Beyond Measure: A Dark Bratva Romance (Ruthless Doms)

by Henry, Jane

  “You guys are so funny.”

  “You think that was funny?” Christ, maybe I do let her get away with too much.

  “Of course it was,” she says with a giggle. I crack a smile. I love when she’s happy. I slide the tray on the table and lift the lid. I nod approvingly at the ptichye moloko. Our traditional bird’s milk cake. Mildly sweet, light as a feather, the sponge cake layered with chocolate and custard is one of my favorites.

  “It might have been funny to you, but I’ll kick his ass for that.”

  “You won’t,” she says gently, biting her lip. “You guys are like brothers, really.” I watch as her eyes sober and her brow furrows. “I like it.”

  “Do you?” She’s such a complex little creature.

  I nod, beckoning for her to join me at the little table so we can eat dessert.

  “My brother isn’t like that at all, you know,” she says.

  I don’t know.

  “Oh?”

  I hold the chair out for her and this time, she actually laughs out loud. “I’m literally naked, still hot and panting from being fucked, and you’re going to be the gentleman and hold the chair out for me?”

  I can’t help but smile when she says fucked. She rarely swears, and it seems almost out of place. It’s cute.

  “Of course. A gentleman wears many faces, you know.

  “I’ve gathered that.”

  “So, tell me what your brother’s like, then.”

  “He rules with an iron fist,” she says with a shrug. “He’s mean and cold and power-hungry.”

  I frown. I take the one fork Nicolai gave us and take a large forkful.

  “Open.” She obeys, her hands in her lap, and eagerly takes the bite of cake.

  “Mmm, they did a good job.”

  I take a bite from the same fork and nod in approval. “They did? Or you did? It’s delicious.”

  She shrugs. “Well, I may have orchestrated it, but I had help.”

  So humble and meek. I could learn from her.

  “Did your brother always treat you the way he does now?”

  She swallows the next bite I give her before answering. “No. He was kinder when we were younger, when my parents were alive. But over the years, Bratva life has worn him down. He’s become harder. And then he befriended Andros.”

  “I see.”

  I despise her brother with a vehement hatred reserved for my enemies. How anyone could be bound by duty to a woman like her and fail her is a mystery to me. I don’t realize I’m clenching my fists until she rests her hand on mine.

  “Tomas,” she says gently, so gently I almost don’t hear her at first. I blink and look at her.

  “Yes?”

  Her eyes are pained. “I lost you there. What is it?”

  “I hate that you were anywhere near your brother. I hate that I can’t exact vengeance on him now and need to wait until the time is right. I hate that he wasn’t good to you.” I shake my head. “I have no real-life brothers, only the men who are chosen family. And I’d lay down my life for them.”

  She runs her thumb over the top of my hand and nods. “I know. You don’t have to tell me. I can see it in the way you are with them. I think it’s one of the things I love best about you.”

  I take a deep breath in. It’s the sweetest thing she’s ever said to me and betrays the fact that she’s actually falling for me.

  Does she know how I feel about her?

  How could she?

  But as soon as she speaks, she flushes pink and looks away, even pulling her hand off mine. “I didn’t mean to say that,” she whispers, shaking her head.

  “What?” I ask. “It’s wrong to show feelings for the man you’re wedded to?”

  She shakes her head. “It’s wrong to show feelings for a man you just met.”

  “According to whom?”

  She shrugs and flushes, shaking her head and opening her mouth to speak, then closing it at once. “I—I’m not sure. Oh, hell.”

  She gets up out of her chair and comes to me, all curves and grace and beauty, then slides on my lap facing me. I’m so shocked by what she’s doing that I let her, my hands falling helplessly to the side as she cups my face in her hands and kisses me. She tastes like the cake we just ate, sweet and rich, and I could kiss her all night long. I wrap my hands around her lower back and pull her closer, letting her kiss me as if she owns me, because she fucking does.

  She does.

  I intended on owning Caroline, but it goes both ways. I’m her husband, her protector, the one who will defend her to the death.

