Chapter 11

eleven

Sergi

Half an hour later, I'm at the office going over the fucking mess Alexandr has unknowingly made. It takes me over an hour to find the three million that's hidden in an offshore account and transfer it all back. I change all our banking information, so it doesn't happen again, and add a secure firewall in our systems. I'm fucking grateful Dimitri trained me to do this. My phone starts to ring for the eighth time, and I sigh, thinking it's Al again. I check the screen and smile when I see a picture of me and Avery.

I answer it quickly. "Hey baby, everything okay?" I start to shut everything down, getting ready to head to Damian's.

I can hear the smile in her voice when she replies, "Hey, sorry to bug you at work, I just wanted to see if you'll be home in time for dinner. It's tacos, my mom's recipe." I grin, she said "home" which means she's not only at my place but she's thinking it of it as home. Now to convince her it is her home, and she can give up that fucking apartment.

I check my watch. "I don't think I will be, but save me a plate and I'll eat it when I get back, okay, baby? It sounds delicious." Fuck, I love her cooking.

"Okay, babe. I love you, be careful," she says so sweetly it tugs at my heart strings.

I chuckle. "Always, baby. I love you, too." I hang up, still smiling, and head to my car. I place all the paperwork Phoebe gave me on the passenger seat, and head to Damian's.

Fifteen minutes later, I arrive at Damian's, and grab the paperwork. I walk to hearing Damian dig himself into a hole. I smirk and lean against the door frame to watch the show. Pregnant Sofia is fucking hilarious, when you're not on the receiving end of her temper, otherwise she's terrifying.

" Malyshka , this thing with Candy and Selene, while completely wrong, which he understands now, he was just trying to forget Phoebe because she hurt him, broke his heart. He fucked up, he knows this, give him a break, yeah?" he states calmly, and I swallow back a chuckle at his stupidity. I shake my head as she sneers at him. Like I said, a pregnant Sofia is a scary Sofia, surely he knows this by now.

"Well, that's okay then, isn't it? I mean that's exactly what you did right, darling?" she sneers.

Uh-oh. I bite my fist; things are about to get heated. I really hope Mila and Maksim are asleep right now. She has never brought up his infidelity. After their counseling, they decided to keep it in the past, and no thanks to Al and his stupidity, its resurfaced. They may be my brothers, but right now, I'm glad I don't share their DNA, because like fuck would I cheat on my girl.

Shame I didn't remember this moment, though, when my world falls apart.

Damian looks at Al and he gives him a sheepish smile, which soon turns to a grimace with Sofia's next words.

"But, hey, at least you didn't fuck my family member right? Oh, no, wait , you fucking did !" she shouts, and my body shakes with silent laughter.

"Fuck's sake, Alexandr! Can't you keep it in your fucking pants?" Damian shouts at Al to save himself, while Al looks like he wants to laugh.

"See, that wasn't so hard was it, Damian?"

I chuckle aloud this time, and Al scowls at me, taking note of the envelope in my hand.

"Where have you been? I have fucking things to do, Sergi."

I roll my eyes at him, then straighten before walking over to the armchair under the window to take a seat and look at him. He fucked up, and he needs to know.

"Well, to be fair, Al, I think your first job is to go get tested, then preferably kill your mistress. Seems she's been going through your phone when you're passed out, and getting our businesses' account details. Three million of our money has been transferred to an offshore account. I've just spent an hour getting it all back. And if you're thinking of going after Phoebe Pie, don't bother, she's already gone." I pass the paperwork about Candy over, keeping the other information in the envelope. Al looks through it and goes pale. He sighs and puts his head in his hands.

Damian sighs. "I can do it, if you can't, brother."

Al snorts, shaking his head. "I'll do it; this is my fault." Then he suddenly stands, and I swallow my chuckle; he's just realized what I said about Phoebe.

"What do you mean she's gone? Gone where, and how the fuck would you know?"

I sigh as he growls at me like a damn dog. "Sit down, Al. I have a story to tell you all."

He sits reluctantly, and I lean my elbows on my knees, linking my hands together with the envelope dangling between them. "You all know that I've been close with Phoebe for years, right?"

They all nod while Sofia has made herself comfortable on the biggest armchair in the room, drinking her fruit smoothie. I smirk at her, while Damian and Al look at me intently.

I continue, knowing Al struggles with how close I was to Phoebe, not realizing we're related. At one point, he actually accused me of having feelings for her.

