I focused, taking a deep breath and remembering everything Ion had taught me. I shot two bullets through the chest of one man and got the head and neck of the other. They fell before me, and I felt the adrenaline running through me. I thought I would feel awful, having killed people today, but I felt like I was finally deserving of my last name. I wasn’t laying down and taking it. In fact, I had just taken care of things for Ion.
I turned around and helped him up, seeing that he had been shot more than once, though it didn’t look like anything permanent or serious. He would need to get the bullets out and treat the wounds, but that was it.
I led him out the door where a car was waiting as I suspected. We got in the car, and I told them to drive in a voice I didn’t recognize from my own throat. I sounded in charge, and it was nice. I turned to Ion and whispered the question I was dying for an answer about. “Is Bianca safe?”
He nodded before grunting in pain while pulling me down to his lips. He kissed me so passionately, and not in a lustful way. This was different, and I wondered what was happening between us as the car took us to the local hospital, finally letting me know where I had ended up; Toronto. A short drive from New York into another country. Did they think that we couldn’t reach them if they crossed the border? Hopefully, Ion would be able to think of better answers than me.
CHAPTER 22
Mariana
I felt exhausted as I turned off the lights and began removing my dress, finally. I had gotten to talk to Bianca on the phone while we were at the hospital for Ion. She was so excited to hear from me, and I promised her that we would have a redo for her birthday so that I could be there. She was asleep now, though, and I didn’t get to see her other than lying in her bed peacefully. Security had been beefed up, doubled in fact, and I finally felt safe going to sleep in that bed next to Ion. I put my gun under the bed just the way Ion did. Being taken again was not an option.
I sighed as I pulled off everything I was wearing. I had been wearing the same grimy clothes since I had been taken at the party for our engagement, and it felt nice to be out of them. I knew it was late, but I felt so filthy, I just had to grab a shower.
I turned on the water, which instantly got warm in this place. I stepped in, letting the water spray all over my body, chipping away at the dirt that I felt but couldn’t see. My muscles began to relax, but I jumped a little when I felt hands on me, massaging my upper back and neck. Then, kisses began to encircle me, our bodies touching under the warm water.
I turned around a concerned look on my face. “You should be resting. You were shot and had to have surgery, and, and you’re not even supposed to be in the shower. Your wound could get infected,” I told him as he leaned down and kissed my neck just the way I liked. I couldn’t help but let a pleasured sigh escape my lips. Ion knew just how and where to touch me. He was a magic man, as some might say.
“It was minor surgery,” he told me, sucking at my skin. “Besides, I have missed you. I didn’t know if you would come back to me alive this time.” I heard the concern in his voice and felt a chill run down my spine. He was sincere in what he was saying. I don’t know how we had suddenly morphed into whatever this was, but I had a feeling that I hadn’t had in a long time, or ever for that matter. I had a vague memory of Ion when we were younger, and I had talked for weeks and weeks about the way he had held my hand. This was the grown-up version of that.
I turned my back to him again, enjoying the sensations of his fingertips on my skin as they ran down my spine. I could feel him growing against me, sliding up against the inside of my thigh. He was so close to being inside me, and I wanted him to keep going. Instead, though, he leaned in and whispered in my ear. “I love you, Ana,” he said, surprising me. I didn’t ever think those words would come out of his mouth, but now that they had, I felt the overwhelming need to answer them.
I turned my head to the side so he could hear me over the sound of water. “I love you, too.” I didn’t know it was true until that moment, but it was irrevocably so. His hands wrapped around me, sliding across my wet stomach and my breasts, massaging them expertly. I felt him slip inside of me, and I spread my legs a little, letting him slip further inside of me.
I gasped at the feeling of his cock sliding against the flesh inside my pussy. I bent over and hung onto the sides of the tub, and he made it further, slamming against my cervix with his length. I moaned loudly, calling out his name as it echoed around the bathroom. It was good to be home, my fingers turning to prunes as my legs shook in complete pleasure. I finally knew where I belonged.
