by Sadie Jacks
“And they have my sister.”
They have my woman, my inner beast said silently. Turo’s claim to his sister didn’t outweigh my claim. Talia was mine. Now and forever. Even if she didn’t know it yet.
“I’m getting her back, Turo. You have my promise.”
He snorted. “Get her back and we might forgive you, Ambright. That’s a very slim might.”
“Understood.”
“Foster, I’m onto something here,” Nik interjected. “I need some time and the collective to fish it out in its entirety, but you hit the nail on the head. You might have also given us some backdoor access points into Amara’s location. Gotta go now. Don’t get dead.”
She hung up on me.
I looked at the phone, glared at it. Wished I could glare at Nik. I hit the redial button.
“What?” she snarled.
“I need the location and data you got from Talia’s phone. Put Turo on if you’re too busy,” I said, my teeth clenched to keep from yelling at her.
“Oh, right. Here. Talk to Father Time.”
“You’ll pay for that, Cricket,” Turo said. “Do you have a secure email?”
“The one I have for PennCorp. I can access that here.”
“Good. That one will work. Let me give you the phone number to the guys on the plane.”
“Is Massimo with them? Or is he coming in separately?”
“Separately. He’ll be arriving at your place soon.”
I nodded. Looked at my watch. “Should I be expecting violence?”
Turo chuckled. “It’s Mas, and you put his favorite sister in danger. What do you think?”
My mouth twisted, but I couldn’t blame the man. Wait. What? “His favorite sister? Do you guys have more than one?”
“Willow. Nik, at least to my brothers. She’s certainly not a sister figure to me.” Humor laced his tone.
“That’s probably a good thing. Okay, hit me with the number for the guys on the plane. Do you know them or are they PC guys?”
“Both. You’ll figure it out when you see them.”
I jotted down the phone number. “Anything else?”
“That’s it, I think. Once you guys get some plans in order, conference us in. We’ll help in whatever way we can from here.”
An idea floated through my mind. “Hear me out before you veto the idea outright.”
“I’m listening.” His tone told me I better make it a good idea.
“Could you send Jessa over here? I think it would help Talia have a familiar face once we get her back. And Jessa could do the medical stuff. We don’t know how high or widespread the Night Terrors’ reach is.”
“I’ll ask Jessa. But if she comes, you know Nico is going to go as well. No way he’s letting his woman out of his sight. Especially in rival family territory.”
“That’s fine. He can do the legal dance so we can take Talia home. She doesn’t have a passport or customs form from her entry. So we need to make sure Nico can get her onto Embassy grounds so she can leave anyway.”
“I’ll tell them. Any idea on time? I don’t want to send them over if you’re still in the middle of the battle.”
I shook my head. “No. Once the infil team gets here, we’ll hash out plans and strategies. Give you an estimate.”
“Keep me in the loop.”
“Same to you.”
“Bring her home, Ambright.” The worry, stress, anger, and fear were easy to hear in his voice.
“On my life.”
“It will be if something else happens to her.”
He clicked off the line.
Couldn’t fault him for that. If it were my sister…Thank the gods my parents hadn’t had any other children.
I pushed the thoughts aside. Getting some clothes on, I went to the dining table and pulled my laptop over. Starting it up, I went to the little alcove kitchen and got some coffee going. Made myself a half dozen eggs with cheese and salsa, I sat back down at the table.
I had some sniffing to do on a certain man named Arkady. He better not be putting his hands on my woman. I wouldn’t kill him for his help in keeping her safe. But if he thought to poach…he would be dead before the thought ever reentered his mind.
As I set some rudimentary Agency bots out to find information on Arkady, I pulled up information on the underground metro system. I knew from being stationed here that it was used quite a bit by the black market. That the Night Terrors had managed to stake a long term claim on a section of it spoke of their reach and power.
The Metro-2, as it was informally called, was supposed to run parallel to the official metro system that served the greater Moscow area. It was supposed to house the ruling class in case of nuclear fallout. If it was laid that deeply in the ground, then I was surprised that Nik got the data packet to Talia’s phone in the first place.
I shook my head. The hows and whys didn’t interest me. The only part that interested me was the part that held Talia. For that, I needed the data packet from Turo.
Switching programs, I accessed my PC email. Logged in, waded through the authentication processes with rapidly dwindling patience. I smashed my fist on the table as the last screen requested me to enter my credentials again.
Stabbing the keyboard, I muttered under my breath. I only had six hours before the infil team arrived. I needed to have my fucking ducks in fucking rows before that happened.
My end of all of this needed to be as watertight as a duck’s ass. Contingency after contingency after contingency. The fact that so much of this was playing out with someone else at the controls was winding me tighter than a fucking top. And playing with this stupid computer was not on my agenda.
Just as I was about to put my fist through the screen, my email inbox finally popped up. I didn’t bother to register the number of emails sitting in my inbox. They would have to wait until later. I was on a mission.
Turo still hadn’t sent the file. Or it hadn’t reached my side of the communication line yet. I hit the refresh button. Waited for it to go through its retrieval options.
Still nothing.
