He places his hands on my cheeks, holding my head up to his. “I told you, I take care of what is mine, and have no doubt that you are mine. Next time you have a problem, I want you to come to me with it. Understand?” I nod, and then he is lowering his head and kissing me gently. “Now go. I will see you later.” With those words, he leaves me standing in the corridor, wondering what my future holds.
I’ve seen Alexey’s violent side, and now I’ve seen a caring side to him that I never thought I would see in a man like him. The fight that I’ve been having with myself with the attraction that I feel for Alexey has just become harder.
When I walk back into the room, I smile when I see Silvia sitting on the bed next to my mom while Betty tucks my mom in. “I think we’re going to become great friends,” Silvia is saying, and I see my mom smile sleepily. My mom has lost all her friends since she married my dad. I know that she also stayed with him longer because she had no income or anyone to turn to besides me.
My mom is a caring and good person whom I will do everything in my power to make happy. Apparently when she married my dad, he was a loving and sweet guy, but she says that when I was four years old, he started to change. Started to stay out at night drinking, and when he came home, he was usually angry.
“Jade.” I’m brought back from my memories by her calling me. Walking closer, I see that she’s nearly asleep. I take her hand and kiss her fingers, making her smile. “Thank you, my angel,” she murmurs as she closes her eyes.
“Everything is going to be okay,” I promise as I lean down and kiss her forehead, but she’s already sleeping. Only now realizing that I have tears rolling down my cheeks, I feel arms hugging me from behind. Looking over my shoulder, I see Silvia looking at me with sorrow in her eyes.
“She’s going to be fine; we will all make sure of it,” she whispers as not to wake my mom. Turning, I hug her close.
“Thank you,” I murmur as she hugs me back with tenderness and then kisses my forehead.
“You don’t know this yet, but you and your mom have found a family who will stand by you through all the difficult times,” she promises as she wipes my tears with her fingers.
ALEXEY 9
I haven’t seen Jade in the last three days; I know she’s been spending most of her time with her mom and her studies, because every day when she goes to bed, Nik will send me a text message of what she did for the day. Things with Salazar have been heating up, and I have had to join forces with the Elementals’ MC to fight the Keres, who, from what Draco says, are the Elementals’ enemies.
I flew down to meet Draco and Wulf, his VP, at their club, and was surprised when Draco told me about the Keres and how dangerous they can be. I have worked with the Elementals for a long time now and can easily say that for them to say that the Keres are dangerous, I need to take note, because I can surely say that I have never met men more dangerous than the Elementals. There is something about them that stops people from messing with them, and it’s not just the tattoos and the muscular bodies, but a whole energy that surrounds them.
I walk into my office at the club and see Vlad waiting for me with a scowl on his face. “Did you see my text?” he asks, and I nod. “We need to obliterate these fuckers.” He punches his fist into his hand. The Castilian Mafia decided to go into one of my clubs yesterday and shoot out the club.
“What are the damages?” I ask as I sit behind my desk and rub the tension from my neck.
“We have to close for at least two weeks; the contractors will be there tomorrow. There were no fatalities, only two injured. They went in just as we were about to open, the fuckers,” Vlad says angrily as he sits down before me.
“Is everything in place for us to attack?” We are going to burn down three of their six prostitution houses. Let’s see how courageous they will be then. Vlad sits forward in his chair with his elbows on his knees.
“Everything has been set up, and we are ready to go. We’re just waiting for your go ahead,” he grunts angrily. There is a knock on the door before I can answer him.
“Come in,” I call, and Maria walks in with a smile on her face. Maria is a beautiful woman who has worked for us just over six months. I made the mistake of fucking her once, and now she keeps trying to seduce me again. Maybe if I hadn’t met Jade, I would give her another go, but now, I have no attraction for this woman. Compared to Jade, she seems very bland. Jade has an energy around her that calls to me, that calms me.
“We’ve missed you,” she purrs as she walks in, a seductive look on her face.
