Chapter 14
“Apermanent zoning commissioner has been appointed,” Ivan informs me.
“Is there a problem?” I grab an apple from the fruit basket sitting on the kitchen island. “You sound like there’s a problem.”
“No. Not really. But we’ll have to see how he plays. Alexander has a meeting with him when we get back to town.”
“And when is that?”
“This afternoon. We’d planned on staying until Wednesday, but the groom of this wedding we all packed up and flew across the country for got a stick up his ass and left for home already.”
“You don’t have to be an ass about everything, you know. Some people try to be pleasant this early in the morning.” I take a bite out of the apple, making sure it’s loud and right in the receiver of my cell phone.
“Is that so?” He laughs. “And have you been pleasant? Have you said good morning to your blushing bride, or did you leave her in bed while you snuck out this morning because you didn’t want to face her.”
I stop chewing.
“You’re a real ass.”
He laughs. “And you’re a stubborn ass. Vee explained to me that this girl you just married is the same girl she saw sneaking out of your hotel room the night before.”
“I never considered Vee to be such a gossip. Being around you has been bad for her.”
“It’s Megan’s doing, not mine. But it’s true, yes?”
“Yes.” I lean a hip against the counter. “A sad coincidence is all it was.”
“I don’t know, maybe it’s a good thing. You liked her enough to take her up to your room; maybe you can like her enough not to make her and the rest of us miserable the rest of our lives.”
“You’re really reaching there, old man.”
He scoffs. “Old. I’m barely five years older than you.” He sighs. “You realize she could be plotting against you as much as you seem to be plotting against her. I mean, we did take out all three of her brothers. She’s going to hold that against you.”
“Enough about my wife. I’ll handle her.” I drop the rest of the apple into the trash can. “But there is an issue with her uncle. The pleasure house on the west side is still operating. Got confirmation last night.”
“He was supposed to close them all by the wedding.”
“I know. That’s why I’m bringing it up.”
“Okay, I’ll talk with Alexander on the flight home. Did you make any moves when you found out, or did you do the mature thing and wait?”
The sound of footsteps entering the kitchen draws my attention, and I turn around.
Sienna walks into the kitchen, sees me, and heads for the fridge. Her hair is tied back in a loose braid. She’s wearing a pair of jeans and an oversized pink knit sweater. Every bit casual, but with the elegance of royalty. It’s a natural look on her. She hasn’t even covered her face in makeup.
My dick reacts to her as though a woman kneels at my feet begging for my attention.
“I got confirmation, that’s all.”
“You went there?” His question comes out hard.
“I did. I managed to get two girls free without having an issue, but there’s at least half a dozen more.”
“Don’t do anything else until we get home.”
“Wasn’t planning to, but you realize he’s broken the agreement.”
“Just keep your temper in check until we get back. We have to be smart about this. No going off half-cocked.”
The refrigerator shuts, and she glances at me, as though sensing my eyes fixed on her.
“No. Of course not. Only fully cocked from now on.” I end the call as Ivan gears up for one of his lectures and slide my phone into the back pocket of my jeans.
Sienna opens a cabinet, doesn’t see what she wants, and opens the one next to it. She repeats this until she finds the coffee mugs, then searches for a spoon.
Still not speaking to me, she pours herself a cup of coffee, adds the creamer she took from the fridge and two heaping spoonfuls of sugar.
She brings a spoonful of the coffee to her lips, spilling it into her mouth. When she opens her eyes, they land on me standing directly across from her on the opposite side of the island.
“You look like you’re going out,” I say while I have her attention.
She licks the last drop of coffee from the spoon then drops it into the sink.
“Does it matter to you?”
The bite is back in her tone. A wall built up between us over the night.
“There’s a few things you need to understand.”
“Oh?” She brings her coffee cup to her lips, keeping her eyes on me while sipping it.
“Yes. There are rules.”
“Of course there are.” She smiles, plastic and joyless, and puts the mug back down. “You like rules.”
I ignore the taunt.
“If you leave, I need to know where you’re going. You’ll let me know where you are and who you’re with.”
“No.”
“I’m sorry?” I laugh.
It’s the most absurd thing, being told no once I’ve given a directive.
