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We couldn’t take the risk of stopping the National Crime Agency officers ourselves and snatching Petrov, so instead, we did something we usually wouldn’t do and hired a gang of local thugs to do it for us. We rarely hired out, but these guys came recommended by the MacArthur gang from Glasgow, whom we had some dealings with and trusted to some extent.
Marko had given us all the details we required, so the task was simple enough. There were only two officers involved as Petrov was being secreted off on witness protection, and so we’d provided the thugs with some tranquiliser darts. That way, the officers could be dealt with quickly and easily without the necessity of killing them, and Petrov could be knocked out ready for us to collect him.
While we waited for word that the job was done, we had a quick lunch Nonna had prepared, chatted with our guests, and created an alibi should we ever need one.
A little while later, we received word that Petrov had been acquired and went to meet up with the guys at a rendezvous point not far from where they’d picked him up. Miki and I quickly moved his unconscious form into the boot of our vehicle and headed to the C to meet up with the others.
CHAPTER 31
GRACIE
WEDNESDAY - HEAD OVER HEELS FOR ASH
After lunch, Ash and the guys headed off to deal with their business. Ash’s aunts went to their rooms to unpack and rest, and I headed to the library to do some more writing.
I hadn’t done any writing while we were staying at Claire’s, and I was longing to get more done. I was bursting with new ideas. I just needed to get them down on paper. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried to focus, my mind kept distracting me with thoughts about the last few days. So, eventually, I gave in and allowed my mind to wander back over them.
After spending one of the best days of my life with Ash on Monday, we had a night of sex that rivalled anything I have ever read about. It had certainly given me some great material for my own book, and I told him as much. He had grinned and looked smug at my words, and while I knew he didn’t need me to inflate his already large enough ego, frankly, he deserved it. Anyway, expressing your appreciation for someone is the right thing to do. In this case, I was certainly glad I had because he decided he liked being my muse and was taking the position very seriously. Something we were both enjoying immensely.
It wasn’t just the sex that we had enjoyed the last couple of days. It had been utter bliss to spend time together, just snuggled in bed, talking for hours about anything and everything, learning about each other. Ash made me feel important and treasured.
We also had great fun with the girls and Marko. Ash had invited his brother Marko around last night, and I was surprised at how well everyone had gotten along. Marko was funny when he was a bit drunk, and he seemed to enjoy my cocktails, especially my pina coladas. He even wore the little cocktail umbrella behind his ear, which made him look really cute. Not that I would tell Ash that, of course.
It was nice to see both men looking relaxed and happy. I didn’t think they got to just let loose and act like normal guys very often. Something told me that their world weighed heavily upon them.
I must admit that I had a moment of concern when Marko threw a cushion at Ash, hitting Claire by accident instead. However, she surprised us all when she walked over to him and started smacking him with it. Eventually, he picked up another and whacked her back and then all hell broke loose as we all joined in, hitting each other repeatedly until we all finally collapsed, laughing hysterically.
Of course, the drinking games we’d played and my cocktails might have had something to do with that. There was nothing like a few good cocktails to loosen things up and liven up any event.
I loved seeing both the men and my girls enjoying each other’s company. We felt like a family. It was so nice, and as I watched them, I knew I was doing the right thing by getting involved with the Rominovs, especially Ash.
Each day I spent with Ash, I felt happier and more content with my life. I knew it was fast, but I was well and truly head over heels for the man.
Claire seemed to have quickly gotten over her reserve about him as well, which helped when I told her I would be spending a lot of my time with him at the Estate.
Actually, I was moving in there permanently today. However, I wanted to keep that knowledge to myself for now. I planned on simply letting Claire get used to my absence before I told her. I’d lived with Claire for so long, and she had always felt so responsible for me that I knew my leaving would be hard on her, so I thought it was better to ease her into it.
To be honest, I hated to leave her alone, but I couldn’t let it stop me from taking my relationship with Ash to the next level.
Although, her being alone might not be a problem for long. I grinned as I thought about how Luca had been eyeing her up like she was a dessert, and he was ready to dive in with a giant spoon.
I saw her glancing at him when he wasn’t looking, and her slight blush told me of her interest in him, too. Ooh la la! Maybe I wouldn’t be the only member of the family getting it on with a hot Russian.
It would be great if Claire and Luca became an item, too. He was Bratva as well, but according to Ash, he had less to do with the illegal side of things than any of them. Luca mainly ran their legitimate entertainment businesses, but since he was also Miki’s best friend, he helped him out with less legitimate stuff when needed. However, I thought that if he stepped away from that side of things even more, he might just be perfect for my cousin. Luca looked just her type and seemed really nice. His Bratva links could be a problem for her, but perhaps not. Time would tell, I guessed, but I was secretly rooting for him.
After the girls had left with Luca, Romi picked us up, and we collected the family who were visiting from Russia. I’d been nervous to meet them, but they had been so nice to me, and their teasing nature quickly put me at ease. We ended up chatting away like long-lost friends all the way back to the Estate.
They seemed like such a close family. I couldn’t help laughing with Ash as Romi’s mum kept kissing him and fussing over him while his younger brother Dimitri called him a “mummy’s boy!” to his great embarrassment.
I thought it was lovely. Letitia made me think of my own mum. I missed her so much. I wished she could have met Ash. I believed that despite his background, she would have approved.
I quickly found that I had a lot in common with both aunts, who were avid readers, too. Letitia was a bubbly woman who reminded me of Marcie. She had a wicked sense of humour and a dirty mind. I really liked her. Marta was quiet and stunning, and she was a huge dark contemporary romance fan, like me. In fact, some of the books I found in the library were hers. The aunts were easy to be around, and I looked forward to spending more time with them.
They weren’t the only new people I’d met today. When we finally arrived back at the Estate, Janusz Glowacki and his son were already there, apparently finalising plans with Miki.
He was definitely not what I’d imagined. Ooh, daddy! sprang to mind, and even though I wasn’t into daddy doms, I thought that Janusz Glowacki could just change my mind. If I wasn’t already head over heels for Ash, of course.
Glowacki was a handsome man and a lot younger than I had expected. I had only really heard his name before, but for some reason, I had thought he would be much older and definitely not as hot. I was so wrong about that. Phew!