"Well, when she left, it devastated me, and when I found out why…." I shake my head and look at Al. "Just like with Damian when he hurt Sofia, I did not kill you because you're my family, and I love you like a brother. You both hurt two women who mean the world to me, who I would die for, but Phoebe…. I struggled not to hurt you, Al, because she's not just like a little sister to me, she's actually my blood, brother." Damian stands up in shock, Sofia's mouth drops open, smoothie dripping down her chin, making me chuckle at her.

I continue, taking a deep breath; I hate admitting this part, "Juan Garcia is my biological father."

"Why the fuck didn't you tell us? We are your family!" Damian snaps, pain in his voice, while Al shakes his head. I sigh, knowing I've hurt them, but they have to understand, I didn't want to admit it even to myself.

"I've known all my life, Damian; my mother never kept it from me. Your parents and in-laws know, too. I am the rightful heir to the Spanish Mafia, but I don't fucking want it; he didn't want me !" I still feel the pain of rejection. I take a deep breath. "He didn't want me, so I didn't want him. My mother told me about Selene and Phoebe, how they don't know they are related to Juan, and that their father doesn't know.

"When I was fourteen, my mother thought it would be good to get to know my cousins. I was dead set against it, I didn't want to know, we were all supposed to go to the shooting range together, then to the club, but I didn't want to go and meet some spoil princesses."

Damian sits back down as Al leans forward, giving me his whole attention. "I was only half right. They introduced me as a family friend. Selene was eight at the time, already a complete bitch; she would shove Phoebe and pull her hair, and cry when she didn't get her own way. She even refused to go anywhere near me. But Phoebe…." I smile, remembering how amazing she was and how I was suddenly very protective of her. "She walked right up to me and grabbed a hold of my hand. She was only five, and looked adorable with her hair in pigtails. She asked me if I like chocolate pie, hence her nickname." I chuckle, then look at them both. "We were inseparable after that. Selene didn't like that I had all her sister's attention, so after a couple of months, her mother stopped bringing her and only brought Phoebe."

Alexandr cuts in, "Did she know then? That you were related?"

I shake my head. "Not until she came back from Greece at sixteen. When she left, we spoke every day on the phone for six years, and I'd fly out to see her a couple of times while you all thought it was a family vacation. Juan knew we were close, and I don't know why, but he decided to tell her that I was her cousin the day she was boarding the plane back home. He also made sure to explain how no one knows." I let out a small laugh, still in the memories. "She confronted me, asked me if it was true, and when I told her yes, she slapped me!"

Sofia snorts.

"Fucking slaps me across the face, threatening me that if I ever lied to her again, then she would disown me. Then she hugged me tight and told me she was glad I was her blood." I smile.

"I get why you didn't tell us, brother, but I wish you had. We could have supported you, but it was your decision. How did you come across this information on Candy?" Damian questions, and I smile, handing him the rest of the paperwork in the envelope. Al looks over and his eyebrows shoot up.

"It's the same way I got this information. Phoebe," I state, continuing. "There are three men, but she didn't know two of their names. She knew Grigoriy, though. The other two are Boris and Leonid, those are the three who didn't like you taking over. Grigoriy is the front runner for finding the kids in group homes, and the other two, picks them up, then takes them to the meeting point for the Mexican cartel or the Romanians to transport."

Al looks at me with rage in his eyes and asks, "How did you get this off Phoebe?"

I sigh again. "I knew she'd be staying at Juan's mansion in Boston, so I went to talk to her. Well, first, I had to scold her for answering the without a weapon in her hand; I could have been a serial-killer."

Sofia chuckles. "You are a serial killer, Serg."

I laugh out loud. "That's what she said," I say, making Sofia smile.

I continue, "Anyway, I knew I'd be the one person she would give the information to; she doesn't like to lie to me, even if she kept quiet about what she'd been learning over the years. I've assured her that we'd sort them out."

Damian nods. "You're fucking right, we will."

Al looks back at me. "What about Juan, how does he fit into this with you?"

I grunt. I fucking hate talking about him. "He wants to have a meeting with me, but I don't want anything to do with him. Phoebs has told me how his wife Valerie got pissed with him for keeping me a secret for twenty-nine years. Apparently, he wanted nothing to do with me because he was afraid his wife would leave him. Now I'm his only heir and she knows about me, and he suddenly wants contact. She blames him for keeping her child away from her, even though am not biologically hers. She doesn't see it that way, though. But like I told Phoebe, I'm not ready." Al nods and gets up, I stand too, and I give him a bro hug.

"We'll help you through it, whatever you decide," he whispers, and I nod, then he turns to walk out.

"Where the fuck you going?" Damian questions.

Over his shoulder, Alexandr answers, "I have a Don to contact regarding his niece and her whereabouts."

