“Oh, the one you’ve taken out—”
“No, the one Johan approached. I knew we shouldn’t have sent him. He’s gotten too old to trust with a job like that. One that should have been handled with finesse.”
“And you would be the one to have applied just the right finesse?” Grigory smiled.
“Yes,” Lazlo bit out, his lips pursed. “She’s different.”
“You like her? You’re used to taking your fill of the women who have no choice. You think you have a chance with an independent woman like her?”
“So what? It’s not a crime to be interested in someone,” Lazlo retorted in defense. “You’re getting ready to settle down.”
Grigory pierced his brother with a stare. “Seriously? You’re comparing the two? Portia is from one of us. Her family is subservient to us. That shop owner—who, I might add, is now dating that agent—is hardly one of us.”
Grigory stood, pouring a drink into a tumbler before sitting back down. “Forget her. She was never meant for you. Let Father handle Johan and you just see if you can romance information from the counter girl you’ve got on a string.”
The two brothers sat quietly, not noticing Agnes standing just outside the door.
“I’m so impressed. You know Mom doesn’t make her Norwegian Almond Cake for just anyone! I mean, she says she didn’t even make it for Dad until their third date and here you get it the first time she meets you. Of course, she might have held off for Dad since he used to brag about his mom’s cooking. Could have given my Mom a complex or something.”
Driving home, Bayley talked incessantly, her conversation bouncing between her nephew, her latest novel, her shop, and the dessert they just had. The grin on Nick’s face had remained for hours, unable to remember the last time he had had such a good time.
“What did Dad say to you as we were leaving? You know, when I was off saying goodbye to Mom?”
Looking to the side, he asked, “Can’t a man have a secret?”
“Nope, not when it’s about the person in your life and her dad is the one doing the talking.” Seeing his lifted eyebrow, she rushed, “And I’m pretty sure that’s a relationship written rule somewhere.”
Chuckling, Nick repeated, “A relationship written rule?”
“Stop evading the question,” she complained.
“To keep you from having a conniption fit, I’ll tell you. Your dad said that he was glad that I had joined your brother with the Saints.”
Bayley’s face fell as she slumped back in her seat. “Oh,” she mumbled.
“And…”
“I knew it!” she said, her face resuming its former smile. “What else did he say?”
“He wished us a pleasant evening.”
“You are so full of it,” she groused. “I know he said something about us.”
Nodding, he said, “You’re right. I’ll stop teasing. He said that he was proud to have me dating his daughter and that his sentiments had nothing to do with keeping you safe.”
A satisfied expression crossed her face as she turned to face him. “That’s so sweet. I knew my parents would like you.” Reaching over to link her fingers with his, she added, “I’m so glad you were comfortable with my family. I was afraid it might be overwhelming.”
Walking into his apartment a few minutes later, Nick thought back to Blaise’s home in comparison. Blaise and Grace’s den no longer seemed chaotic as flashes of his former foster home returned, the warmth from laughter, smiles, conversation, and playtime filling his mind. His own staid apartment now seemed bare and cold. Looking down at Bayley’s upturned face, her eyes alight and her smile wide, he realized he wanted a real home…with her.
23
“Where would you like to live?”
Bayley rolled over, opening her eyes, then immediately squinted as the bright sunlight peeked through the blinds. “Huh? What are you talking about?”
“I want to know where you would like to live,” Nick repeated.
Pushing a tangled mess of hair from her face, she blinked a few more times, willing her sleep-fogged mind to follow his question. “Are you kicking me out?”
Rolling over her body, resting his weight on his forearms planted on the mattress, he pressed his lower body onto hers. “Does this feel like I’m kicking you out?” Kissing her lips, he asked, “I just want to know what kind of place you see us living in. I was going to tell you to fix this place up any way you want, but after being with your family last night and seeing Blaise’s home, I thought that maybe you’d rather live in a home like that.”
