Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
ARMAN
W e leave the Hamptons by helicopter, and I congratulate Luka on his choice.
This particular property is not associated with our family, even though we own it. It was bought through one of our property companies and is hired out for corporate events. My family has many businesses and there are various companies set up with no ties to our family. Wisteria House is one of them and the records show it is currently being rented by the Fairfax family from Los Angeles.
They are a fictitious family with the necessary paperwork showing they exist but not their physical presence. This is one of our hideouts and is therefore the perfect place to protect Miss Adams.
Luka soon joins me and we head back to my family’s apartment building near Central Park. There is no conversation and I take the time to check my messages, noting one from my brother Titus, asking me to call him.
There are several more concerning our businesses, and none of them fill me with any confidence. Travis was right to be concerned. It appears that nobody trusts us anymore and I’m guessing it’s because Titus, the new head of the Romanov empire, prefers to remain in Moscow and is therefore an unknown entity.
As soon as we touch down, Luka follows me to my penthouse and as I toss my jacket on the chair, I head straight for the vodka.
I pour two shots and handing him one, say irritably, “I need an escort from Burning Roses.”
He raises his eyes and I groan.
“Travis has arranged an invitation to one of their fuck parties and unless I throw myself into their club, we lose all our contacts.”
Luka laughs softly. “Have a good evening.”
I drain the glass and snap, “Make sure the woman is fuckable, at least.”
His amused grin doesn’t help my mood and as he leaves, I reach for the phone to call my brother.
“Arman.”
His strong voice holds all the familiarity of home and I say quickly, “How’s mama? ”
“Coping. Ana is doing a fine job.”
“Good.”
It pains me that I’m away from her when she needs us all the most, but as business always comes first, she understands.
“Has your guest arrived?” He wastes no time in getting to the point of the call.
“Yes, safely tucked away until you say otherwise.”
“Any information?”
“None. She hasn’t seen her mom since she was five and has no father. She never did.”
“And Nikolai?”
“We have eyes and ears on him and he is currently settling into his suite at the Ritz Carlton.”
“He doesn’t want to be detected then.”
Titus sounds thoughtful. “It’s a typical choice for a man who wants to blend into the crowd. What else do you have?”
“He booked tickets to Broadway, the Empire State building and made various dinner reservations. His itinerary is that of a tourist, but we both know he won’t attend any of them.”
“He is securing his cover story.” Titus says thoughtfully.
“It will be interesting to learn of his true itinerary.”
There’s a brief pause and I sigh heavily and fill him in on my meeting with Travis.
His soft laugh doesn’t help my temper, and he merely says, “Enjoy your evening. You could do with loosening up a little and a fucking orgy is a great way to relax.”
“Fuck you, Titus.”
I cut the call because he may be the head of the Romanov empire but sometime he’s still my annoying older brother and will always be treated that way.
My thoughts turn to tomorrow evening and I wish like hell I didn’t have to do this. The last thing I want to do is play by their rules and yet they are the ones currently in charge of the game .
Fucking whores isn’t something I enjoy, unlike my brothers, who use them for physical gratification and carry on with their day. If I fuck a woman it’s because I want to after a pleasant evening and company I enjoy, rather than what is forced upon me.
The last woman I took on a date was the sister of a business acquaintance who I got chatting to at a dinner party. She was enjoyable company and a pleasurable fuck, but that was all. It’s been a while since then because my father’s death and the subsequent shit that came with it has meant my entire focus has been on business and grief.
Until today.
Until Gabrielle Adams walked into the room and, with one look in my direction, captured my attention.
I refill my glass and wander over to the panoramic windows and note the darkened sky of the evening. I’m not sure why I’m thinking of her at all and wondering what she is doing now alone in that marble prison. She must be scared, worried, and confused. We have lifted her from her life and plunged her into another one and left her with nightmares as companions.
The door opens and Luka heads inside.
“It’s all arranged.”
He holds out his phone and I stare with distaste at the picture of the whore he has booked for tomorrow night.
I nod. “What time?”
“Seven-thirty. She will meet you in the lobby.”
“Fine.”
I slump back on the couch and he says gruffly, “Your guest.”
“What about her?”
“She doesn’t follow instruction.”
“What do you mean?”
I glance up and the amused smirk on his face causes me to snap, “What’s she done? ”
He holds out his phone and I see a series of recordings from the cameras inside the house. Despite the fact it’s been hardly any time since we left her, she’s certainly been busy.
She appears to be making the most of her stay and wasted no time in testing out the pool.
“What the fuck?”
I snatch the phone from his hands and stare in disbelief at the naked body of the woman who hasn’t left my thoughts since I met her.
“Fuck!” I am so angry and watch as she executes a perfect dive into the huge indoor pool and surfaces halfway down, the water streaming from her face, the joy evident in her expression.
I can’t look away as I watch her turn on her back and expertly execute the backstroke, and I hate that I can’t tear my eyes away from her perfect breasts that rest just under the rippling water. I should hand the phone back and demand the footage be erased, but I can’t take my eyes off her. She could be the most beautiful mermaid as she glides through the water, pure exhilaration on her face as she allows the cool water to hold her as she enjoys her solitude.
“Who else has seen this?” I say carefully, hating the thought any of my men had a free show.
“Only me.” Luka says and I press the delete on his phone and flick to the next one.
This one shows her dripping water through the house as she returns, not even caring that she is naked as she heads upstairs to the bedroom. I should cut it and delete but I stare with a growing sense of lust as she sways her hips and heads into the bathroom.
I watch like a pervert as she fills the tub with oil and hot steamy water and my gaze lingers as she slides under the water, the ecstasy on her face hitting me straight in the libido.
I hate that Luka has seen this and I don’t know why, so I pocket the phone and glare at him.
“Use your other one. I’ll deal with our guest.”
Luka smirks, causing me to say irritably, “What?”
“Nothing boss.”
“Then get out of here.” I snap and the amusement on his face as he leaves doesn’t help my mood.
As soon as the door closes, I hate that I reach for the phone and stare at Gabrielle’s face as she enjoys the luxury I have provided.
She is so beautiful.
Natural beauty can’t be bought or crafted. It shines through without any adornment and she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Now I’ve seen her naked I’m even more interested and something snaps inside me that I couldn’t change even if I wanted to and I don’t.
Yes, tomorrow may be the gift I didn’t think I wanted because the idea forming in my mind will make for an extremely pleasant evening indeed.