“I was in a faraway place, not able to get back here. It’s why your mum thought I wasn’t coming back and why she told you what she did. But I found a way to get back to you both, and I’ll never leave you again. Okay?”
“Okay, so, can we go see the horses now? I’m sure you haven’t met them, and we love the horses! I can show you Buttercup and Calliope! Grandpa bought them for us,” Drina pipes up.
“Calliope is mine, and she’s much prettier than Buttercup. You’ll like her better!” Stassi adds, and internally my stomach sinks. They’re going to get into a pony-pissing match. God, why can’t kids just be happy with what they have and for each other?
“No way! Buttercup is so much prettier!” Drina grumbles.
Before we realize it, she goes up to Stassi and shoves her sister down on the ground.
“Aleksandrina!” Aleksei’s low tone terrifies me to the core, but holy hell, his angry dad voice is hot. And I mean really hot.
He gets up from the picnic table, and I watch the man handle the scuffle between our daughters. He’s ten minutes in and is already doing such a great job. When we were back at the cottage, he confessed he was worried, but the man doesn’t have anything to worry about.
They’re half of him and half of me.
If anyone can handle them, it’s us.
Chapter Fifteen
Aleksei
A week has passed since I officially met my little hellions. They may only be six, but I’m worried about what the future will bring. With their mother’s beauty and sass, combined with my temper and tendency for violent outbursts . . . well, we’ll either have typical mafia princesses on our hands or very strong-willed women who don’t take shit. I, for one, will do everything in my power to make sure it’s the latter. My daughters will know how to completely disassemble a gun by the time they’re thirteen, and by the time they’re fifteen, they’ll be taught self-defense by the best. I will give them every tool I have access to in the hopes they’ll never have to use it. This world is turning into a horrible place and I’m not blind to it. No one in this family is. We just don’t talk about it.
I’m walking to my brother’s office now. It was an old bedroom in the home, and while he isn’t officially in charge of any mafia because he gave up the right when he married Greer, he shares it with his fashion designer wife. He handles a lot of her business dealings. He’s the head of her company while she’s the creative woman.
“Sloane said you wished to speak to me,” I state as I walk in. I glance around and see it’s only the two of us here, so I shut the door behind me. My guess is we’ll need the privacy.
“Yes, Maxim reached out to me.”
“Fuck, you’re kidding,” I comment, blown away the spoiled brat would dare speak to Aleksandr.
“No, I’m not.” Aleks clenches his jaw and looks right at me. Whatever he’s about to say, it’s nothing good.
“What was said?”
Aleksandr scoffs and takes a seat in the office chair. “He called to ask me about something like he assumed I would help him. Fucking idiot. I took advantage of the situation and asked about the girls.”
His sisters. Good. I know they mean much to him, and he’s been plagued with guilt over not being able to get them yet. Greer was kidnapped for a time as well and before it, I’d never seen my brother so angered. He reminded me much of myself in his desperation.
“I assume nothing was gained by having a conversation with him,” I state, taking a seat across from him.
“Correct. He did confirm the girls are now his property. Property. Fuck, he’s just like my father, only worse. He wishes to sell our sisters like sex slaves on the black market. Can you believe the audacity he has?” Aleksandr slams his fist against the desk, snarling every word.
“Seems he’s bringing a war to him then. Am I correct?” I raise my brows, awaiting my brother’s response.
“Yes, but he doesn’t believe so. The bastard tried to threaten me. Me of all people. I might not be the leader of the Bratva, though it doesn’t mean I’m defenseless. I have allies far and wide. People I saved from my father’s wrath and those who owe favors to me. Maxim went on about how the Mackenzies are keeping a secret and how he’ll make sure we all pay the ultimate price if we cross him.”
“Sounds like a load of shit.”
Aleksandr nods. “Exactly what I was thinking, but I know Maxim. I can tell when he’s bluffing and when he isn’t.”
“And you think he’s being truthful?” I question, leaning back into my chair.
