Chapter 23
Alexander
“The Russian attack has been confirmed.”
Jarvis was no longer amused, just as irritated as I’d become. “Meaning?”
“Remember Jimmy?”
I was standing in a room full of my soldiers and my brothers, preparing for a war that originally had nothing to do with my family. Unfortunately for the Barishnikoffs, they’d made the battle very much about us.
Now it was time for me to crush the opposition.
“Of course I do. What did our mole discover?”
“Additional confirmation the Russians are involved by way of Jimmy being shot. The dumb kid took a swing at discovering information as you ordered and failed.”
Bristling, I shook my head. “Dead or alive?”
“He’s alive and I took the chance you’d want him and his family in protective custody, his medical bills paid for.”
“You thought right.” I’d already determined the attacks on the warehouses hadn’t been done by Russo. I’d simply been too enraged at the time to decipher the clues. Russians were messy, leaving behind telltale signs.
Also, one of our security cameras had captured a single picture of one of the perpetrators and the tattoo on his neck.
A sign of Bratva loyalty.
I’d give the Russians credit. They’d done just enough to push two enemies into fighting with each other. Upon reflection, the proposed alliance was likely the reason we were all still alive.
For now.
“What now?”
He stood with his arms behind his back, waiting like the other men in the room, as well as my brothers for directions.
Sinclair eyed me carefully. Surprisingly, he was the one now amused by the situation. “You seem more relaxed than I can remember.”
Laughing softly, I realized I was quite content. “We have the upper hand.”
“Are you sure about that?” Montgomery asked.
“Very. I want security doubled at every warehouse, men covering Indulgence from every corner. There’s a new guest list at the club. That’s to be followed to the letter. I don’t give a shit who wants to get in; if they aren’t preapproved, they aren’t allowed.”
“I’ll take care of that,” Jarvis insisted and I nodded in response.
There were several turns of the chess game yet to be played and they would need to be done carefully. Certainly not the way I usually handled any act of betrayal. Perhaps I’d grow as a leader through this shit storm.
At least I knew my father hadn’t sold us out completely, instead being very creative in his thinking. Plus, he’d known me too well. The moment he learned about Catherine, he’d made the correct assumption that once I became intrigued I’d never be able to let her go.
“Above all, the family is to be protected.”
“Don’t worry, brother. We’re prepared.” I’d brought Sinclair in first, formally promoting him to the Underboss, a challenge he’d accepted.
Montgomery remained sprawled out across one of my chairs. “What are the next steps?”
“A visit to Russo first.”
“He’s no longer in the hospital after the stunt you pulled.” Jaxon wasn’t chastising, his smile one of respect.
“Which means round the clock care at his home?”
Jarvis nodded. “Perhaps hospice. Is the visit announced?”
“I made a call,” I answered. “He’ll invite me in or find his house burned to the ground.”
“What about our uncle?” The question was difficult for Sinclair to ask.
“Oh, he’ll soon learn his attempt at a coup failed.” In the last two days, I’d ordered business as usual, including allowing a short leash with my beautiful bride to be to return to work. I’d wanted everyone to believe we were comfortable in our beliefs no one would dare defy us.
By now, the Russians were likely getting antsy. That meant they’d possibly do something rash. Not that it mattered. Their days were numbered.
“What about Ms. Devereaux?” Montgomery grinned.
I’d found it next to impossible to keep my mind on business. In the two days of not having her by my side, I’d been unable to sleep, the loneliness fueling anger. But I’d learned to control my emotions because there was far too much to lose.
And everything to gain.
“She’s accepted her fate and had full understanding of her responsibilities.”
“What if she tries to escape?”
Turning my head, I studied my Capo. “She won’t. She’s well aware of the consequences.”
A wave of electricity swept through me first, the scent of her perfume infusing my senses soon after.
She’d arrived.
“Sinclair. You’ll go with us to visit Russo. Jarvis, you know what to do with the soldiers. I don’t want any interference at the meeting.”
“You’re far too trusting with Russo. What if he made a deal with the Pakhan instead?”
My laugh was heartfelt. “Then he’ll learn what the meaning of black magic truly is.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Catherine, her arrival pulling my full attention.
She was even more beautiful than I’d remembered. Two days had been too long.
With a determined look on her face, she entered the room just like the queen she would soon become.