“We’re busy, Maria. Is there anything you wanted?” I snap. She needs to realize that nothing else will ever happen between us again. I see her eyes widen, but then she continues to smile as she places her hand on her hip.
“There’s someone to see you. He didn’t want to give his name,” she murmurs. I look over at Vlad, inclining my head towards the door. He stands and strides out to check who it is. Maria is still standing there smiling at me.
“Is there anything else?” I ask, at the end of my patience. Today is not a good day for her to be pushing me.
“It’s just that you’re looking so tense. Thought maybe when you are done with your business, I could give you a massage to relax.”
“Thanks, but I’m busy. Please leave so I can carry on,” I snap, and lower my head to switch on my laptop. I lift my head in time to see her round the corner just as Vlad and Bjorn, one of my men, walk in. Bjorn doesn’t usually come to the club; he works under Vlad in the warehouses where we keep our contraband of weapons and other items.
“Bjorn, what brings you here?” I ask, leaning back against my chair.
“Boss, we caught the shooter, and he had very interesting information,” he states. “He said you have a spy.” At his words, I tense. All my men get checked periodically. Staff are investigated before they are hired. Everyone knows that if they cross us and we find them, they don’t make it to the next day.
“Who?” I ask quietly, but my hands are fisted. If I find the spy, I will finish him myself.
“He didn’t know, but he said that they get a lot of info from this person,” Bjorn replies. “That is why I thought it better that I come here instead of sending a text.”
“Thank you, Bjorn. You can go.” As soon as he walks out, I stand and start to pace. Vlad has closed the office door and is standing with his back to the door. He doesn’t say anything, waiting. I continue to pace until I finally stop and look at him. “Start from the beginning,” I rasp. Vlad doesn’t say anything. He simply turns and leaves. He knows what I mean; they will investigate every single person, starting with staff and suppliers. If nothing is found, then my men and their families.
“Fuck,” I grunt as I go around my desk and close down my laptop again. I’m tired, and all I want to do is go home and forget about everything for just a few hours. After leaving the club, I make my way home. When I enter, I think that Jade is in bed, as it’s one in the morning, but I hear movement in the kitchen. I quietly make my way there and see her sitting on the kitchen counter with a tub of ice cream in her hands.
What catches my eye is her long, tanned legs peeking out from under a long T-shirt. I can feel myself harden as I see her lick the spoon. “Looks like you’re enjoying that,” I say, startling her. She jumps in fright, losing her seat. If I didn’t move as fast as I did, she would have fallen off the counter. “Careful,” I murmur against her hair that is tumbling around us.
Her hands are against my chest, and her legs have wrapped around my waist, bringing me closer to her core. “Alexey,” she says, “you scared me, and I wasn’t expecting you back.” Her soft eyes are looking up at me sweetly.
I realize that my hands are holding her thighs and that her T-shirt has risen. I pull her closer to my hardness and hear her catch her breath. “Miss me?” I ask before I lower my lips to hers, the coldness from the ice cream on her lips and the sweetness of her mouth heating me up as nothing else ever has. I feel her hand move to my side
, and then she’s dropping the tub of ice cream as her hands go around my neck as I kiss her passionately. Her fingers entwine in my hair as I lower my head to her neck, my hands moving up her thighs until they’re touching her naked hips.
My head snaps back as I look at her questioningly, my cock straining against my pants painfully. “No panties?” I ask, surprised. I would never have taken Jade for someone who slept without panties. I see her cheeks heat in embarrassment.
“What?” she says. “I was going to shower, and then felt like ice cream . . . so decided to come and have some before I showered.” She starts to push me away. Oh no, she’s not going anywhere.
“I like it,” I reveal as my head swoops down again to take her lips in a blistering kiss that leaves her senseless. My one hand roams up her body until it’s stroking her nipple in pleasure. One of her hands lowers to my back, and her nails dig into my back, making me groan. “Fuck, I need you now,” I grunt as I pull her T-shirt over her head and drop it on the floor behind me. My eyes roam her body, and I see her nipples pebbled with lust as she looks at me with hungry eyes. Her hands start to pull off my jacket urgently, and I let it drop to the floor before I pick her up under her sexy ass and carry her with me to my room.
