Chapter 13
Thirteen
LUKA
A week passed. Amara didn’t answer her phone. Neither calls nor texts. She didn’t respond to the flowers I sent to her house or the bottle of champagne. I double-checked with the florist to make sure the address was correct.
I felt like a caged lion shut up in my apartment. I paced. I drank. On occasion, I sat in on meetings with my father. I visited the warehouse with Maksim. I listened to Katya complain about Andrey. The wedding was nearing, and she was becoming more desperate to find an escape. I thought about Amara’s cousin.
But nothing changed the fact that all I wanted was to see Amara. There had to be a way out. I searched the drawers in my apartment for a pack of cigarettes I’d hidden, but there were none. Fuck. I had given them up easily, but I couldn’t give up her .
“Ahh, Luka, there you are.” My father had strolled into the library. I had stopped by to pay a visit and see if there were any more leads from Maksim on Ivan’s murderer.
“Yes, Papa. Here I am.” I huffed, returning to my seat.
“What news do you have from Maksim?” he asked.
“We still have the prisoner in holding.” It was a nice way to describe the warehouse where the man who had been captured during my uncle’s funeral was being held.
“And?” He wrapped his manicured fingers on an end table.
“And I believe Maksim and his men are closer to getting the name from him. So far all we have is a description of who shot Ivan. It doesn’t sound like anyone from the families around here.”
“And no family has come forward.” I knew he was only speaking aloud, replaying the facts we had about Ivan’s death.
“No, but as soon as we have a name, I’ll take care of it. Myself.”
He nodded. “He was my brother. His death should be avenged with honor. Dignity.”
“It will.” I stood to go. I didn’t want to get sucked into my father’s maudlin mood about his brother.
“I saw your grandmother,” he added.
“Oh?” I hadn’t made it past the cold and dark fireplace.
“She is upset with you. Although, if you had visited on Sunday like a respectful grandson you would know your babushka is displeased. ”
I raised my eyebrows. My grandmother was often displeased. She wasn’t the type of woman to wear a smile. Her eldest daughter, Sasha, was in Russia, married to a man who ran his own crime organization. Babushka didn’t have contact with the five grandchildren there, my cousins. Sasha’s husband was powerful, and controlling, and had never gotten along with my grandmother.
“What have I done to offend my dear sweet Babushka?” I taunted.
My father snapped. “Do not cross her. She has heard about you and the Italian girl.”
I groaned. “It would be nice if everyone would stay out of my personal life.”
He slammed his fist on the fragile table. It was so jarring that the legs rattled against the hardwood floor. “This is not trivial. Respect your grandmother. She is not wrong. Your personal life is our business. You are the Sovietnik now of the entire Novikov family.” He stood, turning toward me. His eyes glowered with rage. “Your meeting with her went too far. The engagement party with her went too far.” Fuck, my mother had betrayed me after all.
I slid my hands into my pockets. I didn’t want him to think for a second his flare-up affected me.
“It’s harmless. She’s cute. That’s all.” I shrugged.
It didn’t get him to back down. He didn’t believe me. I wouldn’t believe me. I was in over my head with Amara. She was all I could think about. Dream about. I wanted her. I needed her. I fucking craved her every second of every day. She wouldn’t let me near her .
“Stay away from her,” my father growled. “Her father won’t be in New Orleans long. They will not be staying.”
My focus on steering my father away from Amara suddenly changed. “What do you mean by that?” He had not asked me about any field operations with any of the Bratva teams. Maksim was stretched thin. I hadn’t checked on the other three brigadiers recently.
He chuckled. “Are you worried? Is she someone you care about?”
I could tip my hand and let him know I was crazy about her, or I could play the role I played the best and act like the fuck boy they all thought I was. What I didn’t know was which one kept her safe. In this moment I had a fifty-fifty chance of protecting her.
