Chapter 47
JAY
Vodka. Cigars. Single malt whisky. The hours passed in an inescapable blur of syndicate bonding time, interspersed with games of poker.
The stakes grew higher as the night went on, and I tapped out after the fourth round, leaving the card table on the pretence of getting another drink.
Yeah, my family was rich, but not like the Thorpes and the Hoytons were, and none of us was near the level of the wealth the Volkovs enjoyed.
I hadn’t even touched any alcohol, and being one of the only sober people around an increasingly inebriated group of crime lords made the evening even more excruciating.
Taking my chance, I exited through the doors that led onto a small terrace. Leaning back against the stone wall, I inhaled the fresh air, banishing the second-hand smoke from my lungs.
“Everything okay, mate?”
Rolling my head to the side, I took in the sight of Dan leaning against the wall next to me, dressed in a thick puffer jacket. “Yeah. But are you? Where are you going?”
“It’s cold.” He blew out a heavy breath, a cloud of condensation appearing in the air. “See?”
“It’s not that cold. I’m not wearing a coat, and I’m okay.”
“Yeah, but your hoodie’s thick.”
“Daniel.”
“Alright, fine. I’m going to tie up some loose ends, if you must know.”
My brows rose. “Loose ends?”
“Yeah. You know, in case Operation Foxglove decides they wanna investigate the clinic. I’m going to make sure they don’t.”
I’d forgotten all about Operation Foxglove.
“How are you going to do that?”
“I have my ways,” he said, then mimed zipping his lips shut. “Your family’s been through enough shit. You don’t need that stress on top of everything else.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “Thanks, Dan.”
“Ah, uh, yeah.” He scuffed the ground with the toe of his shoe. “It’s for selfish reasons too, though. One goes down, we all go down. I’m not a saint or anything.”
“I know that. Still, thanks.”
“Yeah. I wonder if Bellingham will thank me when I’m through with him.” He gave me a wild grin, his teeth gleaming in the light spilling from the smoking room windows. “I guess I’m gonna find out. See ya later, Banks.”
“Bellingham? What the fuck? Dan!”
Of course, he’d already disappeared into the night. I groaned, tipping my head back. It was probably best that I didn’t know what he was planning.
“Dan?”
“You just missed him,” I told Ryker as he came to a stop in front of me. “He said he was going to make sure Operation Foxglove didn’t investigate the clinic. Then he mentioned something about Lincoln Bellingham and disappeared before I could ask him about it.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Ryker muttered. “He needs to get over this fucked-up obsession he has with him.”
“I fucking wish.”
“Jay… While we’re here, I wanted to speak to you.”
I was instantly on alert at Ryker’s serious tone. “What’s up?”
“I want you to know that I don’t have a problem with you being with Nova. But do not fuck it up. Do not break her heart, okay? You’re my best friend, but she comes first. If you hurt her, I’ll have to make you pay.”
“Yeah.” I licked my lips. “You don’t have to worry about that. I know how special she is, and I’m going to do everything I can to ensure her happiness. If anything ever happens, and I’m going to do my level fucking best to make sure nothing does, you have my full permission to make me pay.”
He snorted. “Thanks for the permission.” Clapping me on the shoulder, he grinned. “Nova’s good with a knife. Just in case you needed a reminder.”
I returned his grin. “Yeah, she is.”
“I trust you, mate. I know you’ll treat her well. This is the best outcome I could’ve hoped for. No one else is good enough for my sister…except for Dan…nah, not Dan. He’s too obsessed with Bellingham to give her the love she deserves.”
“Do you think she would’ve been happy with Volkov if none of this had happened?” I wasn’t sure why I was torturing myself with the what-ifs, but I wanted to know.
Ryker’s brows pulled together as he thought about it.
“Happy… If you weren’t in the picture, maybe she would’ve eventually become content with him.
He would’ve treated her well. But happy?
No. I don’t think either of them would’ve been happy.
Not like she is with you.” Straightening up, he glanced at something over my shoulder, his expression shuttering again. “See you back inside.”
When I turned to see why he’d suddenly clammed up, I found Anton Volkov standing at the edge of the terrace with a glass of whisky in hand and his gaze laser-focused on me.
I studied him warily as Ryker disappeared inside the house, leaving the two of us alone. “Volkov. What can I do for you?”
“No.”
“No?” I stared at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that we are going to refer to each other by our first names, unless we’re playing hockey.”