Biting back my annoyance, I switched back to the information about the Metro-2 system. I memorized every line of it. If it really did follow the Metro as it stood now, then access points should be relatively easy to infiltrate.
The usually annoying ding of an incoming email was a welcome sound of hope today. Toggling over to my email, I felt my mouth pull up in a wicked smile. Things were finally coming up Foster.
Clicking the file from Turo open, I wasn’t surprised when it took almost a full minute to download the whole thing. I’d read Nik’s briefs before. They were anything but short and sweet.
The headline: DON’T FUCK UP made me laugh. Kinda. It also brought out the hyper-focused part of me. I was out on the hunt. And it was going to be raining Night Terrors by the time this was all said and done.
Chapter 26 – Arkady
Pushing through the door to my room, I made sure to lock it and secure it with a secondary implement to keep anyone from coming in. Even if they had a key. I stood in the quiet for a moment, just looked around my quarters.
For the regular observer, it would look pretty normal. Bland walls, huge bed with a single pillow and blanket to go with the dark sheets. No plants to speak of and no pictures to show any relationship outside of the family I’d joined.
But if someone were to look a little harder, they would see the cage this room really was. The cameras in each corner of the room that recorded every breath, movement, fart, and nut scratch. The bars on the windows that were supposedly to help keep us safe. Even the attached bathroom had bars on its windows.
Opposite the bed was a huge computer setup. Four screens held over forty-eight camera feeds. My own room included in the number. Being the second in command of the building and family security held its own special torment.
I got to spy on myself. Which meant, if any of my own footage was requested, it had to be spotless. Luckily, I knew how to d
o that.
Heading into the bathroom, I got the shower started. The tankless water heaters the Kuznetsovs had installed were a dream. The fact that they gave each of their top teams one was one of the few luxuries we had to combat our sullied consciences. What’s humanity worth these days? Endless hot water.
Ditching my clothes, I stepped into the shower just as the morning sun made her daily appearance. Working the night shift didn’t bother me anymore. I’d worked my way high enough that I’d gotten to choose it instead of having it forced down my throat. It also meant I could do what needed to be done and people would assume I was sleeping.
I even have camera footage that said I was.
Raising my face to the powerful stream of water, I let the heat soak into my skin. My muscles. Wished it could help wash away my sins.
Talia’s beautiful body flashed in my mind again. Long, lean, and sexy as my best fantasy. It was probably best that she’d had a change of mind. I couldn’t afford to have my loyalties split if all this came down to the line.
Reaching up for the body wash, my eyes still closed, I filled the shallow puddle of my palm with the soap. Slapping a hand to my chest, I went through the motions of cleaning the day off.
Sights and scents flooded my mind. As if I were kneeling before her again, images exploded in my mind. Her cunt was bare. Rosier than the flesh of her thighs, it had beckoned me. Like a hard hand around my throat, I’d been helpless to resist its siren’s call. The sweetest spot on a woman’s body and hers had been opened for me. Despite the abuses she’d endured.
My heart warmed at the idea of her strength. She wasn’t going to allow that to stop her enjoyment of her pleasure. The full control of her body. No, she was fearless, fierce, and mighty. Body, mind, and soul. She suffered, but she didn’t let it consume her.
She added it to her arsenal. Another arrow for her quiver. More emotions that lit the fires she carried deep inside. She was a sensualist in the truest sense.
I lowered my hand to my dick. It was already hard. Had been since I knelt in front of her and looked at paradise.
Leaning my forehead against the tiled wall of the shower, I indulged in fantasies that my reality had been cut off from. My fist pumped up and down my shaft. Tight as I could manage. In my mind, I pressed her legs further apart. Flicked my tongue through her lips. Memorized every millimeter. Every variation in taste.
She was heaven. The sweet, thick cream that told me her secrets settled on my tongue. Her pelvis bumped up into my touch. Demanding more.
My dick jumped in my hand. Ready and more than willing to go back down to her cell and take what she’d originally said it could have. I could take her. Get her revved so high that she would say yes. Hell, she’d scream it at me. Dig her nails into my body as she demanded I finish her.
I squeezed the base of my cock so hard, I winced. She wasn’t for me. In so many more ways than one. She was better than me. Her soul wasn’t shredded into tatters. Ripped through like the thinnest gossamer threads under a rusty blade.
With a groan, I got my mind back on track. Fantasy was the only way I could have her. In my mind, I could do what I wanted. In my mind, I would hear her screams of rapture. In my mind, I could protect her as I wanted to in reality.
“Open your legs, kitten. I want some cream.” My voice was lower than I’d ever heard it. A deep rumble I felt in my chest.
“That’s a corny line. I’m going to open my legs because I want you to taste me. Not because you can’t figure out which one of us is the pussy or the eater.” She laid back on my bed. The dark green sheets curled around her head of black curls, the perfect frame.
“Oh, I’m not confused. And as long as you open your legs, I don’t fucking care which one you want to be as long as you realize I’m going to consume you.” With my hands on her bent knees, I forced her legs open. Her knees hitting the bed as I spread her wide.
“Well?” she asked after a moment.
I flicked my gaze up to hers. “Well, what?”
