Chapter 17
Chapter
Seventeen
KATYA
K aterina shows up at our house, uninvited.
In typical Katerina fashion, she lets herself inside and strolls into the living room where I’m watching TV. Anton is with his men today, working on an incoming gun shipment. We’re at an impasse since I want him to ask my brother for help, and he still refuses.
After we got out of bed, neither of us really spoke to the other. Already, there’s a distance forming between us, and neither one will bend or break.
“How can you watch such stupid things?” Katerina asks, making me startle.
“When did you get here? No. Scratch that. What are you doing here?”
She grabs the remote and turns off the TV. The sight of John the bachelor disappears from view. He was about to break up a fight between Abigail and Serena. I swear, Serena was just going to throw champagne on Abigail, and now, I won’t know if that’s going happen or not.
“I was watching that,” I mutter.
“It’s trash television. You don’t need to rot your mind.”
“You know, Katerina, you don’t get the right to come into my house, turn off my TV, and demand my attention. I didn’t invite you in.”
“My son owns this house, not you. Your choice of TV show is silly and stupid. And finally, I need your attention because I just got word that my son is going to war with Luca Moretti. Is this true?”
“Anton didn’t tell you?”
I can tell it strikes a nerve as she averts her gaze. “Anton is a busy man. He doesn’t always have time to tell me things.” She fiddles with the end of her jacket. “That doesn’t matter. I need to know. I was told by Vera that he’s going after Luca. Is that true?”
“He’s trying to. Luca tried to kill Anton and kidnapped me?—”
“Luca Moretti tried to kill my son? The nerve on that man.”
“And he kidnapped me?—”
“And I can’t believe an Italian thinks he’s better than my own son. A true Bratva man. Who does he think he is?”
“And Luca kidnapped me and tried to kill me and?—”
“And I just can’t believe Luca would go after my son. Who would go after Anton? Anton is better than any of these other men. He will win this war.”
I sigh. “Katerina, have you heard a single thing I’ve just said?”
“Oh. That you were kidnapped or something.” She waves a dismissive hand. “None of that matters. What matters is my son.”
“Of course. But just out of curiosity, why does it not matter?”
“Because you’re sitting right before me with your feet on the coffee table, which is incredibly rude and shows terrible manners, by the way. I can tell you’re fine. You’re clearly not kidnapped at the moment and not dead.”
“… Right.” With that logic, no one can ever go wrong.
“So, what are you doing to help my son?”
“I’m staying put,” I tell her. “It’s safer for me to stay here. Anton has guards stationed around the house. If Luca finds this place and attacks, I should be fine.”
“You should be finding ways to help my son.”
“How? Katerina, seriously, how? If I get myself in trouble, then Anton will have to find me, and he’ll have to worry about me, which will give Luca an opportunity to strike. It’s better I stay here and out of the way. Besides, things are tense between Anton and me right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“He wants to go after Luca by himself. I keep telling him to ask my brother and Nikolai and Maxim for help. They’re business partners, after all. If it meant preventing a war, I believe they would help. But Anton refuses to ask them.”
“Well, you could ask them.”
“I could. But Anton will refuse their help if they offer. He needs to be the one to go to them. He needs to bridge any gap between them. I can’t help with that.” I pick up the remote and turn the TV back. “And so, for now, I’m watching John, who’s the next bachelor by the way, hand out roses. I need to know if Charmaine is going to get one. She’s a total bitch, but I love her. She was made for television.”
Katerina rips the remote out of my hand and turns the TV off again. “How can you just sit there and watch terrible reality TV while your husband is fighting a war?”
I stare at her for a long moment before I stand up. “What do you want from me?”
“What?”
“That’s a serious question. What do you want from me? Do you want me to throw myself in danger to save Anton? Because if I do that, you’ll call me stupid. If I sit back and stay safe so Anton can focus, I’m still stupid in your eyes. So, which is it? What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to support my son.”
“I am. I support Anton more than anyone else.”
She scoffs. “You? How do you support him? All you do is spend your days on your lazy behind while my son slaves away to provide for you.”
“Katerina, I swear to god, I’m going to hit you.”
Her jaw drops. “Why in the world would you do that?”
“Because you’re impossible! I can’t do anything right by you. Tell me what I should do to support Anton, and I’ll do it.”
She eyes me over suspiciously. “And why would you do that?”
“To get you off my back. I swear. If it gets you to leave me alone, I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”
“Fine.” She turns her nose up at me. “Come with me to another Bratva women’s function. If you put in a good word for Anton, then those women will talk to their husbands, and maybe some of them will help Anton win this war.”
“But it’s a moot point. Anton doesn’t want any help.”