  But we belong to each other.

  When she finally pulls her lips off mine, she looks at me in surprise. “I didn’t mean to do that,” she whispers. “I don’t know what came over me. I just—”

  I stand with her in my arms in reply and she stops speaking. Her legs encircle me, her naked pussy pressed up against my torso as I walk her to the bed. I lay her down and kneel beside her. Her eyes meet mine, flirtatious and sexy.

  She bites her lip before she asks, “Do you have it in you for round three, old—”

  “I dare you to say it. Do it. See what happens.”

  But she shakes her head.

  “Smart girl. Don’t need another spanking?”

  Her eyes twinkle. “Not yet.”

  I join her on the bed and show her that I’m fully capable of round three.

  * * *

  Three nights later, my phone rings in the middle of the night.

  “Boss?”

  I’m half asleep, my eyes still half-closed when I answer. It’s Ilya.

  “What is it?”

  “I’m so sorry to call you this late,” he says. “But I was doing watch by the gate, and there’s something wrong.” I’ve given Ilya nighttime shift this week, and his explicit directions are to call Yakov if anything is amiss.

  I sit up in bed. Caroline wakes, her eyes fluttering open. She holds my gaze in quiet confidence but doesn’t speak. It’s like balm to my soul when she looks at me like that. I never knew how alone I was until I wasn’t anymore. It empowers me to have her by my side, knowing that no matter what happens I come home to her soft voice and gentle touch.

  “What is it?”

  “My replacement was supposed to check in an hour ago for the shift change. His phone is ringing, and ringing and I can’t get him.”

  I grit my teeth together. “There are many in our brotherhood you could’ve called before me. Just because one of our men is missing doesn’t mean a damn thing.” I will ring this boy’s neck if he doesn’t settle down and learn his place.

  “But that’s just it, sir. I tried all of them. Yakov. Nicolai. Lev. No one answered.”

  I scowl into the darkness. Caroline places her arm on mine and gently squeezes. I take in a deep breath.

  “All of them?”

  “Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t know who else to call.”

  I exhale. “No, you did the right thing. I’ll be right there.”

  I hang up the phone and push Caroline’s arm off mine, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. I need to find out what the hell is going on.

  “Is everything okay, Tomas?”

  I nod. “Go back to sleep,” I tell her. “It’s fine.”

  She watches me quietly as I step into a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and boots. I don’t look at her when I open the drawer beside the bed and remove several handguns. Though she knows exactly who I am and what I do, taking my weapons is a stark reminder of what could go wrong at any minute.

  “Tomas,” she whispers, her voice shaky.

  “Go to sleep.” My tone is harsher than I mean, but the thought of any of my men being at risk has me on edge. I try to ignore the reproachful look she gives me, and finally turn away. “Now.”

  I open the door to make sure the detail outside hasn’t left their positions. Two of my best men still stand at attention when I go to them.

  “Have you noticed anything out of place?”


  One frowns. “Not anything that indicates danger,” he says.

  But in Bratva life, you take nothing for granted. It’s worth missing a night’s sleep for safety’s sake, even if it means leaving the side of the woman I love.

  The woman I love.

  I’ve kept her apart from my day to day dealings as much as I can, but our lives are too meshed in it to do so fully. And every time something threatens the lives of my men, I’m reminded of where she came from. Of the danger that lurks outside the safety of the compound walls. I’m ready and willing to protect my woman no matter the cost, and my gut says that day may be sooner than later.

  I scrub a hand across my brow as I go down the hallway toward the exit, wracking my brain. It’s the middle of the fucking night. Nicolai leaves to go home in a few days and Yakov should be with Yvonne. Or is it Yakov’s turn for night shift watch? We don’t normally even have night shift, but with recent events I thought it wise. As pakhan, I have bodyguards, but I have at least two men on Caroline at all times when she isn’t in my presence.

  I try to call Nicolai and Yakov in turn, but both times the phone just rings until I get to voicemail.

  Shit.

