Chapter 35

When Nessa arrived home, she was hungover and wanted to lay in bed. Cillian joined her, and I could hear them enjoying themselves, but I had some business needs to take care of.

Alexi called me last night to inform me that our money launderer was disgruntled over his five million salary to keep my books up to date. He thought it was a brilliant idea to start skimming off the top. Quite ridiculous, in my opinion.

A little digging found that he was not only stealing money, but the same Brad that Nessa put in line the other day was also trying to take what is mine.

He had a plan to steal two of my businesses from me, but what he failed to realize was that my people are loyal. After everything that happened with Alexi's wife, we cleaned out all members who were considered on the fence about the organization and its leadership.

I did not kill them, but I did give them a one time pass to leave and never come back. If they do try to return or interfere with my business, they are to be shot on site.

So, I must admit that I was quite surprised when someone thought they could go behind my back, attack me and my businesses, and walk away scot-free.

Now my money launderer is dead, and I need a new one. Which brings me to Brad.

"Hello?"

"Am I speaking to Brad? Or should I say, Bradley Thatcher? Thirty-four years old, type A positive blood, and has a knack for cheating on his wife with men at the club about six or seven blocks from their townhome in the city."

Silence. Exactly. I am the boss, so I do not often have to get my hands dirty. I know how to torture, but I save it for when there is an itch I cannot scratch. I am the man in charge but also can be silent until I need to be heard. As it turns out, Bradley needs to hear what I am about to say.

"W-who is this?"

I let out a malicious laugh—a dark noise that I am used to seeing people cower under.

"Your employer, Bradley. The only one that matters. Not only did you argue and speak down to my woman, but you thought you could overthrow me from your seat in a tower miles below mine?"

"Boris…Mr. Mikhaus? I-I don't know what you're talking about. This has to be some kind of mistake. I would never…"

"Anderson Solace," I state the name of my now-deceased launderer to see what his reaction would be.

"I-I have never heard of him."

I sit forward in my chair. "So the photographic evidence I have of you meeting with him in his downtown apartment two nights ago is fabricated? Along with the recording of the entire conversation?"

The last part is a bluff, but I need to know if Anderson told the truth in his final hours or if he embellished anything.

"Look, I was only working with him so I could tell you what was happening on the inside." His voice cracks, giving away his lies. "You should know he wasn't the only one in on this. It was my assistant that brought the idea to me."

I know that is false. Keri is a loyal woman because I paid for her child's cancer treatments all last year. I still receive email updates about him now that he is cancer free and thriving.

Not to mention, her husband is on Damien's alpha team, and they are required to keep their phones on them at all times. Phones that Lev has access to and can use to sniff out anyone who could have ulterior motives.

"That's not what the recording says, Bradley. It was your partner in marketing who brought you the idea, to which you arrogantly thought you could move against me without consequence. Do you truly have no idea who I am?"

His voice begins to shake, no doubt realizing he messed up. I did not get to my position as the most notorious mafia boss in all of Europe and Asia by not doing my homework on my people.

"Sir, I would never. I mean, come on. Was it that girl who told you this? She's got it out for me, the bitch. You better be careful or she's going to take this whole thing do–"

He doesn't get out his final words because no one gets to insult my woman and live. The second he called Nessa a bitch, I gave my man the signal to shoot and a clean up crew to move into the place.

I already know who was recruited for his team, and they will be taken care of. Bradley, however, deserved to sweat it out. Just a little bit. Sometimes, this retired don likes to jump back into it for old times' sake.

Setting down my phone, I end the call and rub my eyes when a soft knock sounds at the door. I half expect it to be Nessa, but I am surprised when Cillian walks into the room.

"I thought the two of you were quite busy," I say as he strolls in without invitation.

"Don't worry, Old Man. I fucked her until she passed out. Now it's your turn. I need to get some stress out on paper, and I want to soak in the tub but don't want her waking up alone."

I shake my head as I stand. Cillian insists on trying to outdo me in the gym and keeps hurting himself because of it. I might just get him a trainer if he wants to prove a point so badly. He keeps taking epsom salt baths to help the ache.

"For a spry, young kid, you sure do seem to need a lot of baths for those injuries of yours."

He chuckles. "The only thing injured here is my back from how hard I just fucked our girl."

Liar , but I let him believe he's won as I walk to the bedroom.

Sure enough, curled up naked in our bed is my beautiful lisichka .

I take a moment to watch her, but when she begins to stir, her arm searching on the bed, I immediately go to her.

