Chapter Seven – Malachi
As I strode into Jitter Beans, my gaze immediately settled on Nika behind the counter, her blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail with a few tendrils framing her face, giving her an air of innocence. I suppressed a groan as I imagined being the one to possess that innocence. A smile lit up her features as she greeted a customer.
Even a couple of days later, Rurik’s words still echoed in my mind, a warning against getting too close, but the pull I felt toward her was undeniable, a force I couldn’t resist. I told myself it was merely physical attraction, a desire to possess her beauty, if only for a fleeting moment. Yet, deep down, it was more than that.
Nika glanced up, her gaze meeting mine. She offered a shy smile, and I nodded in acknowledgment, taking a seat at my usual table near the back. I didn”t bother to wait around to order, not wanting her to see the massive erection forming just from her simple, shy smile.
Within moments, she was at my side, a steaming cup in hand. “Your usual, Malachi.”
The way my name rolled off her tongue sent heat to my groin. “Spasibo, Nika.”
Our fingers brushed as she handed me the cup, and the contact was electric, setting my nerves ablaze. I savored the rich, caramel notes of the macchiato, but it was her presence that intoxicated me more than the beverage.
“How’s your day going?” she asked, her voice soft, almost hesitant.
I leaned back in my chair, studying her. “Better now.”
She ducked her head, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re too kind.”
“Just honest.” I took another sip, letting the silence stretch between us.
She fidgeted, her fingers toying with the hem of her apron. “I was wondering...” She paused, biting her lip. “Would you like to grab dinner sometime?”
The invitation caught me off guard, and for a moment, I was at a loss for words. Desire warred with reason, the latter reminding me of the dangers of my life, the risks of letting someone in, but as I gazed into her eyes, so full of hope and longing, I was powerless to resist. “I’d like that.”
Her face lit up as she beamed at me. “Really? That’s great.” She seemed flustered by my acceptance, and it was adorable
I return her smile. “How about tomorrow night? Say, seven o’clock?”
“Perfect.”
As she turned to tend to another customer, I watched her go, my heart pounding. I was treading a dangerous path that could lead to heartache and pain for us both, but with the promise of her company lingering in the air, I couldn’t bring myself to care.
The next evening found me pacing outside the shop, my hands shoved into the pockets of my leather jacket. I was early, a rare occurrence for me, but the anticipation of seeing Nika had me uncharacteristically anxious.
The door swung open, and she emerged, a vision in a simple sundress that hugged her curves. Her hair cascaded in loose waves over her shoulders, and she had applied a touch of makeup, accentuating her natural beauty.
“Hi,” she said, her voice tinged with nervousness.
“Hey.” I drank in the sight of her, my gaze lingering perhaps a little too long.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, really flushing under my scrutiny. “So, where are we going?”
“There’s a little Italian place a few blocks from here,” I said, gesturing for her to lead the way. “I thought we could walk, if that’s all right with you.”
She nodded, falling into step beside me. Our arms brushed as we walked, sending sparks of awareness through me. I resisted the urge to reach for her hand and close the distance between us.
She was the first to break the silence. “What do you do for a living, Malachi?”
The question was laden with implications. I considered brushing it off or deflecting as I’d done countless times before, but something in her earnest gaze compelled me to open up, if only a little. “I work in...security,” I said carefully. “Ensuring the safety of certain individuals and their assets.”
Her brow furrowed slightly. “That sounds dangerous.”
I offered her a wry smile. “It can be.”
She worried her lower lip, and I was mesmerized by the simple gesture. “Are you involved with the Yelchin bratva?”
The bold question startled me. I could have denied any association with the criminal underworld, but she already suspected the truth. There was no reason to lie.
“Let’s just say, my line of work often intersects with theirs,” I hedged, neither confirming nor denying her suspicion.
She nodded slowly, digesting my words. To her credit, she didn’t press further, seeming to sense the boundaries I had drawn.
We lapsed into a comfortable silence, the weight of our conversation lingering between us. As we approached the restaurant, I reached out, my hand brushing against hers. She started at the contact, and I was pleasantly surprised that when she was standing beside me, she made no move to drop my hand.
