“And I love you.” Roman had never believed it possible, but here he was, in love with her deeply enough that he would give his own life to keep her safe, even had she been the enemy. Had he been told several months ago that he would do something so foolish, he would have laughed. Now he couldn’t imagine another way. Elena was the one for him. “I love you so goddamn much.”
There was a change in the way she moved—a subtle shift that increased the intensity of her movements, but that didn’t disturb his body. A bolt of pleasure shot down the length of Roman’s cock and came to nest in his balls, and he knew that there was no way he could hold back from coming.
“I’m not going to last much longer,” he warned her. “You need to pull back before that happens. We’re not…”
Elena’s eyes darkened with lust. She rocked forward, and he almost lost it right then. “I don’t care. I want you to.”
Roman couldn’t hold back. Invited to come inside of her, his body already stretched to incredible lengths as it healed, he let go. Orgasm tore through him and tightened every one of his muscles for a moment of pain and pleasure before everything went slack, and relief took over. Atop him, he felt Elena tighten. She sucked in a tiny, greedy breath, then pulled away and laid at his side on the bed.
“Did you come?” he asked, unsure what had happened. She’d been so quiet, and he’d done so little.
“I came.” She pressed a kiss to his neck. Her breathing was heavier than it had been before, and he got the impression she was being truthful. After what had happened in Viktor’s room, he figured that lying would no longer be an issue. “God, did I come. Not every end is fireworks. Some of the best ones are slow burns, and they sizzle. You drive me there, chaufferone… and you know what?”
Roman grinned. He couldn’t help it—the love brimming behind his collarbone expanded and rose until it stretched his lips. “What?’
“I don’t think this is a ride I’m ever going to want to get off of.” She snuggled up to his side and released a contented sigh. “I’m afraid you’re stuck with me now. You took on this job thinking you’d only have to watch me for a while… and now you’ve got to watch me for a hell of a lot longer than that.”
“There are worse jobs,” Roman said, his smile never ending. “There are far, far worse jobs. In fact, if I had to do it for the rest of my life, I don’t think I’d mind.”
“Mmm, I’ll hold you to that, you know.” She laughed, then nestled against him. “As long as you continue to hold yourself against me. Often. Like, probably every night until the end of time… as long as I haven’t stabbed you lately.”
Roman choked back a laugh that irritated the hell out of his injury. It was worth it. What he’d found with Elena wasn’t just the start of something new—it was the start of something permanent. He’d found in her a new way to live, and through that, a new way to love. And no matter the pain he suffered, and no matter the obstacles along the way, he’d never let her go again.
Not for his career. Not for Viktor. Not even for death itself.
Elena was his, and she would be forever more. He’d make sure of it.
Epilogue
Elena
Roman took step after careful step, supporting Elena’s mother, Raisa, toward the front door of the Sokolov mansion. Elena stood nearby, holding the door open for them both. Tears brimmed in her eyes as her mother turned her head in Roman’s direction and smiled. There was life in her eyes again, and although nothing could reverse all the damage done to her, she was improving with each and every day.
And today, Viktor was moving her permanently into the Sokolov mansion, where she would be given her own private nurse and assured the best medical attention anyone could afford. Elena had redeemed herself over the past few months, cooperating in every way she could in order to track her father down. So far, they hadn’t been successful, but each step brought them a little closer, and she knew it wouldn’t be long now. He couldn’t hide forever, and for now, she and her mother were safe here, together. One of these days, she would flush her father out and let him know what she thought of his horrendous treatment of the ones he was supposed to love the most.
Roman winked at her as he passed, guiding her mother into the house. Elena’s heart skipped a beat, and she winked back. She was about to follow him in and take up position on her mother’s free side when someone burst through the doors in a hurry, almost crashing directly into Elena.
“H-Hey!” Elena uttered. The person continued to speed away, heading for one of the cars parked along the drop-off point in front of the house. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? That’s so rude!”
“I don’t have time,” the individual snarled back. It wasn’t until Elena heard his voice that she clued into who the figure was—Kostya, Viktor’s younger brother.
“Um?” Elena followed him forward, not wanting to give up on him just yet. “Kostya? I’m serious. That was really rude of you. What’s going on?”
He didn’t reply.
“Hey!” Elena raised her voice. “Answer me, dickwad! What’s got your panties in such a bunch?”
Kostya stopped at one of the parked cars. He looked back at her, narrowed his eyes in total hatred, and then yanked open the door and sank into the seat. Before she could get another word in, he slammed the door shut.
“Rude!” Elena grumbled. She crossed her arms and watched the car speed off. “What the hell is his deal, anyway?”
“His deal is that he doesn’t know beauty when he sees it,” Roman said, startling her. “Don’t let him ruin today for you. Your mother is sitting inside. She needed a break before making the last leg of the journey to her new room. Would you like to accompany us there?”
Back in the present moment, in happiness, Elena smiled at him. As her heart rate slowed back to normal, she leaned against his side and took his hand in hers. “I’d love that.”