"I am here, Lisichka ." Curling my body around her naked one, I use one arm to pull her close. "I will always be here."

Reassurance that I will not be running away again is something I try to give her as often as I can. It is the least I can do for her recovery, and it also reminds me that I am needed, wanted.

"Mmm, I missed you," her sleepy voice says as she pushes her ass into me. My gym shorts are the only thing separating my hardening cock from her entrance.

"I missed you too," I whisper softly in her ear, nibbling on her lobe before trailing kisses down her neck. She melts into the pillow as I continue a path along her skin.

Her hand reaches between us, pushing my shorts down. "Do you need me, too?" I ask, wanting to make sure she knows what she is asking for.

She pauses, her body stiffening under me.

"Is this weird?" she asks with a soft, vulnerable voice.

I yearn to take away her doubt about this situation. I want her eyes to stop bouncing between Cillian and me when we are in the same room, as if she is waiting for one of us to admit that this is too much.

Our love for her is not something fleeting or conditional. It is final, written into the cosmos for eternity, burning brightly alongside some of the hottest stars.

So, instead of answering her, I decide to show her exactly how I feel. Lifting the blankets, I rid myself of my shirt and shorts before laying her flat on her back and crawling down her body.

"I was asking to see if you were sore," I inform her as I part her legs. She is glistening with arousal, but I can see the remnants of Cillian's release there too.

She looks down at me with hesitation, an expression I plan to wipe from her features. "Boris, Cillian and I just-"

I cut her off with the flick of my tongue over her clit, then I flatten it to lap at the swollen nub. It is so pink I cannot help but wonder if Cillian sucked on it before fucking her.

Nessa's fists my short hair, lifting me up.

"Are you sure?" She is already breathless, her eyes hooded.

"I have never been more sure of anything, my little fox. Now, allow me to clean you up so I can leave a new mess between your legs."

Her mouth drops open, and I find great joy in the shock written on her face. I may not want to be with Cillian sexually, but I have no problem licking my girl nice and clean for me. That is my job as the aftercare man after all. Hopefully this will help prove to Nessa that I am not going anywhere.

To emphasize my point, I make sure I am very thorough. The taste of their combined essences is almost sweet, like a subtle candy on my tongue as I devour her. I pay meticulous attention to her clit as my fingers press into her heat.

She is open and ready for me, so as soon as I am sure she is cleaned up, I crawl up her body. Carefully holding my weight up on my arms, I kiss her.

My tongue dives into her mouth so she can taste Cillian and me together. Her perfect matches.

Nessa moans into my mouth as I slide inside of her. Those devilish nails latching onto my back as I thrust all the way in and she gasps.

Watching her features carefully to ensure I do not bring her pain, I become mesmerized with this woman. Everything she does turns me on, but it's when she parts her lips as I feel her clamp down around me that I am nearly pulled over the edge.

"Naughty girl," I say with a shake of my head. "I am not finished with you yet."

"I need it," she breathes, her head tilted back in ecstasy. "I need you to fill me up."

I pick up my pace, my hips snapping into her with more force.

"Feel that, baby?" Thrust . "This is my vow to you." Thrust . "I will always want you." Thrust . "Need you." Thrust . "And even while you are his," thrust , "you will also be mine."

"Yes," she screams, marking my back so deep I am sure it is bleeding. "I'm yours."

Her words unravel something inside of me, making me feel whole as I fuck her into oblivion. When I'm close, I tilt her head to look into my eyes.

"I need you to come for me, Lisichka ." My hand reaches between us, pressing on her clit with each thrust. "Show me I am yours just as much as you are mine."

I watch her beauty as she lets go, her wild eyes appearing free as her walls clench around my cock, and I follow like a man intent on claiming what is his.

I do not pull out when we come down. Instead, I ease her on top of me so that I can stay inside of her heat just a little longer.

"I love you," Nessa says as she presses a kiss to the center of my chest.

"I love you too, my little fox. I need you to know that I understand now. He can be a part of you, so long as I am a part of you too."

She props her chin up on her hand atop my body, her beautiful golden eyes staring into my soul.

"You will always be part of me. In this life and the next."

I lift my hand and her fingers tangle with mine. "Together?"

"Together."

I lean forward, claiming her mouth with mine as I wrap my hand around her throat. I am careful not to squeeze as I do not wish to take her breath away. I simply need to kiss her until she forgets whose air she is breathing as I vow with my lips—until my last breath, I will be hers.