Chapter 27
Seamus
“Wish I had more for you,” Finn says, shaking his head miserably. “We’re scouring the city, but New York’s a big place. Molchanie could be hiding anywhere.”
“Anyone mention working with her? Anyone take a contract out?”
“Not that I’ve heard, but you know how it is. You hire an expensive assassin, you don’t actually want to talk about it.”
He’s got a good point. “Keep pushing. There’s gotta be something we can do.”
Finn agrees and finishes off his drink. We’re sitting in Alina’s apartment near the windows. He glances over at the view and pauses, smiling to himself. “You seem like you’re in a better mood. And I’m guessing since you wanted to meet here—” He raises his eyebrows.
I stare hard at him. “You nearly hit her with your car.”
His expression falls. “It was an accident. She walked out into traffic. Honestly, she’s lucky it was me. Anyone else would’ve run her down.”
“Stop getting involved in my marriage.”
“Stop acting like I’m not being extremely helpful.”
“Finn—”
“Look, you’ve been such a difficult prick these last few days. It’s not like you at all. I just want the old, happy Seamus back.”
“And I want Molchanie’s head severed from her body.”
“Let’s all get what we want.”
“Here’s hoping.”
“Honestly, I was just trying to help. I was checking up on her, and I know you care even when you pretend like you don’t.”
“Thanks for explaining my own feelings.”
“Anytime. It’s what I’m here for.” He finishes his drink and heads to the door. “I’ve got a ton of guys out asking questions. If there’s anything to be found about Molchanie, we’ll find it.”
“I appreciate how hard you’re working on this, even if you are being annoying.”
He nods and leaves. I sit alone in the apartment, glaring at the window, trying to work this puzzle out in my head. But every time I think back on that conversation I had with Molchanie, it’s clear that I’m missing a key piece of information.
Like why she cares about Alina.
If we can figure that out, we might be able to find a way to cut a deal with the killer.
And if not? Maybe we can use it against her.
But that’s the central mystery. Who would care about Alina enough to murder strangers? And why does it seem like Molchanie specifically wants me to stay away?
Nothing’s connecting in my head. I’m distracted for a while, trying to make sense of what’s happening, but I’ve never been a thinker. There’s a reason I was assigned to the streets.
I’m a man of action.
I like to do. I don’t like to wonder. Now it feels like everything’s mixed up and I don’t know how to straighten it out again.
I’m not paying attention when the door opens and my wife comes home. I look over at the sound of her bag hitting the table and find her giving me a smarmy little smile.
“What have you been up to all day?” She comes over and plops down on the couch right next to me. Our legs touch, and I like that. She’s comfortable with me now. It’s amazing how fast things changed.
“Working like always.”
“Looks like you’ve been working hard.” She leans back, grinning.
“You seem like you’re in a good mood.”
“I wouldn’t say that. Just been working too.”
“Yeah? On what?”
She puts a hand on my knee. “I spoke with my family about Molchanie.”
I don’t say anything before pulling away. I stand and pace across the room. Her expression falls as I struggle to keep myself under control.
“That was a bad idea,” I say finally, staring at her. “What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that my family runs a Russian bratva and Molchanie is a Russian killer. There’s probably a connection.
And Seamus, there definitely is.” She pushes herself to her feet.
“My dad wouldn’t admit it, but he knows more about her than he let on.
Taras says he’s been weird ever since Molchanie came to town. ”
“You think they’re involved?” I can picture all the dark ramifications of that. It’ll be an outright war. My family could never forgive the Morozovs if they had anything to do with the killings.
She shakes her head. “Not directly. Not like that. It wouldn’t make sense, right? Papa’s making too much money with this alliance and he’s the one that wanted me to marry you.”
“That’s a good point.” I lean a hand against a window and take a deep breath. “But you still shouldn’t have done that.”
“Why? We need to figure out who Molchanie is and what she wants.”
“She’ll know you’re asking around about her. That’s dangerous, Alina.”
“But we can’t wait. There’s barely any time left.” She comes toward me, hands out, palms up. “I know what you’re going to say, but hear me out first. I think I need to talk to Molchanie.”
“Absolutely not.” The idea horrifies me. I still don’t know what Molchanie wants or whether Alina’s really safe with her or not.
“This is about me, right? I don’t know why, but I’m important to her. If I can just talk to her, explain that I’m not unhappy, that I don’t want to divorce you—”
My heart swells and breaks at the same time. I like that she wants to stay with me, but I hate the thought of letting her get anywhere near the assassin. “I can’t let you. It just can’t happen.”
“You’d rather I stay hidden away in here while everyone else risks their lives for me?”
“That sounds good.”
“No, it doesn’t. It sounds awful. I know I can be a pain in the ass. I know I’m difficult to live with sometimes. But I am absolutely not the kind of person who lets everyone else fight her battles.”
“Listen to me.” I step forward quickly, pulling her and turning her around until her back is flat against the large window.
The city spreads out behind her. The sun’s setting, sending long rays across the living room.
“You are too important to risk. Do you hear me? There’s no way in hell I’m letting you go anywhere near Molchanie. ”
“You don’t get to make that decision.”
I take her wrists and pin them above her head. Her pretty lips part and she lets out a soft gasp. “Yes, I do.”
“That’s not how this marriage is going to work.”
“When it comes to your safety, you’re goddamn right it is.”
“I want to help.” Her expression grows desperate. “Please, Seamus. I want to do more.”
I hold her wrists above her head with one hand while the other strokes down her cheek.
“I love that about you, baby.” I tilt her chin up.
“But I won’t take that risk. You can blame me if you want.