We stepped into the cozy Italian restaurant, the aroma of garlic and tomato sauce enveloping us. Nika’s hand was warm in mine, her fingers intertwined with mine as if they belonged there. A hostess greeted us with a bright smile, and I was about to request a table when my phone vibrated in my pocket.
Reluctantly, I extracted my hand from Nika’s and fished out the device. Rurik’s name flashed on the screen, and an instinctive sense of dread washed over me. “Excuse me for a moment,” I said to Nika, stepping away to take the call.
Her brow furrowed with concern, but she nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.
“What is it?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
Rurik’s tone was brusque. “We have a situation. The interrogation yielded some intel on the Armenian hackers.”
My jaw tightened as I processed his words. The cyber-attack from the Armenians had been a thorn in our side for weeks, compromising our operations and putting us all at risk.
“Where are you?” I asked, already scanning the restaurant for the nearest exit.
“The safehouse on eighth,” he said. “Viktor wants us there ASAP.”
I glanced back at Nika, her expression a mixture of curiosity and concern. Regret tugged at me, knowing our evening was about to be cut short.
“I’m on my way,” I told Rurik, ending the call. Returning to Nika’s side, I took her hand once more, my thumb caressing her knuckles. “I’m sorry, but something’s come up. I have to go.”
Her eyes widened, and she nodded, disappointment flickering across her delicate features. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s...” I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. “Work-related. An urgent matter that can’t wait.”
She chewed her lower lip, and I could almost see the questions swirling in her mind, but she didn’t pry.
“I understand,” she said softly, offering me a small smile. “Be careful, okay?”
The concern in her voice tugged at my heart, and I was fighting the urge to pull her into my arms, to reassure her with more than just words.
Instead, I lifted her hand to my lips, pressing a featherlight kiss to her knuckles. “Always.”
Her breath caught, and her eyes darkened with a hint of desire. For a moment, the world around us faded away, and all I could see was her, but the spell was broken by the insistent buzzing of my phone once more. Duty called, and I had no choice but to answer.
With great reluctance, I released her hand and took a step back. “Rain check?”
She nodded, her smile tinged with sadness. “Of course.”
“Let me drop you at your place on my way.” It didn”t sit right just leaving her here alone.
She shook her head. “I think I”ll have dinner first and just catch an Uber home. Thanks.” She gave me a little wave as the ma?tre-d” arrived to seat her.
Turning on my heel, I strode out of the restaurant, mind already shifting gears. The Armenians had been a persistent threat, and if Rurik’s intel could help us neutralize them, we needed to act swiftly. The drive to the safehouse was a blur, my thoughts consumed by the task at hand. As I pulled up to the nondescript building, Rurik emerged from the shadows, his expression grim.
“What have we got?” I asked, falling into step beside him as we entered the safehouse.
“The interrogation paid off,” he said, leading me down a dimly lit corridor. “One of the lowlifes spilled about a hacker safehouse the Armenians have been using.”
I grunted in acknowledgement. Finding their cyber operations had been a priority, and a challenging one. These hackers had been elusive, covering their tracks with skill.
“Where is it?” I was already formulating a plan of attack.
He pulled up a map on his tablet, highlighting a location on the outskirts of the city. “Here. An abandoned warehouse, which is perfect for their needs.”
I studied the layout, committing every detail to memory. “We’ll need to move fast, before they get wind of this and relocate.”
He nodded, his expression hardening. “Viktor’s already assembling a team. We strike tonight.”
A thrill of anticipation coursed through me at finally gaining the upper hand against our adversaries, but it was difficult to completely banish Nika from my mind.
Pushing aside those thoughts once again, I focused on the mission ahead of us. The Armenians had been a thorn in our side for too long, and it was time to remove them once and for all.
Twenty minutes later, the warehouse loomed before us, a hulking structure of rusted metal and crumbling concrete. Rurik and I crouched behind a dilapidated fence, surveying the perimeter through our night-vision goggles.