“Uh…what?”
He sighed. “I think we are on a first-name basis now, after you saved my life. I won’t forget it.”
“That was— You saved Nova’s. If it hadn’t been for you, we wouldn’t have even found her, and we wouldn’t have had backup, or—”
He stalked across the terrace, shoving a finger into my chest. “No. If it hadn’t been for my family, there would have been no danger to Nova to begin with. There would have been no danger to your family’s business. My family has honour, and we take responsibility for our actions.”
“It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know.”
“Igor was operating under the Volkov Syndicate name, and he is a Volkov problem to deal with. We will right the wrongs and continue our partnership with the Thorpe Syndicate and your father.” He paused, taking a sip of his whisky, and then added, “Without the additional insurance of marriage this time, as a show of trust and goodwill between us. Nova is free to be with you, and Igor will pay for his betrayal.”
I still couldn’t quite wrap my head around the fact that this had all happened, let alone in such a short space of time. “How will he pay? If you need any help…”
Anton smirked at me. “You have no stomach for torture. King told me how green you were after dealing with the Thorpe betrayer.”
“Fuck off. I want to make him pay for what he did to Nova.”
“He will. He has embarrassed our family. We will continue to interrogate him until we learn the full extent of his betrayal. Then he will be publicly disowned. His wounds will be healed, and he will be exiled to Russia.” His lip curled.
“He will not like it there. It is…very different from the life we are accustomed to here.”
“Even so, he gets exiled and then what? He gets to live out the rest of his life? That doesn’t seem like punishment enough.”
“The rest of his very short life. Just when he thinks he is safe, he will suffer an unfortunate accident leading to a drawn-out, painful death. By the end, he will be begging for mercy. Of course, we operate from the United Kingdom, with many legitimate, lucrative business interests, so…” Anton shrugged.
“So no one can pin it on you,” I summarised. “Okay, I can live with that. And…uh, thank you. Really. I mean it.”
“I know you do. You are a lucky man to have a woman who cares for you the way Nova does.”
For the first time, I could look at him without any resentment.
Without anger or hurt. And with the cloud of judgement gone, I could appreciate him for who he was.
An honourable man who had done the right thing.
A man who’d conceded gracefully. A man who was a fucking good hockey player and teammate.
“I am lucky,” I said. “You will be too, V—Anton.”
He shook his head. “Love is not for me. I will do what I need to when I graduate, and in the meantime, I will enjoy the company of many beautiful women.”
Once, I might have been tempted to agree with him, but having a woman as amazing as Nova Thorpe love you? There was nothing I’d exchange for that. Nothing.
“Alright,” I said, rather than vocalising my thoughts aloud. We’d only just called a tentative truce, after all. “But you forgot one thing.”
One brow lifted. “Which is?”
“Before you graduate, you’re going to help the Cranham Kings get to the playoffs. Or at least finish above Whelford.”
“We will. We are a good team.”
A grin curved over my lips. “Yes, we fucking are.”
This time, when he held out his hand to me, we didn’t shake. We bumped our fists together, which was something I could never have imagined doing with him before tonight.
I shook my head, still grinning. “This is weird. But good.”
“Yes. To both.”
Pushing off the wall, I moved towards the door. “I’d better get back inside. I’ve been out here for too long.”
“Jay?”
“Yeah?” I paused, turning back to him.
“That favour you owed me when I utilised my connections to hack the accounts? Consider it repaid in full.”
“That’s enough ice.” Nova lifted the pack from her head, placing it on the low glass table next to the chaise longue she was reclining on. “I’ll do it again in the morning.”
“There are three more packs in the freezer, and I’ll refreeze this one for you tomorrow.” I glanced at my phone. “It’s time for more painkillers now.”
“What it is, is time for my boyfriend to cuddle me.”
Flashing her a grin, I tapped the packet of pills. “First these. Then I’ll do a lot more than cuddle you.”
“Is that so?” Her voice turned breathy, her pupils dilating, and my cock was instantly on board.
I wanted to lose myself in her gorgeous body, to make her mine again, and again, and again, but I wouldn’t.
Not until she was completely healed. Every time I heard that rasp in her voice, every time I caught a glimpse of her bruised skin, every time the painkillers wore off and she tried to hide a wince, I felt it like knives piercing my flesh.
No, I wouldn’t take her the way I knew we both wanted to, but there were other things we could do in the meantime.
Other ways I could make her feel good. So fucking good.