Hate me too. I don’t care. As long as you’re my wife, I’ll sacrifice anything to make sure you’re safe.
This right here—” I put a hand on her chest over her beating heart.
Her pulse rockets under my touch. “This is the most important thing in the world to me.”
“I should get a say.”
“You do. You spoke. I refuse to listen.”
“You’re so frustrating.”
“And you’re too beautiful.”
“Easy for you to say. I’m trapped up against a big sheet of glass.”
“Right where I want you.”
“Yeah? You want the whole city to see me?”
I reach down and squeeze her ass, pulling her hips into mine. “Goddamn right. Let them stare at your perfect little body while you suck my cock. Let the whole city watch. I want them all to be jealous of what I have.”
She whimpers, mouth hanging open. I crush her lips against mine. Part of me is being selfish right now. I’m hoping I can distract her from this stupid idea. But mostly I just want her so badly it’s like a fire in my chest.
She wriggles against me before slowly sinking down. Our lips part. She kisses my neck and keeps going, down and down. I hold onto her wrists while I unbuckle my belt with my other hand. Her mouth is open, tongue poking out.
I slip my cock from my boxer briefs. I’m already half hard.
“One lick,” I whisper as my tip touches her mouth. “That’s all I’ll take before I’m so hard it hurts.”
“Just one?” She pouts. “I was hoping for more.”
I hold the base of my cock as she opens her mouth. I guide it between her lips. She licks, circling around my head, and fuck if I wasn’t right. I’m rock hard the instant she starts sucking, wrists still held up above her head.
“You can have as much as you want, baby.” I push my cock deeper. She whimpers, eyes going wide, but doesn’t back down. I pull away and she gasps, gaze locked on mine.
“More,” she says.
“Fuck.” I guide myself into her mouth again. This time, I go deeper. She takes as much as she can before I pull back again. “God damn, look at you.”
I fuck her mouth slowly at first. She’s whimpering, moaning, hands up above her head.
“So goddamn pretty getting your mouth fucked like that. I want the whole fucking city to see how much of a dirty little slut you’ve become for me. You act like your whole life is about cleanliness and schedules, but the second you’re on your knees, you’ll happily suck my cock and get all messy.”
She moans as I pull back. “I like what you do to me,” she says, panting. “I like how it feels. I feel like I can be filthy with you.”
“That’s right, baby.” I fuck her mouth again, filling her up. “You can be my filthy little slut. Let yourself go when I’m deep inside you, dirty girl. Beautiful, dirty fucking girl.”
Spit rolls down my shaft and drips onto the floor. Any other time and she’d go crazy for that. She’d clean it instantly.
Not right now. She doesn’t care. It’s like she can be a different person when we’re having sex, and I love that about her.
I pull her to her feet and slam my mouth to hers. I undress her, fumbling and furious, stripping her down before turning her around. I press her breasts to the glass, making her gasp.
“Cold!” she says, goosebumps prickling on her skin. I reach around and stroke her clit, finding it soaking wet. “Oh, but that’s nice.”
“I’ll warm you up.” I pull her hips to mine. I tease her with my tip before sinking myself deep inside. She groans, hands flat against the window. I tease her breasts with one hand while the other spanks her. I shove my fingers in her mouth as I fuck her faster, making her suck them.
“I’m going to tear this city apart to protect you, baby,” I whisper in her ear as my cock fills her to the brim. “I’m going to burn this fucking place down before I lose you.”
“Don’t stop,” she begs. “Don’t stop.”
“Tell me to keep fucking your dirty little pussy. Say it, baby.”
“Fuck my dirty little pussy.”
“Tell me you’re my slut. Tell me you want my cum.”
“I’m your slut. I want your cum. Oh my god, please don’t stop.”
“I love it when you fucking beg.”
I grip her hair and rip into her. I stroke her clit, filling her to the brim, and she loses it all at once.
She shatters on my dick, moaning and gasping for air, coming so hard her skin flushes pink.
I love the contrast with her blonde hair.
Her pleasure ruins me, and I can’t control myself much longer.
I groan as I finish between her legs. The orgasm spills through me like pure bliss, and when I’m finally done, I turn her and kiss her, pulling her along until we’re on the couch together. She curls up in my lap, still naked, arms wrapped around my neck.
“It didn’t work, you know,” she whispers, grinning to herself, eyes closed.
“You didn’t come?” My eyebrows raise in surprise. “That was incredible acting.”
“No, not that. I definitely came.” She looks up, and God, I don’t know where this girl came from or how I got so lucky. “You tried to distract me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, you don’t? Convenient how we’re talking about something you don’t like, but suddenly we’re having sex.”
“I wouldn’t call that convenient. Maybe a happy accident.”
“Right, just serendipity.”
“There was nothing left to say, and I wanted you.”
“You might’ve been done, but I wasn’t.” She kisses my chest. “I’m not letting it drop.”
I sigh and tilt my head back. I can’t let her meet with Molchanie. That’s way too dangerous. Talking to her family is bad enough. I don’t trust them, not even a little bit.
But maybe there’s something else she can do.
“I’m going to speak with my father about what’s happening. I probably should have done it sooner, but here we are. Maybe you can come with me.”
She considers that. “Are you sure? You don’t think they’ll blame me?”
“I won’t let them, but I doubt they will.”
“If you think it’ll help, I’ll be there. But I still think I should meet with Molchanie.”
“Do this for now.”
I kiss her and hold her tighter. I feel my grip on the situation beginning to slip, but I’m not going to let go. No matter how hard things get. Alina’s mine, and I won’t lose her.