“Two guards at the east entrance,” he said, his voice a low rumble in my earpiece.
I nodded, my gaze sweeping the area. “I see them. No visible patrols, but we can’t assume they’re alone inside.”
The plan was to neutralize the guards, breach the warehouse, and take down the Armenian hackers before they could sound the alarm or initiate any countermeasures. Time was of the essence. Every second wasted increased the risk of them slipping through our fingers once again.
With a silent signal from Rurik, we moved out like shadows slipping through the night. Our footsteps made no sound as we approached the guards, their attention focused outward and oblivious to the danger closing in.
In a blur of motion, Rurik struck first, his arm snaking around one guard’s throat, cutting off his airway. The man’s eyes bulged, his hands scrabbling uselessly against Rurik’s iron grip. Seconds later, he went limp, and my partner lowered him to the ground with practiced ease.
I was already on the second guard, my movements a lethal dance. A swift strike to the back of his knee dropped him, and before he could cry out, I pressed my forearm against his windpipe, silencing him. His struggles grew weaker, and soon, he lay unconscious at my feet.
Next, we advanced on the entrance, a heavy steel door standing between us and our objective. With a deft motion, he produced a set of lock picks, his fingers working with practiced precision. The tumblers clicked, and the door swung open with a low groan. In single file, the assault team slipped inside, our weapons raised, and senses on high alert.
The warehouse interior was dimly lit with shadows pooling in every corner. Rows of shelving units stretched before us, creating a warren of narrow corridors. Somewhere within this maze, our targets lurked, oblivious to the danger closing in.
A faint glow emanated from deeper within the warehouse, revealing the telltale flicker of computer monitors. We moved in that direction as quietly as possible. As we reached the room, Rurik held up a fist, signaling for the rest of us to halt. Peering around the corner of a shelving unit, I spotted a makeshift command center filled with a cluster of desks and monitors surrounded by an array of computer equipment.
Three figures hunched over the workstations, their faces illuminated by the harsh glare of the screens. Hackers, no doubt. Their fingers flew over keyboards as they carried out their nefarious tasks.
Rurik jerked his head to the right, and we split up, half of the team each taking a different approach vector. Adrenaline surged through my veins as I closed the distance.
Suddenly, one of the hackers tensed, his head swiveling in my direction. When our gazes met, his mouth opened, a shout of alarm forming on his lips.
I reacted on instinct, launching myself forward with explosive speed. I clamped my hand over his mouth, muffling his cry as I slammed him back against the desk. His eyes widened in terror, but I held him pinned, my gaze boring into his. “Make a sound, and you’re dead,” I said harshly.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Rurik emerge from the shadows, his weapon trained on the other two hackers, followed by two of our guys. The hackers froze, hands raised in surrender, their faces etched with fear.
“Don’t move,” he said in a gravelly voice.
The hacker in my grasp whimpered, panic etched into his features. I tightened my grip, digging my fingers into his flesh in a silent warning.
“Where are the others?” I demanded, my voice a low rumble. “This can’t be all of you.”
The hacker’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, his gaze flickering toward his comrades. Rurik stepped forward, the muzzle of his weapon inches from one of their faces.
“Answer him.” His glare dared the man to argue.
The hacker in my grasp licked his lips, his voice a trembling whisper. “Th-there’s a control room deeper inside. That’s where the main operations are.”
“Lead the way,” I said, hauling the hacker to his feet, and propelling him forward.
He stumbled, his steps unsteady, but a sharp jab from the muzzle of my weapon urged him onward. Rurik fell in behind us, his captives trailing in his wake and followed by the rest of our team.
We delved deeper into the warehouse. I wrinkled my nose at the thick scent of dust and stale sweat permeating the air. Our footsteps echoed off the concrete floor, a hollow, ominous sound that seemed to amplify the tension coiling within me.
At last, we reached a heavy steel door. The hacker halted, his hands trembling as he reached for the access panel.
“Open it.” I pressed the barrel of my weapon against the back of his skull to encourage cooperation.