“I need a few minutes then we leave for our visit with Russo.”
“Yes, sir.” Jarvis motioned to the other soldiers, only my brothers lingering as she approached.
All three were studying the interactions with the two of us. I wasn’t certain what they were looking for.
True love?
There was no such thing.
After greeting her, they finally left, leaving Catherine standing only a few inches away.
“You’re breathtaking,” I told her.
“And you’re still an arrogant bastard.”
“At this point, I’ll take that as a compliment.” I moved closer, my cock reacting immediately.
“That’s the only one you’re going to get.” She pressed her hand against my chest as if doing so would prevent me from getting any closer.
She should know better.
I took her hand in mine, bringing her knuckles to my lips. Her audible shudder was sweet music.
“If you think that’s going to work, you’re wrong.”
Her voice was husky and I studied her eyes as I rolled my lips across her fingers. The slight moan was a good indication I hadn’t lost my touch or my control over her.
Even though she felt it necessary to fight me. Her insistence she meet her birth father hadn’t surprised me. Nor had my initial denial, but if there was one thing she deserved, it was to be allowed to confront the man who’d taken advantage of her mother.
And maybe Russo would understand how many lives he’d affected with his act of lust.
“Then how about this,” I growled.
She stiffened when I captured her mouth but yielded to me as before. There was no denying the rush of need or the passion we shared. On this morning, she tasted of peppermint and a hint of her favorite hazelnut coffee.
I’d learned as many things about her as possible, including her favorite foods and beverages. Why? Because she was still my obsession.
She arched her back as soon as I thrust my tongue inside, her soft mews exactly what I needed to hear. As soon as I pulled away, she rubbed her thumb across my bottom lip.
“It wouldn’t bode well for you to be seen wearing lipstick.”
Her sweet breath cascaded across my face, the scent of her desire almost derailing the tight plans I had for the day.
Devouring her would come later after business was conducted.
A trap laid.
“Perhaps not. Are you certain you want to do this?”
Her eyes lit up as she took a decided step away. While her attire was somewhat conservative, her choice of a flaming red suit indicating power was a perfect selection.
My sweet angel wasn’t in the mood to take any shit.
From anyone.
“I assure you I can handle this.”
“Maybe I’m not worried about whether you can handle the situation, but about what you’ll do to Russo.”
She adjusted my tie as if it was necessary. “Perhaps he’ll learn not to piss off a powerful woman.”
“Perhaps you’re right.”
The two men guarding Russo’s house were none too happy to see us, acting as if they wouldn’t allow us in through the front door.
There was no reason to challenge them verbally. If I was refused entry, then I’d allow the Russians to gut the man and his business.
And Russo knew that.
Finally, both backed away from the door, one allowing us access.
“To think he lives a couple miles away from where you do,” Sinclair said from behind us.
“One big, happy family reunion,” I said in passing as we were led to a living room. Vitelli was convalescing, still attached to an IV, covered by a blanket, which couldn’t hide his frail condition.
While I approached first, he immediately noticed Catherine, the shock nothing I felt sorry about.
“Catherine,” he said, his voice shaking.
Her reaction was bland in comparison to the way she was feeling. In the two days since learning the truth, she’d gone through several emotions from disbelief to anger. Now she was unfettered by the fact she’d been spawned by a monster.
Soon to marry another.
“I hear you’re my father.” As expected, there was no emotion in her voice, just a benign assessment.
“Yes, I am. You are so…”
“Don’t say it,” she chastised. “Not that I’m beautiful or accomplished, talented or intelligent. While I am, that’s nothing you did. Your sperm created life and nothing else. My mother and father created the woman, one who’s kind and caring. And who follows the law.”
He appeared hurt, even angry, but noticed the moment I bristled. Thankfully for the man, he held his temper. “I never meant to hurt your mother. Or your… father.”
“Oh, really? You just raped my beautiful mother. Right? That is what you did. You were married, but that wasn’t enough.” She dared walk closer to the man. “When she refused your advances, you took what didn’t belong to you.”
The man made a mistake by refusing to answer her quickly.
“Didn’t you?”
“That was a long time ago,” he finally offered. “I was a different man.”
“Which means you believe that near your death your admittance will garner you a ticket to heaven?” she snarled. “Trust me. It won’t.”
“You have no understanding of what my life is like.”