“As truthful as he can be, sure. Though, I’m curious what’s going on in his mind. There’s one thing I know of. Something no one outside of a few know, and it is a secret the Mackenzies have kept for many, many years, but it was kept to keep someone safe.”
I clench my jaw, hearing stories like this many times. Plus, my brother will do what is right. He will keep the secret he’s been entrusted with and still find a way to get his sisters. And I will aid him in whatever way I can.
“Understood. Secrets are private for a reason,” I tell him, and he nods in agreement.
“Yes, they are. I don’t know where the girls are, but once I find out, I will create an action plan. He leads me to believe he hasn’t harmed either of them. I’m hopeful he won’t, and they’re being treated with some dignity and respect, wherever they are.” Aleksandr’s expression shifts into a grimace. Deep down, I know he’s very well aware of how Maxim is likely treating them and is thinking about the many possibilities his men are doing to them.
Maxim wouldn’t care what was done. Not as long as he can still sell them. That’s what matters to him, the money, the power trip, the stature of being the leader who would sell his own blood to the bottom feeders. What a man he’d be, at least in his eyes.
“For their sake, I hope they are, but we both know the reality.” I don’t want to be the person who brings him back down to reality. There just isn’t a use in thinking positive at the moment.
“Mmm, let’s speak of other matters. I haven’t seen you in a few days. Are things still going well with the twins?”
A smile takes over my face as my brother asks about the girls. “Yes, better than I thought they would, honestly. Drina reminds me of myself but has bits of her mother in her. While Stassi looks more like me but is her mother’s clone. It’s crazy to see. You know, I never thought I was good enough to be a father. The girls are teaching me how you don’t need to be a good man, but a good dad.”
“You never thought you were good enough?” Aleksandr cackles, amused by my words.
“Yes. What’s so funny?”
“The kids don’t care about what we’ve done or haven’t done. At the end of the day, all they want is someone to love them no matter what. Regardless of their mistakes, if they’re hurt, if they’re sick. I could go on and on. When Greer told me you’d be meeting the twins when you came back from the cottage, I knew they’d be happy. Aleksandrina, she’d often stand in the foyer and stare at the portrait of you and Sloane. Some days I’d find her speaking to it as if you could hear her.”
Shit. Sloane hasn’t even told me about this. I wonder if she knows. “She has a beautiful heart. She’s kind, compassionate, just like her mother.”
“Yes, she is. Stassi though, man, she got the crazy parts of Sloane.”
At Aleksandr’s words, I shoot him a glare, and he raises both hands in surrender. “Hey, I’m only messing with you.”
“When it comes to our children, we don’t joke, brat.”
“Look at you, being the serious one for once.”
I shrug. “Eh, maybe you’re rubbing off on me.”
His expression shifts to one of disgust. “How about you never say that again? It sounds foul.”
Both of us break out into laughter, and I feel happier than I have in years. To be sitting across from my brother joking around, talking about my children. It’s surreal. I’m constantly reminding myself this isn’t a dream. It’s merely the beginning of the r
est of my life.
“I’m going to ask her to marry me,” I tell my brother.
Aleks smirks. “I was wondering how long it was going to take you to lock her down.”
“Not long. All I want is for it to be perfect. She’s been through so much and she deserves everything she’s ever wanted.” Every word I speak is the truth, and all I can think about is how Sloane having my surname would mean the world to me.
I only pray she wants this.
Chapter Sixteen
Aleksei
Every word I said to my brother a few days ago was the god’s honest truth. I’m going to ask Sloane to marry me, and now I’m sitting in Liam’s office with him and Desmond, prepared to ask the family patriarch if he’ll give me the honor of marrying his daughter.
Desmond sits back in his armchair, staring at me intently. I’m sure I look an absolute mess. As the Americans say, I’m sweating like a sinner in church. “Are you feeling alright, Aleksei?” Desmond questions with weary eyes.
I give him a nod and clear my throat. “Yes, I came to ask you something.” I want to say more, but I fucking can’t. Trying to speak is miserable, so instead, silence spreads through the room.
“All right, what is it?” Desmond cackles, looking me up and down.