With shaking fingers, he punched in a code, and the door slid open with a hiss of hydraulics. Beyond, lay a dimly lit room with banks of monitors and computer terminals lining the walls. Seated before the main console was a figure I recognized all too well—Narek Petrosian, the mastermind behind the Armenian hackers’ operations and son of Armen Petrosian, the head of the Armenian mob.
His head snapped up at our entrance, eyes widening in surprise and fear. For a heartbeat, time seemed to freeze, the air charged with the promise of violence.
Then, with a snarl of defiance, Narek’s fingers flew across the keyboard, initiating some unseen protocol. Alarms began to blare, the room bathed in strobing crimson light.
“Stop him,” I roared, surging forward with Rurik on my heels. The rest of my men were right behind us, but it was too late. Narek slammed his fist down on a final key, and the screens flickered, lines of code cascading across them in a dizzying array.
A cruel smile twisted his features as he rose to face us, his hands raised in mock surrender. “Too late, dogs of the bratva. I’ve already initiated the purge. In moments, every byte of data will be erased and every system wiped clean.”
Rage boiled within me, white-hot and all-consuming. We were so close, only to have victory snatched away at the last moment.
Narek’s laughter rang out, mocking and triumphant, even as Rurik slammed him against the console, his forearm pressed against the hacker’s throat. “You’ll pay for this.” His face was a mask of fury.
Narek only grinned, his eyes alight with a fanatic’s zeal. “It doesn’t matter. You’ve already lost.”
As the alarms continued to blare, the screens flickering with the unstoppable march of the data purge, I knew he was right. We had been so close, only to have our prize slip through our fingers once more. It was infuriating, but perhaps having Armen’s son might give us an advantage in some way.
***
The weight of the day’s events pressed down on me as I returned to Nika’s apartment, wanting to assure myself she’d made it home safely. The conflict with the Armenians had left me tense. I needed her. I knocked on her door, my heart pounding in anticipation. When she opened it, her eyes widened in surprise, then softened with a smile that made my chest tighten.
“Malachi,” she said, stepping aside to let me in. “I wasn”t expecting to see you again tonight.”
The scent of her perfume filled my nostrils as I brushed past her, a heady mix of vanilla and jasmine that made my mouth water. I closed the door behind me, my gaze locked on hers as I advanced, backing her against the wall. “I needed to see you,” I said, tracing my fingers along the curve of her jaw.
Her breath hitched, and she leaned into my touch, eyes darkening with desire. “I’m glad you came.”
I captured her lips in a searing kiss, slipping my tongue into her mouth to taste her sweetness. She moaned while wrapping her arms around my neck to pull me closer.
My hands roamed her body, exploring the soft curves of her hips, and the swell of her breasts. She arched into my touch, her nipples hardening beneath the thin fabric of her shirt. I groaned, my cock straining against my jeans as I ground my hips against hers.
Breaking the kiss, I trailed my lips down her neck, nipping and sucking at the sensitive skin. She gasped, her fingers tangling in my hair as she urged me on.
I reached for the hem of her shirt, tugging it up and over her head. She raised her arms, allowing me to remove it and reveal a lacy black bra that barely contained her ample breasts. I growled, my fingers deftly unhooking the clasp and freeing her from the confining fabric.
Her breasts spilled out, full and round, with pink, erect nipples. I lowered my head, taking one into my mouth as I flicked my tongue over the sensitive peak. She cried out, arching her back as she pressed herself against me.
I moved to the other breast, lavishing it with the same attention as I teased her nipple with my teeth. She writhed beneath me, her hips grinding against my cock as she sought relief.
I slid my hand down her stomach, slipping beneath the waistband of her jeans. She gasped as I brushed against her damp panties, her hips bucking as I teased her clit through the thin fabric.
She groaned. “Please.”
I unbuttoned her jeans, sliding them down her legs as I kissed my way down her body. She stepped out of them, leaving her clad only in her panties as I knelt before her. I hooked my fingers beneath the elastic, pulling them down and exposing her bare pussy. She was wet and swollen, her clit throbbing with need. I leaned in, darting my tongue out to taste her.