“Then let’s go.” Roman squeezed her hand and guided her back into the Sokolov mansion. Thoughts of Kostya exited Elena’s mind. There were other, better things to worry about.
Her life as a Popov was over, but her life as a Sokolov had just begun… and with Roman here by her side, what a life it was already shaping up to be.
End of Falling for the Mob Soldier
Married to the Russian Kingpin, 11th October 2018
Falling for the Mob Solider, 18th October 2018
Saving the Russian Enforcer, 25th October 2018
PS: Do you love Russian mobsters? Then keep reading for exclusive extracts from Saving the Russian Enforcer and Mafia Boss’ Fearless Lover.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for purchasing my book. It’s hard for me to put into words how much I appreciate my readers. If you enjoyed this book, please remember to leave a review. Reviews are crucial for an author’s success and I would greatly appreciate it if you took the time to review the book. I love hearing from you!
You can leave a review at:
About Leslie
Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women's contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres.
Find your next Leslie North book visit LeslieNorthBooks.com or choose:
PS: Want sneak peeks, giveaways, ARC offers, fun extras and plenty of pictures of bad boys? Join my Facebook group, Leslie’s Lovelies!
BLURB
Kostya “Mad Dog” Sokolov has earned his reputation as a ruthless enforcer for the Russian mob. Cold, menacing, and driven, he has long ago dismissed any softness that might have been inside of him. And since his father was murdered, he’s wanted only one thing: revenge on the man who did it. The best way for Kostya to flush out his prey—Anatoly Popov—is to follow Popov’s daughter, Maya. What Kostya doesn’t count on is getting knocked out and forgetting why he’s in London or how he ended up in the flat of a beautiful woman. But once he
remembers his mission, he realizes the only thing standing in his way is a pretty girl with a too-big heart. A pretty girl who’s the daughter of the man he’s vowed to kill.
Maya has rejected everything about her father since learning at a young age that he’s a brutal mob boss. She’s changed her last name to Orlov and set about creating as much distance between her and the Russian mob as she possibly can. So, when she discovers that the man she’s rescued outside her London flat—the man she’s falling for—is her father’s greatest enemy, she’s torn. She hates her father, but she hates the violence surrounding her family even more. How can she allow Kostya to carry out his plan? And, at the same time, how can she resist Kostya when his kisses make her weak-kneed and his touch makes her wish for a life that she can never have?
Grab your copy of Saving the Russian Enforcer
Available 25th October 2018
www.LeslieNorthBooks.com
* * *
EXCERPT
Chapter One
Someone was coming for her.
Footsteps attempted to mirror hers, the thud of her flats on the pavement being echoed by a second, slightly heavier sound that was almost perfectly matched to her pace. Almost. But a fraction of a second had been all it took for her ear to pick up on the dissonance, and now that she’d heard it, she couldn’t ignore it.
The orange glow of the streetlights overhead wouldn’t save her—not on such a quiet street. Her only hope was the shadows between the downtown flats she walked by. Even then, she had her doubts, but it was something.
Terrible things happened in the dark. Maya knew that well.
She glanced over her shoulder and saw no one. Had her pursuer given up on the chase, or was he lying in wait somewhere, biding his time, waiting for her to make a mistake? Maya curled her fingers into nervous fists and found that her palms were sweaty. Her stomach, already uncomfortably full from the order-in Chinese she’d eaten during her overtime shift at work, clenched tight with dread. She let a stale breath out of her lungs, then squeezed her eyes shut and summoned what little remained of her courage. Moving swiftly, she ducked into the next alley and bolted, hoping to put space between herself and the man pursuing her.
She didn’t get far.
Beyond the rush of her pulse in her ears and the frightened thoughts flitting through her mind as she ran, Maya heard something else that slowed her, then made her stop entirely. There was a pitiful noise coming from a little deeper in the alley. Someone—a man, by the sounds of it—was in pain.
She looked over her shoulder again, half-expecting to see the light from the main street blotted out by a blocky male outline. There was nothing, and by the sounds of it, the footsteps had stopped. She turned her attention back toward the sound and approached carefully, still not fully trusting the noise. There was a chance that her pursuer had planned this, and that it was a trap. But even if it was, what other choice did she have? She could either progress through the alley and pass the noise, in which case she’d be captured, or she could turn around and face whoever had been following her.
She’d take her chances on the unknown.
A rusted metal dumpster was placed against the side of the flat on Maya’s right. She held her breath and moved on silently, then poked her head around the far side to see if anyone was there. What she saw made her gasp and jump back. Her heart rattled against her ribcage, begging for escape.
There was a man there. She’d only seen his outline in the shadows, but she knew that she wasn’t imagining things. He’d been positioned over a few errant garbage bags, his body draped in such a way that it almost looked like he was sitting, but his head was rolled to the side in an unnatural fashion, and Maya got the feeling that this wasn’t some drunk or junkie who’d nodded out for the night. There was something else going on here—something sinister.
