Chapter 17 #3
I heard the discord in his tone. I just didn’t give a shit.
“Okay,” he gritted out. “I’ll bite. Who is she?”
“The beautiful niece of Sean McCarthy. Ring a bell or do I need to spell it out? She’s been working under your nose at Mount Sinai for over a year.
Or I should say one of two nieces since the other one recently got married to what appears to be Italian royalty.
” One thing my beautiful guest would share in the morning was the name.
That would save time. If she was being used as part of the cat and mouse game, the Irish clan were already aware the catnip had been nibbled on.
“What? Hold on. What did you just say?”
“Pravda, skryvayushchayasya za urodlivoy lozh’yu, vsegda prekrasna—dazhe v svoyom gor’kom predatel’stve.”
His exhale was tight chested as he repeated what I’d said. “The truth behind ugly lies is always beautiful even in its bitter betrayal. My father used to say that as well. She set you up. Shit.”
“Maybe and that’s a Chertov family saying from what I know.
And all true.” I moved toward the window, staring out at the night sky.
There were only a few stars able to be seen through the wispy clouds.
Darkness used to comfort me. Not tonight.
My skin was prickling and tight. I held out my arm, half expecting to see blisters crawling across the surface.
“Does her uncle know she’s been taken, held as your captive?”
“Not yet.” My voice held a singsong quality. “Or maybe so, depending on how you look at it.”
“Fuck,” he hissed. “Does Kazimir know?”
“Not until I discover who the fucker is in Italy.”
“You need to talk to Kazimir. This wasn’t what we expected. However, we can use your guest’s connections to our benefit. Think about what I said before.”
“You bet we can, especially since her father is also a man of importance, but you should know all about that given you’re the acting Pakhan. But I will not marry a woman who is playing me.”
I didn’t care if I pissed him off. He shouldn’t have left town.
“Look, I don’t know what is going on with you, but I’m in no mood for arguments or your games,” Dimitri said flatly.
“I’m not playing a game. The Ghost is. Or have you forgotten about that? We need a plan that doesn’t include frolicking with chicks inside your kink club.”
“It’s obvious by your tone that you’re close with this woman.”
“Close?” I laughed. “As close as two people can be who met the way we have. But yeah, close enough she’s sleeping in my bed.
Not that it’s any of your goddamn business.
” She was just as likely to slit my throat.
I had to sit down. What the hell was wrong with me?
I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t think at all.
“Not what I heard from my men. You talk about me getting off topic. What about you playing house with the niece of my enemy?”
“Your enemy? Don’t you mean our enemy since the last time I checked, Kazimir, the man you’re supposedly very close with, is still running this empire.”
The quiet between us was exactly as it should be.
He wasn’t my friend. I couldn’t give a shit about him.
I just didn’t… care. “If what I suspect is true, Nikki Hamilton, Vivian’s sister, married the son of another Italian Don, which will mean your control over New York could be stretched thin.
That happened while you weren’t looking. ”
“Goddamn it, Kirill. You want a plan? How about this? Do exactly what I suggested before. Marry her. That will ensure another alliance completely unexpected by anyone. If you’re right about the Italians, they won’t be expecting that instead of killing her, you own her.
Since you seem to care so much, why not step up to the plate instead of complaining about everyone else? ”
“You know what? I think I will. In fact, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
He laughed. “Well, then. I guess that’s settled. I suppose should come home so we can get ready for a wedding. Do you have any proof about this arranged marriage with an Italian?”
“Pictures from her phone.”
“Well, email them to me. I’ll get my men to start working on identifying this person. If you’re correct, it could add credence to the suspicions Mikhail was accepted into another organization with open arms.”
That’s what I was most afraid of.
While the call ended, that didn’t mean I was satisfied with the outcome. I glared at her phone, taking gasping breaths. How had I allowed this bullshit to occur? I needed her goddamn face to get back into it. Fuck me.
Charging down the hall, I almost threw open the door until I remembered she was sleeping.
After taking a couple of deep breaths, I moved inside.
She’d left a light on. I headed to the bed, determined not to become drawn in by her beauty.
The moment I approached the bed, every muscle in my body tensed. She was so goddamn beautiful I ached.
No. No. No!
I refused to fall for her tricks.
But as I stood there, becoming even more mesmerized, I realized that what I’d told her before was true.
I couldn’t let her go. Maybe I would do exactly what Dimitri suggested.
With a smile on my face, I held the phone in front of her, unlocking the phone.
And before it went dark again, I brushed my knuckles across her cheek.
When she stirred, I pulled my hand away, bringing my fingers to my nose and capturing her perfume.
And my cock was at full attention.
I… wanted her. As mine. All mine.
Before I backed away, I turned off the light.
As the hunger continued to grow.
The dim lights played tricks on me as I walked back to the security room, furious with myself all over again for falling victim to her feminine wiles. Damn all women. After three tries, I managed to send the photographs, fighting the half dozen emotions with everything I had.
Hissing, the loud buzzing noise I’d heard from before was echoing in my ears. Stumbling forward, I tossed the phone onto the desk, smashing my hands over my ears.
The noise wouldn’t stop.
No peace. No peace.
My thoughts, every vision, every need drifted to her. To Vivian. To the woman who’d awakened my soul. To the woman who’d… betrayed me.
With the moment of control spiraling away, I raked my hand across the desk, tossing everything against the wall.
Before tipping my head back and roaring.