  The compound is nearly silent, save for the silent pacing of those on guard, when I reach the first floor. I go to Ilya first, before I do anything else, but his story is the same. Nothing’s out of the ordinary, but he still can’t get in touch with anyone. The garden wraps around the entrance to our compound, and I see a shadow move. Still beyond the entrance to the compound, but the garden area is clearly marked as private property. No one should be there at this hour.

  “Ilya, do you see someone over by the bench?”

  “I do, sir. I saw nothing until you came.”

  There’s a full moon tonight, illuminating the garden and front walk that leads to the compound. I squint toward it. Who the hell is in the garden this late at night? I blink in surprise when my vision adjusts to the dim lighting.

  It’s a woman. Christ. What the hell is a woman doing on a bench outside the compound? The only women allowed anywhere near us should be accompanied by their men.

  “Tomas—”

  I hold up a hand to silence him. I’ll investigate myself.

  I watch as she rises before I reach her. Standing on ridiculously spikey heels, she wobbles in the grass. Is she drunk? The woman wears a skin-tight black leather dress, her thick, wavy blonde hair framing her face. She’s dressed so provocatively; I wonder if she’s a hooker one of my men called. I’ll kick the ass of anyone who’s brought her and left her on our private property. What the fuck is this?

  “Who are you?” I demand.

  She grins in response. My skin prickles with awareness, as if we’re being watched. There’s something macabre in this night, and foreboding pools in my belly when I approach her.

  “The better question is, who are you, handsome?” She places her hands on her hips and I swear she sashays a little, as if she’s beckoning me to her.

  “I’m a happily married man,” I say tightly. “And no one’s allowed on this property without permission. Tell me who you are before I call the police.”

  She laughs out loud, the sound ringing through the quiet. “Happily married. Oh, that’s rich. As if that matters, handsome. I’ve slept with more married men than single. They’re far more eager. And you look like the type that could use it.”

  “It matters.”

  When I get within a few paces of her, the garden lights, triggered by motion sensors, turn on. I blink in the sudden blinding light, shielding my eyes from it. It’s all she needs. She’s close enough that she grabs my shoulder and yanks me to her. I’m so taken aback, I don’t react at first, stunned by her bold moves. Grabbing the back of my head she anchors herself on me, pulls my head down, and kisses me with one knee hitched up to my side.

  Rage boils up inside me. I could hurt her. Christ, I’m afraid I will. I push her away, and it takes every bit of restraint I have not to slap her. But hell, I don’t need a restraining order or assault on my record. Even a man like me would serve time for assaulting a woman, and I don’t need that on my record. I have to be careful.

  She has the gall to come closer to me.

  “Get the hell away from me.” I push my hands on her shoulders and shove her away. I don’t even feel guilty when she stumbles, barely catching herself on the bench, but she’s laughing as if it’s the funniest thing in the world. I turn around quickly, thinking I hear someone behind me, but when I turn there’s no one there.

  “Aw, handsome,” she says, rising to her feet on wobbly heels. “No need to get all worked up.”

  I want to hurt her so badly I’m shaking with rage. I pick up my phone to make a call, but it won’t dial out. I bend down, grab her by the arm, and yank her to her feet. It pleases me when her eyes widen in fear and she slaps at my hand.

  “Let me go or I’ll scream!”

  “Scream all you fucking want,” I tell her. “You’re trespassing, and I don’t know who the hell you are, but you do not belong here. Get the fuck out of my residence.”

  Ilya’s by my side.

  “What the hell?” he asks.

  “Trespasser,” I tell him. “Get her the fuck out of here and make it fucking clear that she’s not welcome to ever come back here.” I shove her toward him, but the second I release her grip, she kicks off her shoes, eludes his grip, and runs.

  Ilya takes off after her, but I stop him. “No. Let her go.”

  Neither of us needs assault on our records.

  He obeys, shaking his head while she runs. “What the hell was she doing here?”

  “No idea, but the entire area before the gate is still private property.”