We were in a room with no lock on the door, but just in case, I’d dragged a heavy wingback chair in front of it.
I wasn’t particularly worried about anyone disturbing us, though.
We were tucked away in the guest wing of the manor, and the likelihood of anyone stumbling across us so late at night was minimal.
When Nova had swallowed the pills with a large gulp of water, I moved everything away from the chaise longue to give myself enough space, and then I lowered myself to my knees next to her.
“Mmm. Hello.”
“Hello.” Placing my hand on her calf, I trailed it upwards. “You’re wearing too many clothes.”
Her gaze flicked down my body, stopping at the place where my cock was tenting my trousers. “So are you.”
“Maybe we should do something about that.” Curling my fingers around her waistband, I rubbed my knuckles over her soft skin. “What do you think?”
“I think…yes.” Her hands joined mine, and together, we uncovered her beautiful body. I sucked in a breath at the sight of the bruises marring her skin, mentally making it my mission to kiss every single one of them until they disappeared for good.
She reached for me, tugging at my hoodie, and I got the message.
Rising to my feet, I stripped out of my clothes as quickly as I could, wrapping my fingers around my cock and stroking when I was fully bared to her.
I groaned at the touch, and Nova licked her lips, rubbing her thighs together as she watched me avidly.
“You like that, do you?” I said in a low voice.
“Yes. Please. I need it.”
“You need what?” I brushed my thumb over my sensitive cockhead, gathering up the precum beading at the tip.
“You.” Her pupils were blown wide, her hands playing with her gorgeous tits and her body writhing under my perusal. My girlfriend was so. Fucking. Hot.
“Yeah?” Inching closer, I pressed my thumb to her pouty lips. “Taste me.”
The moan that fell from her mouth when she opened for me was so fucking sinful, it made my cock jerk. I slid my hand up her legs, pushing her thighs apart.
Fuck me. The evidence of her arousal was fucking intoxicating, and I needed a taste. Lowering my head, I began to circle my thumb over her clit as I licked a line down her pussy.
“Jay.” Her fingers tugged urgently at my hair, and I chuckled against her.
“Keep playing with your pretty tits, Nova.” When she complied, I dragged my tongue over her pussy again before flicking it against her clit. She gasped, her thighs jerking as I continued to tease her with my fingers and tongue.
“Ohhhh, fuck,” she moaned, thrusting her hips upwards.
I gave her what she wanted, increasing the pressure as I sucked and licked and rubbed her, getting her wetter and wetter as she drew closer to the edge.
It was the hottest thing I’d ever seen, having her so uninhibited beneath me, taking her pleasure, and if I hadn’t known it already, this had cemented it—I was fucking addicted to making Nova Thorpe feel good.
Raising my head, I took in her heavy-lidded gaze and huge pupils, her breasts heaving as she clenched and unclenched her fists in my hair. She was so fucking close. “You gonna come for me?”
“Y-yes,” she panted.
I lowered my head, pumping my fingers inside her as I closed my mouth over her clit. “You taste so fucking good,” I growled against her, and she shattered, her hands tightening in my hair to hold me in place until she was completely spent.
“Jay,” she whimpered. “Come here.”
Lifting myself onto my elbows, I licked my lips. “Fuuuuck. You’re amazing.” I climbed to my feet, my cock throbbing as I took in the sight of my girl, flushed and completely satisfied, and so gorgeous I couldn’t quite believe she was really mine. How did I get so lucky?
“Let me.” She lifted her hand, but I shook my head.
“Not this time, princess. Just lie back while I leave my mark on you.”
Her blissed-out gaze flashed with heat. “Do it. Come on me, Jay. Please.”
We both wanted this. A mark that she’d chosen, that wouldn’t mar or hurt her.
My fucking mark.
Gripping my cock, I stroked it hard and fast over her body, knowing it would only be a matter of seconds. My balls drew up, and I groaned, painting her sexy, swollen tits with hot stripes of my cum.
She pulled me down to her, wrapping her arms around my neck and giving me a breathless kiss. I raised my head enough to meet her wide eyes, dark pupils ringed with the softest grey, before I brushed my mouth over hers again. “I love seeing my mark on you. I love you so much.”
“Mmm. Same. I love you too,” she replied. “More than you could ever know. And now you’re mine. Properly.”
“Yes, I fucking am. And you belong to me, Nova. Now I have you, I’m never letting you go.”