Chapter Twenty-Three
Ivan
Leonid’s one brilliant bastard...
Of course, I knew that long before Simeone tried to blow him and Clare to pieces. His wits helped him rise through the ranks of the Bratva.
Tonight, those brains got us out of the pickle we were in and gave Simeone what he deserved. An agonizing death. They also made sure I didn’t pay the price for being slow. The Italian was five inches shorter and easily fifty pounds lighter than me.
In a fistfight, I would have destroyed him, but we never got to use our fists. He outran me and banged a door into my face. After that, he could have filled my body with bullets, but he didn’t. Instead, he decided to wait for Leonid to join us out on that roof so we could watch each other getting gunned down. It’s this greed that got him killed.
I love how Leonid managed to keep everything nice and neat. He didn’t just trick Simeone into thinking that sitting next to me was his last wish. No one would suspect foul play. To the outside world, Simeone is just a thug that fell to his own death. No bullet took his life. It was gravity that did the trick.
Cops could tear the building apart looking for clues and forensics, but one thing was certain: They wouldn’t find my fingerprints or Leonid’s. We wiped the elevator surfaces clean on our way down. Rurik hacked into the surveillance system of that hotel before we set off. By now, I’m sure he’s deleted all the evidence of my presence and Leonid’s.
For weeks, I had been positive what this drive home would be like. Leonid would be all smiles and cheerful, singing songs in the car and high-five’ing me every few minutes. He likes to show his emotions, no matter the circumstance. He doesn’t hide much—that’s who he is.
Well, I was wrong.
My brother is absolutely drained. This situation took a lot out of him; I can see it in his eyes. He may be smiling, but his body language is giving away his exhaustion. He’s slow to turn the steering wheel. He’s not the talkative Leonid that I’ve known all my life. Sighs leave his mouth every couple of minutes or so.
I can’t say that I mind this last bit. My heart hasn’t stopped pounding since my brother threw Simeone off that roof. I can sit back and relax. I can enjoy the feeling of victory against our rival.
The “Surfside” sign on our way puts a smile on my face. At last, I’m going to see Clare again. I can’t wait to see her reaction when she sees the two of us come through the front door. She’s been hiding from the world for weeks. She’s put her own life on hold because we thought the Armenians were too stubborn to let her go. There’s no threat now. Nobody’s going to harm her. She can finally celebrate her freedom.
Clare
If I had heels on, I’m pretty sure they would have dug holes in the living room floor.
I can understand why Leonid would leave me that letter. He was just trying to express himself and let me know that my adventure would soon be over. It was his way of telling me that he and Ivan would defend me, even if that led to their own demise. I appreciated the gesture; yet, it had a profound effect on me.
It plunged me deeper into a world of anxiety and fear.
I have been awake for over twenty-four hours. Not that I got much sleep prior to receiving Leonid’s letter. However, there’s a big difference between getting four or five hours of sleep and not getting any shut-eye at all. My body is screaming, “Go to bed; I’m too exhausted to stay awake anymore.” My brain is urging me to stay up and walk around the living room because my men are out there and I have no idea if they’re dead or alive.
I check the time on the clock over the wall. It’s almost one am as a light comes through the window in the corner. At first, I think it’s just some car passing by. The light becomes stronger and a noise from outside compels me to change my mind. I hear tires rolling on the dirt, a low engine rumble and male voices. There’s definite cheer in the air. Yuri and the rest of the guards are happy about something. They put their hands together, my heart racing in my chest on my way to the front door.
The view from outside is... breathtaking. Leonid and Ivan are engulfed in the arms of their comrades. Hands slamming together in high-fives, the guards congratulate them and hug them. It’s like I’m watching a basketball game where teammates celebrate a huge victory. At the end of this thought, a single word lingers in my mind.
Victory.
They won.
They’re alive and well.
Leonid brushes Yuri aside; he heads in my direction, wearing a precious smile. Ivan follows behind him, the men dispersing amid loud laughter.