CHAPTER 23
Marina
I stood in the back of a huge church, the kind with stained glass windows and a place for a large choir up front. I was wearing a gorgeous dress, mermaid style, with lace all over it. My hair had taken hours to get right, but I looked like a princess. I could only imagine what Ion would look like when I walked down the aisle towards him. He had insisted on the silly tradition that I didn’t see him, nor him I, before we were at the front of that church, ready to say our I dos. I had an awesome day with Bianca, though, being girls and just getting pampered. She looked just as beautiful as me and was loving every minute.
I watched her walk, going down the aisle, as I remained hidden. She dropped flower petals all the way until she reached the front. Then, it was my turn to move. I went with the music, even as I wanted to run down to the end and be in front of him. I knew that this was my fate since I was a baby, to be with Ion Petran, but I never thought I would enjoy it so thoroughly.
I could feel a wide smile on my face that wasn’t going away as I walked past all the guests who were standing in their respect for me; another age old and silly tradition. But this one felt pretty good. They were all there to see me get married to Ion so that we could take our rightful place as leaders. Ion had talked with me and told me how much a smash I had been with the clan leaders, and especially now that I had helped take down several men who had betrayed us. He told me that while he would still be king, that I would be involved and get a say. They wanted me, and even he was beginning to respect me.
Though, even as my happiness was knocking on the door, I had a bad feeling that it was all too good to be true, or at least to last. We had learned nothing yet about which clan or clans were after me, though we were investigating the owner of the hotel where I had been held. It was only a matter of time before that turned up again. I still hadn’t told Ion my thoughts about the Russians being involved, one day I would. However, we needed to know who stood with us but was also against us. Hopefully, I would get to enjoy my wedding night before the shit hit the fan.
Finally, I was to Ion, and his smile was just as broad as I thought mine was. I took his hands, and the ceremony was a blur, Bianca swishing in her little dress behind me and tugging at my train happily. And when we kissed, I swear there were fireworks.
As we exited, though, a strange man standing away from the crowd caught my eye. I grabbed onto Bianca and nodded towards him. Ion shook his head and made his way towards the man as I took Bianca off with our bodyguards in the car we would be taking to our private jet. We were going to be off on an island away from all this mess for a while the rest of the Petran clan worked with the Balans to figure it all out. I was going to get a break as well as some fun in the sun and sand with my family.
The car drove away to safety as I waited for Ion to come back to me. The last thing I needed was to lose him or have him injured on our wedding day. Luckily, he was in the car before I knew it, though he did not look to be in a good mood.
“It was Rafael, the leader of the Mexican cartel,” Ion explained. I leaned back in my seat for the ride and huffed out an annoyed sigh. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another.
“Dare I ask what he wanted?” I questioned, hoping for better news butt fearing the worst.
“It was a warning. Rafael has experienced some bad dealings with motorcycle clubs that bought women from him the way we do. In fact, one of his closest
men, Juan, is dead, killed by the MC. He has warned us to prove our loyalty and that he doesn’t trust that the mob wasn’t involved with any of this at all. I thought about explaining our situation to him, but I doubt a man like that would be sympathetic. As far as he is concerned, we are all one and the same, regardless. We aren’t out of the woods yet, I’m afraid.”
I took Ion’s hand in mine, and he picked it up and kissed it. “Let’s just enjoy being a family now, and we can worry about all of this drama when we get back,” I told him, trying to keep it light. Bianca didn’t need to be pulled into all of it. She was going to have a good time and a good life.
I looked down at her and saw that she had passed out, I giggled and stroked her hair as we arrived at the airport. Ion carried her onto the jet that was waiting on the tarmac. Once she was sound settled and safe, I turned to my new husband and began the painstaking job of taking my wedding dress off. As hard as it was to get on, I knew it would take some time to remove.
“Here, let me help you with that Mrs. Petran,” Ion said in a sultry tone, going to my back and helping me with all the buttons and zippers, removing each piece one at a time. There was something sensual about the whole scene as I looked into his eyes, him coming around to survey my body like his new prize. I had never felt more beautiful.