I lay her on the middle of my bed and step back to look at her while I kick off my shoes, and then instead of unbuttoning my shirt, I rip the buttons off and take it off, hearing Jade sigh as she leans on her elbows and stares at me. I see her eyes travel the breadth of my chest and the tattoos that cover my chest and arms, and then they’re moving down to my hands that are unzipping my pants and pulling them down with my boxers. I hear her catch her breath as I stand up straight.
“Like what you see, malysh?” I murmur as I approach her. Her eyes are wide with wonder as she takes me in, and then she nods. “You are beautiful,” I say before my teeth graze her nipple, making her groan in pleasure as she entwines her fingers in my hair to hold me close. I smile, pleased when she raises her chest, filling my mouth with her bountiful breast. My hands go down her sides, stroking gently, but then I freeze. Lifting my head, I look at her one side and see a long scar adorning her skin.
“Did he do this?” I know my voice is low and angry, but I want to have my hands around that son of a bitch and make him pay for all the pain he caused her. She brings her arm down to try to hide it, but I won’t let her. Holding her wrists, I bring her arms over her head as I look deep into her eyes until she finally answers.
“Yes,” she whispers as she closes her eyes.
“Look at me,” I order, waiting until she finally opens her eyes and looks at me. I see tears in her eyes, and I wish I had the fucker in my reach so I could place my hands around his neck and squeeze slowly. “You are beautiful. This”—I bring my one hand down to stroke over her scar while my other hand holds hers over her head—“is just part of what makes you unique. Even with everything you went through, your kindness and beauty still radiates and touches everyone around you.” With those words, I lower my head and kiss the scar. Hearing her sigh, my hand lets go of her hands and lowers to her abdomen.
My cock is throbbing, wanting release, but the fucker must wait. My hand moves between her legs, and I feel the heat and moistness coat my fingers as I open her up for me. I move my finger over her entrance before dipping it in and retreating. “Alex . . . ey.” She gasps as she moves her hips, but I carry on playing with her, driving her crazy, driving me crazy, until I finally shove my finger deep and gently stroke. I feel her inner muscles flutter as she breathes in sharply.
“Alexey, please,” she pleads.
“Tell me what you want,” I order.
“You, please, I want you.” She gasps again as I insert another finger. Damn, she’s so tight. It’s going to be a tight fit, just the way I like it. Sitting up, I extract my fingers and see her eyes follow my hand as I place my fingers in my mouth and taste her essence. The way her eyes smoulder and she holds her breath, making her breast stand out for my touch, nearly undoes me. With my other hand, I take hold of myself and stroke, my balls already tightening in anticipation. I place the head against her pussy and rub it over her clit and then her entrance until she’s moving against me, pleading for release. I finally enter her heat gently and hold my breath as she tightens around me. Fuck, this isn’t going to last long.
Without warning, I plunge deep and hold. “Oh, oh . . . I’m so full,” she screams in pleasure. She widens her legs to accommodate me.
“You are mine. Look at me,” I order as I start to pump with gentle strokes until her body gets used to my width. Her eyes focus on my face. “You are mine. Tell me.” I pull nearly all the way out and then plunge in forcefully, making her cry out in pleasure. “Tell me.”
“I’m yours.” Her gasped reply makes me lose control. Lowering my head to her breasts, I kiss, lick, bite as I plunge into her depths over and over again. “Alexey . . . Oh.” I can feel her muscles squeezing me tight, making it difficult to think, making it difficult to keep control.
“Let go.” My voice comes out in a growl. As I feel my balls tighten, a rush of energy shoots down my spine. “Now,” I order, and then she’s screaming my name as her release overtakes her. I explode as she tightens and releases around my cock. Never, never have I lost control like now. I lay my head on the crook of her shoulder and try to catch my breath while I kiss her neck gently, hearing her laboured breathing.
