She heard the roar of laughter and then India’s gasp. The woman sure did know how to lay on the charm. Five men gathered around her as she told some sort of story that had them intrigued and mesmerized by her beauty and her voice. It didn’t hurt that she was a platinum blonde, with big boobs and gorgeous blue eyes.
Aspen smiled and took another sip from her glass as she looked around the room again.
Dmitri Sanclare sure knew how to raise funds for his newest interest. The Star Haven. What had started out as a fundraising event to help underprivileged teens looking for ways to advance in high school and receive academic funding for college, had turned into so much more. Now young students who spent time volunteering to tutor and assist younger members of the program, earned free tuition for some of the top colleges in the nation. Eventually it led to career placements in Fortune 500 companies, too.
She worked for a few of those Fortune 500 companies. She attended as a representative along with the CEO, Brad Smothers and CFO, Roger Benning. Of course they were schmoozing Dmitri Sanclare right now and trying to get him to partake in one of their new business ventures. Gary Sparks, their boss and a man known to be involved with the Slavs, wanted Dmitri’s support. Word was that even Storm and his team were interested in taking over Sparks Industries.
Good luck with that.
Apparently the company was prime location with major international connections of the illegal and legal kind. But Dmitri was already flying high on the latest contract he landed, thanks to her. A silent partner, Aspen just secured the deal of her life and all unbeknownst to anyone but Dmitri and the wealthy businessman and philanthropist, Clarence Cartwright.
In fact, she may have just helped Storm, Weston, York, Winter, and Zin get a few steps closer to taking over Sparks Industries.
She avoided the CFO and CEO as Brad and Roger tried to get her attention. She knew those expressions. They were sinking and needed her help to persuade Dmitri. She wasn’t going over there. Dmitri had a way about him that put Aspen on guard despite his sworn promise that he wouldn’t try to seduce her. She wasn’t sure what it was that put her on guard but she had learned at a very young age to trust her gut instincts. The man was a gangster. He also had a reputation of being a ladies’ man, like most multimillionaires in business. She wouldn’t be another notch in his Louis Vuitton belt just to help the men she worked for now and then land the deal.
Aspen was getting tired of the long hours, wild nightlife trying to keep up with all the new people in businesses in Chicago to network. She preferred Texas and even the smaller suburban towns like Tranquility and Salvation. She missed hanging out with her friends Gia and Mariana and hanging out at Casper’s. It was so down to earth and nothing mattered but having fun, talking the days and nights away. No one cared that she had been a victim of violence or that she was wealthy. She could be herself. Let her hair down and get dirty working on one of the ranches, or even help Mariana at the art gallery in the city. It wasn’t stressful. Besides the fact that Salvation, specifically Casper’s, was filled with so many retired military that it gave her peace of mind, and made her relax a little.
She was even getting tired of her job. It was becoming monotonous. The past year she worked on slowly pulling away from the larger contracts and focusing on small businesses. Eventually she could take on jobs less frequently, but she was too young to retire. A life of beaching it on the shores of exotic resorts for the filthy rich didn’t entice her. That hadn’t been the incentive of all the strategic moves and business dealings she did.
All her hard work. The determination to establish a name for herself and be successful, a workaholic was to maintain her sanity and ignore her fears. She worked herself to exhaustion in hopes that at night when her head hit the pillow she would be too tired to remember and to experience her terrible nightmares. No such luck.
So much had changed in the last year. Finding out who the real players were in a world of organized crime, sex slave businesses, and other illegal activities that nearly cost her life, had become her obsession. She sought revenge, payback, a way of finding closure. All her strategic moves would either bring her closure she so desperately needed or would bring her death. She really didn’t care. She had lost the ability to feel, to be capable of having love and being loved years ago as a teen. When others turned to addictions like alcohol, drugs, or even sex, she turned toward the adrenaline rush of negotiating and securing secret multimillion dollar deals. Now that she’d secured the silent partnership with Dmitri for the huge job and the bonus she received for securing it, she was set for life. She didn’t have to work another day if she didn’t want to. But what would she do? She wasn’t the kind to sit around and do nothing. She didn’t have a boyfriend or lover. Call her crazy, but she liked fixing messes. She enjoyed coming into a company, a business center, and retraining them to better serve the business and the owners’ wallets. That was what got her the big bucks. That was what changed her life from having nothing to gaining opportunity.
