Chapter 26
Kazimir
Another goddamn storm.
A barrage of lightning electrified the sky, so much so for a few seconds I was blinded by Mother Nature’s display of fury.
It matched my own at this point. Why? Because an unsettling feeling had hit rock bottom in my stomach, and the churning sweep of sensations wouldn’t allow me even a few moments of sleep.
I was wired even after switching from champagne to scotch, hoping to dull my rage.
That seemed impossible. Even with Golden Angel having followed me into the living room, now sleeping by my feet, I couldn’t calm down.
Even after stroking her fur, which I’d seen Rafaela do several times to calm her nerves, I remained on edge.
Why?
Because my instinct was telling me a story that my mind didn’t want to hear. Betrayal was nothing new. My father had been betrayed by his best friend years before, almost losing his life in a horrible car explosion.
Much like the one our mother had been killed in.
My father had constantly had a target on his back, the Petrovs in a long line of enemies.
However, they were bottom feeders, which meant they’d been paying close attention to what had occurred, taking measured steps when deciding to strike.
And why wait three years after my supposed demise?
The timing was interesting, the attack reminiscent of a planned event.
In addition, I sensed a blame game would be the pièce de résistance after the ruse was completed. Manipulators did their best work when they could convince all those around him there was someone else to blame.
The terse situation would almost lead me to believe my good buddy Igor who had led Kirill into finding me had a personal reason. He wanted the defeat of the Petrov family, their methods of handling business causing issues for every Bratva organization.
But that wasn’t the core problem. The man with the laugh had sold his soul to imprison mine.
And there was one reason for doing so.
Personal revenge.
I pulled the glass to my lips just as a rumble of thunder caused Golden to lift her head. “It’s okay, girl. Everything is going to be alright.”
The moment she lifted her tail, I felt a presence and reached for my weapon.
“Are you going to shoot me?” Rafaela’s was wispy, full of anxiety. The woman took my breath away. She’d snagged my shirt from the floor, now fastening a few buttons. When she was finished, she held her hands up like I’d done with her at the club.
“I can’t be too careful.” I lowered the gun down to the table, my cock already twitching. “I will admit you’re too beautiful to shoot. That would be a sin.”
“Just one in a long line of them we’ve committed.
” She tried to smile while tugging on her hair.
My cock throbbed just thinking about the number of times I’d taken her, enjoying every moment spent violating every inch of her luscious body.
Her smile slowly faded. “What are you doing? Other than sitting all alone in the dark completely naked and holding my dog hostage.”
Golden woofed as if on cue. “She didn’t seem to mind. I was just trying to put some pieces together before we return to Moscow.”
She shook her head. “My mother is ill. I don’t know what to say to her that won’t cause alarm.”
“You mother is not ill, Rafaela.”
“What do you mean?”
Chuckling, I grabbed my phone off the table, flipping to the picture I’d downloaded from the internet. I’d been surfing to find some answers of my own. “Unless she made a miraculous recovery, you were told lies.”
Inching closer, she studied the screen, her laugh one of bitterness. “How could I forget. She’s in charge of a huge floral show. Every year. She lied to me.”
“My guess is your father lied to you.”
“I thought he had plans on kidnapping me.”
“Why when he can lure you home?” I tossed the phone onto the table, studying her reaction. She certainly wasn’t the girl I’d met before. She’d been through so much in her life she’d become immune to most fears.
“Bastard. He warned me that one day I’d be summoned to do my duty. He found his highest bidder.”
“You should try and get some sleep.”
“Not a chance in hell. It would seem someone stole my pup for his own use. Perhaps the powerful man is unaware Golden Angel is my support, especially during storms.”
“Perhaps you’re right. You never told me what happened and why you have this beautiful creature.”
With a frustrated sigh, she moved closer to the window, staring at the bright lightning.
“A man broke into our house when I was a teenager. There was a storm. He came to my room with the intention of kidnapping me, at least that’s what I was told.
I fought him, but he hurt me, holding me down.
He almost… He planned on raping me. Thankfully, guards finally heard the commotion and stopped him, killing him on the spot.