I step back, shaking my head, my heart leaping for joy. Once Ivan’s closed the door behind him, I can’t—and won’t—hold back. I jump towards Leonid, my arms flying over my head. He throws his own arms out and catches me in mid-air. I squeeze him tight and wave Ivan closer.
My mouth presses into Leonid’s shoulder, tears rising up in my eyes. With my arms locked around their necks, I savor the closeness between us. My tears soak the fabric of Leonid’s shirt, my body trembling in these moments of quiet happiness.
“It’s over,” he announces in a soft voice. “It’s all over now. You’re free.”
“God...” I sniffle, easing back to look him in the eye. “You’re here. Alive. You came back to me.”
“Yes, we did,” Ivan confirms in a stronger tone. “Leonid threw that prick off a hotel roof.”
“That’s right.” Leonid gives a brief laugh. “Simeone tried to instigate a war between the Bratva and the Armenians by putting a bomb in my car. He’d planned to later finish off both of us and claim our territories for his family.”
“Thanks for the explanation, but it wasn’t necessary,” I say, sliding down Leonid’s chest. “You got rid of him. That’s all that matters to me. Listen...” I take a deep breath. “I need to take a shower. We can talk about this all you like later, okay? But for now, get ready for me.”
“Go ahead,” Leonid encourages, his sexy smile reappearing.
I turn away from them, my heart still pounding in my chest. My men have just given me the best news. I can touch them. I can feel them. They are unharmed. Leonid kept his promise.
The large shower in the bathroom has never looked more inviting. I take off my clothes and leave them on the hamper by the sink, happiness spreading through my insides. I step over the side of the bathtub and bend down to turn on the faucet. Hot water hits me as I tip my head back, my lips curled into a smile of bliss. Streams running down my chest, I sit on the floor. Tension evaporates from my body with every second that goes by. A sense of relaxation enveloping me, I close my eyes and spread my left arm over the side of the enclosure and use the right one to rub water up and down my chest.
“Smoking hot. Keep it up.”
A raspy whisper caresses my ears, and my eyes snap open. Leonid is bending down over me in all his naked glory, his face an inch from mine. Right beside him, Ivan is taking in my nudity, the tip of his tongue sticking out from the corner of his lips. His cut shoulders form shadows over his arms. He’s completely naked, his gaze lingering on my breasts before traveling up my body to meet mine.
“You are so bad,” I say in a husky voice as waves of arousal crash through me. I toss my arm around Leonid’s neck and pull him close. Ivan brushes his fingers across my calf. Leonid’s hand massages my stomach.
Hunger takes hold of me. Hunger to touch and be touched.
I roll my shoulder and keep my legs apart, my other arm clasping Leonid’s shoulder. Ivan’s fingers scrape up my inner thigh. My core is already welcoming with the first traces of moisture. God, I’ve been needing this for far too long: the night where my men and I would finally be free of danger. The night when they would both claim me and offer me pleasure, without worrying about any dangerous men wanting to kill us.
The tip of Ivan’s finger circles my entrance. I whimper in Leonid’s mouth. He squeezes my breast and rubs his thumb over my nipple, shivers starting to envelop my body. My toes curl as Ivan’s middle and index fingers make contact with my clit. A gentle rub later, I ease my hips off the bathtub, showing my need for more.
Ivan doesn’t disappoint. Trailing his thumb up my slit, his fingers then run a complete circle around my clit. I tilt my head back and bite my lower lip, a moan escaping me. I gaze up into Leonid’s eyes, only one thing dominating my thoughts.
“I want your cock,” I growl, gripping the firm skin of his neck. “Right now.”
He doesn’t verbalize. Instead, he straightens himself up, presenting his throbbing manhood, his friend joining me in the bathtub. I reach up and stroke Leonid’s balls for a moment, Ivan grabbing my ankles. He raises my legs in the air and bends towards me, my fingers running up Leonid’s shaft. I tease the tip with my thumb, the sound of Ivan’s groans mixing with his friend’s grunts.
