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Viktor laughed from across the kitchen. “We all tried to hang out with Tori, since she’s here this weekend. It’s not the same. Not the same at all.”
I put my hands over my mouth. “Oh no! Is Bubba okay? Is he in trouble now? Do we need to save him?”
Viktor chuckled. “When is he not in trouble?”
“Harsh. But fair. She is wound much tighter than I thought she was going to be. I’m somewhat regretting facilitating that arrangement,” I said. Ivan had taken my other arm and was pressing on the acupuncture points on that arm to help give me more relief as we talked. Adrik watched him closely, like he was taking mental notes. I thought for a moment, then added, “It is a unique situation that you guys are in, though. It’s a lot for someone to walk into.”
Ivan looked down at me, changing the pressure point to the one below my wrist. “You did just fine.”
I smiled up at him. “Because I embrace the chaos.”
He laughed. He let go of my arm. “Better?” he asked as he stepped away.
I patted my stomach. “So much better. I feel like I can eat soon. Maybe.”
Adrik returned to stand beside me, his arm around my waist. He kissed my cheek. “I’m so happy you feel better, solnishko.” He looked genuinely relieved. I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder. “I will get you acupuncture. Whatever helps your appetite. You’re too bony now,” he said, poking my hip bone. “You’re going to start bruising me. I’m very delicate.” He smiled down at me, kissing me quickly.
“You’re the reason I have to wear a dress in public, so you did this to yourself.”
Ivan said, “Hey, hey, hey, no fighting you two. You sound like Andrei and Tori. We need one couple that’s happy.”
I laughed, pulling Adrik in front of me. I turned him to face Viktor and Ivan, so he could still talk to them and hung my arms over his shoulders, resting my chin on his shoulder. He grabbed both my hands and held them in his. “Have you met me, Ivan? Don’t you know by now that I’m rarely serious?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Adrik
Sephie managed to eat a little bit, after Ivan showed me the pressure points to help give her relief. I was hopeful that she would be able to get some sleep without having to take another pill. I’ve been worried about her since the attack. She’s so strong, but she hasn’t been completely herself yet. I hated seeing her in pain in any way. Of course, she was still fun to be around and always looking after everyone else, but we could all tell that she was having to make an effort to be that way. Normally, it came so naturally. Now, she was having to force it.
At least now I had a way to get her some relief. I felt like I could do something finally. I’ve felt mostly useless throughout this whole situation, which drives me crazy. It only adds to my frustration with everything that’s going on with Salvadori and Anthony. Salvadori had tried his best to get the other bosses to turn against me. There were six bosses under me. Salvadori managed to take two to his side, but the other three came to me immediately when Salvadori approached them. This showed me they were loyal to me.
I was working on ways to get more information from Sicily on Anthony and Lorenzo. One of the bosses that was loyal to me, Armando, had extensive family in Italy. His family was powerful in Italy as well as in the city. He was helping to set up an information network from Sicily. We had gotten bits and pieces of information so far. Nothing substantial, but information takes time to collect.
It looked like Salvadori wanted to start a war in the city. I was trying to avoid that at all costs. The people of the city didn’t need to be involved in this petty dispute. I would take the fight to Sicily and strike first before I would let Salvadori unleash chaos on the city like he was planning.
I looked down at Sephie, sleeping soundly on my chest. I ran my hand through her hair lightly. She loved it anytime my hands were in her hair, even in her sleep. It would make her snuggle into me, sometimes making the cutest little cooing noises as she slept. It was one of my favorite things to do when she was sleeping. It made me smile every time.
She wrapped her body around mine tighter as my hand ran through her curls. I groaned quietly. I wanted her so badly right now. She still had another week to go for her bed rest. I didn’t want to mess that up, so I was trying my best to refrain. With each day, it got more and more difficult to keep my hands off her. Especially on days when she was feeling well and showed glimpses of being her old self. Her sense of humor, the brightness she would bring to everything she did was sexy as hell. At this point, she could smile at me, and I’d be ready to rip her clothes off.
Her fingers lightly started to move on my chest. She was still sound asleep. This was something she would do occasionally. I’d decided she was playing the piano in her sleep. Her fingers always moved rhythmically when she would do it and she was always sleeping peacefully when it happened. I ran my hand down to her waist, holding her close. I drifted off to sleep as she played lightly on my chest.
The next morning, I woke up to Sephie’s hands running lightly over my back. Her body was pressed against mine, her arms wrapped around me. When she noticed me stirring, she reached up and kissed my lips lightly. “Good morning,” she said as I opened my eyes. Her sweet smile the first thing I saw.
“Mmm. Good morning, my love. How do you feel this morning?”
“Better. Ivan is magic, apparently.” I heard her stomach growl as she talked. “My stomach agrees,” she said as she smiled bigger.
“This is very good news. I will have someone come today for acupuncture. You’ll feel normal again in no time.” I pushed her onto her back, rolling half on top of her. “Which means I can wake you up the way I really want to once again,” I said, kissing her deeply.
She moaned into my mouth, making me want her that much more. I kissed her neck, biting softly. I heard her gasp. “Fuck this week can’t go by fast enough,” she groaned.
I laughed as I kissed her chest. “You and me both, solnishko. You and me both. I want nothing more than to be deep inside you right now.”
Her breath caught. “You are not making this any easier.”
“I’m sorry…that’s a lie. I’m not sorry,” I said, grinning at her.
She pushed me off her, getting out of bed. “I don’t want another headache. You stay away from me!” she said, laughing.