“Are you going to be telling me the same information about you? You look like you’re going out for the day, all dressed up in your big boy clothes. Where are you going, who will you be with?” She folds her arms over her chest, dips her chin.
I can only imagine this is her teacher expression. How many toddlers have looked at this face and spilled their guts because of it?
“You don’t seem to understand the situation here.” I move around the island, making my way to her. “I make the rules, and you follow them.”
She has to turn to keep looking at me. I’m at least a head taller than her, and she should back up so she can glare at me, but she doesn’t. She just tilts her back as far as she can. Not so much as an inch does she retreat.
“If you want to know where I’m going, you could ask. Like a civilized man.” She tilts her head little. “You could just say, ‘so what do you have planned for the day,’ and then I could answer ‘I’m meeting some friends for lunch.’”
“You don’t have friends here.”
“I don’t?” She gives a fake look of shock. “Funny, I would have thought I knew if I had friends here or not. But I suppose since you said it, it must be true.”
I lean into her, forcing her to finally take a small step back.
“If you’re going out, you let me know where and with whom. You’ll take the driver at all times. And you’ll be home before nine o’clock every night.”
“You’re giving me a curfew?” She laughs. “You’ve lost your mind.”
“Those are the rules. If you break one, any one of them, there will be consequences.”
“Oh?” She raises her eyebrows, and I know exactly what she’s thinking.
I know, because I’m thinking the same damn thing.
Her bare ass laying over my lap red and swollen from a spanking, is an image I’ve already had playing on a loop in my mind. It’s getting more vivid, because now I can image peeling those jeans over her ass, down her thighs.
I tense my jaw.
“Oh, something’s upset him.” She laughs but catches herself before the smile reaches her eyes.
“This can be easy between us. You do as you’re told. Stay out of my way, and it will be fine.”
“And children?” She swallows hard after she asks the question. “If you’re not going to use protection, there’s going to be children. Will they also need to just do whatever you say and when you say?”
“Are you trying to start a fight? You haven’t even had your breakfast.”
She sighs. “I’m not fighting with you, Kaz.”
“Good. Then you’ll tell me where you’re going.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She lifts a shoulder. “You’re right. I don’t have friends here. I don’t even have family here—anymore.” She adds the last part with narrowed eyes.
“Happy to discuss the why of that.” I shoot at her.
“Kaz—oh, sorry.” Mikhail enters the kitchen, twirling a set of keys on his middle finger.
“I’ll be a minute,” I say without looking away from her. “Tell Sergei he’s on babysitting duty today. He needs to stick around in case my wife here needs a ride anywhere.”
“You got it. I’ll let him know.”
“Guess you have to go. Big meeting with big people over big, bad things,” she says.
“Mikhail, I’ll meet you outside.”
His heavy footsteps fade toward the front of the townhouse.
“Let me make things very clear for you. You’ll keep me informed of your whereabouts.
You’ll be sure I know who you’re socializing with.
And you won’t step one foot out of line, because if you do, you’ll regret it.
” I pause. “If this marriage falls apart because of you, what little your family has left will be forfeit. I don’t think your uncle would appreciate that. ”
“You don’t know the first thing about my family.” Her eyes darken, anger swirls in them.
“I know your brothers fucked more than just us with the war they started. I know the men pulling your uncle’s strings aren’t happy with him.
I know that’s why you were presented like a lamb to the slaughter, trying to make amends.
Trying to tie my family to yours, in the hope that your uncle won’t lose what tiny bit of power he has left. ”
“And you did, right? You stepped up to the altar, just as much of a sacrifice as me.”
“No.” I raise my brows. “I’m not sacrificing anything. I’m as free today as I was two days ago and will continue to be. You’re the little bird in a cage, now. Not me.”
She looks away, her nostrils flaring.
“I should get going.” I roll my shoulders back. “I put my phone number in your phone already. I expect a text from you if you leave this house.”
I grab her mug of coffee and take a large gulp. It’s too sweet, too full of cream, but doesn’t matter. I chug down most of the drink before putting it back down.
As I reach the door, her words strike me.
“You’re no better than my brothers. I survived them. I’ll survive you, too.”
When I turn around, wanting to know what the hell that meant, she’s gone, disappeared through the second door of the kitchen.
Survived them?
What the fuck did that mean?