Chapter 8

eight

Sergi – Two Months Later

I'm just about to leave my place to pick up Avery from school when my door opens. I'm stand just off the kitchen with my wallet in one hand and my keys in the other when a ragged looking Alexandr and a pissed off Damian walk in. I raise my brows at them because they don't normally show up unannounced. Damian notices me first and furrow his brow.

"It's not even Sunday, where are you off to?" His voice full of confusion and concern.

I clear my throat, not ready for them to know about Avery. I'm 98% sure that I've fallen madly in love with her, and the other 2% is in denial over falling so hard for someone. I always said I wouldn't let anyone in after I lost my mama, but I guess I never accounted for someone as special as my Avery.

I don't want to lie to them, I haven't before, only omitted to the truth, so I state, "Got some errands, what's going on?" I nod toward Al, who's looking at me weirdly. I know I've been disappearing a lot lately, mainly Sundays, because that's mine and Avery's day together; she doesn't normally work them unless they're short staffed. Lately I've been picking her up whenever I can and taking her to work. She says I don't have to, but I don't like the thought of her walking or catching a bus. I know she has a car, an SUV that belonged to her dad, apparently, but she doesn't like to drive much in New York traffic. I would normally text her when I'm picking her up, but today I thought I'd surprise her; we haven't seen each other in a few days, and I fucking miss her.

Al slurs, "You cheating on ussss or ssssomething?"

I raise my brows at Damian, because—what the fuck?

I look at Alexandr and ask, "And who exactly am I cheating on you with, brother?" I try to keep my amusement out of my voice but it's hard; a drunk Alexandr is an entertaining one as far as I'm concerned. Damian snorts and shakes his head.

Al just shrugs. "Maybe the SSSSpanisssssh."

The Spanish? I tense. They don't know about Juan, and I know he's drunk, but still, he's hit too close to home. I shake my head at him and walk toward them. Damian is holding him up, and I grab his other arm and help him stumble over to my dark brown leather sofa. We lay him down and he starts to snore instantly. I look back to Damian and raise a brow in question.

"Got himself arrested for public indecency and intoxication; had some brunette sucking him off in the middle of Manhattan." I sigh, running a hand through my hair.

"He needs Phoebe back, hell, I need Phoebe back." I growl in frustration. He's drowning and there's nothing we can do to help him, only my cousin can help him at this point, but we can't fucking find her. Athena, our grandmother, left her over a hundred million dollars, and she's used it to disappear.

Damian nods. "I know, but even if we could find her, which is a big if , she has enough money to hide for the rest of her life. But fuck, Sergi, he fucked her sister, the others she could probably forgive, but her sister…." He shakes his head, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "I know the consequences to sleeping with your fiancée's family member; I lost two years of my daughter's life, I missed Sofia's pregnancy, and I was downright fucking lucky she decided to start a fresh with me. But Selene, she…." He shakes his head again and scoffs, "Someone else tried to sell Phoebe, and it's not hard to guess who. She was always looking down at Phoebe, been jealous of her, and I would bet everything in my bank that she's the reason the Romanians are after her sister again. And yet Alexandr continues to fuck her."

I nod. I agree with him; it's very suspicious that when the marriage contract was switched to Phoebe, she's suddenly the target of traffickers. It has Selene written all over it, and as for Al still fucking her…. I shake my head; he's lucky I haven't castrated him.

I look back at Al, then at my watch, debating messaging my angel that I won't make it tonight. I look to Damian. "What do we do?"

He shrugs. "We only came here because it was closer to the precinct where I bailed him out. All charges will be dropped by tomorrow anyway. I'll stay with him; you go do your ‘errands'," he says, making air quotes. I chuckle lightly. I nod and slap his shoulder as I walk by.

I stop and turn slightly, when he calls out, "Sergi, when you're ready to tell us, we're here for you." I smile and nod, feeling a little guilty. I head to the elevator and leave; I have my woman to surprise.

Half an hour later, I'm pulling onto the curb at NYU School of Medicine. I wait for Avs to come out of the building, tapping my leg impatiently. I know I should be back at my penthouse, helping with Al, but he'll be asleep for a while, and I really need to see Avery. Seeing her is like breathing; without her, there is no oxygen. It's quite scary how much I've come to need her in my life. While I wait, my phone rings, and I furrow my brow as look at it.

Unknown.