He made another small noise—a groan. Maya’s stomach twisted with pity, and she stepped back around the dumpster to see if he was okay, resolve suddenly overcoming the fear she’d felt moments before. If he was acting, his performance was spot-on and he deserved to capture her. Maya had never heard a man sound so broken before.
“Hello?” she asked in a small voice. “Can you hear me?”
“… pomogi mne, Mama.”
Maya’s lips parted in shock, but she couldn’t find words to speak. The man was speaking Russian, and he was asking for help.
Was this her father’s doing?
She looked down the alley behind her, then back to the man in front of her. “Can you hear me?” she asked.
The man murmured something, but he spoke too quietly for her to hear. Heart racing, Maya leaned in close, but he’d quieted down. Was he still conscious? Maya couldn’t see clearly enough to tell. She took her cell phone from her purse and activated her flashlight app.
The man was bleeding from a lump on his head that had become so engorged with fluids that the skin had split open. Blood coated one side of his face almost entirely, and it had trickled down his jaw and neck to soak into the top of his shirt. Maya clutched her phone to her chest, blocking out the light as if doing so would reverse what had happened to him. There was no way she could leave him here, but at the same time, she knew that, if her father was involved, calling the police or the ambulance wasn’t the best idea.
The men Anatoly Popov involved himself with usually wanted to keep themselves under the radar. If this was his doing, Maya didn’t want to associate herself with his name again by bringing this matter to the police. The less she had to do with her father, the better…
But she couldn’t leave a man to die in a pile of trash.
“Hey, um, if you can hear me… hi. I’m Maya.” Maya bit down on her bottom lip. She took the phone from her chest and shone light at him again, avoiding his face. “I’m going to help you, okay? Ya pomogu tebe.”
“Galina,” the man uttered. He tried to open his eyes, but blood had clotted over his eyelashes and kept one of his eyes welded shut. The opposite eye only opened a sliver. Maya frowned and reached out for him. She set a tender hand on his arm to let him know that he wasn’t alone, and that she meant no harm.
Galina must be his girlfriend, or his wife…
“No, I’m Maya,” she told him. “Maya. I don’t know a Galina. But I’m still going to help you, and I’m still going to make sure that you’re alright. Can you stand?”
She received no response, but she felt his body brace beneath her hand like he expected to be moved. Maya sucked in a breath, quashed down the voice in her head that told her she was being a fool, and maneuvered herself so that she could slip an arm beneath the man’s shoulders. Maya knew that lifting him would require herculean effort, and that, as small as she was, she’d never be able to do it without help, but she had to try. To her relief, the man was conscious enough to support some of his own weight, and once she got him on his feet, he leaned on her heavily, but seemed capable of walking.
“What’s your name?” she asked as she guided him from the alley. She no longer heard the footsteps from before. Hopefully, now that she wasn’t alone, whoever was following her would stop.
She received no response.
“What happened to you?” she asked.
Again, she was met with silence.
Maya gave up after that, focusing instead on making sure the man made it to safety. Her flat wasn’t far, and although she lived alone, she still had a few pieces of her ex’s clothing hanging around that she thought might fit him. She’d been meaning to throw it out for ages, but had never gotten around to it. What had been an annoyance now seemed a lot more like fate.
“Galina,” the man murmured. He slumped against her as they walked, and she did her best to hold him upright. “Pomogu…”
“Ya pomogu tebe,” she promised. I will help you.
And whoever he was, no matter what his relation was to her father, she would help him. If he was a random Russian who’d been caught in a fight, fine… but if his proximity to her flat was a sign of some
thing bigger going on, she wanted to know about it. Besides, if her father had tried to eliminate this man, it meant he’d opposed him in some way, and to Maya, that was a clear indication that they were on the same team. She’d put a little kindness out into the world, and hopefully, she’d receive a little kindness in return. No matter what, she’d trust her gut on what to do. It had never steered her wrong before.
Grab your copy of Saving the Russian Enforcer
Available 25th October 2018
www.LeslieNorthBooks.com
* * *
Send me your thoughts on an extra scene featuring my Sokolov Brothers that you would LOVE to read. I’ll include a special epilogue at the end of this series.
BLURB
After a lifetime of ordinary, Katya Miller discovers a world she never knew existed and a man who may be her undoing....
In the wake of her parents’ death, Katya’s search for answers reveals her family’s deep ties to the infamous Russian Mafia. Now, determined to get revenge and take her place at the top, she’ll let no one stand in her way. Not even dark, brooding mafia boss, Nikolai, whose tantalizing good looks tempt her like never before.
Bratva mafia boss Nikolai Tsarsko is used to having whatever he wants, until a headstrong strawberry blonde becomes an intriguing challenge. Katya may be the key to reuniting the organization, and with that comes danger from every direction. To protect and possess her, Nikolai will have to use his most wicked ways.
Falling for the Mob Soldier: Sokolov Brothers Book Two Page 11