Chapter Twelve
Kreos
The basement air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and fear. Ivan sat slumped in a steel chair. His eyes opened slowly, then widened when he realized where he was at. The rope dug into his wrists, and no amount of twisting and yanking was going to set him free. I’d made sure of it.
The memory of his hands on Alora burned through my mind, igniting an inferno of rage. He was going to be more than punished. He was going to be a message to anyone who dared touch what was mine.
“Kreos, please,” Ivan slurred through his split lips, drool running down his chin. “We’re family.”
I stalked over to him. He blinked furiously as I got closer. “Family?” The word put a sour taste in my mouth. “That’s exactly the reason you should have known better.”
Sago came over with a hacksaw, a twisted smile on his face. He was the walking embodiment of “love the work you do.”
I took a long drag of my cigarette, the ember glowing in the dimly lit room. “Killing you would be too merciful. Instead, you’re going to serve as a living reminder of what happens when someone touches what belongs to me.” I nodded to Sago as Ivan began to sob. “Gag him. His pathetic cries annoy me.”
My jaw clenched at having to be down here instead of upstairs with Alora. But after tonight, everyone would know not to ever lay a hand on her again lest they lose it, like Ivan was about to.
Ivan’s muffled screams echoed through the basement. I wanted to pluck his fucking eyes out, but Gavriil had been the voice of reason.
It was hours later when I returned to my room, Alora sleeping blissfully in bed.
Our bed.
I sat in the chair in the corner, elbows on my knees as I watched her. She was so perfect I could sit here for hours just admiring her. And now she had my ring on her finger, marking her as mine. The thought of her trying to remove it stirred something dark inside of me. I would spank her ass bright pink if she dared, and then worship her body right after.
I wanted her to be as obsessed with me as I was with her. We weren’t there just yet though. Did she think I was falling for her eager fiancée act? It was almost believable. Her body didn’t lie though. The way her pulse quickened when I touched her, or the brightness in her eyes when I entered a room.
She’d kept my card, the one I had given to her all those years ago, even though she’d claimed she had thrown it away. My beautiful little liar.
I would just have to work a little bit harder to get her on the same page as me. The last thing I wanted was for her to hate me the way my mother hated my father for forcing her into this lifestyle. The difference was, Alora was made for it. She possessed everything needed to rule by my side—loyalty, strength, and a fierce protective instinct.
I hadn’t been upset when I’d caught her on camera taking photos of the items in the safe. That was exactly the reason I’d showed it to her in the first place. I needed to see where she was at mentally—was she going to take up the FBI’s offer and provide them with evidence? Maybe she thought she was, but I knew she would never really betray me. It just gave her a little bit of power over me she was craving. I was more than willing to give it to her until she realized that we were meant to be together.
I sold my soul to the Devil a long time ago. And I would do it a million times over, because it led me right to Alora.
And now that I had her, I wasn’t giving her back.
*** ***
The next morning, I stumbled upon quite the scene in the kitchen.
“ Kuritsa! ”
Alora held a piece of steak in one hand and was using the other to push a drooling Sasha down.
Dove sat on a barstool, tears of laughter spilling down her cheeks at the sight of her sister. If I had to take a guess at what I’d walked into, I’d say that Alora was trying to get Sasha to like her.
“Why are you calling Sasha a chicken?” I chuckled and reached for the coffee.
Her bright green eyes landed on me, her cheeks turning pink as her gaze traveled down my bare chest to my abdomen. I’d noticed how much she admired my body when I didn’t wear a shirt. She was like a feral kitten when she got a peek at my Adonis belt. Which was why I’d made it my mission to wear very little clothing around her.
“A chicken?” Her mouth fell open. “Fucking Gavriil, I’m going to strangle him. He said it meant darling.”
I let out a deep rumbling laugh, which seemed to anger her. She put her hands on her hips and scowled at me. That was all Sasha needed to grab the steak and run out of the kitchen.
