17. Valentin
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
VALENTIN
The darkness brings a soothing calm. I cherish these quiet moments. In bed, surrounded by stillness, my mind drifts aimlessly, free from worries. It’s a blissful escape, a much-needed refuge.
A scream pierces through the silence, dragging me away from the calm—an undeniable reminder that my life will never truly be quiet.
“Valentin!” Lexi’s voice jolts me awake. My left hand shoots for my gun, and in an instant, the weapon is aimed at the figure looming over my bed.
Sighing, I rest my head back on the pillow, placing my gun back on the nightstand. “You could have called,” I say to my son.
“I did. You weren’t answering, so I came right over.” He leans back against the wall, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on Lexi’s naked body.
I quickly pull the covers over her to shield her from his prying gaze.
“Get the fuck out!” I yell at him, pointing toward the door.
“I’ll be in your office. Elise is here,” he says, glancing once more at Lexi before leaving.
Shit, if Elise is here, this can’t be good.
Jumping out of bed, I quickly pull on a pair of sweatpants from the closet.
I bend down over her, her eyes curious, her nipples perked.
With a kiss on her soft lips, I can’t help but grab her breast with the palm of my hand, pinching her nipple. When she elicits a soft moan, my cock hardens behind my grey sweatpants, and she smiles when she sees what she’s done to me.
Leaning closer, I place my fingers on her lips, desiring one last touch. As she kisses my hand, the cool metal of my large gold ring glides softly against her cheeks.
Fuck! I would love to stay in bed with her for a couple more hours, balls deep between her legs. “Rest, because when I return, I plan to bury my cock in your pussy.”
Before closing my room door, I steal a look back at her.
How lucky was I to have such a beautiful girl in my bed? I can’t help but growl softly as I shut the door, my heart racing to hurry back to her.
I make my way downstairs to my office, my bare feet soundless against the cold wood of the empty warehouse. As soon as she agreed to spend the night with me, I ordered my men to leave, not wanting their lingering gazes to frighten her when she first arrived.
With a deep sigh, I stride into my office.
“She’s kind of young, don’t you think?” my son questions.
“What I do is none of your fucking business,” I say to him, giving him an incredulous stare.
Elise lightly clears her throat. “Long night?”
Pouring myself a glass of Scotch, I take a long gulp, trying to drown out the taste of Lexi’s pussy, which is still fresh on my tongue.
I check my watch and realize it’s still early morning. With a sigh, I sink into my office leather chair, savoring the drink that dangles temptingly from my fingers. “What is so important that you two needed to wake me up?”
“I sent the men to keep an eye on Ivan Petrov, as you requested,” Daniel reports. “I think we found our thief.”
He adjusts himself in his seat, his hand tightening around the armrest. “He’s the one stealing from us.”
I slam my glass down hard on the desk, my eyes locking onto him, my jaw clenching tight, and my fist hits the desk with a thud.
“You have to be wrong!” I reply firmly in defense of Petrov.
He has been a loyal associate for years, generating hundreds of millions through my weapon distribution.
He has dined at my home, and Daniel is best friends with his son.
“I wouldn’t have come to you if I weren’t certain it’s him,” Daniel insists.
“What about Nyx?” I pressure him.
“He knew nothing about it,” Daniel affirms.
“You’re lying,” I grit my teeth, convinced that if Petrov has been stealing, his son must be in on it.
“I’ve known Nyx my entire life. I know when he’s lying,” Daniel argues, clearly frustrated. “He actually did some digging and confirmed guns were missing from the shipments.”
I turn my gaze to my son, doubting whether his loyalty to their friendship is leading him astray.
“Dad, Nyx is committed to the Coalition. You know how much he despises Petrov ever since his mom’s death.”
My gaze shifts to Elise, who is adjusting in her seat, her eyes softening as she looks at Daniel, clearly trusting him.
“When Daniel couldn’t get in touch with you, he called me, and I ran the numbers myself,” Elise asserts, tapping the folder of documents on the desk. “It’s definitely Petrov.”
My heart tightens at her words, and a cold weight settles within me. I run my fingers through my chin stubble. “Petrov, you greedy bastard.” I snarl coldly, rage surging at the idea of one of our own betraying the Bratva.
Ivan Petrov has just signed a death warrant. And I’ll be the one to collect.
After I’m done with him, there will be nothing left for Lexi to take revenge on.
