Chapter 5

Igo over my checklist one last time to make sure I have everything packed and ready to go when I hear the crunching of gravel outside the cabin. Looking through the lounge window, my smile grows as I rush to the door and throw it open.

“Ivan! Looking good, bud!” Ivan’s large body lumbers toward me and I give him a side hug, glad to see that my friend is looking even better than the last time I saw him. I lean back to say something and then hear what suspiciously sounds a lot like a gun being cocked.

“Get your fucking mitts off my grandbaby-in-law,” a rough voice growls, and I can’t keep the smirk off my face. Ivan very slowly turns his large body, his arm coming up behind him before I feel him jerk.

“Don’t even think of reaching for your weapon, you big fucker. Take your hands off her and step away.”

Ivan’s head angles my way and a snort of laughter escapes when he raises a thick, dark brow at me. He holds his hands up in a placating manner and takes one big side step away from me before we both turn to look at Pops. He has his usual uniform on - pressed chinos pulled just a fraction too high, navy short-sleeved shirt tucked into said high pants, beige socks, and his navy blue Skechers. Oh, and also, one hell of a frown marking his deeply tanned face.

“I don’t know how you commies behave around married women, but here we keep our hands to ourselves,” he huffs out. Once again, Ivan slowly swings his gaze toward me.

“Did he just call me a-”

“Yup. He did,”

“I’m old. I can call you whatever the hell I want,” Pops barks out before lowering his weapon.

“You keep your big ass out here, got me?” He stares Ivan down before looking toward me, his gaze softening.

“Stay on your porch girl, I’ll be right over there on mine keeping eyes on. I don’t trust any of the Bratva fuckers. Apart from you and Lexi girl.” He nods to himself then stalks off to go sit in his rocking chair on his porch, facing us.

“Wow. So that’s what you married into, huh?” Ivan cracks a huge smile before a chuckle rumbles through his big body. Letting out a sigh, I gesture for him to have a seat, but instead, he leans on the porch railing while I have a seat.

“So, I’m sure you didn’t come here to be held at gunpoint and called a ‘Commie’.”

He rumbles once more. “No, that wasn’t on my bingo card for today. Although I have ticked off ‘punch someone’ and ‘threaten 5 people’ already, so I’m doing well.”

We both have a small chuckle at that.

“How’s Jenn? Happy you’re back at work?”

“That woman is loving it. She’s redecorated our master bedroom now that I’m not lying in it anymore.” He rolls his eyes, but I can see by the look on his face he doesn’t mind this at all. He loves Jenn completely and I wonder what it would be like to have that for myself with Gus. I shake off the thought and get back into my business brain.

“So, what brings you here today?”

Ivan must see the change in me because he nods once and then straightens, “There’s been murmurs on the streets that something is coming.”

“Damn it,” I whisper under my breath.

“Not sure what, though. What I can tell you is that it’s not coming from the inside.” His hard gaze holds mine and I understand that he’s done whatever he needed to do to make sure not only myself, but the Bartashev bratva is safe.

“Thank you, my friend” I reach out and pat his hand.

“Eh, no touching!” Barked across the yard. I flip Pops the bird and hear his wheezy laughter follow.

“Do you think whatever it is has anything to do with whatever Roman is dealing with in Russia?”

“It’s hard to say, but at this point, I don’t think so. Nothing I’ve heard or seen so far points to that. It could be something completely different, but still dangerous. So stay safe little underboss, ok? And if you need me, I’ll be there.” With this, he nods at me and looks towards Pops while I stand to walk him to his car. Following him down the steps, I watch him open his car door. He looks back at Pops, flips the bird, and then pulls me into a side hug.

“Remember, if you need me, I’m there.”

I smile up at my large friend and nod while listening to Pops grumble from his porch.

“Thanks Ivan. You’re the best. And the same goes for you, mate. You need me, I’m there.”

He winks at me as he climbs into his car, starts her up and drives away down the Tombs’ long drive. Pops mean mugging him on his way past.