“My apologies.” I stepped closer, pushing until her back was against the counter and she braced her hands against my chest. Caging her in with my arms, I brushed my lips against her ear. “I didn’t mean to laugh at you, kotic . Forgive me?”
She shivered, her body reacting to my closeness even though she didn’t even realize it. “OK.” She cleared her throat, and I stepped back. “But only if you teach me some bad words in Russian to call Gavriil.”
Dove typed on her iPad, a robotic voice speaking a moment later. “Oh, I want in on this too. Sign me up for a lesson.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. Gavriil was going to have his hands full if he wasn’t careful.
“The doctor is expecting you downstairs in five minutes.” I checked my watch, then took a sip of my coffee.
Alora narrowed her eyes, a scowl on her face. I’d known she wasn’t going to be happy when I told her the doctor was going to take out her birth control implant. But there was no room for arguing. The thought of her growing big with my child in her belly had consumed me. The need to make her fully mine burned through my veins like poison. But I wanted her needy, begging for me first. She didn’t know what she wanted, but I would show her.
And she would realize soon. I had no doubt about that.
She stuck her tongue out at me, and I arched my eyebrow. She seemed to enjoy being a brat. Which was fine by me, because I would love to give her the discipline she craved. Just not in front of Dove.
“You’ll pay for that later,” I growled. Her eyes widened, but I didn’t miss the way she bit down on her bottom lip. She hurried off down the hall, and I turned my attention to Dove.
“How would you feel about talking to a psychologist?” I crossed my arms over my chest, studying her reaction closely.
She wrinkled her nose, typing on her iPad. “For what?” A robotic voice came across a moment later.
“For this.” My jaw tightened as I gestured at the iPad in her hand, the one that had become her voice. The fact that she couldn’t remember her attack was perhaps a mercy, but the details Gavriil had been able to uncover—they fed a rage that simmered deep inside of me. On the surface, she appeared to be OK, but I knew the horror that she’d faced and survived.
She deserved her vengeance, and I would be happy to help her get it. But first, she needed to find her voice, which had been stolen by fear.
The kitchen was silent except for her fingernails tapping on the marble countertop. She stared up at the ceiling, as if deep in thought. A moment later, she shrugged and nodded yes. “I don’t know if it will help, but I’ll give it a shot.”
“Excellent. I have a specialist coming here in an hour. ”
She pursed her lips. “You really are a control freak, you know that?”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Want some advice?” She stood up and came closer to me, looking over her shoulder.
“I would say no, but I don’t think that would stop you.”
She nodded, her fingers flying furiously over the screen. “I don’t think you’re really the monster you claim to be.”
I chuckled darkly, leaning against the counter. “I just had my cousin’s hand removed for touching Alora. I can assure you, I have earned my reputation.”
She arched her brow, then shook her head like she’d just realized exactly how crazy I was. But she went on.
“Alora’s convinced she’s cursed. Death follows her like a shadow. First Jameson, then their mom, then Butterball. Also, Miss J across the hall who was like a grandma to her.”
“Butterball?”
“Her goldfish. She took care of him for seven years. Do you know how hard it is to keep a goldfish alive that long?”
I didn’t, but I waved my hand for her to continue.
“Anyway, everyone she’s ever cared about has been ripped away. I was almost taken from her, too. And now here you are, asking her to love you while you’re living with a target on your back. Every time you leave her could be the last time you see her.”
Her words struck something deep inside of me I didn’t care to admit out loud. “I have no intention of dying any time soon, Dove. What’s your point? ”
“You can’t force someone to love you by imprisoning them. It’s a beautiful prison, don’t get me wrong. But it’s still a prison. And you can’t expect her to open her heart when she’s scared she could lose you.”
I remained silent, taking in her words. A part of me was suspicious. Had Alora put her up to this as part of her scheme to escape? Anger built in my chest at the thought.