Damian chuckles and I give Al a look, making him stop. "If she does forgive you, brother, and that is a big if , do not hurt her again." It's a threat and he knows it.

He nods, giving me a smile, then walks out.

I gaze at Damian and shake the papers. "I happen to know three people who are meeting tonight at the same warehouse we met Christian earlier. It's the same three who were supposed to blow it up. You up for ride?" He smirks and looks at Sofia, and she chuckles, waves her hand like she's the queen dismissing us, and makes herself comfortable. I go over to her and kiss her head, then head out to my car; we'll drive separately because I have a woman to get home to.

We get to the warehouse they've decided to hijack roughly twenty minutes later. I get out of my car and round the hood, meeting Damian. When we notice the cars parked in the lot, he smirks at me and states, "Shoot the two soldiers in the eyes, and torture Grigoriy."

I smirk back and nod.

We carefully head inside, and when we get through the door, I roll my eyes; the idiots snorting coke. I look at Damian and he shakes his head, then cocks his gun. I smirk and cock mine while he counts down from three, and we both shoot at the same time. My shots hit Leonid between his eyes, while Damian's shot gets Boris through his right eye. I raise a brow at him, but he just shrugs.

"What the fuck!" Grigoriy barks, pulling his gun from his waistband. I shoot his hand, causing him to scream and drop his gun.

I look to Damian. "Seriously, this guy, a sovietnik in the Bratva?"

Damian chuckles, and we walk over to the traitor who's still screaming, clutching his right hand. He slumps to his knees, and I kick him in the face. He falls down, crying out. I roll my eyes, giving Damian a look, and he just smirks at me. Leaning over the traitor, I stand on his injured hand, putting pressure on it, causing him to cry.

Damian leans down and states, "I hear you have a problem with me, Greggy boy."

I chuckle at his mocking tone while Grigoriy shakes his head, making Damian chuckle darkly. "No? Then why are you involved in human trafficking in my territory?" Grigoriy goes pales and Damian looks back at me. "I'm guessing you have somewhere you need to be?"

I smile. "Yep, and this piece of shit is keeping me from it. Now, do we torture him slowly and I can show him how good I am at keeping him alive to feel enough pain he'd wish he was dead, or do we just kill him?"

Damian chuckles as Grigoriy's pants darken in the front.

I snort. "Fucking pussy. Definitely not Bratva material." I cock my gun and shoot him in the kneecap, and he screams out in pain. I shoot the other one for shits, while Damian laughs.

Damian presses his gun between the traitor's eyes.

"You should be thankful it's us here and not my father. Enjoy hell, Greggy boy." He shoots him between his eyes. Grigoriy's body falls as blood splatters everywhere. Hopefully, it didn't get on me, because that's not something I want to explain to my girl just yet.

We turn to leave, and as we get outside, I light a match and set the building on fire. When we were here earlier, we doused the place in gasoline, and those three were supposed to burn it, the fucking traitors.

I turn to look at Damian before he gets in his car. I slowly turn in a circle, showing him my back. "Do I have any blood on me?"

He raises both his brows at my question and says, "No, but I think I want to know what's going on with you sooner rather than later, brother, because that shit is not fucking normal."

I sigh, nodding. I get in my car as a smile automatically spreads on my face; I'm heading home to my girl. I'm driving away from the warehouse with a building full of flames and three dead bodies, and all I can think about is sliding behind my girl in bed, then sliding my cock into her tight, wet heat.

Fuck yes.

Half an hour later, I'm getting off the elevator and heading toward my front door, when my phone rings. I check the screen and sigh.

"Al, if no one is dying and you don't need me, I'm hanging up," I state, and he chuckles.

"I have a big favor to ask you, and you'll probably hate me, but please, brother." Both my brows shoot high, and I wait for him to continue. He clears his throat. "In order to get Phoebe's whereabouts and her schedule, I need you to, please, agree to a meeting with Juan in a month's time. Please, brother. I know I fucked up with our girl, and I know our relationship has been tense because of my actions, but I'm trying to bring her home, and I need you."

I tense and lean against the door. I know he wants her back, and I'd do anything to help him, but can I do this? I rub my forehead. Fuck.

Tense, I murmur, "Okay, brother." Then I hang up, not wanting to hear his thank you. I'm pissed he's put me in this situation, all because he couldn't keep it in his pants. But I also know he's barely hanging on by a thread; he wants her home, shit, I want her home. I want my best friend and cousin to meet the girl I'm going to marry. If I do this, and it helps, then fucking so be it. I bring up the number I've been ignoring on my phone and text it.

Me: Give Alexandr Phoebe's whereabouts and schedule, and I'll meet you in a month.

