Page 100 of Darkest Deeds

“Damn, what did she say?”

“I’m pretty sure she called all their mothers train station whores,” I mutter, making my way straight to the middle of the chaos. Still, I don’t intervene. I’m content to stand by and watch my girl in her element.

She looks fierce as hell standing up on one of the tables. It’s not just the dress she’s wearing, although no woman but her can wear a long, tight silver dress showing only a hint of skin and exude more sex appeal than a stripper in a G-string. It’s her confidence. Her dominance. Her ruthless control and the fact that I know there’s a gun in a thigh holster under that dress she’s itching to pull.

She’s still yelling when Blade sidles up beside me, his arms crossed over his chest. “She’s lettin’ ’em have it tonight ’cause Rose quit.”

“She quit?”

“Yep, told her she was goin’ back to Iowa to patch things up with her mama now that the woman dumped that piece of shit boyfriend. Ava’s happy for her, but she kinda got attached to that girl. Won’t admit it though. You know how she is.”

Stubborn. Prideful. Obstinate. About to rip some balls off because of it.

“Yes, I do.”

He nods toward the herd of belligerent officers. “Think they’ll ever back off?”

“Probably not.”

“Think she will?” Blade asks. I cock my chin and raise an eyebrow. He laughs, his big body shaking under his arms. “Yeah, I didn’t think so either.”

“She trusts you with her life, you know,” I tell him. “That’s why she made you her second.” Before he can respond, I jump back in. “I trust you too, but let me make myself very clear. If you ever betray her, I’ll cut you into so many pieces, they’ll be able to bury you in a dime bag.”

I know it won’t ever come to that because he doesn’t even flinch. I’m standing beside him threatening to dismember him until he’s ground beef, and the man doesn’t break a sweat. All he can focus on is Ava and how close those men are getting to her.

Loyalty.

“Looks like they’re leaving empty handed again,” he notes, nodding toward the line of policemen grumbling to themselves as they shuffle toward the exit.

“Mudaks.” Ava climbs down from her podium, shooting intermittent glares at their backs. It isn’t until she kicks a chair underneath the table that her eyes catch mine. She hesitates, then walks slowly and seductively toward me. When we’re nose to nose, she runs a hand down the front of my open jacket, thumbing the teeth of the zipper. “Hey there, stranger.”

“Have a little company, did you?”

She pops a hand on her hip and glances behind her. “Yes, well, considering the lack of prostitutes here to jerk them off these days, they’re bored. It seems running a legitimate club forces them to fuck their wives for a change.”

Seeing her like this is everything. She’s in her element, and a force to be reckoned with. Men’s eyes lower to the floor when she enters a room now. No longer a Bratva princess, the woman standing before me is a queen. The beginning and end of the Chernov empire.

My goddess. My everything.

My wife.

I run the back of my hand across her cheek. “I’ve missed you.”

“Oh?” Her lips twitch. “Have you been gone? I haven’t noticed.”

Ava’s eyes blaze with heat as her mouth dares me to defy her in front of her men. She’s playing a dangerous game, one where the rules can change in an instant. I may be her husband, but I’m still a killer. I can only be pushed so far before a marital competition becomes a battle of wills.

And damn this woman pushes me right to the edge.

“Blade, if you’ll excuse us.” Ava squeals as I bend down and toss her over my shoulder.

“Niko!” she hisses, letting out a yelp as I slap her ass. “I’m the boss! You’re undermining me in front of my employees.”

“Then I suggest you say something bossy.”

Lifting her head, she twists around and glares at them. “Fuck off.”

I shrug. “Not quite what I meant, but okay.”

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