Elise leans forward in her chair, her knees firmly pressed together. She taps her finger rhythmically on the folder resting in her lap. “Why did you have Daniel watch Petrov?”
I curl my fingers against the glass and take another gulp of the Scotch. “He hurt someone, and I want to know what he did to her.”
“You sent me to spy on him because of that girl in your bed?”
It takes everything in me not to wrap my hand around his throat. “Does it matter why I sent you there?”
“Dad, you really need to stay away from that girl. She’s already kidnapped you once. Think about what else she might do.”
“Shut your mouth!” I snap, my blood rising in temperature. “You’ll wake her.” I let out a low warning growl.
Elise shakes her head in disbelief. “She’s here? That Lexi girl?” Sitting up straight, she grips the folder tightly, the corners crinkling under her fingers. “Excuse me,” she says, leaving the folder on the desk behind her as she storms out of my office.
“Tell me, Dad, how well does your new toy fuck you?” Daniel asks, tilting his head and scanning me with a look of disdain.
I leap out of my seat, feeling a fire igniting inside me, searing through my veins and scorching every part of my body. I throw a punch, my knuckle brushing against his chin, making his head tilt sharply to the side. “Watch yourself. I’m still your father and your Brigadier.”
Daniel puffs out his chest and rolls his shoulders, his breath brushing against my face as he straightens to meet my gaze. “Do you ever think about her? My mother, the woman you loved for thirty years? Do you? Or have you forgotten her already?”
My ex-wife was part of an arrangement between our fathers. Her father served as our family attorney, and after a long trial keeping my brother out of prison, my father arranged a marriage for his daughter as a gift to her father.
Raised in the Coalition, she aspired to be a Brigadier’s wife, yearning for the power, wealth, and status that came along with being Mrs. Volkov. Love didn’t concern her. It was the title she wanted.
Over thirty years of sharing a life, one inevitably develops a certain bond with a partner, but it wasn’t true love. It only resembled the affection between a father and the mother of his children, and I consistently showed her that love until the day she died.
“Your mother was a Brigadier’s wife, but I did not love her, and she knew that.”
Daniel shoves me, but I regain my balance after just a few steps. “Don’t tell me you love that little whore upstairs?” Daniel challenges, his tongue clicking against the roof of his mouth.
Before I can react, Lev steps in between us, his hand firmly pressing against my chest. With a silent warning, he reminds me to rein in my emotions and stay composed.
“Oh, goody, your fucking help is here to save you,” Daniel mocks.
“Enough!” Lev interjects, his tone steady yet laced with tension. “I suggest you leave before things get ugly for you. Your father may not put a bullet in your kneecap, but I’m not your dad, and believe me, I have no problem pulling the trigger.”
Daniel steps back slowly, a confident smirk playing on his lips as if he’s just scored a victory. “One day, I’ll be Brigadier, and I won’t forget your threat,” he tells Lev.
“If you want to be Brigadier one day, you’ll have to learn to stop crying over your dead mommy.” My fists tighten at my sides as I glare at him, challenging him to attack me.
“When I’m Brigadier, I’ll make sure the girl dies if you haven’t killed her yet,” he threatens.
I lurch toward him, but Lev holds my arms tight, preventing me from reaching my son as he walks away. With every step he takes, the weight in my chest grows heavier, pulling me down.
Lev releases me and gives my shoulder a reassuring pat. “Just making sure you don’t kill your son and regret it later.”
My hand runs down my face, causing the tension to ease a bit. “Thanks, brother.”
Downing another glass of Scotch, I recollect myself, the liquor giving some relief from the tension riddling my body. “He’s an ungrateful bastard!”
“He’s still mourning his mom.”
“What did Elise want?” Lev asks, smoothly shifting the subject.
“Petrov is the thief!” I reveal urgently.
“No fucking way!” Lev responds, his eyes widening in shock.
“Gather Nikolai’s men immediately and track down Petrov. I want him found and dealt with by next week, no exceptions!” I assert firmly.
“Yes, Brigadier,” Lev replies, determination in his voice as he storms out of my office.
I pour myself another glass of Scotch and down the entire drink in one go. That’s when I notice the folder Elise was clutching tightly.
I reach out, letting my fingers glide over its surface, compelled to look inside. As I open it, my eyes lock onto something tucked between the pages—a photo—a vivid snapshot of Lexi and me dancing at my birthday party.