“Papa,” I began. “All of this, the drinks, the dates, the web I’ve spun for her. It’s for the family. I assure you. I won’t pretend I don’t enjoy the perks.” I cocked my head. “But I’m getting closer to finding out all of Lorenzo Amato’s plans. This close.” I pinched my fingers together.
“Do not lie to me, son.”
“Never.”
He slapped me on the back with a laugh. “Good. Good. You’re close to her and that will change this war. She is young, isn’t she? Too young for you, no?”
Fuck. There was a bead of perspiration at my temple. I turned to wipe it away before he realized he had caught me in a lie.
“She’s twenty-one,” I answered.
“Same as Katya,” he mused. My stomach clenched .
I shrugged. “Na?ve enough to babble on about her father’s business after I ply her with champagne. It’s unfair really how easy it is to seduce her. She’ll tell me anything I want.”
“Then use it. Use her.”
I nodded. “As planned.”
“I knew you were the right choice to be my Sovietnik.” He smiled. “And one day, the Pakhan.”
“I don’t plan on being the boss anytime soon.”
“Continue your training here as seriously as you took your Bratva training in Russia and France and you will honor me.”
I felt the walls closing in on me. I needed to leave. Quickly.
“I’ll check on Babushka. Tell her to stop worrying so much.” I dangled the keys to my sports car in the air. “See you later.”
I jogged down the front stairs of my parents’ mansion and slid into my car. I drove until I was past the garden district. I never paid attention to these houses before, but as I grew closer to Lorenzo Amato’s compound, I began to notice the old world stamp on the buildings. Classic architecture. Grand porticos and columns. Massive gardens and brick walls.
It might have been reckless, but I drove straight to the Amato compound. I needed to see Amara. After a few minutes, I was buzzed in. The iron gate retracted, and I drove through the entryway, circling the front of the house. I knocked on the front door until a housekeeper opened the door.
“Yes?” She eyed me.
“I’m here to see Amara,” I explained. “Is she home?”
“Miss Amato is out back in the courtyard. You can wait—” I didn’t let the woman finish the sentence before I brushed past her and marched in the direction of the back of the house. Things had become urgent. I wouldn’t be able to keep the charade up with my father for long. Amara was in danger. We needed time and space to think.
I slid open a glass door and spotted Amara lounging by the pool.
“And I thought you were busy.” I stood next to her. I had to remain calm in front of her. Until I could tell her how dangerous things had become between our fathers.
She slid her sunglasses down her nose. “How did you get in here?”
“Front door.”
“No, I mean past Ciro and Joey. You shouldn’t be here.”
I sat on the lounge chair next to her. “Joey? That the goon with the huge scar across his nose?” I had expected to see Ciro, but instead, it was only the one guy who looked like a hockey player.
She sighed. “He’s self-conscious about it. We don’t mention his nose. Ever.”
“Odd choice for a bodyguard then.” I glared at her. “Why haven’t you answered your phone?” I asked. If I could have picked her up and thrown her over my shoulder then, I would have.
The beads of perspiration rolled between her breasts. Damn. She looked incredible in her bikini. She pushed forward in her seat.
“Because you want me to get on a plane to Bali. Or where was the last place? I think you said you had tickets for Amsterdam. ”
“You are listening to my messages. The plane tickets are just piling up. When are you going to choose our spot?”
“Of course, I listened, but I can’t go anywhere with you. Stop buying first-class tickets. That costs a fortune.”
“I have a fortune,” I retorted.
“I told you. This isn’t going to work.” There was defeat in her voice.
“You’ve given up before you even tried. At least enjoy a few weeks with me. I know you want those Russian lessons.”
Her legs swung in my direction. My palms skimmed over her knees, planting her legs between mine. She tilted forward. I could smell the coconut on her skin. Smell the sun on her body.
She sighed. “If my father sees you…”
“Is he home?” I asked.
She nodded. “He’s in his study working. I don’t know who is with him today. This isn’t safe for you.”
