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I’d spoken to him while Gracie was packing and filled him in on the events of the last twenty-four hours. He had agreed to send a few of his men over to guard the outside of the Estate. We had our own security, but it didn’t hurt to get some extra help under the circumstances, especially since Sonia and Nonna were here, and now Gracie would be staying with us, too. I couldn’t let anything happen to any of them.
After everything that had occurred over the last couple of years, especially the most recent events, my protective instincts had already been in overdrive. My growing feelings for Gracie seemed to have ramped those feelings up even more. I wanted to go and check on her just to make sure she was safe. I knew it was irrational, so I stopped myself yet again from returning to her room.
Instead, I forced myself to undress and get into the shower. My broken ribs throbbed worse than my cock, and my energy levels were crashing now that the adrenaline from this morning’s fight had completely worn off. I turned the spray on as high as possible and let the warm water pound over my tired, aching body.
My cock still refused to go down. I huffed. I gave myself some quick hand relief, wishing it were Gracie. Since I couldn’t yet enjoy the real thing, I settled for picturing her face and remembering her curves pressed against me as I’d lain on top of her during our cream-covered kiss. I came quickly, even though I knew that my fantasy was a poor substitute for the real thing.
I groaned in pain as I stepped out of the shower and reached for a towel. I really was bloody exhausted. My thoughts strayed back to Gracie once more. My mind had never seemed to be off her for long this past week, and I had a feeling that was the way things would remain in the future.
I couldn’t help moaning as I thought of her luscious lips on mine while I towelled off. I wondered if she was taking a shower herself or maybe napping in bed. My active imagination provided me with sexy images of both scenarios. Whatever she was doing, I would love to be there with her instead of here alone. My cock jerked in agreement. Shit, I was hard again!
Damn, that girl made me hot. I liked her. I liked her a lot. I reached for my shaft and felt it pulse in my hand. I needed to sleep, but there was no way I would get any sleep with a raging hard-on like this. So, I dealt with myself again, coming even quicker this time. The sensations were too much for my weakened body, and I swayed as my release coated my hand. I clutched the sink for support and waited for the wave of dizziness and nausea to subside before cleaning myself up again.
I staggered naked to my bed. I went to pick my trousers up off the floor so I could retrieve the medication from their pocket and cursed as a sharp pain seared my torso. Sweat coated my skin, and my whole body tensed in agony as another wave of nausea assaulted me. I quickly swallowed a couple of painkillers. God, I needed them. My head pounded, and everywhere ached.
I was ready to crash. I needed to nap. I had things to do later and needed to rest and regain my strength. Not to mention that when I finally fucked Gracie, it would not be over quickly. I planned on taking my time and savouring every inch of her, and while I looked forward to that immensely, as the pain in my body testified, I was in no real state to do her justice.
I needed to heal and regain my stamina and preferably a bit more upper body movement before I could get properly down and dirty with Little Miss Hot Mess again. It might take a few days to get my strength back and get over the initial pain, but in the meantime, I would work on wowing her. I winced from pain in my mouth caused by the very wide grin I was sporting.
I realised with shock that I smiled, grinned, and even laughed a lot over the last few hours. It had been a long time since I was happy enough to grin at anything, never mind grinning this big at just the thought of a woman. It was odd; we barely knew one another, and yet her presence in my life had already made me feel lighter than I had felt in years.
I also realised that even in my fury at the big black guy and Mohammad, I hadn’t spiralled out of control. I had been enraged and used that to fight the guys, but I had been aware of everything while I did so. I didn’t get out of control and lose sight of my surroundings as I had been doing recently. I had been aware of everything at all times, especially where Gracie was and what was happening to her. It seemed that her presence didn’t just make me happier; it also calmed me.
I had doubted that I would ever find someone like her, loyal, brave, passionate, good at heart, and sexy as hell. Gracie was all of these things. I couldn’t believe my luck. I was going to make that woman mine. I had no doubt about that. I was never letting her go.