“Are you going to eat it or just look at it like you’re a kid at the candy store window?”
I smiled. “Both. You’re beautiful. I can sit and admire the scenery for as long as I want. I’m the one in charge.”
She smirked. A twinkle lit her dark eyes. “If that’s what helps you sleep at night, sure. I’ll just be over here, thinking about someone actually licking me instead of just looking at me.” She closed her eyes, folded her hands over her belly.
Think of someone else, would she? Not fucking likely.
I lowered my head. Ran my nose down the length of her silky thigh. I smiled at the goosebumps that rippled over her skin in my wake.
As I made my way to her entrance, I inhaled through my nose. I don’t know why women were so much sexier than men, but I thanked the gods that they were. Soft, warm, sexy, tasty…there was nothing about a woman I didn’t like.
And this one…this one was formed by the gods personally.
I traced my nose through her folds. Poked my tongue out to taste her flesh. Sweet, spicy, she was a smorgasbord of flavors and textures. The closer I got to her core, the softer she was.
With one hand, I spread her lips wide. The pink cluster of nerves was just visible.
I smiled against her body. Hang on, kitten. Your clit is about to come out and dance with me.
Without preparation or warning, I thrust two fingers deep inside her sheath. Felt her body flex and bend under my hands.
“Fuck, Ark.” She writhed against me.
I pulled them from her depths. Spit on my fingers. Slid them back inside her. The deeper muscles were clutching at me the farther I went. Angry at the unprepared intrusion. I petted them until they started weeping for joy.
Her body rocked slowly in my grasp.
Dipping my head once more, I laved my tongue over her from opening to apex. Nibbling, sucking, worrying her clit, I brought it from its hood.
Talia’s breathing deepened as her pelvis shook and shuddered. “Ark.”
I chuckled. “You’re not a dog, toots. You’re a kitten. You say meow.”
She laughed. “Me-wow, more like.”
I buffeted my laughter against her body. Licked through her dampening folds. “You taste like sunshine after the rain.”
She gave a low moan. “I never would have thought you to be the romantic.”
I shrugged. There were a lot of things about me she didn’t know. One of those things was that I could make her come for hours before I needed my own release.
It was time to set myself to the pleasurable task.
With a big breath, I buried my face in her cunt. I wanted to wear her juices on my chin. I wanted them branded in my senses. With a third finger joining the first two deep inside her, I set up a punishing rhythm of advance and retreat.
Not once did I lose my assault on her clit. That little bundle of nerves that lit her up from the inside. That gave her the sultry glow that turned her skin to burnished bronze.
Her hips bounced and jolted as I flicked my tongue against her clit mercilessly. Her thighs came up and cradled my head as I breathed through the musk of her body. All of my senses were on high alert as she started to moan and groan for me.
Her fingers speared into my hair, scratched at my scalp. My name flowed from her mouth as she pulled me closer to her. “Arkady.”
I grinned against her as I felt the first tremble deep inside her. That gentle ripple of tissue.
As suddenly as I’d touched her, I pulled away. Rested my face on her thigh as I pushed her legs back down to the bed.
“What? No! I was almost there,” she pouted up at me.
I smiled up at her, nodded. “I know.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her.
She glared at me. Her dark brows lowered over her chocolate eyes. “You’re going to finish me.”
She made it a threat.
I nodded. “I will. When I’m ready.”
“And when is that going to be?”
“When I’m re
ady.” I said it slower, enunciated each word carefully.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll finish it myself.”
Quick as lightning, I rolled over her body. Caught her hands over her head. “No. I’m in charge here. You do what I say when I say it. I own your pleasure, kitten. Not you.”
Talia’s eyes narrowed. She leaned up, bit my nipple.
I sucked in a gasp. Sweet fuck.
“Will you eat my pussy now, Arkady?” she asked sweetly as she abandoned my flesh.
I shook my head. “No.”
Her eyes on mine, she lifted her head again. Ran her tongue up and over my nipple that she’d just bitten.
Her eyes were dark.
“Do it again,” I said.
She repeated the motion. I saw her pupils blow out. My little kitten liked being told what to do. She was also a smart ass and loved a challenge.
I lifted up, farther away, without letting go of her hands. My dick lined up with her cunt. I gasped at the heat she was putting off. The liquid heat that tried to seduce me.
Not until I was done seducing her mind. That was what I wanted. That was what I craved. For her to give herself to me. Every single piece of her.
“Lick me again,” I said softly as I rocked my cock against her.
She leaned up. So close I could feel her breath against my skin. But still out of reach.
The motion of her leaning up, still pinned as she was, had our lower bodies sliding against each other. We both groaned at the contact.
“Arkady, please.” She looked up at me, her face slack with arousal. “I want to come.”
I shook my head. Shifted my dick against her core again. “Not until I say so.”
She pouted for a second. I saw something calculating in her gaze.
I leaned down, gave her more of my weight. But it was too late. She had her feet on the edge of the bed. Tucked and rolled her pelvis up to meet the hard length of my dick.
With one smooth motion, I was balls deep inside her heat. My head fell to her shoulder. Her pussy was as hot as hell and felt like heaven.