“What you ask will cause a war between the families. Why should we risk that golubushka?” little dove
With a heavy sigh, I laced my fingers together. “My father wishes me to marry Dane Duskin because they want to merge the Markow and Duskin families and overthrow the three other families. Malcolm was against this. I am against this. I do not know the rules of the Bratva, but I cannot marry that murderous bastard. You say war will come if you help me… but it will come even if you don’t.” I let my eyes work from one man to the next, finally falling on Ruslan. “War is inevitable.”
“How do you know this?” one of the men asked pointedly.
“I heard them discussing their plans. With your help, they can be stopped. Without it I... I will continue to be a pawn in their game... or die trying to stop them myself.”
The room erupted in conversation almost immediately. Thick Russian accents boomed back and forth between the men. So much power and control laced the air in thick currents. Ruslan sat at my side casting sideways glances at me. He didn’t speak; only listened to his men. After a few minutes, his voice broke through the chaos. The men went silent, their heads snapping in his direction.
“For years, we have known Markow to be cutthroat and shady in his dealings. Never have we had a situation such as this. The five families are set to meet soon, but waiting that long to handle this would be foolish. If the princess is willing to stand before the Commission and tell them of her father and Duskin’s plans, it will be left in their hands. Whatever punishment the Commission decides to hand down will be carried out as they see fit. For now, we will protect Liliya and treat her as our own.”
“And what if they come for her, Ruslan? That rat-trap motel is not safe,” a man named Vlad asked, his eyes darting to mine, then away just as quickly.
“Collect her things and bring them here. She will be staying with me.”
Hearing them discuss me and my hotel and collecting my things both shocked and thrilled me. Had they been watching me all of this time? Honestly, I wasn’t all that surprised. Ruslan seemed to run a tight ship. What’s more, I felt safe amongst these men, and thankful that they believed my story. I hadn’t lied to them. I wouldn’t. Whatever happened now was out of my hands. The justice I wanted was coming and I wanted to watch it all happen.
Chapter Ten – Ruslan
“Without obsession, life is nothing.”
- John Waters
It has been a week since Liliya Markow strode into my club with a story that rocked my world, halted my breath, and stayed my heart. Power amongst the families was being threatened by one of our own, and that is no small thing. The strength to do what she’s done has made me want her even more. The memory of her standing before me with power and grace, then falling apart still grabs my heart. No woman has had that kind of power over me. It’s a dangerous thing.
I’m not a weak man, but I am where she is concerned. I want to protect her. I want to possess her. Even now, as she flutters around my home, I find myself wanting what is not mine. I see the way she looks at me when she thinks I do not see. Stolen glances and longing between us are becoming harder to resist. My control is slipping. Each day that passes, I yearn to have her in my bed beneath me, writhing as my cock thrusts deep within her. I want to hear my name fall from her lips as she comes on my cock. I want to feel her delicate soft skin against my own as she gives herself to me. I need her to submit to me.
“Good morning,” she says as she pads to the table, her whiskey-colored eyes finding mine, her cheeks tinted a lovely pink as she slips into her seat.
“Da. A very good morning.” I have tried to resist my urges, but I don’t know how much longer I will be able to stay away. A low growl rumbles deep in my chest as I notice the worn jeans and faded shirt she is wearing. Days of seeing this beautiful woman in clothing unbefitting her status has finally reached a boiling point. “These clothes you wear do not become you. We will go shopping.” The smile on her face and a slight nod are her only response. She has been quiet for days. Respectful.
“If that is what you wish. Thank you, Ruslan, for… for everything. I know this… having me here is not easy,” she says softly as she sips her coffee.
“Having you here is not a problem for me.”