I go into my apartment, and its dark. I head to the kitchen, open the fridge, and take out the tacos my girl made me. I smile at the note she's left.

I love you.

I devour them within ten minutes, and place the note in my wallet, behind the picture of her. Fuck, they tasted amazing, and I bet they'd be even better warm. I quickly clean up after myself, and head into the bedroom. I stop and lean against the door frame, and take in the sight on my bed. My girl, dressed in one of my shirts, is lying on her back, her head tilted to the side, right arm up above her ahead, sleeping peacefully on my black sheets. She looks like an angel. I smile. Whenever we stay at her place, she wakes with nightmares. I always hold her through them. I don't know what there about, she doesn't tell me, but I do know her past was hard on her. I just hope she tells me about it someday, letting me carry that burden for her. My phone dings and I check it.

Unknown: Details sent. Thank you, Sergi. I look forward to finally meeting you.

Then another message follows minutes later.

Alexandr: Thank you, brother. I owe you one, and I'm sorry for everything. I love you, brother.

I sigh and head toward the bathroom, ignoring both texts. As pissed as I am at Al, he's still family. I do my nightly routine and get undressed, completely naked. I place my phone on my charging pad, and climb in behind my girl, before I wrap her in my arms. She sighs, snuggling close into me, her back to my front, as I place my face in her neck, kissing it lightly. She moans slightly and I smile, gently running my finger down her torso and over her pussy lips. She's not wearing any underwear. I grin, then quickly move my hand to grab a condom and sheath myself. She opens her legs a bit more, and I lift it with my right hand and nudge my cock toward her entrance. She wraps her hand behind my head as I thrust forward, taking her slow and gentle as my finger circles her clit.

She moans as her cunt tightens around me. I have my arm under her neck so my left hand can play with her pebbled nipple, and she comes hard on my cock. I come straight after, moaning her name, and pull her tightly to me. I don't give a damn about the condom; I'm keeping my dick in her. I place gentle kisses on her neck.

She whispers, "I love you."

I smile into her neck and say, "I love you too, baby."

Her breathing evens out and I hold her tighter, my eyes going heavy, and I finally fall asleep, happy and relaxed.

About a week later, I'm picking Avery up from work. She had the late shift at the Brew Box, and I haven't seen her in a couple of days. With Al in California trying to convince our girl to come home, even if it's on a temporary basis, I have to pick up his work too, so I've been busy. Then I've also been dealing with Candy's whiney ass. I'm tired and hungry, only wanting my girl, who's now locking up. I grin, because even when I feel like shit, she brightens my day.

I get out of my car and lean against the passenger door, waiting for her to turn around. I didn't tell her I was picking her up today, so she thinks I'm still working and was going to head to her apartment. Yeah, like I'd let that happen. I'm pissed she's been staying there the last couple of days, something about letting me get some rest, but that's my girl, full of heart. She turns around and jumps startles when she sees me looming, before she notices it's me. A big grin appears on her face. She bounces over to me and jumps into my waiting arms, and I hold her tight as she places her head in the crook of my neck, taking a deep breath.

"I missed you," she whispers. I smile.

Fuck, Al better hurry up and get back home, I need more time with my girl.

"I missed you too, dragotsennyy ."

She gently kisses me. I smile into the kiss and hold her tighter.

"What do you say we pick up some pizza and head home? I want some time with my girl." She beams at me and nods, making my smile widen. I help her into my car and round to the driver's side. As soon as I pull out onto the road, I take a hold of her hand, not wanting to let her go.

Forty minutes later, we're cuddled up on the sofa with a large cheese pizza, watching some whale documentary. My girl loves her mammals, which means she and Phoebe will get along perfectly. Avery's leaning against me, my arm wrapped around her shoulder, playing with her beautiful, long, black hair. The hints of blue shining even in the dim light from the TV. Her hand is laying against the inside of my thigh as she holds her pizza with her other. I smile and take a bite of my slice. I kick out my feet and rest them on the glass coffee table. This right here is my safe place. My home. I sigh in contentment.

My phone rings out of the blue, waking me up. I look at the clock. 2:30 AM. I quickly grab it so it doesn't wake Avery. After we finished our dinner and watched a bit more TV, we showered together, where I fucked her hard and fast against the wall, then took her slow and gentle in bed, before passing out. I look at the screen.

Alexandr.

I furrow my brows, and answer, "Al, everything okay?" My voice is groggy, so I clear my throat.

"Yeah, I just uh, Serg, are you okay?"

I chuckle. "I was asleep, Al; its 2:30 in the morning, brother. How did it go?"