“I think . . . you killed me.” She gasps tiredly, but I can feel a smile on her face next to my cheek. Her hand is gently stroking my hair and shoulders. My cock is still erect and not in the mood to deflate, so I maintain my position but lift my head and look deep into her eyes.
“You are mine and no other fucker will touch you.” I see her raise her brows as she stiffens. “What?” I ask as I see her mouth set.
“I’m not property that you can say I’m yours. I don’t belong to anyone but myself. I can give parts of myself, but you can’t take it,” she grumbles. I move my hips back slightly, and we both groan in pleasure.
“Don’t doubt it, malysh, you’ve been mine since my eyes landed on you.” I start to move my hips gently against hers.
“Mmm,” she murmurs, making me smile. My woman is so open with her reactions; the pleasure on her face warms my heart. Fuck, I’m letting myself get in too deep with her. If one of my enemies finds out, they will try to get to her, and I can’t let that happen. I place my hand on the headboard above her head and start to deepen my thrusts until we’re both mindless with pleasure. Her nails dig into my biceps, but it’s the best kind of pain, as I feel myself nearing release.
Placing my thumb on her little nub, I pinch gently, and she comes undone in my arms, dragging me with her. This time, I pull out and fall on the bed next to her while I pull her close to my body as I encircle my arms around her. I have never slept the night with one woman. I’ve fucked many, but as soon as I’m done, they are gone. With Jade, it’s different; I want her next to me in my arms where I know she will be safe.
“That was intense,” she whispers as her fingers stroke my abs. “I don’t think I’ll be walking around tomorrow.”
My stomach tightens. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, not at all. A bit tender, but that’s just because I haven’t done this in a very long time, and you’re not exactly small,” she jokes as her hand moves up to stroke my jaw. The thought of her with anyone else makes me want to find out who it was and kill them. Sighing in annoyance, I move my arms and then stand. Turning, I pick her up against my chest. “Mmm, a girl could get used to this.” She lays her head on my shoulder.
I take her into the bathroom and sit her on the counter by the basin. I turn on the water in the bath and then turn back to her. “I told you I take care of what’s mine,” I state, and hear her grunt at my words, making me smile. When the bath is full, I pick her up and step in, lowering both of us into the water. I lean back against the tub, pulling her back tight against my front, my arms around her waist, holding her close.
“Alexey,” she murmurs as her head leans back against my chest.
“Mmm?” I answer.
“I don’t share. If I’m yours, are you mine?” she asks, making me smile at her possessive tone.
“Malysh, I’m a one-woman man. There will be no other women.” I feel her relax against me, and lower my head to kiss the top of her head. This woman has wiggled herself around me so tight that I don’t think I will ever be able to disentangle myself, but I find that I don’t want to let her go. I breathe in contentment. There is a war going on. Things are going to get worse before they get better, and now I have to look for a spy. But while I’m with her, I find that she brings me peace, something I haven’t had in a very, very long time.
JADE 10
It has been a week since the first time Alexey and I slept together, and since then, he insists I share his room. The night after we slept together, I was awoken from a peaceful sleep by Alexey picking me up and carrying me to his room. That morning, all my things were carried into his room.
I know something is going on; Alexey is gone when I wake up and comes back really late at night. Alexey and Vlad haven’t had dinner at home since before he had to go away, but he still wakes me up every night and makes sweet love to me. I know he is a violent man and his world is dangerous, but when I’m with him, I feel safe.
Who would have thought I would be living with a mafia boss? Out of all the issues I have about violence, I go and hook up with the most dangerous man in the city. Shaking my head, I make my way towards the entrance to the apartment. I have to take my final communications exam today, and then I have arranged with Lara to meet her. I usually check on my mom before I go somewhere, but I’m running late, so I will need to check on her when I come back.
She’s doing so much better. Sometimes, there is still sadness lurking behind her eyes, but with Betty and Silvia’s help, she has blossomed, and sometimes I start to see that woman who used to laugh and joke. I want that happiness back in my mother’s life, the carefreeness that she’s never had with my Dad and that she deserves.
TORMENTED: Bratva Fury (book 1) Page 7