“He doesn’t want to ask for it. But if he was offered it, he might take it. Especially if he didn’t know it was coming from you. If any of those women’s husbands were to offer their support, I believe Anton would take it. That’s how you can help. So, come with me.”
I stare at the TV longingly. Already, I miss John and the rest of the women. They make it so easy for me to escape from my reality.
But Katerina isn’t going to leave me alone, so I have no choice but to follow her.
Her driver takes us to the tea function—hosted at The Ritz Carlton this time. Katerina makes a beeline for Vera, who’s seated next to Angelica and Rose. All three are middle-aged women with nothing better to do than gossip at tea functions.
“Oh, Katerina!” Vera exclaims. “And you brought Katya with you.”
“Of course, I did. Katya is my daughter-in-law, after all.” Katerina sits down with a huff.
Slowly, I sit down, keeping a steady stare on the three other woman at the table.
“So.” Vera places her chin on her hand. “We’ve all heard Anton is going to war with Luca Moretti.”
“How did you hear about that?” I ask.
“From my husband. He knows one of Anton’s men—Benjamin. He told my husband that Anton is warring with Luca Moretti.”
Of course. Vera gets information from any source possible.
“If your husband would be willing to help Anton,” Katerina says, “that would be beneficial.”
“Oh, now. My dear Sergei refuses to get involved. But I’ll pass the message along.” Vera studies Katerina. “Oh, dear. You’re looking a bit tired, aren’t you?”
Katerina sits up straighter. “I do not look tired. How dare you say that to me.”
Vera turns to Angelica, and the women share a laugh that grates on my nerves. Judging from the way Katerina’s lips thin, they’re getting on her nerves, too.
“It’s, just, you must be,” Vera says. “Your son is going to war. Too bad you couldn’t keep a better handle on him. Maybe he wouldn’t be in this position right now.”
“It’s no longer my job to handle my son. It’s Katya’s job now.”
Of course, Katerina would throw me under the bus.
Vera sets her predatory eyes onto me. “Yes. How are you dealing with things, dear?”
“As well as can be expected. I’m not worried about Anton. He’ll be fine.” All utter lies. I’m terrified for Anton, but none of these women need to know that.
“Poor you,” Angelica says. “A pretty girl like you shouldn’t worry.”
“I know. I just said I wasn’t worried.”
Vera leans toward me. “But you are, aren’t you? I can just tell.”
“Vera,” I say in my most sweetest voice. “Why don’t you stop meddling in things that don’t involve you?”
“Manners,” Katerina snaps.
Vera’s lip curls as she looks at me. “I don’t meddle. I just ask questions.”
“That’s meddling. Yes, Anton is going to war, and yes, that’s terrible, and yes, any help he can get would be great, but I’m not going to beg any of you to ask your husbands for help. Anton wouldn’t want that.” I give Katerina a pointed look. “So, why don’t we all just drop this and move on.”
The table goes silent.
Then Vera speaks. “Katerina, dear, are you sure you should be wearing that?” She nods toward Katerina’s white button down jacket. “It’s just so last season, you know?”
Katerina flushes. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen her look the tiniest bit embarrassed. “I … didn’t realize I’d put it on.”
“Oh? You? How does someone like you forget? You’re getting sloppy, Katerina. Don’t let that happen again.”
I stare at Vera and her gossipy mouth. God, she’s such a bitch. But a part of me revels in watching her take down Katerina. After how Katerina has treated me, it’s gratifying.
At the same time, it’s also sort of upsetting. Katerina is a force of nature, and yet, here she sits, looking embarrassed just because she wore an outdated jacket from last season.
“I forgot because Anton has been on my mind,” Katerina explains. “It was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”
“You better make sure it doesn’t,” Angelica says. “You’re already embarrassing us, Katerina, by looking cheap and old. Always stay up to date on the latest fashions, yes?”
“It won’t happen again,” Katerina repeats.
Vera skims her fingers over the arm of Katerina’s jacket. “It just so … old, you know? Tacky.”
Katerina looks like she might cry. This is not a gratifying sight. It only pisses me off.
“Just shut up,” I tell Vera and Angelica. Both of their jaws drop open.
“What did you say to us?” Vera demands.
“Leave Katerina alone. She’s clearly worried about her son fighting a war with a crazy Italian who doesn’t know how to die. And she came here hoping to get support from you women, and instead, you’re judging her because she put on a jacket from last season? It’s not old or outdated or tacky. If anyone is old or outdated or tacky, it’s you women.”
They all gasp, and Katerina watches me with wide eyes.
I stand up. “Show a little empathy. She’s worried about her son. Hell, I’m worried about my husband, ok? I didn’t want to say it because I know you’ll just gossip about this later, but here it is: I am worried about Anton. Ok? I don’t want him to die, and that only makes me human. That makes Katerina human, too. So, just shut up and learn some manners yourselves.”
