what it means?”
“No. But you’re going to tell me what you’re doing here.”
"Actually, I'm not."
Despite her calm demeanor, I could see the flutter in her throat that belied her true emotions. She was nervous.
Good. She should be. “Things are becoming more dangerous, Tatiana. You need to be more careful."
"I'm fully aware of what a change in regime means. You remember,” she thrust her chin up, “I've been through one before."
"Exactly.” My fingers itched to touch her, like I had so many times before. I dug my fingers into the leather console instead. “So you should know better than to be sneaking around in the middle of the night. Especially here.”
“Clearly, I’m not sneaking ,” she sniffed dismissively, “or was my music not loud enough for you? Besides, being careful didn't help me back then, did it?"
“Your cockiness is going to get you killed.” I growled, my hand snapping out. I gripped her chin harshly, and her eyes widened in surprise. “You may have been through a regime change, but don’t pretend my family didn’t insulate you from the worst of it.” I got straight to the point. "I want you to stay with me."
“And I want a puppy, but that would be completely irresponsible of me at this point in my life.” She stared into my eyes defiantly.
“Rook won’t keep you safe, not like I will.” Of its own volition, my hand slid down her chin to her neck and I caressed her pulse with my thumb.
“You?” Lips parting in disbelief, she exhaled a laugh. “ You’ll keep me safe?
“Yes.”
Her jaw worked, the rebellion in her demeanor only making my cock slightly stiffen. The woman may have been powerless against her parents as a child, but she’d never been afraid to give me her mind, or a punch to the arm. I’d always loved that about her.
I was a spoiled and rotten child, and her honesty and defiance had been refreshing.
Now, it made me fucking work to control my need to show her to whom she belonged to.
“I can, and will, protect you.” My fingers wrapped tighter around her throat.
Her breath hitched, her chest expanding, her pupils blown. “Like how you did before?”
“That was a long time ago.” I lowered my hand to flatten against the top of her chest. Then, I couldn’t stop myself, my palm trailed lower, my fingers tracing over the smooth skin of her breast. “Things were different then.”
“I don't need to stay with you to be safe." She didn’t look down, didn’t give any attention to the fact that her nipples had tightened into stiff buds.
" He can't keep you safe, not from what's coming." My hand dropped to her waist. I squeezed her hip. She inhaled a sharp breath as I drug her closer to me.
"I wasn't talking about Rook.” She placed a hand on my chest, her fingers twisting in my tie. Leaning forward, her mint and scotch breath poured over my face. “Unlike you, he doesn't feel the need to control my every move. He trusts me to keep myself safe."
“Maybe Rook doesn’t know you like I do. He doesn’t know how much trouble you attract.” Growling, I dug my fingers into the skin of her thighs, pushing her dress upwards. Letting me, she tilted her hips upwards so I could pull it up and over her ass. “Open your legs.”
She did, and I bit down on a possessive roar when I realized she was wearing pink, embroidered panties.
Pink .
My next words came out a snarl. “Does he know that you're meeting Benny's wife in the middle of the night?”
"He doesn't need to," she bit back, letting out a breathy sound as I tickled the skin of her inner thighs, “because he trusts me."
“He shouldn't."
“I’ve been in a worse situation than a regime change, Knight, and I’m the one who got myself out of it. I can take care of myself,” she bit down on her upper lip, grazing over that gorgeous freckle, “And besides, you shouldn't be lurking outside a woman's home in the middle of the night, like a creepy stalker.
"I have zero interest in that woman.” I caressed upwards, softly fingering the edge of her panties, trying to stop myself from slipping a finger under them to finger her in my car. “I’m looking for Benny and you know it."
"Really?" Her gaze on me was heated. "A beautiful woman whose husband has abandoned her holds no interest for you?"
“You know you’re the only woman for me.”
“I never know with you, Knight. You say one thing, and do another.”
I brushed my fingers over her soft spot, letting out a low rumble at the feel of moistness on her panties. The woman was drenched. “Look how wet you are for me, baby.” I gave in to the temptation, hooked my finger in her panties and pulled, exposing her cunt to the open air of the car. “Tell me, Tatiana, were you a naughty girl?” I gently parted swollen lips, and slid my fingers through it. “Did you masturbate after I left the other night?”
Her mouth parted, air passing through full lips in a breathy moan. “In that room? God no.”
“Later on that night?” I lazily circled her clit.
She stared into my eyes, hers glossy with want. She shook her head.
“And did you fuck Rook?”
“When?”
“Since then?” I increased the pressure and she began to mewl, her cheeks flushing with desire. “Tell me, polva. Did you let Rook touch what was mine?” My voice thundered with possession.
“No,” she breathed, her chest hitching, hips rocking.
“Did you let anyone else touch what belongs to me?”
“Only myself.”
“And what do you think of when you touch yourself?” She didn’t answer, only gripped my wrist, encouraging me. “Do you think of me?”
She nodded, and I stroked, stroked her silky softness.
“Do you soak your panties? Or do you lie in your bed, naked, fantasizing?”
“Both.”
“And what do you think about?”
“You, spanking me like you did the other night.”
“What else?”
“Tying me up. Punishing me. Fucking me. Your cum sliding down my thighs.”
I chuckled darkly. “And why is that, Tatiana?”
“I don’t know.”
“You do.”
“I don’t.”
“You want to come?”
“Yes,” she breathed, “Please let me come.”
“Then tell me, polva. You know the answer. Tell me why you can’t stop thinking about me when you touch yourself.”
“Be—because,” she choked out, “you own my pussy.”
