Page 113 of Gilded in Blood

I bring my hand to her throat, wrapping it gently but firmly, just the way she likes. I feel her pulse racing under my palm as I thrust into her, watching her eyes roll back, her body arching. She comes hard, crying out into my mouth, her walls pulsing around me.

I follow soon after, emptying myself deep inside her with a low groan, filling her completely.

I fall to her side, both of us breathless. Then I pull her on top of me, kissing her forehead, then her lips, slow and tender. I hold her close, her head on my chest, her leg thrown over my waist.

Soon her breathing evens out as she falls asleep on me. I kiss the top of her head one last time, letting exhaustion finally take me under too.

The next morning, after making sure both Calina and Milana are safe and protected by Maxim’s most trusted men, Maxim, Artyom, Mikhail, and I head to meet with Ivan.

Ivan’s property is a sprawling, heavily fortified estate tucked away in a secluded part of Manhattan. High walls topped with discreet security cameras surround the grounds.

We pass through multiple checkpoints, armed guards at the gate, more at the inner perimeter, and another layer before we even reach the main house. The place is designed like a fortress. No one gets in or out without being seen.

Ivan welcomes us personally in a large, elegantly furnished study. “Welcome gentlemen. Maxim has already filled me in on what’s going on,” he says, gesturing for us to sit.

“I sincerely apologize for the trouble. Michael has always been a loose cannon. That’s one of the reasons we never allowed him into the society, even though his father was once vice president.”

We talk strategy for a while, what resources we need, how to coordinate the strike, and who we can trust. When we’re done, Ivan leans back in his chair.

“I can offer you some of my men to help engage Michael. But what I would also suggest as a form of help, because I owe Maxim, is that you bring both Maxim’s wife and her sister to stay on my property here.

“While you’re away handling this, you won’t have to worry about their security. Michael will be looking for them and will likely attack any of your known properties. But here? This is the last place he’d expect them to be. Staying here keeps them safer. The other wives can remain in their safe houses.”

I think it over. It’s a solid plan on paper, but it doesn’t sit well with me. Leaving Milana’s safety in someone else’s hands, even someone as capable as Ivan, feels wrong.

The others discuss it among themselves and agree it’s a good idea. Mikhail turns to me. “This is the best way to make sure she’s secured while we’re focused on taking Michael down. The property is secure enough that we don’t have to worry.”

I clench my jaw but nod. “Fine. We’ll bring them here.”

Milana

I look forward to the day when all of this is over and we can stop moving from place to place just to stay safe. My family, all of us.

As we arrive at Ivan’s property along with my sister, Maxim, Kirill, and some guards, I can’t help but wonder if this will be the last safe place we go to.

Are we going to have to move again? Will we really be safe from Michael here?

Mikhail and Artyom stayed behind to make the final preparations for the attack. Maxim and Kirill were supposed to join them afterward.

After we’ve been welcomed, and Ivan assures us we’ll be safe on his property, he tells us to go with a maid who will show us to our rooms. While the men remain downstairs to talk business.

Kirill pulls me close for a moment, kissing me softly. “I’ll come check on you before we leave.”

I nod, squeezing his hand before following the maid and Calina upstairs.

The maid leads us down a long, elegant hallway, and gestures to two different bedrooms. “One for each of you.”

Calina and I look at each other. “We’d like to stay together in one room, if you don’t mind,” I say.

The maid hesitates for a second, then nods. “Of course.”

She opens one of the bedroom doors and leads us into a spacious suite.

A king-sized canopy bed sits at the center of the room, while a cozy sitting area with a cream-colored sofa and two armchairs are arranged beside a marble fireplace. Calina and I settle onto the sofa.

“What can I get for you?” The maid asks.

Calina and I shake our heads. “We’re not hungry,” I say.