Staring up at his face, the dark stubble on his jaws only serving to make him appear more dashing, she smiled into his deep, brown eyes. “I…I…well, I guess I haven’t really given it any thought. Until recently, I was just satisfied in my little apartment and dreaming of when I could afford something with a view.”
Chuckling, he brushed blonde tendrils from her forehead, memorizing her face. “Well, I’ve got a view but, let’s face it, compared to Blaise’s home, this is pretty boring.”
“I like your place,” she said, uncharacteristic hesitation filling her voice.
“Hey,” he said, kissing her nose. “What’s got that doubt in your eyes?”
Licking her lips, she shrugged, moving her hands up his arms to wrap around his neck. “Does it seem too fast?”
Leaning back slightly, he cocked his head to the side. “Too fast?”
“Nick, what we have is really good and I want to keep it really good. I like your place, and if you don’t mind me bringing some of my things here, I’m fine with this being our place for now.”
“For now?” he repeated, fear sending cold sliding down his spine. “As in only for now?”
“No, silly,” she admonished. “I mean, for now until we decide that another place, or even a house, would be better.”
Relaxing, his breath left his lungs in a whoosh. Leaning over again, he nuzzled her nose before sliding his lips over her cheek.
Warmth slid to her core as she lifted her hips slightly, his cock pressing against her thigh. His whisper sent shivers as his breath tickled her ear, “Baby, you do whatever you want to this cold place and I promise I’ll love it.”
“I could say the same to you,” she moaned, undulating against his cock. “You can do whatever you want to me and I promise I’ll love it.”
With a growl, he slid down her body, grabbing her pajama shorts, covered in green frogs with smiling faces, and jerking them off her legs. She pulled her hot-pink camisole off before lying back, completely naked, with her arms held out to him, beckoning.
Disposing of his boxers, he rolled back, staying to her side as he latched onto her lips. Determined to go slow, his hand moved over her body, memorizing every curve, from her neck, with the wildly throbbing pulse, down over her breast as he palmed the fullness. Flesh against flesh spurred him on as his hand continued its exploration over her slightly rounded stomach and full hips.
The feel of his hand moving torturously over her body made Bayley feel beautiful, but needy. The light touch of his fingertips sent electric shocks from her skin to her core. As he slid his lips from hers, she moaned in protest until his lips sucked the pulse point at her neck. Sucking in a gulp, she clutched his muscular shoulder with her fingers. His lips suckled down her collarbone to her breast, where he latched onto one nipple before moving to the other.
“Nick,” she whispered, her voice an unrecognizable croak. “I need you.”
“Patience,” he mumbled, his mouth still working her breasts.
“No patience.”
As he chuckled against her body, she felt the rumble deep inside. “Please…”
His answer was to slide between her legs, pulling her calves up on his shoulders, opening her sex to his view. Her folds were slick and his nostrils filled with the scent of her desire. Kneeling between her thighs, memorizing her taste as he had her curves, he licked, nipped, and sucked his way around her folds, finally latching onto her c
lit.
Crying out his name, the sensations poured over her body from her core outward. Bucking her hips upward, she felt his large hand press down on her stomach, holding her in place. More than sex, she felt connected to Nick in a way that defied description as the exquisite torture continued. His tongue moved inside her sex and as he moaned, she felt the vibration deep inside. His morning scruff scratched her sensitive skin as her body wound tight, her fingernails digging into his scalp as her heels slipped off his shoulders opening herself even more.
He moved back toward her clit, sucking it into his mouth while his hand slid up from her stomach to her breast and rolled her nipple between his fingers.
That was all it took for Bayley to come apart, her hips bucking once more as the orgasm vibrated deep inside, spreading outwards. She felt owned by him…loved by him. At the thought of love, she jerked her eyes open, staring at his face peering up at her from between her legs. Heat rushed over her face but she was not sure if it was from her orgasm or emotion.