“Simmer down, cowboy. I see those wheels spinning. You need to prove that your love is worth the risk. That you’re not just another name on her list of losses. Show her that she can trust you.”
“Why are you trying to help me?” If Dove had a motive behind this, I would find out.
“Because she’s my sister, and she’s been taking care of me my whole life. She deserves to be happy, and for some crazy reason, I think you can give that to her. I see how you two look at each other, and—there’s something there.”
I nodded, my thoughts running rampant. Caging my kitten wouldn’t make her love me, only resent me. Perhaps it would put her mind at ease if I showed her all the security protocols that kept me safe and alive, made her understand that I didn’t just survive by luck—I thrived through careful planning and calculated moves, always staying one step ahead of my enemies. I needed to show her that I wasn’t careless with my life, because I belonged to her now, just as much as she belonged to me. Because the truth was, I was never letting her go.
“Oh, and one more thing. If you ever hurt my sister, you’ll end up a lot worse than Dario.” She grinned like the little lunatic she apparently was.
I gave her a salute and then went to find Gavriil. We had some things to take care of and it needed to be done today.
Alora found me in my office a little while later. She rubbed her arm, pouting her lips. “I hope you’re happy now.”
I stood and walked around to her, leaning against my desk. “That you’ll be able to get pregnant now? Absolutely.”
Her cheeks turned slightly pink, and her gaze fell to my lips. “Do you know where Dove went? I can’t find her. I thought she might want to come with me and Bela to try on my dress.” Her eyes sparkled when she mentioned her wedding dress, another good sign.
“She’s in the conference room talking with a psychologist. One of the best in the state. I thought it might help Dove get her voice back.”
Alora’s mouth fell open, surprise written all over her face. “What made you do that?”
“Well, she’s going to be my sister-in-law soon, and I take care of my family. Plus, I know how important it is to you that she gets the right kind of help. I have the resources to help, so this is me doing that.”
She glanced down at the floor, biting her bottom lip. Her eyes found mine a moment later, and my breath hitched at the look on her face. She was happy. Truly happy. And I had caused that. I would make it my mission to make her look like that all the time.
“That’s really kind of you.” She wrung her hands together, as if trying to stop herself from latching on to me and giving me a hug. “Well, I guess I’ll see you when I get back.”
“Behave yourself.” I licked my lips slowly, letting my gaze travel up her body. “I’d hate to have to punish you again.”
She visibly swallowed, squeezing her thighs together. “OK, yeah, we don’t want that. Nope, not at all. Must behave.”
Grig chose that moment to show up at my open door. He cleared his throat, making Alora jump, and then she went to meet him. At the door, she glanced back at me, and I smirked.
For once, I hoped she didn’t heed my warning, because I would love nothing more than to see the imprint of my hand on her bare ass.
*** ***
I was deep in a meeting hours later when Alora returned from shopping with Bela. She was practically glowing when she came into my office. Her smile dropped when she saw Cheslav, Leonis, and Ezo sitting around the conference table.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were busy.” She hid the bag in her arms behind her back and began to retreat.
I held up my hand, beckoning her to me. “Nonsense, kotic . I always have time for you.”
“Pakhan, we really need to figure this out,” Leonis grumbled, his eyes darting from Alora to the maps of the dockyard on the table.
“Watch yourself,” I said, my smile never wavering.
His face reddened, and he leaned back, loosening his tie. He gave me a small nod, muttering an apology.
“Come.” I patted my thigh.
Her cheeks turned the prettiest shade of pink as she dropped her bags by the door and sat down on my lap. “I can come back,” she whispered into my ear.
I made a tisking noise, tucking her hair behind her ear. “How was shopping?” My hand slid lower, resting between her open thighs. Her breath hitched at the contact, and she squirmed.
“The dress is beautiful. Bela really knows her stuff.” She laughed, the sound making my heart thump harder in my chest. Her eyes darted to the maps, a curious expression on her face. “Are those maps of the docks?”