She cried out, fisting her hands in my hair as I licked and sucked at her sensitive flesh. I teased her clit with my tongue, flicking it back and forth as I slid two fingers inside her pussy. She was tight, her walls clenching around my fingers as I pumped them in and out. I curled them upward as I continued to torment her clit.
She bucked and writhed, her cries growing louder as I brought her closer to the edge. I could feel her muscles tensing as I worked her relentlessly. Just as she was about to come, I paused, my fingers still buried inside her as I looked up at her.
“Are you a virgin?” I asked, my voice hoarse with need that I had to suppress, needing to know her level of experience.
She bit her lip as her eyes widened with surprise and a hint of embarrassment. “Yes,” she whispered.
I groaned, my cock throbbing with the need to be inside her, but I couldn’t take her virginity when I was so consumed with lust that I couldn’t think straight. I couldn”t make it good enough for her right now. “I can’t,” I said, my voice strained. “Not like this.”
She nodded, her eyes filled with understanding and a little confusion. “It’s okay,” she said softly.
I also couldn’t leave Nika hanging on the precipice of pleasure, her body trembling with anticipation. My fingers danced over her slick folds, teasing her swollen clit as she gasped for breath. Her nails dug into my shoulders, urging me onward as I pushed her closer to the edge.
The scent of her arousal filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of vanilla from the candles flickering on the foyer table. The soft glow illuminated her flushed cheeks and heaving chest, highlighting the creamy expanse of her breasts.
I continued thrusting two fingers inside her slick channel while my thumb circled her clit. She bucked against my hand, her hips grinding into my touch as she chased the elusive release I’d denied her moments before.
“Malachi, please don’t stop this time.”
I couldn’t resist the plea in her voice, her desperate longing echoing mine. I quickened my pace, plunging my fingers in and out of her as I drove her higher and higher. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her body trembling beneath me as she clung to the precipice until, with a cry that seemed to tear itself from the depths of her soul, she shattered. Her muscles clenched around my fingers, her back arching as she came. I held her through it, my touch gentle now as I coaxed every last shudder from her quivering body.
As her breathing slowed, and her limbs went limp, I withdrew my fingers, savoring the taste of her release as I brought them to my lips. She watched me through heavy-lidded eyes, her expression a mix of awe and satisfaction that sent a jolt of desire straight to my groin.
But I couldn’t give in to that desire, not yet. Not until I knew she was ready for what came next. Not until I had spoken to Rurik.
I leaned down to press a tender kiss to her lips, my tongue tracing the seam of her mouth as I coaxed her into opening for me. She responded eagerly, her own tongue darting out to meet mine as we tangled in a dance as old as time.
As we broke apart, I pulled back to gaze down at her, my heart swelling with an emotion I couldn’t quite name.
“Show me your cock,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The request was unexpected, and I hesitated, unsure if I could handle the sight of her watching me as I pleasured myself, but the desire and curiosity in her expression was too much to resist.
I stood, unbuttoning my jeans, and sliding them down my hips. My cock sprang free, hard and throbbing as I wrapped my hand around it. I was well-endowed, and though I had big hands, they barely fit completely around my shaft.
She watched with fascination as I stroked myself, her gaze focused on my hand moving up and down my shaft as I grew closer to release. My muscles tensed as I neared the edge. With a final, desperate stroke and groan of pleasure, I came, my seed spilling onto her stomach as I groaned with pleasure.
She licked her lips, eyes dark with desire as I caught my breath. I pulled up my jeans though my cock was still semi-hard as I looked down at her.
“Thank you,” she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude. “For the pleasure and the show.” She winked at me.
I leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. “More than that next time,” I said.
She hummed with pleasure, clearly liking the idea, and I kissed her once more before I left her apartment, my mind still reeling from the intensity of our encounter. I needed to be careful to keep my emotions in check around Nika before I got in too deep, but as I walked back to my car, I realized it was already too late.