Heading back inside, I shake off Ivan’s words and take them as they are. No one in the Bratva is running a takeover and whoever has been watching me and Gus hasn’t approached us yet, so we may as well get on with life until the shit hits the fan.

My phone vibrating on the table grabs my attention and I see Gus’ face lighting up the screen. His far too handsome face, with his sharp jaw and his slightly crooked nose.

“Hey Gus,”

“Hey babe. Just wondering if you need me to pick up anything on the way home?” His voice is somehow hotter over the phone, causing my sex starved vagina to clench.

“Um, no, I don’t think so. I think we’re all set.”

“Ok, babe, I’m on my way home now. I’ll see you soon.”

He hangs up and I throw myself face down onto the leather couch, and then think better of it because it’s leather and belongs to a man and I’m not sure if said man has sat bare arsed on it. And then the image of Gus’s perky, hard ass materializes in my brain, and I’m really fighting hard against my attraction to the man. Gus was very gentlemanly when he suggested we sleep separately, seeing as our wedding was so whirlwind and at the time, I agreed wholeheartedly. However, that was before the counselor ordered us on a camping trip. Now all my traitorous vagina can think about is how she’ll be spending two nights in a tent with Gus’s peen and how she wants to ride him into the sunset.

Scrunching my eyes closed, I tap my phone against my forehead whilst reciting, “No Peen in Vajeen action. Your vagina will stay empty the whole weekend. You can do this. You are a bad bitch with the self-control of a thin, blonde vegan health and fitness influencer.”

“Who are you talking to?” My eyes fly open and I let out a scream, throwing my phone toward whoever just busted me in the middle of my “no sex” mantra.

Hearing a grunt, I look up to see that my well-aimed cell phone throw has hit Gus directly in the penis that will not be entering me.

“Shit a brick! Are you ok?!”

He most definitely is not ok. Gus is hunched over, and the sound coming out of his mouth is identical to the slow release of air from a balloon when you pull on the blowy up part. He stumbles a little and then keels over sideways, landing on the floor. He’s gagging slightly, and he has sweat beading on his forehead. I slowly drop to my knees on the floor beside his head, and speaking in hushed, even tones, as you would with a rescue dog, I gently ask,

“Gus, um, are you ok?”

His watery eyes are staring at me like I’ve just asked him if I could line up him and his brothers and run a train on them. Clearing his throat, he tries to answer, his voice coming out quite a bit higher than usual before he coughs and tries again.

“Babe, I’m gonna need an ice pack and then I’m going to lie here for a little bit, ok?”

Nodding my head, I jump up and find an ice pack in his very well organized freezer. I’ve noticed before that Gus likes to be tidy and in control of things, but the man’s fridge and freezer are so well organized it borders on serial killer. Dropping back down to the floor, I move his hands from his junk and then gently place the ice pack where it needs to be. He closes his eyes in relief and rolls gingerly onto his back. I decide to join him on the floor, and when he feels me moving to lie next to him, he rolls his head in my direction, cracking an eyelid open.

“Babe, what are you doing?”

“Lying next to my husband until he’s ready to move.”

His full lips quirk up slightly before he opens his other eye, dark chocolate eyes staring into mine.

“You don’t have to, babe. I’ll be fine in a bit. Gimme a minute and then I’ll help you with the last of the stuff and we can hit the road.”

“Gus, do you trust me?” I quirk my brow at him, waiting for an answer. I’m interested to see what he says. I know he trusts his family and the MC to an extent, but will he trust me enough to know I have this taken care of, or will he want to make sure himself? He opens his mouth, then closes it, before looking me in the eye.

“Yes, I do. But I would still feel better if you let me double-check everything.” His brow furrows, and he looks a little shy at his admission. I don’t mind. It’s a big enough thing for him to trust me, and if he has to double-check everything for his peace of mind, then I’m ok with that.

“That’s cool. I’ll let you double-check so you don’t stress out. But just know, I’ve got you, Gus.”

His smile lights up his entire face, the frown and stress lines he usually has marring his handsome face are gone. He slides his hand toward me until he bumps my hand, then he twines his long fingers around mine and we lay there. Looking at each other and smiling goofily.