Nick crawled up her body after lowering her legs, releasing his arms. He kissed his way to her stomach, her breasts, giving each attention, to her lips, where she tasted her essence on his tongue.
Sliding his eager cock to her entrance, he plunged in to the hilt with one, firm thrust, feeling her body jerk with the movement. Halting, he groaned, “You okay, baby?”
“Yes, yes, don’t stop,” she bit out, her fingers digging into his shoulder muscles with more force than before.
Grinning, he began to thrust as her tight, slick channel molded itself to his erection. The sensation of ultimate pleasure trickled down his spine as the friction built. He wanted to slow down, make it last, but as his balls tightened, he knew he was close.
Her face was awash with her own pleasure and her eyes snapped open as he growled, “You close? Don’t think I can last.”
Nodding, she shifted her hips upward slightly, increasing the contact of his thrusts on her clit. “Almost, almost,” she grunted against his thrusts.
Pulling out quickly, he flipped her over onto her stomach before grabbing her hips and pulling her delectable ass toward him. Plunging back in, he grinned as her initial grunt turned into groans of pleasure.
This angle provided a different sensation and Bayley lowered her head as her fuse began a slow burn. She loved the possessive feel of his hands on her hips as he moved them together as one.
Looking down at her perfect ass, he palmed the pale globes before sliding one hand to the front, pressing on her clit. With a final roar, he came, his orgasm pulsating inside her sex as he felt her channel grabbing his cock.
Thrusting until the last drop was wrung from his body, the two crashed down on the mattress, his chest against her back. She grunted with the force but the heavy weight felt comforting. As he gained consciousness, he rolled slightly to her side, one of his thighs still across hers. Pushing her now tangled hair off her damp back and away from her face, he grinned.
Opening her eyes, she pretended to glare. “And just what are you grinning about?”
“Someone looks satisfied.”
“Just satisfied?” she prodded.
“Well fucked, I’d say.”
Snorting as she giggled, she said, “Well, you must be looking into a mirror, buddy, ‘cause from where I’m lying, you’re the one who looks well fucked.”
Chuckling as he leaned in, placing a sweet kiss on her nose, he added, “I’d say that describes both of us.”
Purring as she nodded, she said, “I’d say you’re right.” Placing her hand on his stubbled cheek, she whispered, “But honestly? I feel worshiped.”
His eyes warmed as they peered over at her, the feel of her gentle touch on his face a signal of her sincerity. “You were, and are, worshipped, baby.” Seeing the smile on her face, he leaned in to kiss her lips, soft and sweet. “Never doubt, I plan on worshipping you every day.”
After a moment of recuperation, she giggled and said, “I’d also say we’re both a mess. How about a shower?”
“We get in the shower together, no telling what’ll happen,” he cautioned.
Sitting up with a sly grin on her face, she said, “I’m counting on it!”
Daphne rolled over in bed, smiling at the dark-haired man sleeping next to her. She wanted to reach out to touch his hair but, remembering his orders from last night, she kept her fingers still. She stretched, her body sore from the rousing session of dominant sex. As the sun peeked through the blinds, she slipped from bed and padded into the bathroom. Naked, she perused her body in the mirror. Bite marks tattooed her body from her neck, across her breasts, down her stomach and thighs. Sucking in her lips, she fingered a few of the darker bruises, hating to admit they were sore. She hated how he always seemed to ask questions about Bayley right after they had sex but, then, he had said he only wanted to get to know her better and that included her job. Daphne’s gaze shot back to the bed where she heard him stirring. Convincing herself a man like him was worth the slight pain, she plastered a smile on her lips and moved back into the bedroom.
Agnes walked down the hall alone, stopping outside one of the doors. Using the key, she opened the door, announcing herself as she stepped inside. Grimacing, she immediately held the medical mask to her face. All six women were lying in bed, the sound of sniffling and coughing the only noise in the room. The faint putrid stench of vomit greeted her nostrils, even as she sucked in air through the mask.
“Please,” one of the women said, struggling to sit up in bed.