Leonis huffed, and I leveled him with a stony glare. It was important to me that Alora knew that I trusted her. And what better way to show her that than to let her in on some of my business dealings?
“It is. The police have heightened surveillance down there. I have about ten million in weapons that need to be moved within forty-eight hours. It’s creating a problem.”
“What happens if you can’t move the weapons?” she asked, leaning over the table and grabbing a stack of surveillance photos we’d obtained.
“That’s not an option.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip, glancing from the photos to my Vors, then back to me.
“What is it, kotic ?” I trailed my fingers along the inside of her thigh, a subtle reminder of who she belonged to. She grabbed my wrist, giving me a warning look.
“I’ve been here.” She held up a photo of one of the abandoned buildings. “I did a photography project on abandoned buildings, and—”
“Miss Wolfe,” Cheslav interrupted, “we’re dealing with a time-sensitive— ”
I raised my hand for silence, making sure all eyes were on me. “The next person who interrupts my fiancée will find out how difficult it is to run their operations without a tongue.”
The room stilled, my captains’ faces carefully blank. They knew me well enough to know I didn’t make idle threats. They might be my local captains, but I would not stand for insubordination.
Alora tensed in my lap. I rubbed my hand up her back, attempting to let her know not to be afraid.
“Continue, kotic ,” I murmured, my voice softening only for her. “Tell us what you know.”
They needed to see what I saw. That she wasn’t just another woman hanging on my arm, wasn’t just a pretty decoration. She was their future queen, and they needed to start treating her as such.
She cleared her throat, glancing around the room. “I’m sure in your line of work you’re aware of the network of tunnels beneath the city.” Everyone in the room nodded. We were aware, but none were an option at this point.
“Well, it’s not the only one.” Her fingers traced the outline of the building in the photograph. “During Prohibition, they built another system. It was deeper, more hidden. You can’t find it on any official city maps. But some tunnels even connect to the subway maintenance systems.”
“I’ve never heard of this,” Leonis scoffed, then caught himself as I narrowed my eyes at him. “Not saying you’re lying, Miss Wolfe.”
She laughed softly, leaning forward on the table. Her ass was pressed perfectly into my lap, and I wanted nothing more than to lift her pretty blue dress and claim her as mine.
“I’m not lying, Leonis. I’ve been there. Photographed every inch of those tunnels. Would you like to see?” There was a smug satisfaction in her tone, and I chuckled.
This. This was what she needed—what I had been waiting for. For her to realize that she belonged right here.
“Call Alexi,” I ordered. “If anyone can verify this, it will be his grandfather.”
Cheslav pulled out his phone, stepping into the hallway to make the call. Leonis and Ezo stared at Alora intently, as if actually seeing her for the first time. I settled my hand possessively on her hip, tugging her to me.
“Look at you, kotic . You might have just stopped a war from breaking out,” I murmured.
Goosebumps erupted across her skin as my lips brushed across her ear. Suddenly, I didn’t care about the money, the guns, or the fucking tunnels. I just wanted everyone out of this room so I could devour her.
But my plan was ruined moments later when Cheslav burst back into the room, his eyes bright with excitement. “It’s been confirmed.”
Ezo relaxed in his seat, letting out a wolfish whistle. “Beautiful and smart.” He grinned at Alora.
I narrowed my eyes, which only made him chuckle. He was lucky I needed him and his skills, otherwise I would have gouged his eyes out for daring to even look at her in such a way. As if sensing my anger, Alora leaned back and wrapped her arm around my shoulders.
We spent the next two hours working on a new secure route. Alora showed us her old photographs on her camera, pointing out specific access points that could work. Her knowledge of the tunnels was impressive, even which ones were more structurally sound than the others. With enough details ironed out, I dismissed the three men.
Alora stretched her arms over her head, a yawn escaping her lips. My poor kitten must have been exhausted after such a long day. I’d love nothing more than to help her unwind. But I had a surprise that I couldn’t wait to show her.
