Chapter 27 Seamus
TWENTY-SEVEN
seamus
My sweetest thing melts, burning under the desperation of my mouth and hands. I skim over her hips, holding her tight, the dress she’s wearing hiking up as her thighs part to make room for me.
Pretending to lose myself in her is damn easy when it’s not a pretense but the truth.
And I’m like a man who just shot himself up, right into overdose territory because the night’s been a drought and she’s my deadly, euphoric hit.
Fuck. It hasn’t been all night. It’s been all fucking day.
Our tongues tangle and coil together, changing the violence of the kiss to a molten, slow burn softness, the kind that’ll torch any house to ash.
Somewhere out there are voices, but I want to delve into her, I want—
“Seamus.”
Cal’s voice pierces our carnal bubble, and I break the kiss, letting my hand wander down to her hip, a little lower, into the small pocket of her dress where she keeps her lipstick, and… whatever Romanov gave her. I palm that, grateful for the fall of the dress and the fact it has pockets.
I was awake before Dec headed out to kill the fucks who hurt the animals and made Ava want to cry.
She didn’t cry, though.
She’s very good at not crying. She’s excellent, in fact, at hiding all emotions other than her shield of hate, distrust, and dislike.
I was awake because the bitter guilt wouldn’t let me sleep.
So I went with him and took it out on the asshole animal killers. We rescued a whole bunch of cats and dogs and kittens and puppies. Some are at the vet, the others Lucie’s made sure are with good people who run excellent no-kill shelters. And I’ll be keeping tabs on them. So will Dec.
The poor creatures were in a terrible cramped space, underfed, and uncared for. There was also a cage labeled “runts.” I guess when they had enough, they dumped them.
There was a pregnant dog and cat that are being cared for and we’re having the rest fixed.
I lean on the table, lifting Ava up from our sprawled position. “Cal… Ivan… and Lev, isn’t it?”
Ava stiffens in my trap of arms.
This is the real reason why I was up late. We’re going to betray her.
Here. Now.
A double whammy.
But to do it, to win, to find and bring down Hanlon and keep this bratva safe and running, I have to destroy a woman I think I more than like.
It’s… complicated. I just know there’s never been anyone like her in my life.
And there never will be again.
I take in a breath, get my head in the game, and smile at everyone. “Newlyweds. We got carried away.”
“So I see,” Lev says, looking around the room, a mix of greed and puzzlement on his face.
“My bride wanted me to see the office I’ll be ruling from.”
“My office,” Ava says. “I’m ruling.”
“Hush, sweet thing. It’s mine, and you know it.” I level my gaze on Lev and nod. “I saw you when I took Ava to dinner. At the bar, I think. You look familiar.”
Cal lights a cigarette. “My brother’s being coy. We’ve been interested in the leader of the Lev group since it became clear your men planted the bomb at Romanov’s. You’ll have to forgive us for dismantling it. But we’re new to the game here.”
Behind them, Dec appears right as Tor opens a door and disappears into a darkened room, where he can watch and shoot, if need be. We planned this out extremely well. Down to knowing the layout of the townhouse that hasn’t been renovated since Ava’s father inherited it.
“What’s going on?” Ava pulls free from my grasp and glares around the room, but men like these don’t pay much attention to women speaking out.
Except maybe Ivan, who micro jumps. But he’s smart enough to say silent and observe.
“Be quiet, sweets,” I say, changing her pet name just a little, and she hesitates. “Just look pretty. I know you can do that.”
She’s boiling over with so much rage, I’m shocked she keeps it together, but maybe she’s just waiting to see what I’ll do. Or maybe she’s plotting my demise. Either one tracks.
“Rumor has it, Lev,” Cal says, blowing out a stream of smoke, “you’re interested in buying your way into the Volkov Bratva. But access is exclusive, am I right, Ivan?”
“Indeed, it is. Until the Pakhan is in power, then no new clients are allowed in.”
“Well, that’s about to change.” Cal smiles. “We’re thinking of starting with the Lev group. We were impressed with your bombmaking skills.”
“No,” Ava says. “I’m the new Pakhan. And I don’t want this man using the Volkov services.”
“Ava,” I warn, forcing myself to go completely cold. It’s an almost impossible task with her so close, her taste still lingering on my tongue, my need for her throbbing in my veins.
She whips around, a vengeful queen who steals my breath, and in that second, she makes me want to give in to her and pledge my life. Fuck, it makes me want to conquer her all the more. She’s singularly spectacular, and instead of basking in all that wildness, I shut down.
“I don’t need you or this marriage. No matter what, this is mine and you know it.”