She was street smart, business savvy, and a lot of men found that intimidating. She found it to be empowering. And thinking about settling down in a place like Salvation made her sad. Seeing all the couples, the ménage relationships full bloom was depressing. It made her want things she could never have, nor could ever handle physically and emotionally. No, it seemed working herself to death was her destiny.
“Now this night just became completely tolerable. How are you, Aspen?”
She heard the deep voice and turned to see Demyan Sakoyvitcz. He was a Russian businessman who had ties to the Russian mob, an organization she was more than familiar with considering the silent owner of the company she worked for was his boss, a made man.
She showed the required respect for such an important man by lowering her head and greeting him. When she looked up, he was checking out her breasts before he focused on her eyes.
He took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the top of her skin.
“You look as beautiful as always, Aspen,” he said in that thick Russian accent that had an instant effect on her body. She was only human. She liked a good, thick accent. Anything from Southern to Canadian and she was all intrigued and aroused.
“Thank you, Mr. Sakoyvitcz,” she replied and his eyes squinted at her.
“Tsk, tsk. How many times do I have to tell you to please call me Demyan? We’ve known one another for a while now, Aspen. I think we can be more personal. In fact, I think you need to let me get you another a drink.”
He snapped his fingers and to the right she saw one of his security guy’s stop a waiter carrying a tray of crystal glasses, and another one with a bottle of Bordeaux. In a flash the waiter was opening the bottle as the other one held two glasses that shook in his hand. Demyan had a way of intimidating people. Knowing the people she did, Aspen heard about Demyan’s stint in prison for murder as well as a few other short terms behind bars for getting busted for illegal business infractions. The Feds were regulars to his home, or at least used to be before her boss’s company, Sparks Industries, helped him clean up his paperwork.
“I prefer to keep things more businesslike, Demyan. I may be called to work for one of your companies again and would hate to overstep my boundaries.”
“Aspen, you could never overstep your boundaries.” He stared at her over the glass as he took a sip. His eyes, dark brown and filled with lies, held her gaze. She knew how to handle men like Demyan. She had been dealing with them most of her life, especially when Porter was serving and not around to protect her.
She swallowed hard. She didn’t want to think about that. Why this man made her think such bad memories she didn’t want to analyze. It wasn’t like every Russian mobster had something to do with illegal sex slave businesses. Nor did she have to find them all guilty by association. But it was habit. As far as she was concerned, most men involved with the Russian mafia and bosses like Demyan, Iakov, and of course Andrei, were the enemy. Her enemy. Having only recalled bits and p
ieces of her near death, she learned that no one could be trusted. At least no one but her brother Porter, as far as she was concerned.
Under this red Vera Wang evening dress she’d paid a discounted price for was a capable, well-trained woman. Although she hoped to never use her knowledge of shooting both guns and bow and arrows, skinning a deer, surviving in all weather conditions and knowing how to place a person in a choke hold and killing them, it gave her an edge against men like Demyan. Intimidating, powerful, untrustworthy, and looking for a piece of ass, she would be the one to decide to proceed or disengage. Control is what kept her levelheaded and in charge.
“So what do you think about the event? You seem unimpressed.” He pushed to converse.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. It’s elaborate and classy as usual. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Dmitri.” She looked around her, noticing the stares and looks she was receiving being caught conversing with Demyan Sakoyvictz.
“You know him well. You worked for him for a while didn’t you?” he asked her and she cringed only slightly. There had been a rumor that she was sleeping with Dmitri around the same time there seemed to be some sort of bet as to who could land her as a lover. She immediately put a halt to it all by parading herself around town at all the major hot spots with Jester, a good friend from New York who stayed to visit for a month while he searched for employment opportunities. No one needed to know he preferred the company of men in his bed not women. He enjoyed the little role playing. She didn’t have to beg him to partake. She had the connections of getting him into all the major nightclubs, mostly owned by Russian mobsters and of course Storm Jones and his team of retired Navy SEALs who were so desperately trying to go legit. That wasn’t happening. Thoughts of them made her belly tingle. They were gorgeous men.
