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The next few days, Sebastian became even grumpier. He was now able to sit up with some finagling getting him from the bed to the couch as he’d insisted. I had to bring in Pedro to help me out. Once he got there and we got him situated, Pedro left but he immediately started complaining about having nothing to do.
“I have been stuck in my room without a laptop or a phone for weeks,” I told him when he complained there was nothing to watch on TV. “What are you talking about?”
He glared at me, but didn’t say anything.
My friends were probably worried about me because I hadn’t been in contact with anyone since my own mother had sold me to him like a cheap piece of meat.
I was hoping that in the future we were going to develop a level of trust and he would give me some of my stuff back. If I had access to a laptop, I could continue to pursue my degree online. Sebastian would likely never let me go back to school, but I wanted to do something with my life. I hated being idle and even more, I despised the fact I wasn’t in control of my own life.
Several hours later, I was in my room reading information about Sebastian’s ex-wife, when I heard him calling for me. When I showed up, he was still sitting up but looked really uncomfortable.
“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, getting close. He grasped my arm and brought me closer. His scent was intoxicating and that musky cologne of his made my knees weak. I’d put some on him that morning after the washing-up morning routine.
“I need to get to the shower. It’s been days, Marinka, and you’re going to help me out,” he said with a pout. Yes, he actuallypouted.
“Fine. Just hook your arm around me and then we are going to walk to the bathroom. We’ll stick to the walls so you can rest when you need as we go along,” I said, hoping I wouldn’t have to call Pedro again this time. But deep down inside, I was already panicking, wondering what I was going to do when he asked me to help him undress.
This was going to be very, very interesting.
24
Sebastian
Andreas’operation had been successful and although he was beaten up pretty badly, he was going to pull through. My men helped me handle the situation so word wouldn’t go out about the real source of his injury. We needed to keep things under wraps, and I had enough people on the payroll to get this done.
Gino had crawled down into some hole, licking his wounds. He was nowhere to be found and would likely remain hidden until the dust settled. Just as well; he better not make trouble anywhere within a ten-mile radius of me, or he’d regret it. Still, I wasn’t fool enough to think he’d let this slide. I wondered if I should have snuffed him that day at the restaurant, but it was useless crying over spilled milk. He had enough incentive to lie low and not make waves, or I’d make good on my threat.
Now that the worst was over, my brothers were on my case. They wanted to come over to find out what happened with the Italians, but I managed to buy myself some time. I couldn’t bullshit them for too long, yet I had no desire to face them just yet. It was going to take a while before I was fully healed.
Marinka was going to be the one who would break all the news to them during some kind of family gathering. I’d be sure by then that she was ready.
Sparky and Milo didn’t know about Russina’s death and I wanted to keep it that way or they’d have leverage to hurt me in the future if they disagreed with the direction of my business. I didn’t want that to happen—didn’t want to have to kill my brothers to protect my kingdom—but I would if I had to, blood or no blood. Some lines not even they were allowed to cross. I could tell their sense of competitiveness was getting out of hand at times and I needed to watch them closely. If I gave them too much rope, they’d hang themselves and the rest of us with it. I couldn’t let that happen. Too many people depended on me for their livelihood. This wasn’t a fucking game.
Marinka had been so attentive since I was stuck on my bed, and then the sofa. The painkillers were helping but my movements were restricted and over the next few weeks, I would be forced to remain in the penthouse.
Marcus, too, was patient enough but he wasn’t going to wait for me forever. He wanted to make that fucking deal and start moving the product. My responsibilities were piling up.
“Come on, we haven’t got all day,” Marinka’s voice brought me back to reality.
I hooked my arm around her small waist and she helped me stand. I roared as the stabbing pain radiated around my lower left side. I was going to finish Gino myself, after what he’d started. Fucker.
“Are you okay?” Marinka asked as I took a deep breath, trying not to think about the pain. She was so close, my thigh rubbed against hers, and despite my condition I felt heat pulling around my groin.
I did what I could to avoid putting all my weight on her because she wouldn’t be able to hold me up on her own.
We walked slowly to the ensuite in my bedroom, sticking to the walls as she’d suggested so I could stop and rest when I needed, which was often. It seemed to take forever. Pedro was just outside the door, but Marinka was technically my wife. Besides, I didn’t fucking want to ask Pedro to help me take my clothes off. I was already weak in Pedro’s eyes because I was going against my family, attempting to make a deal with the Russians who everyone around here hated. That notwithstanding, he was loyal to a fault, but that wasn’t the point.
We finally made it to the bathroom and I wondered how we were going to do this. I couldn’t bend at all, so she’d be in charge of getting me undressed and cleaned up.
“Now, switch on the shower and help me get these sweats off,” I told her, trying to take off the t-shirt she’d put on me two days ago. My cock stood at attention when she came closer, having a mind of its own. She looked wary, her cheeks rosy, and so fucking hot in the same yellow dress she had worn in France.
How did I not notice it earlier? Damn, was she trying to seduce me?
No. My brain was just addled with all the painkillers and the constant agony of my injury.
When the t-shirt was off, I tried to pull my pants down, but I was fucking disabled. I thought I wouldn’t have to make her stay here with me, but it seemed I had no choice now. She had to help me.
Beyond the fact I was already hard as a rock, seeing her bending over to pick up my t-shirt in that short dress made matters even more awkward. She went to the bedroom to throw it in the laundry basket.