He sighs. I know he's concerned because, usually, I'm at the club right about now, but my priorities are different. I've never felt better.

"It didn't go very well; I might have said some shit about not realizing she knew about the stuff I was doing behind closed doors." I can't help it, I laugh my fucking ass off. What an idiot. Seriously, like fucking your sister behind closed doors would make it okay.

Avery stirs next to me. "Hmm, babe, what time is it?"

Shit. I lean down and move her hair from her shoulder, and rasp, "It's early, dragotsennyy , go back to sleep, okay?" I kiss her neck, then forehead. She smiles sleepily and nods, while I comb my fingers through her hair one more time before getting out of bed. I quickly put on a pair of boxers and head into the living area, and sit on the sofa. I clear my throat again, feeling more awake. "Al, you still there?"

He sounds shocked when he asks, "Sergi, who the fuck was that?"

I sigh, I wasn't ready for this, but I can't lie to him. There's only so many question dodging I can do, so I rasp, "Not one word to anyone, not Damian, not Phoebe, and certainly not Sofia. Those two women will get in my business, I won't have that, not right now."

He grunts. "As long as it doesn't harm our family, Sergi, you know you can trust me."

"Her name is Avery Taylor, she's 23."

Al sits in tense, shocked silence, then asks, "How'd you meet?"

I know he wants to make sure she's not a spy, which is a little insulting.

"The Brew Box. She works five nights a week, which includes all day Saturday. She's currently in medical school. She attends New York Medical University, and she still has roughly six months left before she graduates and starts her residency."

He's silent for a few minutes before he asks, "It's serious?"

I grunt out a yes, because soon, she's going to be my wife, hopefully before she realizes who I am. If she's my wife, she can't leave me, so I need her tied to me.

"Why the secrecy, then? You know we have your back, right?" he's murmurs, his voice full of hurt. I didn't mean to hurt him, I know Damian will feel hurt, too, but they have to understand, Avery is my everything, I can't lose her. I quickly look back toward the bedroom door.

"She doesn't know about me. She doesn't know I'm Bratva."

"I'm sorry, what?" he sputters.

"Yeah, imagine going to get a coffee, pissed that another one of your best friends ran away again without a word so you have a permanent scowl on your face, and you bump into this shy good girl, and she looks at you like you hung the fucking moon. I swear, Al, when she spoke to me, I felt like someone hit me in my chest. She was all quiet and sweet, so I kept going back when I knew I would be in the area. Then I managed to move up to meeting up with her on Sundays, but she fucking friendzoned me. But when a customer was giving her grief, I finally stepped in…and got the girl. We started dating like normal couples, and the more we saw of each other, the more I fell, and the harder it was to tell her the truth. We spend every Sunday together before I go to Damian's for dinner."

He sighs. "But she doesn't know the real you, Serg. Brother, she'll think your relationship is a lie. She will be hurt."

I growl, frustrated, running a hand through my hair. "I know, Al, fuck me, do I know. Both you and Damian, you both fucked up. You are worse than him, but both your women ran. He only just managed to convince Sofia to give it another go, and you, well I'm shocked Phoebe hasn't put a bullet in you yet."

He chuckles. "No, she just put a throwing star to my throat, then side kicked me in my stomach, sent me flying, and all that was after she held her gun to my head."

I burst out, laughing, fucking proud of our girl. Once I calm down from my proud moment, I say, "I'll tell her, soon. I just want more time. I don't want to lose her. And I guess I'll have to tell Damian as well. He'll be pissed that you knew first."

He grunts a laugh, then quiets down. I know he's struggling with the loss of Phoebe, and I know he wants her back.

"She'll come around, Al, just give her time, keep persevering, and when you get home, you can deal with women who did you dirty. Mindy and Selene purposely sent her the link; they knew a surprise pregnancy and your affair with Selene would send her running. Even though I'm fairly sure she now knows Mindy was lying, you still fucked her sister. She just needs time. And as for Candy, she's still living it up unaware. She thinks you're out of town on business, but she has no way to access the businesses or your office at the club, so we don't have to be concerned about her just yet. I'll keep an eye on her, okay?"

He sighs again. "Thanks, brother."

"Anytime. I'm going back to my woman. Talk soon." Then I hang up and heave a heavy sigh, running a frustrated hand through my hair. I get up and head back to the bedroom. I quickly send Damian a message.

Me: Meet me tomorrow at the office. I think it's about time I tell you why I've been gone so much lately.

I place my phone back on the bedside table, remove my boxers, climb back into bed, and pull my girl back into my arms. She curls into me, her back against my chest. I nuzzle her neck, and let out a contented groan. She sighs happily, and I fall asleep with my love.