I fish my hand into the pocket of my trousers and pull out a box. Desmond’s smile catches my eye, and I glance over at him. “I see what question you’re wanting to ask. Care if I take a look?”
I shake my head and hand him the jade ring box. He takes it and opens the box. A light shines down on the ring I had custom-made for his daughter. “It’s exquisite. She’ll adore it.”
“You think? I’m worried she’ll hate the thing.” I cock a brow, wanting his and Liam’s input.
“Stop, man. It’s lovely. Did you go to Aleks’s guy here in Dublin?” Liam questions.
Aleks has a friend who opened a jewelry store last year. He’s Russian like us, and he runs it with his sister. I didn’t think I’d be able to get the ring so quickly, but thankfully he worked quickly to get it ready. When I picked it up last night with Aleks, the man told me my brother said I was antsy. Normally I would’ve been annoyed with Aleks, but I want this with her more than I’ve wanted anything in my life. I know she’s mine in heart, body, and soul, but I want her to walk around with a ring on her finger.
“Yes, he created it especially for Sloane,” I tell him.
“And whose idea was it to add the emeralds around the diamond?” Desmond asks.
“Mine. I wanted something that represented her heritage. There’s no telling where life will take us, so I want her to be able to look at her ring and see the emeralds, and it remind her of Ireland.” I speak from the heart and expect Desmond to smile, give me his blessing, something, but it doesn’t happen.
“You better not be taking my girl or my grandkids from me. Sofia will kill you if you do,” Desmond comments with a chuckle.
“Sofia will what?” Sofia’s voice calls from the other side of the door, and Desmond shakes his head. Liam cackles lowly and walks over, opening up the door for his stepmother. “You may as well come in if you’ll be eavesdropping.”
“Well, perfect then. Now, what’s going on in here? Desmond said it wasn’t business-related, so—” Sofia halts her words as her eyes fall on the ring box in her husband’s hands. “Dios Mio! Are you? You are! Oh—” Sofia wraps her chicken-thin arms around my body and squeezes me tightly.
“I take it you approve?” I say to her.
She eagerly nods. “Of course. You are . . . Aleksei, you have no idea how much she loves you. When you weren’t here, she looked lost. Even though she was trying to assure everyone she was fine and happy, she wasn’t. These last few weeks since you’ve been here have given us our daughter back. She’s without a doubt elated to be with you, to be a family.”
“Thank you,” I reply as my heart swells. I know I’m blessed to be in this family. I haven’t ever felt anything like this. As Aleksandr’s brother, when we were children, I felt like a nuisance, but the Mackenzies have always made me feel as though I’m one of them. “Thank you all for making me feel as if I’m one of you.” I bring my inner thoughts to life, and Sofia places her palms on either side of my face.
“Aleksei Goncharov, I may not have been the woman to give birth to you, but you have always been my son since you were a toddler. The circumstances of life may have separated us, but we will always be family.” Sofia kisses me on the cheek and goes to sit on her husband’s knee, taking in the ring.
“She’s right, you know. You’re family,” Desmond speaks up, and Liam nods in approval.
I truly feel at home here.
“A marquise cut diamond with an emerald halo? It’s beautiful. She will adore it, Aleksei.” Sofia gives me her input, and I look at Desmond, waiting for him to formally give his approval.
“Sofia is right, Aleksei. I know what you’re doing. You’re waiting for me to give you my bloody stamp of approval, but you don’t need it. You’ve always been one of us, and you’ve made my daughter happier than I’ve ever seen her. You’re the father of my granddaughters, and it’s about damn time you’re officially part of the family.” Desmond smiles widely, and Sofia stands. He comes over to me and pulls me into an embrace, patting my back a couple of times. “Welcome to the family, son.”
He releases me and wraps an arm around his wife’s waist, but Sofia’s eyes keep darting between Desmond and me.
“When are you going to do it? I have to know every detail!”
“Today. I’m going to do it today. She knows we have a date planned, and I’m taking her out for a fancy dinner, but beforehand we’ll go grab a dress in Greer’s private showroom. She’s been mentioning she wanted to wear a specific one out, so we’re heading to her store first.”