“Now, Demyan, you know that was a rumor. I don’t date or sleep with men I work for or have ever worked for.”
“That’s a terrible rule. One I’m hoping to break, tonight,” he said as he reached out and caressed his knuckles down her cheek. He was quite charismatic, but still, he was cold, distant, a man capable of too many bad things. Plus, she didn’t trust him at all. He, too, was interested in expanding Andrei’s territory. That meant he was interested in her business associate’s company, Sparks Industries. Gary Sparks would be smart to sell to Storm and Pro-Tech Industries.
“That’s sweet of you to try, but I’m not biting,” she replied with confidence.
He stepped a little closer, his eyes darker somehow, and his tone more disconcerting.
“It may not be up to you. Ya khochu tebya,” he whispered next to her cheek. She tightened up immediately as he told her that he wanted her, in Russian.
She tilted her head up toward him as he held her gaze. Then she nearly jumped when she felt the large hands on her shoulders from behind and Demyan’s face take on an expression of anger for being interrupted.
“There you are. I thought I wouldn’t have the opportunity to see you.”
She turned around to see Storm Jones, one of her brother’s good friends, and couldn’t help but to feel relieved from being saved from that uncomfortable situation.
She smiled as Storm leaned down and kissed her cheek, letting his lips linger against her skin. She wouldn’t read into that. He was playing his role. Her protector. Her big brother. Kill me now. He smells incredible, and his hands feel so good on me. I feel safe. That’s nuts.
“You look lovely as always, Aspen,” he said, his eyes holding hers instead of immediately roaming over her breasts. She wasn’t sure if she should be thrilled or annoyed. Storm was sexy, hard core, and big. Standing at nearly six feet four he wore intimidation and that designer black tux too well. He made her thighs quiver and her pussy react, which was an impossible task to accomplish without physically touching those places. But Storm, Winter, Weston, York, and Zin seemed to have the capabilities of doing just that with only a glance or a bump.
“Storm, it’s so nice to see you here. You know Demyan, I presume.” She introduced the two men but knew that they knew one another. In fact, she thought there was some friction between them. More than likely over the fact that both men were interested in Sparks Industries. Both men had reputations.
They shook hands but Demyan had daggers in his eyes as Storm’s hand remained on Aspen’s shoulder then brushed down her arm to her waist where he held her by his side.
“It’s nice to see you, Demyan. If you don’t mind, I have some business to discuss with Aspen. Perhaps you could excuse us.” He said in a tone that was obvious Storm didn’t intend to let Demyan near her again. Demyan eyed Aspen over.
“I’ll meet up with you later, Aspen. We’ll set a date and time for dinner this week. Just the two of us.” He took her hand and kissed it again, but his eyes roamed up to Storm who for some reason appeared utterly pissed off.
Aspen wasn’t going to read into Storm’s expression. She knew he disliked the man for reasons that were none of her business. Whatever was between them, got her out of a potentially sticky situation. Demyan was the kind of man to not take her decline of his sexual advances too lightly.
* * * *
Storm was trying his hardest to control his temper. To see Aspen here, dressed so sexy and looking as gorgeous as usual was difficult to ignore. From a distance she lit up the room, drew attention immediately with her sexy body and jet-black hair. Her gorgeous sage green eyes were stunning as usual, enhanced with the eyeliner and mascara that made her thick, long lashes stand out even more.
He turned her around and led her further away from Demyan, a man who was after Aspen as more than his latest conquest.
“Thought you could use a little help getting away from him,” he whispered as he guided her toward the food table. He knew that Zin was around, too. Zin had been pissed off to see Demyan hit on Aspen.