“What the fuck are you doing just lying there?” A gruff voice breaks through the moment.

“They’re having a romantic moment, Pops. These things happen in unusual places, at unusual times,” Tuesday answers him in a not-whisper. That is one thing I’ve learned about the quirky woman. For the life of her, she cannot whisper.

“But why? They’re meant to be getting on the road for their camping weekend.”

From my position on the floor, where I can’t see either Pops or Tuesday, I can damn well hear the amusement in Pop’s voice. The whole family has been giving Gus shit for the last few days about us camping, knowing full well that the man hates the great outdoors.

“Is there any specific reason you two are here, in my home, interrupting my moment with my wife?” Gus grits out before sighing and moving to a sitting position, bringing me with him.

“No. Just wanted to wish you luck and tell you I survived three months in the Vietnam jungle and my genes didn’t produce a pussy that can’t survive in rough conditions. So suck it up and make that campsite your bitch,” Pops says before giving a single decisive head nod and leaving without saying goodbye. Tuesday just shrugs before saying “What he said,” and trailing her grandfather out.

“Well, on that note, shall we get this show on the road?” I stand, offering my hand to Gus, who takes it in his large, rough hand.

“Just let me vomit quickly and we’ll be on our way.”

“I swear to God, Gus if you don’t get your hand off the Jesus handle, I’ll pull over, kick your big ass out, and leave you on the side of the road,” Ana growls at me through clenched teeth.

“If you had let me drive, we could have avoided this.”

Turning her head horror movie slowly, her green eyes wild, she makes a feral growling noise causing me to drop my hand and shrink back. Watching her ample chest rise and fall as she takes deep breaths has me thickening in my pants, which, even though it’s not the best time, still has me rejoicing after that shot to the dick I got earlier.

“August, this is my car. I know where we’re going, you don’t. It makes no sense for you to drive other than the fact that you’re a control freak.”

I don’t disagree with her. I am a control freak. I have no idea if I was always like that or if I became like that because I’m the eldest in a family with no parents. I don’t think Pops counts. He’s basically one of the kids.

“Ok, ok. Just, we’re being followed.” Taking a quick glance in the rearview, I can see the silver car that’s been following us for a while now. Different from the last one that tailed us.

“I know. I clocked them three miles back.”

“I clocked them when we left the gas station.” Ana slowly turns toward me again, a scowl marring her face. Jesus, she’s beautiful when she’s pissed.

“Yeah, three miles back. Are we having a competition?”

I decide to push her buttons. This could be a terrible idea, but aside from the first night we met when she hit me with her sass, she hasn’t really pulled it out again. I want to know what makes this woman tick. What pisses her off? What excites her? What would she sound like as I push into her tight pussy? Jesus, and there goes my cock again.

“No, no competition. Just wanting to make you aware.”

“Oh, well, thank you. I would never have known, even though I have perfectly working eyes and noticed the car at the same time as your superior man eyes did.”

She blows out a breath and I’m pretty certain she calls me an egg. Whatever that means. I watch her from the corner of my eye and I can’t help the smirk growing on my face. I see her bright green eyes side-eye me and her lips twitch before she huffs out a breath and hits me playfully in the arm.

“You’re an asshole, you know that?”

Snorting out a laugh, I take in how quickly her annoyance at me has subsided. “Yeah, I’ve been told once or twice.” My eyes flick to the mirror and I see hers reflected.

“So, Mr. Tombs, the all-knowing, all-seeing master of the universe. How do we want to play this?”

That is the million dollar question. Thus far, the car has kept a good distance from us. Could it be a coincidence? The weather is fine at the moment, and we are headed to a popular campsite. It could be nothing. But then Ana and I helped foil an organized crime ring, so it could very well be something. Although Ivan’s information makes me feel a little bit better. The last thing I want to do is take on the Russian mafia in my new hiking boots and walk shorts. The outfit hardly screams “badass”.

