Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Kirill
We spent most of the evening and well into the night planning our attacks on Michael. Assembling the ammunition, the guns, and selecting the men we could trust to help launch this strike.
Maxim had already reached out to Ivan and he’d agreed to meet us in the morning. By the time we finished, it was past midnight, and I was bone-tired.
I hadn’t slept on the plane. While Milana dozed, I stayed awake, keeping watch, refusing to let my guard down even for a second.
When I finally make it to the bedroom where we’ll be staying, Milana is already fast asleep, curled up on the bed. Seeing her like this, peaceful, breathing even, helps something inside me relax.
I take off my clothes and head into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the day’s tension.
I step out of the shower, dry off, and climb into bed. The moment I lie down, Milana stirs and reaches for me. Even in her sleep, she seeks me out. I pull her closer, breathing in her scent, letting it ground me.
She stirs again, slowly opening her eyes. “Kirill?”
“I’m here,” I whisper, kissing her forehead. “Go back to sleep.”
With a sleepy voice, she asks, “How did the meeting with my brothers go?”
“Everything went well,” I murmur. “Everything is on track. We’re going to see Ivan tomorrow.”
She hums softly, then stirs again, pressing a kiss to my neck. “I’m so glad we’re safe.”
“Me too,” I say, kissing her forehead, then her lips.
She drifts off with her head on my chest, one leg thrown over my waist. I wrap my arms around her, holding her close. Exhaustion finally takes over, and I fall asleep too.
The chiming of my phone on the nightstand wakes me. I reach for it, groggy, and feel Milana stir beside me.
“Who is it?” she mumbles, voice thick with sleep.
I open the message. Blood drains from my face the second I see it. It’s a picture of us at the club in Manchester. Me dancing with Milana, the look on my face unmistakable.
Underneath it, a message from Michael: For a second, I almost believed you when you said you didn’t care about the Morozov girl.
If you wanted to keep selling that story, you shouldn’t have looked so smitten with her at the club.
You’ve been taking me for a fool, Kirill.
Now I’m going to show you what happens when someone messes with me.
I close the message quickly, but Milana has already peeped over my shoulder. I see the fear flash across her face.
I turn to her, cupping her face with both hands. “Don’t be scared. Michael can’t get to you. I won’t let him.”
She starts panicking, voice rising. “What if he does? What if he hurts my family? Now he knows we’re really together.”
“Calm down,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “Michael will not succeed. We’re going to get him before he gets us.”
But she’s too worked up. She keeps tossing and turning in bed, unable to settle. I pull her into my arms, holding her still against my chest.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I just can’t stop thinking about all the possibilities. What if he succeeds?”
I kiss her forehead. “Stop worrying. Michael isn’t going to succeed.”
She still can’t relax. I glance at the clock. It’s past two. We both need to be up soon.
I pull her closer and kiss her deeply, pouring everything I feel into it. The need to protect her, the fear of losing her, the love I’m still learning how to name. She melts into me, kissing me back, her hands clutching my shoulders.
As I kiss her, I shift our positions so I’m on top, my body covering hers. My hands roam over her, sliding under the nightgown she’s wearing.
She’s bare underneath, just the way I love. I slip a finger inside her, finding her already wet. She gasps into my mouth as I start working her, curling my finger just right.
Soon she’s moaning, but I swallow every sound with my kiss, deepening it as I slide a second finger inside her. I fuck her with them, steady and deep, the obscene wet sounds of her pussy filling the bedroom.
She’s so responsive, so perfect, bucking against my hand, chasing the pleasure I’m giving her.
I slip my fingers out and bring them to her mouth. She takes them greedily, sucking and licking, eyes locked on mine. Then I kiss her again, tasting both of her on her tongue.
I help her out of her nightgown, and stare deeply into her eyes as I slowly slide into her. She lets out a cry that I swallow with another kiss, her walls gripping me tight as I fill her completely.
I start moving, slow and deep at first, savoring the way she feels around me. “I'll keep you safe,” I groan against her lips. “Do you trust me to do that?”
“Yes…” she whimpers against my lips.
I pull all the way out and slam back in. “You're mine. No one is taking you away from me.”
“Oh… yes… Kirill…”
I bring my hand to her throat, wrapping it gently but firmly, just the way she likes. I feel her pulse racing under my palm as I thrust into her, watching her eyes roll back, her body arching. She comes hard, crying out into my mouth, her walls pulsing around me.
I follow soon after, emptying myself deep inside her with a low groan, filling her completely.
I fall to her side, both of us breathless. Then I pull her on top of me, kissing her forehead, then her lips, slow and tender. I hold her close, her head on my chest, her leg thrown over my waist.
Soon her breathing evens out as she falls asleep on me. I kiss the top of her head one last time, letting exhaustion finally take me under too.