Right there in front of me. Later, I learned he was my brother’s best friend.
My brother is very much like me, completely independent.
He was running with a bad crowd.” She laughed.
“A bad crowd.”
“Yes, my first taste of learning Russians are terrible people.” She threw a sexy look over her shoulder.
“Some kids on holiday for the summer my brother got mixed up with. I really don’t know the details.
Anyway, my father blamed Dante, my brother.
Eventually, Dante left because of the horrors my father inflicted on him. ”
“That’s terrible. I’m so sorry.” While the admission might mean nothing, the slight coincidence did bring a series of fascinating thoughts to the forefront of my mind.
I studied her face in the eerie light, realizing how much she’d been through in her life.
She was one of the strongest people I’d ever met.
“Have you ever spoken to your brother since he left?”
“Are you kidding me?” She laughed. “My guess is he’s living in New York where he dreamed of going, free from the horrors my father put him through.”
“Why New York?”
“Why not? It’s exciting. It’s the Big Apple.
It’s where I’ve always wanted to go. Anyway, after the horror, I couldn’t seem to forget what happened.
My father did try to get me to help but nothing worked.
So, I was allowed to get a dog. A dog he wanted killed.
Don’t worry, Kazimir. I will do what it takes to help you destroy my father and my godfather if necessary. ”
Her conviction was heartfelt. The need to protect her was stronger than ever.
The desire to consume her was all encompassing.
“Come here,” I growled.
She barely turned her head in my direction. “Why?” When a flash of lightning crisscrossed the sky, she jumped.
Golden was immediately on her feet, allowing a single whine.
“I said, come here. I don’t need a reason.”
While Rafaela turned, she seemed somewhat hesitant until I beckoned with my finger.
At least I was rewarded with a smile. She was a part of my life and had been, finding a place under my skin that had allowed me to remain alive.
When she was close, I pulled her onto my lap.
Her grin was more mischievous as before as she straddled my legs.
Purposely rubbing her sweet pussy across my cock.
“You’re one bad girl.”
“Yes, I am. So what?”
“So I want you to be careful. You will be protected at all times, but you’re also going to follow my rules. Moscow isn’t like Sicily. You’re going to stay hidden until I discover what’s going on.”
“And our wedding?”
“To be determined. But I assure you that you’ll have the wedding you so desire. Just promise me that you will follow my rules.”
“And if I don’t?”
I pinched her chin, shaking my head as a slight growl erupted. “Then I will discipline you again. And again. And again.”
“How are you going to do that?”
“I bet I can figure out how to punish you.”
As soon as she tried to climb off, I snatched her wrist. Her laughter brought several emotions, a strange feeling of needing family.
Closeness.
I’d also been thinking a lot about what Igor had said in our meeting.
He’d been as philosophical as I’d remembered, tossing out cookie crumbs as usual.
He was the kind of man who believed it was best for men of power to realize their destiny through their perceptions and instinct, always cautioning those who listened to curtail their anger.
I’d been so enraged that I’d lost perspective.
Until now.
Family was important, and I craved having a wife and children, but not at the expense of my honor for the very family who’d shaped me. There were some, like Rafaela’s father, who couldn’t care less about the gift of having people who cared about them.
And sometimes, the loss of family altered a person’s perspective, making them prone to despair and the same level of anger I’d fallen into, using the emotion for all the wrong reasons. In the end, rage was usually a noose that would eventually be tightened.
I prayed that wasn’t the case, but my instincts were telling me otherwise. However, I needed confirmation, which meant risking not only my life but hers.
My little healer was daring enough to wrap her hand around the base of my cock, toying with me as only she could do. As much as I’d allow. Only when she dared press the tip against her wet, swollen pussy lips, I couldn’t allow the temptation to be ignored.
With a quick look into her eyes as warning, I pulled her down onto my dick, filling her completely.
She threw her head back, allowing a spectacular moan while gripping my shoulders. Could I give her what she needed in her life? Maybe, but no one, including family was going to keep me from trying.