I storm out of the tea function and outside to where the driver waits by the car. I get into the backseat and sit there, fuming. I freaking hate women like that. Gossipy old biddies who don’t know when to be polite.
The back car door opens, and Katerina gets inside. She doesn’t say anything for a long time.
“Let me here it,” I mutter. “Tell me how much of a bitch I was. How rude I was. I’ve heard it a million times by now. What’s one more?”
“Thank you.”
I blink, then freeze. I can’t even look at her because I don’t want to ruin what she just said.
“Did you hear me?”
“I heard you,” I say.
She sighs. “You stood up for me back there. No one has ever done that for me before. Not even Anton.”
Finally, I force myself to sneak a peek at her. She looks so sad and dejected.
“You know, we have something in common.”
She inhales sharply. “What are you talking about? What could you and I have in common?”
“We both care for Anton. And we don’t want to see him get hurt. If anyone understands what you’re feeling right now, it’s me.”
“You?” she scoffs. “I doubt that.”
I push down my irritation. “Believe what you want, Katerina. But just know that I want Anton to survive this, too. And it’s ok that you wore the wrong jacket. It means you’re human. It means you have other things on your mind than just fashion. Don’t let those gossips hurt your feelings.”
“They didn’t. You embarrassed me in there by making a scene.”
“Ok.” I turn to the window. “I just wanted to state my piece. You drive me crazy, honestly. But if you ever need to talk, I’m here. Because I know what it’s like to be afraid. I don’t want to lose Anton either.”
“I don’t need to talk to you, girl. I can handle this on my own.”
“Whatever you want.”
She falls silent again. The driver gets behind the wheel and starts the car, taking us back home.
I feel something on my hand. When I look down, I see Katerina’s hand on my own. I place my other hand over hers to let her know she’s not alone.
She moves her hand away, and that’s that. Our one moment of understanding is done.
But it happened. And I think, in a weird way, I’ll cherish it forever.
ANTON
“I heard you got along with my mother today,” I tell Katya when I get home.
“How did you learn that?”
“My mother. She called and said she didn’t mind spending the day with you.” I sit down next to her on the couch and pull her in close. “That means she likes you.”
“We might have come to a tentative understanding. It had to do with you, you know.” She wiggles away from me. “We’re upset that you’re facing Luca alone.”
I groan and drop my head back on the couch. “This again?”
“Yes, this again. You’re going to do something stupid, and I can’t stop you.”
“Nope. You can’t. So, instead of fighting about it, I suggest we do something different instead.”
“Oh yeah? What?”
“This.” I grab her jaw and bring our lips together in a fiery kiss. Katya tries to fight it, but she soon falls into my arms, kissing me back just as passionately.
Her hands tear at my shirt until I sit back enough to let her slip it over my head. I moan when she runs her fingers over my chest. Fuck, I love whenever she touches me. It’s like I’ve become alive in a way I never have before.
I tighten my arms around her waist and pull her into my lap. “I need you right now.”
“Oh? Anton Volkov admitting to needing something?”
“Don’t be naughty.” I squeeze her ass. “Or I’ll have to give you a spanking.”
She gasps, sounding more eager than she probably means to.
With confident hands, she undoes my belt buckle. I remember when she would shake slightly in my presence. Now, she’s brave and fearless around me.
Her hand slips into my pants and grips my cock. I groan. Katya gives me a little smirk like she knows what she does to me.
Pushing her hand away, I slip her dress over her head. Two can play at this game. I palm her pussy through her underwear, making her moan and jerk her hips forward. I love the way she responds to my touch.
“Tease me all you want,” I say, “but I always win.” I rip her panties off and press my fingers between her legs. Her wetness coats my fingers, making my cock even harder.
She rolls her hips around as I play with her clit. She’s so sensitive. I fucking love it.
Her head drops back as her face flushes and her movement becomes more frantic.
“You like this, baby?”
“Yes,” she admits.
“Good.” Then I pull my fingers away from her.
Her head snaps up, and I laugh at the glare she gives me. “You bastard.”
“If you want me, then take out my cock.”
With a determined expression on her face, she pushes my pants and underwear down. My erection springs out. She doesn’t look away from me once she grips it between her hands. Fuck, she’s glorious.
My hips jerk up of their own accord as she runs her hand up and down my shaft.
“Enough,” I growl, grabbing her hand and placing it on my chest. “If you want me inside you, baby, then ride me.”
She looks down at my cock for a moment before straddling my hips. For just a second, I notice hesitation on her face.
I grip the back of her head. “You could never disappoint me. Just lower yourself down onto my cock. It will be perfect.”
She kisses me with all the passion in the world as she lowers her hips down. The sensation of my erection driving into her is the best fucking feeling I’ve ever experienced. It’s like dying and being reborn again.