“I cannot believe you are finally mine,” he said, pulling me close so that I was weak at the knees, his musky breath hitting me and causing instant intoxication.
He laid me down on a row of seats and dropped his pants. He was already so hard.
“I can’t believe you finally love me,” I told him just before he picked up my legs, placing them one on each of his shoulders. He smirked down at me, the head of his shaft tickling the outside of my wet and waiting center. I could see exactly how this honeymoon was going to be, and I was going to love every minute of it.
“Believe it,” he answered before plunging into me. What a start to our adventure.
The Trade
The Clans
Book Two
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CHRISTINE – We are here yet again. The time seems to be passing so quickly nowadays. I wonder where we’ll be at in a year’s time, it’s hard to believe that this marks 9 books in one year. Thank you so much for all you have helped me achieve!
MY AMAZING ARC READERS – You guys are the bomb, literally. You have no idea how much I look forward to y’all reading my crazy little stories. Thank you so much for continuing to support me on my crazy endeavors. It truly means the world to me.
MY AMAZING BLOGGERS—Jenna, Jen, Shannon, Chasidy, Angie, Heather, Lizzie, Jamie, Ana, Amanda, Deanna, Angela, Rebecca, Alicia, Jamie, Christiana, Christiann, Kristin, Valerie, Cia, Leanne, Linda, Emilie, Shasta, Nichole, Erika, Sandra, Jade, Lena, Caroline, Jes, Tracy, Ann, & Meaghan—Thank you all so much for pimping the living hell out of each and every release that I have. Your continued support touches the bottom of my dark and twisted heart! Here’s to one year! <3
MY AUTHOR TRIBE—You guys rock my world. I know that we all constantly support each other over and over again, but I cannot explain just how much each of your friendship, wisdom and insight means to me. I believe we all make each other better, and I am blessed to call you my friends.
CHAS, KATIE & LAURA: MY FABULOUS PAS—You help me rein in my crazy antics, keeping me somehow organized through each day. I, one hundred percent, believe that if I didn’t have y’all I’d be lost without you, and I would, let’s be real.
MY BETA BITCHAZ: Laura, Tania, Jenna, GG, Chasidy, Cassie & Michaela—You guys help me make everything better, you may not think that you do, but y’all do. You help me be my best self with each and every book that I publish. Thank y’all so much for stickin’ with me. <3
KBB, MY BABES!—Holy. Living. Hell! How has a year passed already? I remember when I first uploaded Reign into KDP and was literally biting my lips for weeks at the fact I had published a book. Now, here we are; 365 days later. I’m not as nervous anymore, but I am excited. I’m excited for all of the crazy stuff I’ll be sending your way over the next year, and I hope y’all are too. Thank you so much!
DEDICATED TO CHAS
If you think you’ve read that wrong, you haven’t. You aren’t just one of my fantabulous PA’s, you’re one of my dearest friends. You do so much for me and I cannot thank you enough from the bottom of my heart for your constant encouragement, on the spot feedback that I always seem to bug you with. I could go down a list of all the things that you do that I don’t give you enough credit for. I cannot express how incredibly thankful I am that this crazy book world introduced us to one another. Love you, lady! <3
PLAYLIST
Take You Home | Cassadee Pope
Savior | Iggy Azalea ft. Quavo
Daddy Issues | Demi Lovato
Wanna Be Missed | Hayley Kiyoko
Dark Side | Phoebe Ryan
100 Letters | Halsey
In Your Phone | Ty Dolla $ign ft. Lauren Jauregui
Supernova | Ansel Elgort
CHAPTER 1
When they can’t find anything wrong with you, they create it. -Anonymous
Natasha
A shrill noise hits my ears, pulling me out of my deep slumber. I take off the sleep mask from my face and sit up in bed, before reaching my hand over to pop the button that will shut this fucking thing up. No matter where you go; luxury splendor or a cheap motel, the alarm clocks always sound like banshees rising from the darkness.
