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One blood-soaked night changed everything, and there was no going back.
“What moment are you talking about? Do you mean the day you left?”
I shake my head slowly, wondering how much to tell her right now. “Not that day. It’s been a long time since you saw me with another woman, remember?”
“Yes, but I assumed that there were other women who you were, you know, with.” An adorable blush tints her cheeks.
“Years ago, yes. But then I started feeling very, very serious about someone, and the agony of waiting for her became strangely…” I smile and brush the tip of my nose against hers. “Pleasurable.”
Zenya has her hands on my chest, leaning closer, hungry for my secrets. “Pleasurable how?”
“Do you remember a night years ago when you picked gravel out of my shoulder and cleaned all my cuts?”
“Of course I do,” she whispers, gazing at my mouth like she’s afraid I’ll slant it over hers and terrified I won’t.
“I like the pain when it’s you. I’ll endure anything for you.”
“How long have you not been with—” She breaks off and sinks her teeth into her lower lip, gazing at me uncertainly. She’s dying to ask her uncle about his sex life, but she’s still shy about it. “What was the moment you’re talking about?”
Isn’t she just tormented with curiosity? Her hands are on my shoulders now, and she reaches even higher to twine her arms around my neck. Her breasts press against my chest and her fingers stroke the short hairs at my nape. Her touch feels possessive. Demanding. Hungry to know how long I’ve been waiting for her.
And I have been waiting for her. I’m devoted to Zenya, and only Zenya.
But this has been my secret for so long, and I’m not ready to give it up. Besides, being left on tenterhooks and thinking about me all day is just how I want her.
I take hold of her waist, help her down from the table, and set her gently on her feet. “You and I have work to do and the morning will have gone by before we know it. Tell me what our plans are this morning. I’m right by your side, always.”
Zenya seems disappointed when I stand back and let her go, and I could purr I’m so fucking pleased.
She gazes at me doubtfully. “You want to come with me?”
I put both my hands in my pockets and give her my sincerest look, turning the charm up to a twelve and looking deep into her eyes. “Tomorrow, I want to open that front door and see you smile that big, beautiful smile that means you’re happy to see me. I want that more than anything in the world, dandelion. So tell me what you need to make that happen for me.”
Zenya looks around the kitchen, deep in thought. Finally, she looks up at me with a determined expression.
“I want to see the bodies.”
* * *
The watches,chains, rings, and wallets sit in a bloodstained pile atop the table.
I can’t show Zenya the corpses of the men we killed last night because they’re long gone at the bottom of a lake deep in the woods, but I can show her the things that might identify her attackers, which is what she really wants to know.
I study her beautiful face while she goes through each of the items, talking to me but mostly to herself. “These men were Bratva. Some of them are from Russia, or they spent time there. Look at the makes of their watches. Expensive, too. They’re well paid. They probably didn’t need to steal my merchandise.”
I feel a thrill of pride as she saysmy merchandise. She always used to sayour merchandisebecause it belonged to her only because she was part of the family. One day she’llbethe family. Zenya’s getting used to the idea of leading, and a warm, delicious feeling rolls through me. Seeing her in charge is hot as fuck.
Zenya looks up and meets my gaze. “What are you smiling about?”
I smile wider, and my admiration must show in my face because she turns a little pink. “Mikhail and I thought the same thing about your attackers. Bratva assholes.”
We’re in a room over the warehouse that’s currently serving as the Silo. Troian gave his men the okay to let me, Mikhail, and my guys in last night when we were dropping off the merchandise.
“But I still have no idea why I was attacked.” Zenya drops the ring she was holding back onto the table and brushes off her fingers before turning to Mikhail. “Thank you for your help last night. I appreciate it.”
The dark-haired man standing at my side nods respectfully at her.
Zenya glances at the half a dozen men behind us. “And thank you to all of you as well. Uncle Kristian tells me you’re eager to work for the Belyaev family, and we’re very happy to welcome you. I’ll make sure you meet my father in time, but for now, please let me know if there’s anything you need.”