“Oh! I almost forgot.” She grabbed one of her shopping bags and pulled out a pastry box. As she opened the lid, the rich scent of chocolate filled the air. “I know you’re not big on sweets, but this—this is the closest thing to perfection I’ve found.” She unwrapped a fork, and put a small piece of the cake on it.
I wanted to tell her that she was the closest thing to perfection, but I knew she wanted me to try the cake. She held the fork up, and I parted my lips, letting her feed me. It was rich and velvety, and I hummed in approval.
I took the fork, offering her a bite in return. Her moan of pleasure sent heat coursing through my veins. All I wanted in that moment was to push everything off the table—the maps, photos, and the cake—and feast on her for dessert instead.
“When I was little,” she murmured, her eyes closing, “every Sunday, Mom would take me and Jameson to this tiny bakery down the block. It was called Piece of Heaven. Their chocolate cake was more than just good, it was the best I’d ever had. It was one of my favorite traditions. But then Jameson died, and it didn’t feel right going without him. They closed not too long after that, anyway. I’ve been chasing that taste ever since. This is the closest I’ve found.”
Watching her get lost in the memory, I made a mental note. If that recipe existed anywhere on this planet, I would find it. My queen deserved it.
“Can I ask you something?” She closed the box, then walked around the table full of pictures as she glanced over them. She didn’t wait for me to respond. “The docks… there’s more to it than just increased police surveillance, isn’t there?”
I was surprised by her observation, but kept my expression controlled. “Clever girl,” I murmured, which made her smile. “Yes, there’s more, but nothing you need to be concerned with.”
“But Kreos…”
I stood, grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles. There was this constant need inside of me to always be touching her. The more I tried to ignore it, the more persistent it became. “Sometimes my rivals try to complicate operations. It’s normal. Someone may have passed information to the police to disrupt our trade route. Normally it wouldn’t be an issue, but there’s a new hotshot detective in the unit, and he’s out to prove himself.”
I could see the wheels spinning in her eyes, worry etched across her beautiful face. “Someone… in your organization? Like a mole?”
She was too observant. This would only cause her to worry and be scared, none of which made me happy. Not when we were finally making progress. I wouldn’t lie to her, though. She was smart and would see through it. And I wanted her to trust me .
I nodded. “Possibly. Someone with inside knowledge may be working with an old rival against me. But it’s under control, kotic . Sometimes this happens and people want to test my power. And I and my entire army just have to remind them that’s a poor decision.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it. A moment later, she pulled out her phone and slid it over to me. My jaw clenched tight, a storm of emotions raging inside of me.
Stay away from Kreos Zokrov or you’re dead.
“The night of the party, I got that text. I should have told you right away. But I thought maybe it was a joke. Now I’m not so sure.”
The thought that someone had dared send this to her had my blood boiling with rage, but I kept my face neutral so as not to scare her. I’d find whoever sent this and skin them alive for making her worry. Did they really think this would work? Because now that I had her, heaven and hell combined couldn’t tear her away from me. “I’ll handle it. You don’t need to think twice about it. It’s not a genuine threat.”
“It seems like a pretty real threat, Kre—”
I dragged her into my arms. “This is why I have so many security measures in place, kotic . Why I’m so careful with everything. You don’t need to worry about any of this—a random text, my rivals. My men and I are handling it. And as far as this goes”—I nodded at her phone on the table—“Gavriil will track down whoever sent it, and they will pay the price.”
I threaded my fingers through her hair, tugging her head back. “Trust me. I always protect what’s mine.” My lips brushed across hers, and she placed her hands against my chest. “And you are the most precious thing I possess. I’ll never let anything happen to you. I would die first.”
Her eyes searched my face, and she seemed to find whatever answer she was looking for a moment later. She reached up on her tiptoes, pressing her lips to mine. Soft at first, then more eager. Demanding. Her tongue caressed mine in a dangerous dance, the taste of chocolate and sin mixed together.