I eased myself under the covers, groaning as my body settled on the bed. I closed my eyes and let out a long breath. Gracie would be mine completely. I just needed to remember not to push her too hard and give her time to get to know me. That wouldn’t be an easy task for me. I was impulsive and impatient, and when I decided I wanted something, I tended to go all out to get it. However, I didn’t want to scare Gracie off, so I would take things at her pace.I just hoped her pace was fast. Thatwas my last thought before I sunk into blissful oblivion.
A few hours later, I woke feeling sore but much more refreshed.
I grabbed another quick shower. I had things to do, and then I wanted to meet Gracie for lunch. I’d told her I’d see her there because I needed to talk with Miki beforehand. We had arrangements to make.
I was so busy thinking these thoughts that I didn’t realise I was standing outside Gracie’s door with my fist poised, ready to knock. What the fuck? I stopped myself. I was being way too intense again. It had only been a few hours since I had left her, and lunchtime was still some time away. She was likely still sleeping. I’d told myself earlier I needed to take things slower. Rushing to her side again the minute I woke up wasn’t taking things slower.
I hadn’t even realised I’d approached her room with the intent of seeing her again. I needed to get a grip! She was a total distraction, a beautiful one, but a distraction, nevertheless. I had things to do that needed focus.She will still be here when I get back,and I can look forward to tasting her luscious lips again then,I reminded myself.
Although now I was here, maybe I should just check on her, just in case she needed anything. I could steal another kiss.Back off!I told myself sternly and forced myself to turn and head downstairs. Pursuing Little Miss Hot Mess could wait; right now, I had more pressing matters to attend to.
I made my way towards the offices in search of Miki. I expected him to have returned home and be waiting to discuss things with me. After he chewed me out a bit first, of course.
Our Cleaners should have fixed up Gracie’s home by now and gotten rid of Mohammad’s body. That was what they were for. We would deal with the other guy ourselves. Once we had gotten all the information out of him, we could, of course.
When Miki and Romi had come to collect me from Gracie’s earlier, Vlad had been with them. He’d waited outside and arranged for the Cleaners to come. Then, while Romi drove us home, Miki and Vlad took the unconscious black guy to the C. Miki had arranged for Luca to meet him there and stay with Vlad to watch the guy until he returned with me later.
The C was our code for The Smithson Crematorium in South London, which was privately owned by us via one of our shell companies and was untraceable back to us. It was run on our behalf by a distant cousin loyal to the Bratva, Jonathan Reston and his family. The security was taken care of by another of our companies, RomCore Security, which specialised in setting up and monitoring security cameras. This company was also one that couldn’t be traced back to us.
The C was the place where we took people whom we needed to question and most often kill. We had a large basement area underneath, which was soundproof and kitted out to make torture and disposal easy.
Our dad had made it when he took over the crematorium not long after he came to London. He’d needed a safe place to carry out all of our unpleasant business, of which, when we first came to London, there was a lot. He’d needed somewhere private yet easily accessible that could allow us to safely dispose of bodies. So, when the Smithson Crematorium came up for sale, he had our shell company buy it, and we have used it ever since.
Being in London itself meant that we never had to travel far with a prisoner, and since we could interrogate and then dispose of the person in the same place, there was less chance of us being caught. So, it was a perfect place for such nefarious purposes. The only people who knew about the C and its less-than-legitimate purpose were the Reston family, us, and a select few of our most loyal men.
That was the same with our drug lab; only a few people knew of its location, too. It made everything a whole lot safer.
Of course, that was why I’d been beaten. Mohammad and the other guy had wanted the location of the lab. Whatever the Malia Boys and Broxy’s had planned, it obviously involved the lab.
The lab was where we cut our coke and made our Molly. It was also a part of our current drug supply route. All the drugs that passed along the route passed through the Lab location for one reason or another.
In fact, the Lab was located close to the C on a neighbouring farm linked by a private road. It was hidden well underground, with various farm buildings above helping to disguise it.