She stops once I’m fully inside her.
I grip her hips. “Ride me, baby. Just let go.”
Katya’s eyes flare with desire as she rocks her hips back and forth. To say it feels amazing would be an understatement. Her body was made for mine. I know it.
She bites her lip. Fuck. I lean forward and kiss her deeply. Our tongues blend together with ease.
Her pace begins to increase. A little whimper escapes her lips, propelling my own hips forward. I bring her flush to my body so we’re chest to chest. The smell of sex fills the room.
I growl, helping her to roll her hips around. She tastes like fucking cherries from our kiss.
“Oh,” she says against my lips as her fingers dig into my skin.
“If you’re going to come, baby, then scream my name. You know I want to hear it.”
“Never,” she says, but there’s no bite to it.
Her hips grind down against mine, sending a flare of pleasure through me. Fuck, I’m not going to be able to hold on much longer. I grip her hips so tightly, and I know she’ll bruise after. That’s me claiming her—the way it should be.
Katya’s arms wrap around my shoulders as she moans. It’s the most beautiful fucking sound I’ve ever heard.
“Come for me, baby,” I whisper against her throat.
“Anton!” she moans as her body constricts, then releases. Her inner walls clench down hard on my cock, making me come right after her.
We shudder in each other’s arms, clinging to each other like we might die if we let go. Katya’s arms tighten around me.
As if she knows what I’m thinking, she says, “Please don’t do anything stupid, Anton. Just ask for help.”
As I run my fingers up and down her back, goosebumps break out on her skin. “I wish I could, but I can’t. Stop asking. It’s only going to lead to disappointment.”
“Don’t disappoint me, then.”
“I think I pleased you very well just now.”
She sits up and swats at my chest. “You know I don’t mean sex.”
“But it was good, wasn’t it?”
With a huge eye roll, she gets off me and falls back onto the couch. Her naked body is on display for me. I have the urge to touch and kiss her all over, but I hold back. Now is not the time.
“I just wish you weren’t so stubborn,” she mutters.
“I could say the same about you.”
We give each other a look right as a loud banging sound roars through the house.
“What was that?”
“Someone’s at the door. Put your clothes on.”
Katya does as I say as I get dressed myself.
“Who is it?” she whispers.
“I have no idea. Could be Luca.”
“And if it’s him?”
“Then I’ll kill him. Plain and simple. You should hide, just in case.”
She grabs my hand before I can walk to the door. “No. We’re in this together. If you’re going to face off against Luca, you need all the help you can get.”
“I can’t worry about you and fight him, too.”
“I know. But I can’t let you do this on your own.”
God, she can be so fucking stubborn. With a groan, I walk to the front door. “Who is it?”
“Nikolai. Dimitri and Maxim are here with me. Let us in.”
I turn to Katya. “It’s just my business partners.”
Her sigh of relief is visible.
I open the door and give my business partners a large grin when Nikolai punches me square in the face, sending me stumbling back.
“What the fuck?” I ask.
Before I can say more, Dimitri grabs me by the shirt and slams me into the wall. Nikolai and Maxim stand behind him, both of their arms crossed, and stern expressions on their faces.
“What are you doing?” Katya shouts.
“Where are they?” Dimitri growls, giving me a little shake.
“Where are who?”
“You know!” He punches me again. Honestly, it fucking hurts. Stars play over my eyes before they clear.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Or who you’re talking about.”
“Our wives,” Nikolai says in a deadpan voice. “Ava is gone.”
“What?” Katya gasps.
“And so is Luna,” Maxim adds.
Dimitri narrows his eyes at me. “And so is Evie. Someone kidnapped them all. Stole them out from under us. And you know what’s funny? A calling card was left behind.”
I look between all three men. “What calling card?”
“Yours,” Nik says. “Each of our guards were killed, and carved into their faces was a smile. You used to love carving things into the people you killed. We know it’s you. Anton. So, where are they?”
“Anton didn’t kidnapped anyone!” Katya objects.
“Can you be sure of that?” Dimitri asks her. “All I know is someone stole my wife, and it’s pretty obvious Anton has always wanted to hurt us.” As he speaks, he looks at me and not his sister. “Was it all a game to you? A ploy to get close enough to us so you could kidnap our wives? Hurt them? Torture them?” His voice hitches on the last word.
“What the ever living fuck are you talking about?” I ask again.
“Wrong answer,” Maxim says. “We never should have made a deal with you. Luna is gone, and I don’t know where she is. You have her. So, end this game, Anton. End it now before we kill you.”
There’s just one problem—I don’t have their wives.
But I think I know who might. And convincing Dimitri, Maxim, and Nikolai of that when they all hate me won’t be easy.