Page 43 of Bratva's Stolen Bride
“Maybe eventually I’ll have the tail inked gradually darker with every year that goes by without me killing anyone.”
“I’d like that.”
We smile at each other. Then he increases the pressure on the back of my neck until I come, willingly, and kiss him, and he pulls me down fully on top of him, and I gasp as his erection digs into my thigh.
“Again?” I whisper against his lips. “I thought men needed?—”
He rumbles a rueful laugh. “I just needyou.”
Later, after multiple orgasms and some very filthy words to accompany me taking Feliks in my mouth, and a luxurious meal for lunch because we’re both ravenous, we return to the beach.
We splash in the sea, Feliks chasing me, me pretending to swim away and struggle, when all I want is to be with him.
I have my arms around his neck and we’re kissing in the shallow water when a slight buzzing starts, at first almost imperceptible. Then louder, and my heart pounds as Feliks breaks our kiss to look out to sea, where a spec has appeared on the horizon.
A boat.
“What is it?”
“Trouble.” He hoists me solidly into his arms as fear grips my throat. “And death.”
20
FELIKS
I hoped we’d have more time as newlyweds before I had to kill people.
We wash off and dress quickly, and Payton trails me in a sundress she’s thrown on, but I require more clothing for placement of weapons. A holster at my ankle and over my shoulder, then a suit jacket.
Slipping the guns into place gives all my years of experience a new focus. Payton.
“If I tell you to stay in the house, will you?” I ask her.
She looks at me like I’m mad. “No way.”
“It would be the safest place for you. I’d really prefer it, because if anything happened to you, I’d…” There aren’t words for how much it would crush me to see Payton hurt. And to live without her? Death. It would be death.
However, I’m not an idiot. It would be better for her to come with me than to be in more danger because she isn’t where I expect.
“Please. Stay here. For me.” It’s not a command, it’s a plea.
Biting her lip, she shakes her head. “My place is by your side, because what if they try to hurt you?”
I bark a laugh. “They’re not going to harm me.” The whole concept is ridiculous. “Come on.” I hold out my hand. “They really don’t know what they’re walking into.”
The proximity alarm for the jetty goes off on the panel by the front door and on my phone, showing a boat from the north that we saw, and another from the south. I open the app for my state-of-the-art defence system and check that the drones are in position, sending some to both boats. They pick up human targets and lock on immediately.
It’s only a few minutes in the pickup then we’re at the jetty. The boat comes in, one of the Mafia Syndicate is mooring up as Payton and I get out of the vehicle.
She cuddles into my side, and I sling my arm over her shoulders as we walk down to the water, my phone in my other hand ablaze with alerts. A group of men I recognise from various incidents in London step ashore.
“You’re a long way from home, gentleman.” My voice comes out as a territorial growl.
“Hayley!” Payton squeals.
“And lady.” I dip my head. “Stay with me, moya lisichka,” I murmur to Payton when I feel her twitch to go to her sister.
She stills obediently.
