Page 103 of Owned By Shadows

The beat of the club pulses inside me, like a call to my blood, encouraging me to let go for the first time in a long time. It’s been just over a year since Novak came into our lives and Bubby left, and becoming a parent has been a rollercoaster, even if there are five of us.

Plus Nik has had to become the big boss as we like to tease him, taking over the London branch of the Bratva and changing it from the inside. No more human trafficking, hard drugs, or weapons. Sure, a lot of what he does is still very much illegal, but it’s not hurting innocent people, and we even set up a program to get all the women Sergi trafficked back on their feet. It’s beena long road, but one I’m most proud of when I see them reunited with their families or succeeding in their business ventures.

“Did I tell you how fucking stunning you look, Peaches?” Hunt purrs as his body warmth heats my back. I’m wearing a dress that is like the one I wore to Depravity all that time ago, except this one has pink sequins. His large hands glide down my skin, making it pebble, and I shiver, my nipples tightening to aching points. Shit, hopefully I don’t start leaking. Breastfeeding is not glamorous.

We’re looking out over their rebuilt club, after Nik blew up Depravity, a fact that Hunt still won’t let him live down. Decadence is a more sophisticated version of Depravity, all red velvet and crystal. We’re on the glass balcony, looking over the crowd of dancers below us, sexy men and women in cages up in the air, covered in glitter and making everyone wild with their dance moves.

Besides the music club, Decadence now sports another, more adult club in the basement. My addition and something I’ve been helping to run, which has taken off beyond our expectations.

Not what I envisaged myself doing. I thought I’d do something with fashion, but it makes me thrilled to provide a space where people can explore all their desires and needs safely. Plus, I have been designing my brand of lingerie, which is almost ready to launch.

“Come downstairs with me,” Hunt says, not a question but more of a demand.

“But Ro hasn’t finished his set yet,” I tell him, indicating the DJ booth and Roman rocking it out up there, a big grin on his face as he mixes tunes like it gives him life.

“He’ll join us when he’s done,” Hunt states, taking my hand in his and leading me towards the stairs that lead down to the basement. “And I want to make the most of our child-free night.”

I giggle, knowing exactly where he’s coming from, even if a twinge of worry fills my stomach. Mai, the midwife who helped me when I was pregnant and the twins’ cousin, is babysitting Novak for the first time overnight for us. In our warehouse home, of course, so Novak is in familiar surroundings, but it’ll be the first time we’re all away from him for most of the night.

“Do you think he’ll be okay?” I worry my lower lip between my teeth as we walk down the stairs.

Hunt pauses, turning so we are chest to chest. “He will be fine, Peaches. He knows Mai and she’ll call if anything changes. She has some of your milk, so can settle him if he wakes.”

My boobs tingle—a thing I did not know happened until after my milk came in—and I groan, knowing that I’ll need to at least squeeze some milk out, otherwise it’ll get uncomfortable.

“I’m going to have to express soon,” I say, and Hunt’s green eyes flare in the low lights.

“You know I don’t mind it from the source.” His voice is low, and I flush, remembering his delight at my lactating breasts, which he indulges in when I let him. Seems Daddy has a bit of a kink that none of us knew about.

He gives me a knowing smirk, then continues to lead me down the stairs until we reach the opulent reception for the adult club.

“Mr and Mrs Anderson, a pleasure to see you,” our host greets, and I grin at him.

“Hello, Jonny,” I say, my smile wide for my friend, who agreed to be the host and manager for this part of the club. We’ve become even closer in the past twelve months, and he’s become my best friend. We often try—and fail—to escape our overbearing Shadows.

“You look stunning, babe, so fuckable,” Jonny replies, looking pretty great himself in a black sequin jumpsuit.

A tattooed hand wraps around his throat from behind, his eyelashes fluttering as Rufus presses himself against Jonny’s back.

“Hi, Rufus,” I greet as the man stakes his claim on my bestie.

“Evenin’, Boss,” Rufus replies. “Joe is on the door, and I’m keeping this one in line.”

“Good to know. Have fun!” I call as Hunt, clearly tired of the pleasantries, drags me through the doors that lead to the main part of the club. “That was rude.”

“Don’t give a fuck, Peaches,” he tells me, tugging me through the club, the low, sensual beat of the music here less frantic that the club upstairs. It slithers under your skin, helping you to let go of your inhibitions, which clearly is working because several couples and groups are engaged in all kinds of depraved acts while others watch on. I barely get to look though, Hunt dragging me towards the private rooms in the back.

He opens the first door, ushering me in, and shutting the door behind us after switching the engaged sign on. The music is different here, and I recognise it as the music from the club, Roman’s set.

“This next one is for my girl. Come hard for me, Princess!”he shouts through the speakers, and my cheeks flame as the crowd goes wild.

“I cannot believe he just told me to come in front of hundreds of people,” I groan, and three masculine laughs fill the room.

I look up to find Nik on one side of the bed, shirtless and in fitted dress trousers, a black silk rope in his hands. My heart rate picks up a notch when he pulls it through his fingers, his intentions clear.

A slightly crazed chuckle has my gaze finding Rowan, just in orange boxer briefs, his flip knife open and in his hand. He gives me that grin of his, the one that promises this will hurt so good, and stalks towards me.

Hunt steps up behind me, his body distracting me as I feel the skin of his chest press against my back, which is revealed by the dress. Rowan stops in front of me, bringing the knife up and trailing the blade over my skin just as Hunt grabs my wrists and pulls my arms behind my back.

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