The next morning, after making sure both Calina and Milana are safe and protected by Maxim’s most trusted men, Maxim, Artyom, Mikhail, and I head to meet with Ivan.
Ivan’s property is a sprawling, heavily fortified estate tucked away in a secluded part of Manhattan. High walls topped with discreet security cameras surround the grounds.
We pass through multiple checkpoints, armed guards at the gate, more at the inner perimeter, and another layer before we even reach the main house. The place is designed like a fortress. No one gets in or out without being seen.
Ivan welcomes us personally in a large, elegantly furnished study. “Welcome gentlemen. Maxim has already filled me in on what’s going on,” he says, gesturing for us to sit.
“I sincerely apologize for the trouble. Michael has always been a loose cannon. That’s one of the reasons we never allowed him into the society, even though his father was once vice president.”
We talk strategy for a while, what resources we need, how to coordinate the strike, and who we can trust. When we’re done, Ivan leans back in his chair.
“I can offer you some of my men to help engage Michael. But what I would also suggest as a form of help, because I owe Maxim, is that you bring both Maxim’s wife and her sister to stay on my property here.
“While you’re away handling this, you won’t have to worry about their security.
Michael will be looking for them and will likely attack any of your known properties.
But here? This is the last place he’d expect them to be.
Staying here keeps them safer. The other wives can remain in their safe houses. ”
I think it over. It’s a solid plan on paper, but it doesn’t sit well with me. Leaving Milana’s safety in someone else’s hands, even someone as capable as Ivan, feels wrong.
The others discuss it among themselves and agree it’s a good idea. Mikhail turns to me. “This is the best way to make sure she’s secured while we’re focused on taking Michael down. The property is secure enough that we don’t have to worry.”
I clench my jaw but nod. “Fine. We’ll bring them here.”
Milana
I look forward to the day when all of this is over and we can stop moving from place to place just to stay safe. My family, all of us.
As we arrive at Ivan’s property along with my sister, Maxim, Kirill, and some guards, I can’t help but wonder if this will be the last safe place we go to.
Are we going to have to move again? Will we really be safe from Michael here?
Mikhail and Artyom stayed behind to make the final preparations for the attack. Maxim and Kirill were supposed to join them afterward.
After we’ve been welcomed, and Ivan assures us we’ll be safe on his property, he tells us to go with a maid who will show us to our rooms. While the men remain downstairs to talk business.
Kirill pulls me close for a moment, kissing me softly. “I’ll come check on you before we leave.”
I nod, squeezing his hand before following the maid and Calina upstairs.
The maid leads us down a long, elegant hallway, and gestures to two different bedrooms. “One for each of you.”
Calina and I look at each other. “We’d like to stay together in one room, if you don’t mind,” I say.
The maid hesitates for a second, then nods. “Of course.”
She opens one of the bedroom doors and leads us into a spacious suite.
A king-sized canopy bed sits at the center of the room, while a cozy sitting area with a cream-colored sofa and two armchairs are arranged beside a marble fireplace. Calina and I settle onto the sofa.
“What can I get for you?” The maid asks.
Calina and I shake our heads. “We’re not hungry,” I say.
The maid nods. “How about some coffee? Juice?”
Calina smiles. “Coffee would be great.”
“I’ll take water,” I say.
The maid leaves, and I look around the room again. There’s this unease I can’t place my finger on. It settles in my chest, making me restless.
“I feel this unease,” I tell Calina. “I can’t explain it, but it’s there.”
She takes my hand. “You need to stop worrying. The men are going to get Michael before he gets to us. Put your mind at rest.”
I try. But the more I try to calm myself, the more the unease grows. The maid returns with Calina’s coffee and my water. I don't it.
Calina takes a long drink of her coffee and sighs. “I really need to work on my coffee addiction.”
We both laugh, the sound light in the big room, and for a moment, the unease fades just a little.
Not long after, Calina suddenly pauses, her cup halfway to her lips. “That’s strange… I’m feeling sleepy.” She places the cup back on the tray, blinking slowly. “Isn’t coffee supposed to keep me alert?”
“Yeah,” I say, frowning.
“I’m drowsy. Maybe I should walk around the room…”
I watch her try to fight it, her eyelids drooping as she speaks. Her words start to slur, becoming drowsy and slow.
Then, without warning, she falls back onto the sofa, completely limp.
“Calina!” I panic, shaking her shoulder. “Calina, wake up! Are you okay? Calina!”
She doesn’t stir. She’s knocked out cold, breathing steady but unnaturally deep.
My heart races. What if her drink was spiked? But why would Calina’s drink be spiked? We’re supposed to be safe here.
I need to get downstairs. I need to get Maxim and Kirill. We have to leave here fast.