I exhale hard before guiding Leonid to my mouth. I take the tip in, making his body stiffen. His saltiness fills my taste buds. I lick a tiny drop of pre-cum off. Ivan is not making this easy for me at all. He French kisses my pussy, the tip of his tongue nudging my clit before his lips travel down my slit. They move up, collecting some of my juices.
I use my free hand to turn off the faucet, Leonid’s shaft sliding further down my throat.
“You’re so fucking hungry,” Leonid groans, his thigh muscles clenching.
“Mmmm-hmmmm,” I hum, bobbing my head up and down on his cock. Ivan’s tongue teases my entrance. My pussy throbs. I lean forward and put my hand on top of his head. I press him down onto me, aching for some more of his moves. Little do I know about the surprise he has in store for me. He pushes the tip of his tongue through my folds, sending delicious sensations throughout my body. I moan harder, my legs dangling over his shoulders as more of his tongue penetrates me.
I am lost in a cloud of lust and desire, my mouth stretching around Leonid’s cock. Ivan is pushing his tongue in and out of me, my juices spreading across it. His friend rolls his hips back and forth, searching for more satisfaction. And I’m going to give him more. He earned it, just like Ivan. By keeping me safe. By protecting me and disposing of anybody who meant us harm.
I grip the shaft and pull it out of my mouth, enjoying its stiffness in my fist. Moan after moan flies out of my mouth, and I struggle to focus on Leonid. My eyes are getting blurrier by the second; Ivan’s assault on my senses continuing without relent. In this flurry of sensations, I look down. I flash a sexy smile at Ivan and curl my index finger towards him.
“You’re fucking delicious, Clare,” he praises, putting an end to his worship. He sits up, taking his manhood in his palm. He strokes the tip as I lick my lips and spread my legs wider. I can’t believe my drive. I’m acting like I haven’t been with anyone in months. I feel his throbbing manhood at my entrance, shifting my gaze to Leonid’s rock-hard cock. I cup his balls, squeezing my eyes shut.
My pussy spreads around his friend’s shaft, welcoming him in inch by inch. With a harder moan, I shove him back into my mouth. I lick my way down the side of his shaft, Ivan’s deep hard strokes offering me waves of erotic bliss.
They’re under my spell now. They’re both inside me, in search for more satisfaction and pleasure.
Ivan kisses my ankle and leans forward and drives deeper into me. His strokes are sending ripples down my thighs, my pussy gripping him tighter. I rub my clit faster, understanding just how close my orgasm is. I keep Leonid’s cock more than halfway in my mouth, groaning all over his length as my climax slams into me. My entire body surrenders to tremendous sensations, more of my juices mixing with Ivan’s pre-cum.
“You look so hot when you come with my dick in your mouth,” Leonid says, before I slide him out. A large drop of my saliva dribbles down the center of his shaft. I snake my tongue out of my mouth. Ivan pulls his drenched cock out of me, purring and stroking my thighs.
Within moments, they have switched places. Only now, I need something different. So, I turn around and present my ass to Leonid, my left hand on the bathtub floor. I reach across to pull Ivan closer, bringing his throbbing cock just inches from my face. He leans across, his hand flat against the wall, his other one cupping the back of my head.
“Oh, God!” I moan, the feel of Leonid’s rock-hard shaft filling my insides with satisfaction. He holds my ass cheeks apart a moment before his slap makes my body jerk forward. I feel its sting on my skin, swirling my tongue around the tip of Ivan’s cock. He withdraws more than halfway and fills me up once more, stretching out my soaking wet pussy.
I shake my ass from side to side, jerking Ivan in my palm, panting over the head of his manhood. He growls at the sensation of my lips on his shaft, tossing his head back.
“You want more, little one?” Leonid teases me, withdrawing yet again.
“All, baby,” I gasp out, my hand sticky with a mix of my juices and my saliva. “I want it all.