“You mean Demyan? He’s harmless. I was fine, Storm,” she said, glancing up at him. She was so petite compared to him even though she was average height about five feet five. Standing this close to her, he took advantage of the feel of her hip, the curve of her ass and the scent of her shampoo. He could imagine himself lying beside her in bed after hours of making love and getting lost inside of her. But the reality was that he could never have her. Nor could his men. Their jobs, their connection to illegal activities and being at high risk for attempted conflict wasn’t the right environment for Aspen. She had gone through enough years ago.
His chest tightened at the memory. She nearly died.
“I think you underestimate Demyan’s abilities, Aspen. The man doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“I seemed to be handling him fine, Storm,” she snapped at him.
He paused near the banquet table, holding her upper arm as he stared down into her face. He could see the defiance, the stubbornness and assertiveness that was all Aspen. She was tough. But not tough enough.
“I thought otherwise. You need to be more careful. Men like Demyan are not good for you. What ever happened to that guy Jester, from New York?” He saw her eyes widen in shock and then quickly recover and appear pissed off. What had he said to anger her so?
She pulled her arm from his hold.
“Listen, Storm, I appreciate the brotherly protectiveness, but I don’t need it. Why don’t you run along and go pick tonight’s special for you and your ‘team’ to share.” She abruptly turned around and walked away toward the ladies’ room.
He was stunned. Totally caught off guard. How the hell did he just piss her off like that? What did she mean by pick tonight’s special for him and his team? Did she mean a bed mate? She knew they shared. Hell, half the men in the place had a lover they shared or were searching for one for tonight. He watched as men took in the sight of Aspen as she sashayed toward the ladies’ room.
None of these men were taking Aspen home with them. Not if he and his team had a say in it.
“What the hell happened?” He turned to see Zin with an expression of humor on his face.
�
��I think I pissed her off.”
Zin chuckled then took a sip from his glass of red wine.
“It looked that way. You’re usually real smooth with the ladies. How did it go wrong?”
“I steered her away from that dick Demyan. That’s all that matters.”
“Sure it is. She looked good. It’s been two months since we’ve seen her. Did you ask about her trip?” Zin asked.
Storm shook his head, but he knew where she had been. A two-week cruise on a private yacht with five of her friends, then a stint in the Caribbean with business and returned two days ago in time to be here for Dmitri. That was another guy who had an interest in Aspen. Perhaps more business than pleasure, but still, Dmitri did have the reputation of fucking most of his female staff. He hoped that Aspen wasn’t sleeping with Dmitri. He’d known the man for many years. Had some deep ties to him, too. Dmitri knew where Storm stood with Aspen. He’d be beyond pissed off if Dmitri were after her.
With long, jet-black hair, incredible sage green eyes that stood out so bright against her olive complexion, and a body made for sin, she had a trail of men behind her wanting that body. But she was more than just a sexy, attractive woman for a man to show off by his side. She was intelligent, funny, friendly, and had a way about her that was modest, not stuck up. She was tough, too. That was why so many men hit on her and tried to get her attention. Why she declined except for that guy Jester who she dated for a while and even lived with, he didn’t know.
Storm felt his anger grow stronger. That had been the worst four months of their lives. Knowing she was seeing someone and that he shared her bed, really fucking aggravated him. Zin, Weston, York, and Winter were hell to live with, and he wasn’t any better. They were glad to see her dump the guy. But she was too perfect to not have another boyfriend soon. It was inevitable.
There was nothing he could do about it. He and his team led dangerous lives despite their efforts to go more legit. With Sotoro trying to fuck them along with unidentified others, he needed to remain focused on the businesses throughout the US they had. They could use Aspen’s professional help in reorganizing their team of employees here in Chicago as well as in Texas. Despite his promise to himself and his team to stay clear of the woman they longed for, she could be an asset to their business. But she also had inside information on their business enemies. Information she may not be willing to give up because of her loyalty to confidentiality. He couldn’t fault her for that either. She would always be special to him and the team. But the fact that she was Porter’s sister, and simply being unable to give her the life she deserved, he needed to keep his dick out of this.
The American Soldier Collection 10: Compromising Love (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 4