I roll my eyes and silence it, turning the ringer off, and look back toward the building. She should be out any minute. When the door finally opens and students start to come out, I get out of my car and lean against the passenger door. I cross my right leg over my left and lean back, crossing my arms over my chest. I'm wearing jeans and a tight, black Henley, my hair isn't as slicked back as it usually is; it's a little messy on top, and I have my shades on. It's the look I noticed she appreciates more, and yes, I'm the guy who dressed nice for his woman. Some of the girls walking out stop a few feet away, and openly look me over. I roll my eyes behind my shades as they start to bite their lips. One of them, wearing a short, pink mini skirt and a crop top, with dyed red hair in massive curls, face full of makeup, decides to walk toward me. She's biting her lip and is twisting her hair around her finger, trying to look seductive. I still have my eyes on the door, keeping the girl in my peripheral vision. I fucking pray Avery comes out now; I really don't need this girl causing problems.

When the girl gets within a few feet of me, Avery finally exits the building. I smile when she notices me, and a huge grin appears on her face. She starts to jog down the stairs, and I stand up straight. The girl in my space smirks, thinking I'm straightening for her, and starts to come a little closer, obviously hoping I'll meet her halfway. The joke's on her, though, because as soon as Avery is close, she drops her bag and jumps into my arms, wrapping her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. Her lips descend to mine, as I catch her with ease, wrapping my arm around her, and my hand around her neck, kissing her back.

Fuck, I've missed her.

I slow down the kiss, and she presses her forehead against mine, closing her eyes. She takes in a deep breath, and I smile; she's taking my scent into her lungs. I love that it's her comfort. She's done it a couple of times the past few months, and I love it; she's mine.

I hear a huff and Avery opens her eyes and looks over at the girl. She smiles shyly at her.

"Hey, Melanie, everything okay?" I keep my eyes on my girl, amazed at how nice she is.

I hear the girl Melanie clear her throat. "Hey, yeah, Avery, I was just about to see who this guy was waiting for, or if he was lost."

I roll my eyes. Bullshit. How the fuck is she in med school? She acts like she's still in high school.

I shake my head and squeeze my girl to get her attention and rasp, "What do you say we go for one of our walks, get some food? I need some Avery time; I missed my girl." She smiles at me, and I look at her, amazed at the littlest things that make this girl happy. She nods, and drops her legs. I pout a little, loving the feel of her wrapped around me too much to want to let her go. She giggles at me, and I smile.

She turns back to the girl, and I sigh.

"Melanie, this is Sergi?—"

I cut in, "Her boyfriend." Melanie pales, then looks at Avery, then me, clearly not happy. I shake my head. "Come on, dragotsennyy , let's get going, I need us time." She nods and waves bye to the girl, and I help her into the passenger side of the car.

As I round the car to get to the driver's side, the girl speaks, "Her? Really?"

I look at her and sneer, "Always her."

I get in the car, leaving her staring at me in shock. What did she think I'd say? I shake my head, grab Avery's hand, and start the car. I look over to my woman. "I thought this was a medical school not Barbies ‘r' Us." She snorts, then laughs her ass off, making me smile as I drive away from the building, heading to the Hamptons to spend the afternoon with my girl.

We spend a good two hours walking along the beach and having some food, spending some quality time together. We head back to the city, to midtown, where I fucking hate, hate , that she lives. It's one of the worst places in New York, but she's stubborn and refuses to move.

I pull up to her building and do what I have done every time I've brought her home; I get out and go open her door, helping her out of the car, and lead her into her apartment building. Me being here is a statement; some of our guys work these streets, which means they know she's off-limits.

Once we get to her door, she unlocks it, and I pull her in close to me, placing one hand at the nape of her neck and the other on the lower back to keep her body close.

I whisper, "I missed you, dragotsennyy . We can't go that long without seeing each other again." She smiles and nods, before she goes to her tip toes and gently kisses me. I close my eyes and I squeeze her against me as I lick the seam of her lips. She opens willingly and tilts her head so I can deepen the kiss. Home, that's what I feel right now. Our kiss starts to heat up and I press her into the doorframe, and kiss her more passionately. She grips the front of my T-shirt. Fuck, I bend a little, and grind my very hard cock on her belly so she can feel what she does to me.

Three months, that's how long I've gone without pussy. The last chick I fucked was a stripper, just before Mila's birthday, then Phoebe left. I'd been too busy looking for Phoebe to fuck anyone. And then I found my angel.

She moans, my mouth swallowing her sounds, and I grip her ass. I squeeze it, then lift her into my arms. She wraps her legs around my waist, and I walk us into her apartment. I slam the door shut with my boot and lean her up against the door, her hands now gripping my hair as I glide my hand from her ass, up her side, to her belly where I freeze. White hot rage clouds my vision and I rip my mouth away from hers, and I look into her eyes. She has gone still in my arms, her face pale. This is the first time I've felt her, flesh to flesh; she's never allowed me to touch her under her clothes, and I can see why. Scars. I can feel several of them. Whoever did this better be fucking dead because, if not, I'm coming for them.