  Ilya looks at me sheepishly. “She um… she left some red lipstick on you, sir.”

  I curse under my breath and rub a hand over my cheek.

  “You got it,” he says, shaking his head.

  My phone rings. Yakov.

  “Hello?”

  “Tomas, I heard you were trying to reach me?”

  “Yeah,” I say with a sigh. “Just making sure all was good. Phone signals weren’t working.”

  “All fine here, brother.”

  I think about telling him what just happened, but I’m weary and shaken by it.

  “Alright. I’m sorry. Get some sleep.”

  I hang up the phone with him and dial Nicolai as well.

  “Tomas? Everything okay?”

  I shake my head. “Was just checking on you.” I do decide to tell him what happened, nonetheless.

  “What the fuck is that about? You haul her ass back into the compound for questioning?”

  “No,” I tell him. “Can’t exactly question a woman the way I can a man. And anyway, she got away.”

  He’s silent for a moment. “I don’t like this,” he says. “Was anyone else with her?”

  “No.”

  “Ilya saw nothing?”

  “Nothing. But what could it mean?”

  “I don’t know, brother. Let’s debrief in the morning.”

  I hang up the call with him and finally reach Ilya’s replacement. When all is settled, I head back to my room. Weary. On edge. Shaken. I haven’t been married for long at all, and even though I was attacked by that woman, it feels like I did something wrong. I hate that another woman’s lips touched mine. I think about telling Caroline, but don’t want to upset her.

  “Everything alright, Tomas?”

  “Of course, sweetheart.” But I bend down to give her a kiss and tuck the blanket back around her. I’m grateful for her simple beauty and gentle spirit after what happened. “Go to sleep now.”

  I go to use the bathroom and notice red lipstick smeared on my t-shirt.

  I yank the shirt of furiously and shove it in the bottom of the laundry basket.

  Christ.

  I return to Caroline.

  I need her. I reach for her face and cradle it in my hands, lowering my mouth to hers and capturing her lips with
mine, as if kissing my wife will erase the memory of the other woman from my mind and body.

  Can she smell the other? Taste her? I pull away too soon, not wanting even the slightest memory of the other woman to taint what I have with Caroline.

  She looks at me in concern, her hand coming to my cheek. “Are you sure everything’s okay?”

  “Go to sleep, little detka.”

  Everything is not okay. But if I have anything to do with it, it will be.

  Tomorrow, I find Andros.

  Chapter 18

  Caroline

  The days go on, and I gradually take my place in the kitchen staff. Tomas is concerned about their showing respect for me, so though we’re friendly and I get along well with them, I have to maintain my distance out of respect for him. I understand that the wife of the pakhan has to keep her place. I’m learning.

  He’s giving me freedom, now. I have my own cell phone, though I have no one to call. And I’m given leave to explore the estate at will. Yvonne sometimes joins me. Our favorite place to go is behind the house to the back, where there’s a gazebo, a flower bed, and a little doorway that leads to the cellar. Yvonne told me it’s an old root cellar from centuries ago, when new settlers owned this land. It creeps me out a little, though, so I rarely go. But I do love to sit outside by the gazebo and read. It’s late fall now, so it’s often chilly, and the leaves are falling in droves. Soon, the trees will be barren, and winter will come, but I’m soaking up every last day of autumn I can.

  Eliott comes once a day, but I’m learning how to do my hair and my makeup. I like it. Though I still carry a bit of the fear in me that I’ll be rejected for how I look, I’m learning to let it go. Tomas helps with that. He worships my body morning and night, bringing me to heights of pleasure I never imagined.

  I’m trying out new kitchen recipes, eager to please him. And he eats heartily, commending me on how well I cook.

  But something is missing, and I’m not sure what. He’s distant and preoccupied. And though he pays attention to me—I mean, he doesn’t even take his eyes off me—he isn’t fully present. Will it always be like this?

  Finally, several weeks after he brought me here, while I’m in the middle of preparing a roast for tonight’s meal, Tomas comes in the kitchen.