I laughed. Sometimes it was cute how na?ve and innocent she was about my background. To be fair, she didn’t know the truth. I had kept my secrets as far from her as I could. I was about to let her in on a big secret that had major consequences. I had to hope she could handle it.
I brought my hands to either side of her face. “I keep thinking about your lips.”
She smiled. “You do?”
I nodded, drawing her mouth close to mine. I pressed against the warmth of her mouth, soaked in sunlight. I parted her lips as my tongue twined along hers. Amara’s hands wrapped around my neck, and I wanted to untie the string on her bikini. I wanted to worship her curvy body. Admire her breasts. Tease her clit with kisses. I explored her body, gliding over it easily. The oil was a guide. My fingers curled to the inside of her thigh.
“Shh,” I warned her.
Her eyes whipped open, but I tugged the bikini bottom out of my way and grazed her roughly with my thumb.
She bit her bottom lip. Her eyes locked on mine as I added another finger between her legs. I swirled her clit and eased inside her. She gasped when my fingers curled inside her.
“All summer,” I growled. “Like this.” I kissed her. “Free to do this.” I nipped at her throat. My fingers taking on more territory. Her hips began to rock. I pushed deeper. The straps on her suit strained around my hand.
“I-I can’t. Not here,” she pleaded. Her breath was ragged. Her eyes glazed over. “We’re. In. The. Courtyard.” She panted hard. “He could find us.”
“Take me somewhere I can touch you,” I commanded her.
She eyed a changing room, much like a beach tent in a 1920s movie set up across the pool.
“Over there,” she whispered.
“Come with me now,” I directed. As soon as I pulled my hand away, she whimpered. But within seconds, I had draped the heavy canvas curtain closed and tied the rope that held it together. It was a sturdier structure than it appeared from the outside. I pinned Amara to the wall with a kiss that made my cock ache .
She clung to me as my hand reached inside her bikini. She moaned when my fingers returned to that sweet spot. Her tits jutted toward me as she arched against the wall. I plunged into her heat. My fingers were at work to make her come hard in my hand.
“Be quiet.” I bit her bottom earlobe. She squeezed my fingers. Fuck. Her walls were strong. Tight. I didn’t expect to be matched by her bursts of rhythm.
Her hair fell out of her bun and stuck to her shoulders. She began to ride up and down. I watched as she tried to take control of the sensations. The tiny whimpers she made were driving me fucking insane. I wondered if my plan was falling apart. Who was seducing whom?
“Shh,” I tried to calm her and make her ignite at the same time.
“Fuck, Luka,” she hissed when I flicked her clit like I owned it. I worried we’d bring the cabana down with us.
“Say that again,” I growled.
“Fuck, Luka.” She drew the words out slowly over her plump lips.
I covered her mouth with mine at the first sign she was about to come. I saw the shudder hit her. I felt the quiver wrap around my fingers. I licked her lips. Kissed her. Held her on her feet while she rode out the climax. Her eyes opened with a long, sweet sigh. I brought my fingertips to my tongue. That was a mistake. I was already addicted.
“Fuck. I want to rip this suit off you and kiss you. Suck you. Taste you, Amara. Then fuck you.”
Her eyes lit with a flicker of flames. “You do want that, don’t you?”
I sank to my knees, drawing the red two-piece to the tile floor. I blew a breath between her thighs as she whimpered. She was already wet. Slick. Her hips rolled on their own, toward me.
“Is there any doubt I have every intention of doing all those things to you?”
“No,” she whimpered. “We’re going to get caught.”
“I don’t know that we can stop what we’ve started. I haven’t seen you in a week, Amara. There is a consequence when you push me away for so long.”
“I know,” she whimpered. “I shouldn’t have.”
My hands rounded to her ass, pulling her toward my face. She climbed on my shoulders, willingly, needy, desperate for me to satisfy the same ache in her that I had within me. My tongue met her demands with a forceful plunge.
She hissed as I lapped against her, swirling over her entrance, and taking her clit between my teeth.