I lifted her up effortlessly, her legs wrapping around my waist. My fingers dug into her flesh as I walked her backwards, slamming her against the wall. It was like she had awoken the beast inside me, the one that craved her and would burn down the entire world to have her. She moaned into my mouth, the sound making my cock harden.
“Look at you, kotic . So eager for me.”
“Kreos,” she gasped when I trailed kisses across her jaw, then down her neck. I bit down, then sucked, needing to mark her as mine. The whole world needed to know she belonged to me and only me. And if anyone ever tried to take her away from me, I would destroy them. I pulled back to look at her skin, now wet and red.
Mine.
She weaved her fingers through my hair, pulling my head back roughly. “I need you,” she whimpered, the sound going straight to my cock.
I spun her from the wall, and laid her down on her back on the conference table. Photos, blueprints, and her pastry box went flying, but I didn’t give a fuck. The Devil himself could show up at that moment to collect my soul, and that still wouldn’t stop me from tasting her .
The need to consume her was taking over. She was driving me to the point of madness. Her dress slid up past her hips, and I grabbed onto her panties, tearing them off. Her thighs quivered as I wrapped my arms around them and dragged her to the edge of the table.
“Your beautiful cunt is soaked for me, kotic .” My lips trailed up her thighs, sucking and biting as I made my way up to her core. “From now on, you do not wear any panties when you walk into this office. I want full access to what’s mine. And this glistening cunt is mine, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” she gasped, her hips bucking off the table.
My hand came down, slapping her pussy softly. “Yes, what?”
She cried out when I slapped her again. Not enough to hurt her, just enough to give her the pleasure she was craving.
“Yes, sir,” she cried.
“Such a good fucking girl,” I murmured, biting down on the meaty flesh of her thigh. She wouldn’t be leaving this room until she was covered in marks from me.
I spread her cunt open, moaning at how beautifully wet she was. So pink and fucking perfect. My tongue lashed out, licking up her slit. God, she tasted fucking amazing. One taste of her would never be enough. Her back arched off the table, a cry of pleasure escaping her lips. I took my time tasting every inch of her, soaking up her cries and moans.
My mouth latched on to her clit and sucked as I slid a finger knuckle deep into her pussy. She was so fucking tight, clamping down on me. I couldn’t wait to fill her up with my cock. To breed her. I growled deep in my throat at the thought, adding another finger inside of her.
“You’re going to wait for my cock like a good girl, aren’t you?” When she moaned in response, I pumped my fingers deeper, making her cry out.
“Yes, sir.” Her thighs began to tremble, and I slowed down, making her groan in response.
“Not yet, kotic .” I fucked her slowly with my fingers, her entire body shaking. “You’re going to wait until I can rip that wedding dress right off you. I’m going to own this cunt. It will be mine to breed, to fuck, to love, forever.”
“Oh, my God, Kreos,” she whimpered, and I went back to sucking on her clit.
Every fiber of my being was screaming for me to fuck her on that table. But I held back. Because I wanted it to be special for her. So she could remember that I wasn’t always the monster. That I was there to cherish every inch of her. Not like the first time we’d met, when I’d been so fucking consumed by her innocence and beauty, I couldn’t even think straight. That was the first and last time I’d lost control.
Until now.
Now I was on the verge of complete obsession.
“You’re mine, Alora. I’ll never let you fucking go.”
I fucked her with my fingers without mercy, her soft cries filling the room as I tongued her clit expertly. I would never tire from hearing her sweet moans. She was made just for me, and I meant it when I said I would never let her go.
She rode my face, digging her nails into my scalp. Her scent coursed through my veins like a drug I never wanted to quit. I was rewarded a moment later when she came with a scream, my name on her sweet lips. I licked up every drop of her sweetness, savoring it.
If anyone dared try to take her away from me, I would kill them.
She was mine.
Forever.