I read that, too, in her father’s second part to the will. Before she’s twenty-five, not after.
But the part about her or her husband ruling is what I lock on to. I know the wording and what it means, and there’ll be small print in there, clarifying it all. Her husband will take over if she doesn’t want to rule.
I have those papers, and she’s not foolish enough to demand I whip them out here.
So the destruction of Ava continues, and every tiny inch of common ground we’ve found and clawed from the murk of hate and mistrust crumbles into dust.
“No, Ava.” I hold her arms and look into those turbulent dark-purple eyes, anger and hurt swimming in the depths.
“Due to the details of our prenup and your father’s will, the one your lawyer showed us as well as the real one…
” I glance at Cal, who produces a faux legal document Torin and I got from Launceston today.
Silver-tongued words and silky threats worked in our favor.
We promised that Ava would be fine, and we got what we wanted from him.
“The Murphy clan now legally owns the Volkov Bratva.”
“What?” Ava’s whispered word lances my heart and I can’t answer, my response lodged in my throat.
Luckily, Callahan steps in. “Ivan can stay as second until the transition’s complete.”
“But,” I say, finally finding my voice, “Ava will be nothing more than a powerless figurehead for the bratva.”
“Over my dead body,” she hisses, trying to pull free.
I back her up against a wall and say loud enough for the others to hear, “That can be arranged. But it won’t come to that, will it? You’ll like being my wife, my slave, my toy. All the privilege and none of the worry.”
Ava wrenches herself free.
Her hand flies up but she stops herself and clenches it into a fist.
“I’ll never forgive you, Seamus. I despise you and I’ll fight you to the death.”
She turns and storms off, her high heels clicking angrily against the polished floor.
“So be it,” I say coldly. I lift my gaze to Lev. “This offer has an expiration.”
He nods eagerly. “I’ll take it to my partner.”
After he leaves, guilt claws at my insides. Ava’s out there, somewhere. And I need—
“Mr. Murphy, Mr. Murphy…” Ivan straightens his tie as he addresses both me and my brother. “This isn’t my first love, but I’m staying true to the rulebook of the Volkov Bratva. My boss, Ms. Volkov—”
“Mrs. Murphy,” I say.
“Her uncle’s death was a tragedy. His heart…
” He glances at Callahan and then settles on me.
“I’d prefer to eventually go back to the gambling empire, or bring it into the fold if you wish.
After all, it’s part of the family. But while I’m loyal and have no agenda other than keeping the bratva in one piece, I don’t trust that man.
His partner is shadowy, and rumor has it they’re in with some nasty cartel. ”
Good to fucking know. I offer my hand. “If you’re in with us, you’ll have to trust us.”
He shakes it.
“And Ivan?” I ask.
“Yes, sir?”
“This conversation?”
“Never happened.”
He leaves and I head for the door when Callahan stops me, pushing me into the wall. “For fuck’s sake, where are you going?”
“Where do you think?” I growl.
He shoves me hard, then drops his hand. “Fuck, you’ve got it bad.”
“No, I don’t.”
And the horrible thing is, I just might. “But l need to find her before she does something stupid.”
I reach into my pocket and hand him the crunched-up paper with what seems to be a key.
Cal frowns as Torin comes in and Dec waits outside.
“What is this?” Cal’s gaze flicks to me. “It looks like a locker key at a storage place. Some of them have lockers, right?”
“They’re perfect for passing along illegal items. Rented for cash, no names, often automated,” Torin says with a shrug. “It’s a good way to keep your gear easily accessible and not on your person.”
“I’m not even going to ask,” I mutter.
“There’s an address and a time.” Cal looks up from the paper and raises a brow.
“I don’t think this is Romanov’s style.” I rub the back of my head, physically having to hold myself back from storming out of the room. It’s a battle I’m losing fast. “We need to keep the gathering going a little longer, and I need to find my fucking bride.”
Find her, and I’ll find out why she had the key.
Find her, and I’ll… I’ll be where I need to be. Even if she truly hates me now.
I did it for her own good.
Not that she’ll ever believe that.
I walk out of the room and Dec calls to me. “She’s headed for the back.”
I go out the front and make my way down the small side alley next to the property. The gate’s open. In the dark, I make out a figure.
That figure slides a clip into a gun.
I automatically check for mine. But I don’t draw it.
“Sweet thing.”
Ava freezes. “You don’t get to call me that any longer.”
I stalk over to her and spin her toward me as she attempts to point the gun at my chest. I slam it into the wall before she has a chance to pull the trigger.
She doesn’t let go of it.
Of course she fucking doesn’t.
This is Ava.
My match.
“You need to fucking calm down and listen to me.”