“Exactly.” I leaned forward, kissing her forehead, my fingers still circling her clit. I kissed down her face to her neck, suckling the sensitive skin. “Such a good girl for me.”
Her fingers tightened on my arm, and she murmured, “Please let me come, Knight.”
“Are you going to let Rook fuck you when he returns?”
“No.”
“Swear it,” I growled. “Swear he will never touch you again.”
“I swear it!” She cried out, “Y-you own me, Knight. I’ll never fuck him again.”
“Good girl.” I purred. “You can come.”
She gripped me tight, whimpering and writhing until, spine bowing, stomach clenching, chest hitching, she shattered. Her whole body shuddered, then a smile trickled up her gorgeous face, and she leaned into me. “Thank you.”
I kissed the top of her head. “Show me your gratitude by moving into my house.”
She rubbed her head across the collar of my shirt, smearing mascara and lipstick. “I can’t.”
"Fine.” I thundered, growing angry quickly. “If you won't stay with me, I'll increase my bookings with Rook.”
She yanked herself back, a dark look coming over her like a thundercloud. We stared each other down, anger and raw sexual tension buzzing between us. "Rook won't let you."
I tilted my head. "Won't he?"
Scowling, she shoved my hand away, clamping her thighs together. “Asshole.”
I smirked, sucking her juices from my fingers. Fuck, she tasted so good. “I don’t need Rook’s permission to be with you Tatiana. You just admitted how you felt about me.”
“I just wanted to come.”
“Lie.”
After a few moments passed of staring each other down, she adjusted her clothing and turned away from me to stare out the window. Disappointment coiled through me, and I adjusted my dick, which was so swollen, it was going to break my fucking zipper. “Tati. We need to make things right again.” I tried for lightness. “I miss those innocent, blushing smiles.”
"You lost the privilege of seeing those a long time ago.”
“And the privilege of protecting you?"
“You long since broke the solemn promise you made to me." Her voice was low and soft and she stared at the garden beyond us, instead of looking at me. "What makes you think I would ever trust you again?"
She wasn’t defiant anymore, or angry or even annoyed. She’d accepted that I’d walked away from her, given up. Just like so many other people in her life. I’d never forgive myself for that.
"I may have broken my promise to you," I adjusted the sleeve of my suit coat, pulling it upwards, and her eyes fell to my exposed wrist, "but I never stopped caring."
She froze, her eyes caught on the red ribbon tied around my wrist.
“Yes, Tati. I kept it. And I always remembered you. Always wished that I was a better person, that I lived in a better place, a safer world, where I could bring you to me.”
Her fingers went to her own wrist, clutching it tight, and a red blush crawled up her chest. Her eyes didn’t move away from my wrist, but she released a halting breath, shaking her head. “Why haven’t I seen you wear it before?”
“Because I took it off when I knew I was going to see you.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Believe it, polva .”
“How?”
I showed her how I could easily slip it on and off. She huffed, not answering, staring out the window again. I reached forward, gripping her chin to force her gaze up to meet mine. “You will come to my house.”
“But—”
“I don’t care about Rook or your fucking contract with him. Come to my house, stay with me, just until things are settled with the cartel.” My voice softened. “You know how bad things can get. Let me prove to you that you can trust me again.”
She faltered, her tongue swiping over the freckle by her upper lip, and a wave of warmth washed over me, memories of her doing that when we were kids assaulting me. She was still that same girl, deep down inside. The girl who could love me again. I only had to prove it to her.
I brushed my thumb over her wrist, caressing it gently and, once again, she looked down at my wrist, where the red ribbon was peeking out of my sleeve. “Okay,” she gave in, and the heat inside me billowed and swelled. “Let me work out arrangements tonight, and tomorrow I’ll come to your house.”
My heart was pounding, my nerves eager, but I didn’t want to scare her off. I brushed her wrist again. “You won’t regret it. I swear.”
Her hand went to the door. “I need to go.”
I released her wrist. “Okay.”
She didn’t say anything else, and I watched her leave my car, my eyes locked on that perfect ass before she disappeared into her Mercedes. After fixing her hair and makeup, she pulled away, speeding off down the street without a backwards glance.
I watched her until she was out of sight, then started the Rover and pulled up into Poppy's driveway.
By now, Poppy would know I was here; there was no need to be subtle.
I opened the door without knocking, only to have a gun shoved into my head.
It took me two seconds to disarm Poppy, and she stepped back in surprise as I raised her own gun at her. I gave her a moment to understand that I could've killed her in a second, then lowered the gun, tucking it away.
"Knight?" She plastered on a smile. "Tatiana warned me someone was outside, but I had no idea it was you."
I didn’t honor her lie with a response. "We need to talk."
"Of course," she smiled, tucking her hair behind her ears. The look was sweet and simple, yet captivating. She’d managed to figure out how to appear both innocent and seductive at the same time. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the smile that had gotten Benny in trouble.
"Would you like something to drink?"
She walked off, not waiting for me to answer, and I shook my head in disbelief as I shut her door, then followed after her. We entered a large, two story living room, with a wall-to-wall TV screen, playing a muted reality show.
I sat down on a light pink, velvet sofa, shoving aside a fuzzy purple pillow, and made myself comfortable. She stood at the white marble mini bar and pulled out two glasses. "Is vodka okay?"
“Yes.”
It took her longer than usual, and when she returned, I sat the glass down on the glass coffee table without drinking it.
She sat across from me, grabbing the pillow I’d discarded to cradle it against her chest. She took a sip of her drink, studying me, a finger tracing over her collarbone. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Everything.” I leaned forward. “You’re going to tell me everything.”