I looked up at her, suspended in my arms. “Still want me to stop?” I taunted.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” she growled.
I grinned. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Not the way you taste.”
I squeezed her soft skin in my hands, gripping her with a rhythm that urged her to match the thrusts of my tongue. She quickly fell into the rhythm. My tongue darted in and out. Faster. With urgency, I hadn’t felt before. I wanted to inhale her. Take my time. Savor every drop of her. But I knew we were running out of time. This was a dangerous place to please her and more importantly, I had to convince her to come with me. I wrapped a solid arm around her, giving myself a free hand to tease her clit. That was it. The master stroke that undid all her restraint.
The second orgasm crashed over her and burst forth like a flooded release she had damned up and hidden from me since we met. Her hands dug into my hair, but I had a firm grip. I wasn’t letting her go. I would never let her fall. I drank from her, sucked, lapped, and kissed every part of her between her legs. My cock was at full attention, strained inside my pants, but this felt so fucking good, holding her while she surrendered to me. Or maybe I was the one surrendering. I was on my fucking knees for this woman. Risking everything just to give her one perfect orgasm.
“I want more, but…” Her breath was ragged. Her thighs pressed against the rough sides of my cheeks. This was heaven.
“I know. I know, baby. You’ll have it.” I had barged into her father’s house. I was dangerously close to getting a bullet in the back of my skull. “Not here.” I realized I had maybe taken things too far and put her in danger too. I could be a selfish bastard to get what I wanted.
I pried her arms from me, helping her to her feet once the crest of her orgasm ebbed. She was shaky and wobbled.
“I made my point.” I stood, trying to flatten out the rather solid erection in the front of my pants our situation had caused before I walked out of the changing room.
“You came here to make a point?” She still breathed heavily. She shimmied into her bikini.
“I think I made it.” I could taste all her essence. And it was fucking sweet. I wanted more. I wasn’t nearly done with her. How did I create space now? How did I not carry her upstairs to her room, remove the last bits of this fabric, and bury myself inside her?
“And what is that exactly?” She stood, facing me with her hands on her hips. Hips that were tanned and slick with oil. Hips that fit perfectly in my hands.
“That the only reason you’re avoiding me has nothing to do with me and everything to do with what you’re afraid of. We could do this. We could leave,” I urged. “We don’t have to be a part of the family war this summer.” I had to convince her with any argument I could conjure up.
Her mouth opened in surprise. “How dare you say I’m too afraid to act on what I want.”
I grinned, wiping the last bits of her juices from my mouth. “Face it. You’re scared, Amara. What else would keep you here instead of out there with me?”
“It’s not that simple.” She yanked a coverup from the hook behind my head and wrapped it around her. I immediately wanted to pull it off her.
I cupped the side of her face with my palm. “Shh,” I quieted her dropping my mouth over hers. She moaned, reaching up on her toes. “That’s it,” I coaxed her to relax. My hands began to roam her body again beneath the robe, exploring her skin with the ease of the suntan oil. I rubbed deep patterns and circles into her muscles.
“We can’t…” she moaned.
“But you want to?”
She nodded, biting her lip. I wanted to get us both out of here. There had to be a way .
My length was quickly doubling. She was right. I was close to losing it with her all over again. I couldn’t get enough of her. It was driving me insane. Keeping me awake at night. She was going to be the death of me.
I took her chin between my thumb and forefinger. “Don’t you know I can give you anything you want?” I held her gaze. “Let me teach you. Trust me, Amara. Won’t you?”
Before I could steal another kiss, she ducked under my arm and out into the sun.
“You aren’t going to answer?” I followed, brushing the heavy canvas of the cabana out of my way. It felt as if she was getting away. I couldn’t let that happen.
I waited for a response when I heard the sharp footsteps behind me. I turned to see a man not much taller than Amara with Ciro with hate in his eyes.
“Amara, what’s going on here?” he barked.
It was her father.