AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Killing a cop would have broken the agreements that kept the bratva and the cops from all-out war. That kept the bribes flowing, the cops looking the other way, and our men mostly out of prison. If I made a mess like that, we would all end up paying for it.
I spent half an hour cleaning up after Alissa’s stalker, getting copies of security footage and making sure he hadn’t actually broken into her place. I took the tracker off her car and dismantled it, just in case he drank enough courage to try anything else.
I’d have to warn Alissa.I hated the whole idea. The last thing I wanted to do was to bring her even more bad news. But at least I could bring it alongside the promise that I would never let that prick anywhere near her.
Chapter 13
Alissa
Iwoke up in an unfamiliar bed to the miracle of Michelle in my arms. She was sleeping like a rock, like she hadn’t slept at all while we were apart. I nearly felt the same way, like before this moment, I had been waiting to relax, sleep, breathe, think, fully live again. But here she was now, with me, where she belonged.
I lay still, not wanting to disturb Michelle, and listened for Gregor. The apartment was warm despite the snowstorm tapping the windows, and still dark aside from the white glow spilling in through the glass. It was so nice to wake up on a winter morning without feeling any drafts.
I heard the rising gurgle of a coffee machine break the stillness, and then a faint yawn. The smell of brewing dark roast started filling the air, and I smiled, relaxing. He was definitely home.
It stunned me how much he had done for the both of us in such a short time. We barely knew each other, but he had already returned my daughter, protected us both, and helped make sure I would have the money to get us to a better environment and care for my daughter. He was providing us with safety even now, at risk to himself. Though, I noticed, he didn’t seem too worried as he puttered around his kitchen.
Then again, he was tough as nails, and I was a marshmallow. The last year had battered me into a desperate mess, and he had given me back my hope. My support group had tried to shore meup, but they hadn’t put themselves at risk to retrieve my child. No one but he had done it, and thus, only he had succeeded.
The whole time we had been back together, he had barely made a move on me. I had seen the heat in his eyes, felt it growing between us. I had craved him the whole time—I had never stopped craving him—but my screaming need for my daughter had all but drowned that out.
Now, with her safe in my arms, all I wanted—besides revenge against her kidnappers—was him. The desire to feel his body on mine again, to feel his arms around me and his cock inside me rang through me with such strength that I blushed. It lingered, refusing to fade and let me drop back off to sleep. My body’s demands were so urgent that after a while, all I could do was gently slip out of bed, make sure my daughter was properly tucked in, and wrap myself in my borrowed robe. Then I made my way outside, leaving the door unlatched. Michelle didn’t like being shut into rooms alone anymore.
Gregor straightened the moment I walked into the kitchen, he was stirring sugar into coffee that smelled strong enough a spoon would stand up in it. He looked back and saw me and smiled. “Good morning. Do you want a cup?”
I swallowed. My body was humming like an electric current was running through it. Never in my life had I gotten up the nerve to just ask a man for sex. Even our first time together, he had coaxed it out of me. Now, still a little overwhelmed from last night, I felt my nerves failing me.
“Sure, thanks. What time is it?” I looked out the one uncovered window and noticed the swirling snow had a faint yellowish light behind it. Early-morning light filtered by cloud and storm.
“Seven thirty. Sorry I got in so late.” He poured me coffee into one of his giant, heavy crockery mugs. I had to take it with both hands. “There was some trouble.”
That woke me up a little, I felt a shiver of my old worries run through me, clashing with the heat between my thighs. “What happened?”
He hesitated. “I’m not sure this is a conversation to have before our first cup of coffee.”
He had a point, but my worries had flickered back to life. “Okay.” I took a sip of mine, it stung my lips a little, but tasted amazing. “This is good. Surprised you didn’t make tea this morning.”
He saw my face and winced, but played along for the moment.Normalcy.“Need the caffeine jolt when my sleep’s been inadequate.” A few more sips, and then he sighed, feeling me watching him. “It’s worrying you more to wait on hearing it, isn’t it?” he finally asked.
I nodded. “I’m sorry. I think I’m just wired that way. Or maybe all this being kept in the dark by the cops has fucked with my patience.”
“All right. I will try to remember that.” He set his mug down. “Someone was staking out your house. But unless I’m making a big oversight, I don’t think he has anything to do with the people who took your daughter.”
My heart was beating fast. “Who, then? Who else would possibly want to stalk me?”
“Your ex.”
I stared at him. “Alan?”
“That’s the one. No idea how long he’s been doing it, but last night he was especially active. Put a tracker on your car and then tried to get into the building.”
All the air felt like it had been sucked out of the room.Alan, you creepy, unbalanced, corrupt son of a bitch.“You caught him at it?”
“I did. So did the security cameras and, I presume, your dash cam.”
“What happened? What did you say to each other?” I struggled to process this. “I just can’t believe this. He was always a selfish ass, but I didn’t expect him to go full stalker when he knew I could retaliate.”
“Ah, yes, about that.” He offered a small, apologetic smile. “I don’t think he aimed to give you the chance to retaliate.”