Blinking my eyes, I am pleased to find there is little light to adjust to. Just how I wanted it to be. I didn’t want to wake up until it was at least seven p.m. after the morning we had, getting straight off the plane to go shopping, but what else should a girl do when she is on a trip in Miami? If I am going to be here, I am going to look the part. That is exactly how my best friend, Bethany felt as soon as she arrived as well. It just so happened that we were wiped out when we got back to the hotel and needed a cat nap before we continued our day, or night rather.
Looking to the bed that sat next to me, I realize that Bethany isn’t there. My first thought is that she woke up early and went down to flirt with the cute bellboy. She was always like that, and they flirted right back. It didn’t help that she looked like she just stepped out of Baywatch or something with her flat stomach and long blonde hair. Not that I don’t have my good looks as well, but they just aren’t that kind.
When I hear retching in the bathroom, I am acutely aware that flirting, is not where Bethany ended up. Instead, I go to the edge of the large bathroom to find her worshipping the toilet like a shrine, trying to keep those blonde locks I described, out of the muck that is filling the toilet bowl. “What’s the matter, Beth?” I ask her with concern, keeping my distance as much as possible. I won’t lie, I am one of those girls who vomit from the mere sight of anyone else completing the act. I am not in the mood to puke my guts out on our girl’s trip to Miami. Nope. Not happening. Though, I feel terrible for my friend.
“I’m thinking sushi at lunch was a bad idea… maybe I have food poisoning,” she commented, looking up with her miserable, beady, ice blue eyes.
I frown at her. “No, don’t tell me you can’t do tonight. We have been planning this trip for ages, and tonight we were finally going to check out the club everyone’s been raving about. We have to go,” I beg her, knowing it’s useless. I can’t force her to go to the club with me. It's just not right, but the disappointment is heavy.
I watch as she tries to get up off the floor and make her way to the sink to clean up her face and teeth, flushing the toilet behind her. She looks pretty pale, come to think of it, and I seriously worry that she needs to see a doctor. “I think I need to take you to the hospital or something. You’re pretty pale, and food poisoning can be bad news,” I tell her.
“Hah!” she scoffs. “Natasha, food poisoning of all things is not going to kill me, especially at the beginning of our Miami trip. No. It will be gone by tomorrow. I’ll just stay here and puke it all o
ut, and you go to Riske without me,” she urges. I don’t like it one bit. It doesn’t feel right for her to wallow in her pain while I get to check out the hottest club in Miami. It feels selfish. “Stop overanalyzing and just go. I go clubbing all the time, plus, those upscale places aren’t for me. I like to get down with the low lives,” she jokes before gagging again.
I shake my head and go over to the small wardrobe where our dresses are. I made sure to carry them in garment bags from the shop and hang them up as soon as I got here. Part of the perfect trip is looking perfectly hot.
I thumb through the options and go for the one that stands out most, the one I was almost hesitant to wear. It has this black mesh that covers the back of it, showing off so much skin, it should be illegal. The only saving grace is the fact that it has this pattern of black covering up the front. It lends itself to some kick-ass cleavage though, my greatest asset.
“Can I borrow your black dress?” I ask Bethany. I have to admit that it’s gorgeous.
“Go for it!” she calls back to me.
I drop my clothes to the ground and carefully pull the dress over my body. It is fitting me like a second skin just like it is meant to. I place my hair at the front of my body and walk over to where Beth is now on her bed, looking like she might pass out. I have to have her zip the thing up. “Damn, you are going to get hit on by everyone who sees you tonight,” she tells me as I feel the cool glide of the zipper along my spine.
I laugh. “That's kind of the point, I think.” I top it off with a little makeup; black eyes and red lips. That’s all I need. My complexion is too nice to gunk up with anything else. I slip on a pair of strappy silver heels; a pair of shoes I know will garner attention but also that I will be able to dance in. There is no point in going to a club unless I can dance half the night away.
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