Agnes eyed her coldly. “No need to beg, I’ll have the doctor who initially checked you in come back. But make no mistake, as soon as you are well enough to begin your service, you will be moved from here.”
Slamming the door and locking it behind her, she looked up at the guard prowling along the hall. With a head jerk toward the room she just left, she ordered, “Give them extra water and food for now. Ill, they are of no use to us.”
With his nod of understanding, she turned and dumped the mask in the nearest trash can on her way out the back door.
Luke walked into the compound’s main room, seeing Charlie already at work. “I didn’t hear you leave our bed this morning.”
She looked up and smiled at her fiancé. “You were up so late last night that I didn’t have the heart to wake you this morning. I grabbed a bowl of cereal and headed over here.”
Knowing her penchant for working through problems in the dark of the night, he asked, “You have an idea?”
Nodding, she said, “Yeah. I started going through Gavrill’s associates from the Norfolk area, but wanted to go back over his list of businesses. Something kept coming back to my mind and I wanted to get in to look at it.”
Walking over to peer over her shoulder, Luke’s interest peaked. “What’ve you got?”
“I followed the money and he’s got several front businesses that are just for money laundering. Restaurants, a hotel, a casino. And they are all up and down the east coast. I decided to look at his family interests and found that he has a distant cousin that has received money from him. And they own a hotel…in Richland. It looks legit, but I’m curious.”
Squeezing her shoulders, he kissed the top of her head. “Good work, babe. As soon as Nick and the others get here, let’s see what we can pull together.”
24
Nick sat at the table, eying the screen on the wall with the other Saints. With Bayley taking a rare morning off from the shop to get some writing completed before the rescheduled critique group that night, all the Saints were at the table.
“What I’ve worked on,” Charlie said, “was digging into Gavrill Volkov’s businesses that might be in this area. I’m basing this on Bayley’s identification of Johan, who was last working for Garvrill’s organization in Norfolk.”
“What have you got?” Jack asked.
Nick leaned forward, his body tense as he awaited Charlie’s results, having witnessed her ability to follow a money trail way beyond what he had w
itnessed in the FBI.
“Back when we, especially Bart, were investigating Ivan Krustas’ family in Norfolk, we came across his cousin, Sergio—a particularly nasty individual who has no moral compass at all.”
Bart snorted at the description, remembering his dealings with the black-hearted mobster when he interviewed him in prison.
“And, Bart has also interviewed Gavrill Volkov, another nasty leader of the Russian mafia, who seems to be of like character to Sergio. Because these two leaders have no compunction dealing in human lives, I’ve been digging into their finances to see if there are any ties to this area.”
“Gavrill’s managed to make inroads with some of the docks and Sergio, while still in prison, manages to lead his own family business. Together, they’ve been suspected of not only smuggling girls in their cargo ships to Russia, where they’ll be sexual slaves, but also having them serve the ships and docks on the way there.”
“Why the fuck haven’t they been stopped?” Bart growled.
Nick heaved a sigh and replied, “The FBI, police, Coast Guard, Homeland Security…hell, even the CIA all try to take these guys down, but they’ve got a long reach. They manage to launder their resources so many times before ending up in off-shore accounts, it’s almost impossible to trace. There is also the loyalty issue. No one comes clean. And I mean no one. If a member of the Russian mafia is caught, they keep quiet or they know their life will end and it won’t be pleasant.” Sighing again, he said, “I never worked in that district but I knew it was a helluva place to try to investigate.” Turning back to Charlie, he asked, “So, have you been able to get us closer?”
Grinning, Charlie said, “I have been able to follow the money trail slightly. Gavrill owns a couple of hotels in the Virginia Beach area, all legit on the surface, but it seems he has a small monetary interest in a hotel closer to us. Again, appears legit, but I don’t trust anything that even hints at him having his name attached to at all.”
Celebrating Love: Saints Protection & Investigations Page 19