“Then, take it all,” he commands, stroking me deeper. Feeling him all the way in, I look back at him over my shoulder. We make eye contact, my ass cheeks wobbling hard as his delicious penetration sends me closer and closer to heavenly bliss. I look up at the flexing muscles in Ivan’s stomach, his enormous chest heaving over me. He bucks into my fist faster, telling me he’s not far from fulfillment.
With every stroke, he bumps into my lips. I keep them open, willing to offer him more of their wetness. Leonid’s cock is pulsating inside me, the air full of our sounds of pleasure. I tug on Ivan’s shaft and jerk, my entire body sliding closer to the edge of the bathtub. I feel a minor burn on my knees, but that’s not going to stop me. I’m in the embrace of sexiness, satisfying my men while they please me.
“Fuck!” Ivan grunts, his knees shaking as streams of his semen shoot out over my head. Leonid jerks out of me almost at the same time. I sense the warmth of his essence all over my ass cheeks, waves of heat still roaring through my insides.
Once they’ve caught what they can of their breath, they lift me up and out of the tub. I feel like a spoiled brat during our short walk back to my bedroom. They lay me down and join me in silence. In the middle of the bed, I snake my arms around their shoulders, savoring the afterglow.
“Greedy little one,” Leonid teases me with a chuckle. He lays a gentle kiss on my cheek, his fingers sliding up my stomach.
“True. She can’t get enough,” Ivan agrees, squeezing my forearm in a playful manner.
“Of either of you,” I purr like a contented cat, spoiled for choice. I don’t know who I should snuggle into. In the end, they save me from the trouble by leaning closer. Their necks brushing my cheeks, I feel like I’m in heaven. I open my eyes and look up at Leonid. He’s leaning against his shoulder, staring at me with a loving gaze. “I love you,” I confess and turn my attention to his friend. “I love you, too.”
“And I love you, Clare,” Leonid says in a sweet voice, his fingers stopping at the base of my neck.
“I love you, too, little one,” Ivan says, his tone deep as he strokes my shoulder.
I flex my arm muscles and pull them closer. At least, I try to—I’m too small to expect them to move much. My eyelids roll shut, their kisses on my cheek and my temple sending even more warmth into my heart.
I lay there, utterly exhausted but floating in a sea of bliss and satisfaction. I am surrounded by two bad asses who would do just about anything to protect me. They would bash heads and go up against an Italian gangster if they needed to. If I didn’t know that at the beginning, I’m sure of it now. I admit I was rather apprehensive in the early days of this ordeal. I didn’t know them any more than they knew me. In spite of that, my men won me over.
My men... Just thinking of this is enough to bring a smug smile to my face. They are mine and I’m theirs. It might get complicated somewhere down the line, but I’m not afraid. Leonid and Ivan are like brothers. They love each other with the same ferocity that they love me. If their egos get in their way, I’ll be there to put out any fires.
We’ve been through too much together to allow selfishness to destroy what we have. I’ll be there to remind them of our powerful bond. To confess my love to them, over and over again. A love they’ve been earning, ever since they rescued me from nsavory characters. A love that I know will endure whatever life throws at us.
***
Watch for book two in the Yelchin Bratva duet, Twisted Vows. Malachi and Rurik will be put to the test in this next story of opposites-attract mafia romance:
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The world thinks we’re devils – and to protect one innocent soul, we’re willing to prove it.
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Malachi and Rurik
As top security for Miami’s Yelchin Bratva, upholding order and eliminating threats is our duty, and we do our job with stony faces and closed hearts. But when a routine coffee run brings Nika Andreev into our orbit, she awakens something we’ve forced ourselves to forget: hope.
When our rivals, a vicious Armenian gang, target Nika as a pawn in their power play, our world tilts on its axis. Unaware of the danger, she carries on with her pure heart and innocent dreams, oblivious to the war brewing in the shadows.
As the threat escalates, so does our resolved to keep her safe. Our skills, honed for destruction, now find a new purpose – to shield the one good thing in our brutal lives.
We might not be good by anyone’s standards – but our angel deserves the best, and we’ll bring hellfire down on the city to give it to her.
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