Something snaps inside me, a floodgate opening, a primal energy unleashed. Fucking Elise, the woman who collects secrets like trinkets, what are you up to?
I stare at the picture, fixating on it as I sip the sharp burn of the morning liquor.
She’s incredibly beautiful, the way that tight black dress hugs her curves, her hair flowing down her back, and that enchanting smile she gives me. No one has ever looked at me like she does, full of burning desire and an alluring sense of obedience.
Lexi.
She embodies everything I could ask for in a woman. Beautiful. Brilliant. Brutal.
High heels come tapping against the floor, drawing near. Quickly closing the folder, I set it aside, the picture still in my fingers. I slip it into my top drawer just before she returns.
Elise reenters the room, her fingers shaking slightly as she reaches for the folder.
“Is everything alright?” I ask her, cradling my glass of Scotch.
“Yeah,” she replies, her breath catching slightly.
“We’ll find Petrov,” I promise her.
She bites her lip, resembling a frightened puppy—an expression I’ve never witnessed from her before. “Are you okay?”
She takes a deep breath, and the color returns to her face as her expression becomes stoic once more. “Did you need something, Brigadier?”
“Could I ask you for a personal favor?”
“What do you need?” She flips through the folder as if she’s searching for something. I watch her movement carefully.
“What if I’m not ready to retire?”
She hesitates. “What about your heart?”
“You know about that?”
“I’m sorry. Andrei mentioned it.” Yes, of course he did.
“Are you prepared to make Daniel Brigadier?” she asks, her voice trembling slightly.
“It’s his birthright.” My stomach churns at the memory of our earlier fight.
The silence hangs between us until Elise exhales, her expression turning cold and distant, impossible to read. “I think I can come up with a plan.”
I leap up with excitement, my hand slapping the top of my desk. The smartest woman I know must have something.
“First, you have to tell me what Petrov did to the girl.”
I inhale sharply, my heart tightening. “Not you as well.”
“Tell me,” she says, her voice firm, each breath heavy and uneven.
I settle back into my chair and clear my throat. “Petrov nearly killed her friend. Now, Lexi is out for revenge.”
Elise’s eyes relax a bit. “So, he didn’t actually harm her, then?”
“She hasn’t said, but personally, I believe he did.”
A wild, dangerous fire glimmers in her eyes. “I need to be there when you kill Petrov,” she says, her voice drops to a chilling whisper. “For stealing from us.”
I nod once, acknowledging and agreeing with her without a word.
Taking another deliberate sip of the rich Scotch, I try to suppress the urge to pry into her reaction. It might only be a figment of my imagination, but I can’t shake the feeling that beneath her fierce exterior, Elise holds a flicker of anger toward Petrov for what he did to those girls.
“I’ll update Andrei,” she says, shaking off the concern that’s still clinging to her expression. With a strained smile that barely reaches her eyes, she turns and quickly leaves the room.
“Lev!” I call out, and he comes rushing in. “What’s up?
“Where is the background check I requested on Lexi?”
He shakes his head. “It came up empty.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means Lexi Summer didn’t exist before a few years ago.”
I pound my fist against the hardwood, eyes shut tight as I fight to suppress the furious energy surging through me, trying to steady the storm in my chest.
The day hasn’t even begun, and it’s already going downhill.
The only way to calm my nerves is to rush back to Lexi and have her ease the tension in my sweatpants. Deep down, I know it no longer matters who she was. What counts is that she is mine now.
As soon as I step into the bedroom, an unsettling feeling washes over me. There’s a shift in the air, a strange sensation that unsettles me when I see the bed empty. “Lexi,” I call out, searching for her. I quickly leave the room and head toward the kitchen. “Krasotka, where are you?”
With a growing sense of anxiety, I rush back to the bedroom, flinging open the bathroom door, only to be met with emptiness, a void where Lexi should be.
On the nightstand next to where I left her, there’s her collar.
A crushing sorrow impacts me like a punch to the gut.
I sit on the edge of the bed, my eyes stinging as I grip the diamonds tightly.
I shut my eyes, swallowing past the ache in my throat.
She has left me with such a feeling of emptiness, almost loneliness, just for a second.
I remind myself of one thing—the only thing—that can lift my spirits.
“I already told you, Krasotka, I own you. You will never escape me.”