Sofia’s smile grows even more and she waves, signaling for me to leave. “Then go on, go do the damn thing!”
Desmond hands me the ring box back, and I slide it into my pocket. I do as they say and leave, ready to get Sloane and do the damn thing, as Sofia put it.
Greer’s showroom is located above her store in downtown Dublin. It’s in the back part of her offices where many of her other designers and seamstresses work to develop the prototypes for her lines. She has factories in Ireland, other parts of the United Kingdom, and the United States.
One of her employees, Garrett, I believe, walked us back into the private room. This part of the office hasn’t been developed much. There’s a long full glass wall separating the space and on the other side is the hallway. On the other side of the hallway are more glass and all-white cubicles. None of them seem to be filled, but I do remember hearing Aleks tell me how Greer is looking for interns. This must be the area they’ll be in whenever they’re hired.
We’re standing on Carrera marble floors in a room that’s only made up of black and white things. I’m sure it’s to make the colors pop on the clothing, but then again, I’m not certain. On the left wall, there are black built-ins that house all types of high-heeled shoes, each having a light shining on them. A few feet in front of it is a workstation in a modern honey color. Six chairs surround the table, but otherwise, there’s only a couch with a glass coffee table in front of it and three statues on tall, thin black stands.
“I’ve already rolled in a cart of things Greer’s been holding back for the runway, but please feel free to take a look. Greer’s told me whatever you want to wear today, Sloane, you may. As long as you bring it back before we go to Paris in a couple of weeks and allow proper time for dry cleaning.”
“Oh, I get the pick of the litter, huh?” Sloane wiggles her eyebrows up and down, causing me to laugh.
Garrett smiles and walks toward the door. “I’ll be back in about thirty minutes. If you need me, I’ll be at my desk up the hall.” Garrett proceeds to leave the hallway, and I look over at Sloane, who’s already peering through the rack.
She’s wearing a tight pair of dark blue jeans with black heels and
a skintight suit. I think they’re called bodysuits, but I could be wrong. She moves the hangers with haste and pulls four dresses to the front.
I’m in a black tux with a white dress shirt, black tie, and black trousers. I figured if I wore something basic, she’d be the showstopper here and it’s exactly what I want it to be. She’s picking through reds, golds, and even a bright sapphire blue.
She looks at the back of the gold dress and her eyes drift over to me. “I’m going to need you to tie me up in this so I can see how it fits,” Sloane tells me.
I nod and walk over to her, and she strips down to the bare minimum. She’s wearing a white lace thong that barely covers her pussy and is in a matching strapless lace bra. I can see her budding nipples through it and lick my bottom lip, seeing her tan skin pop out against the white fabric.
My dick bulges against the confines of my pants, and I adjust myself. I fucking don’t need this right now. Today is too important for me to get distracted by Sloane’s impeccable body.
“See something you like, mister?” Sloane bites her bottom lip and takes my hand, dragging me closer to her. She places my hand against the center of her chest, between her honey-soft breasts. Fuck, I love her tits. Always have. They’re bountiful and plump, enough for me to drown myself between.
“You’re about to turn me into a monster,” I warn, cupping her breasts with my hands. Her nipples raise through the bra and before I know it, I’m backing her against the wall without a care in the world if anyone can see us. She’s toying with the beast, so I’ll be a fucking beast.
I place my hand between her legs and tap either side, so she opens up. I unzip my trousers and pull out my swollen cock. “I’m gonna fuck you like a whore. Is that what you want?”
Sloane rakes her tongue out along her bottom lip and there’s a glimmer of mischievousness in her eyes. “I’m your whore, Aleksei, or have you forgotten?”
I scoff and turn her around, forcing her to face the workstation. She puts her hands on the table, and I yank her barely there panties down, pummeling my cock inside her tight pussy. She gasps loudly at the sudden intrusion, and I grip onto her hips.
Dangerous Love (Mackenzies Book 3) Page 8