“I think we just carry on with our plans, but we keep our ears and eyes open. If the car turns into the campsite, then we get set up and get eyes on them first. My brothers and sister have your car on their tracking system and I have my implant, so they’ll know immediately if anything is wrong.”

“I agree. I also have Ivan on speed dial.”

“Then I think that’s all we can do. Let’s hit nature and show Marta that we can most definitely and successfully do shit that you love and that I absolutely hate.”

At this, Ana throws her head back and laughs, her eyes sparkling.

“Gus, I have every faith that with me at your side and with all the stuff I have packed and planned, you will love camping.” I roll my eyes at her and love the warm feeling in my chest as she snorts at me.

We drive for a while longer in comfortable silence, and it intrigues me how Ana can be so happy to enjoy each other’s company without having to hash out every detail. Thinking back to the night we met when I saw her standing in Roman’s office with a scowl on her beautiful face, I thought I was going to be in for a hell of a time with an awful bitch.

When security alerted us we were surrounded and to flee into the woods that back onto the property, I was sure that she was going to lose her shit and I’d have to keep us both safe. However, that isn’t what happened. What happened was she calmly noted what was on the security cameras, slipped off her heels, replaced them with tramping boots, and took off out the door with me following close behind. Once we hit the treeline, it was like watching Rambo from those old movies. She blended in with the surroundings, and I was left following in her wake like a bull in a china shop. I mean, sure, I pissed her off a couple of times with my lack of outdoorsy-ness, but after sarcastically admonishing me, she was straight back to her usual self, never holding a grudge or questioning things too much. Not even when Marx’s men picked us up and told her she was coming back to the clubhouse to lock down for her safety.

“How are you always so chill?” I see her eyebrows pinch, but she doesn’t take her eyes off the road.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Taking a breath, I try to get my thoughts into words. “You’re just so, adaptable, I guess is the word. When we met, you didn’t argue once when you were told what was happening. Well, not until I got a little bossy there.” I see her eyebrow raise and a small smirk on her face.

“A little?”

“Well, you know.” She glances at me before she rolls her eyes. “So? How can you just take everything in stride?” She concentrates on the road for a moment, her lips pinching and I watch as she moves them side to side, chewing the inside of her cheek.

“I don’t always take everything in stride. But, I try to. You know I grew up in care, right?” I nod, not wanting to interrupt her too much. “I guess, when you never know where you’re going to be from day to day, you either struggle with the changes and end up a ball of anxiety and nerves, which I saw happen to a lot of kids, or, you just let it go.” Shrugging she side-eyes me before her gaze returns to the road ahead.

“You just let it go?”

“Yeah. I mean, as a kid, you have little control over anything. So, I learned that the things you can’t control you just let go of and concentrate on what you can control. Do I most likely have some weird childhood trauma that needs addressing? Probably. Do things piss me off? Of course, they do. Did it piss me off when you’d try to take over and tell me what to do? Yes, but that was more because you didn’t think I could handle myself. I think I proved to both of us at that moment that I could.”

Thinking back on what went down, I guess once we got to the clubhouse I was overbearing, but that wasn’t what she thought it was.

“I knew you could handle yourself. I wasn’t an ass because I thought you were some delicate woman.”

“Ok. Then why?” Shit, now I’m going to have to tell her the truth. She has been honest with me and a piece of her childhood. The least I can do is to be honest with her.

“I, um, I liked you. From the moment I saw you. And then we ended up in the clubhouse with all those big, handsome fuckers and I guess I was marking my territory.” I cringe after saying that because it makes me sound like an absolute asshole, but it’s the truth. “And also, because I’m a man, and sometimes we can be really stupid.”

A smile splits her face, and she throws her head back and laughs. “Hey, you said it!”

I hold my hands up and hum my agreement.

“I liked it.” She says so quietly I almost miss it.

“You liked what?” I whisper back.

“I liked you claiming me. And I liked you when I first met you, too. Although it might have wavered when I realized you don’t like being outside.” Her lips twitch before she laughs at her joke.

“Yeah, yeah. Just get us there already and I’ll see what I can do about digging deep and activating those jungle genes Pops has given me.”