Chapter 14

Nikolai

A fter getting carried away in the moment and kissing Arianna, I told myself that I wouldn't let myself go like that again. Kissing is an intimacy that can be misconstrued and cause feelings, something we'd just agreed to avoid. This was fucking, nothing more. But kissing her felt almost as good as fucking her and I found myself wanting to do both again. And again.

Sex with Arianna was unlike anything I've ever experienced with another woman. Watching her writhe on my cock and cum was the sexiest thing I've ever seen. She wasn't kidding when she said she may have been a virgin but she's no innocent wallflower. It took all of my willpower not to explode the second I entered her.

Now, after I've cum twice and Arianna's experienced multiple orgasms, she's spent and clearly exhausted. We're lying on the bed, limbs entangled, the room in chaos from our frenzied sex that knocked over the second lampshade and sent pillows flying across the room. As much as my libido and desire for her seem to still be raging almost as strongly as before, I should let her rest. I get up and begin gathering my clothing and getting dressed.

"Where are you going?" she asks sleepily.

"It's late, you should sleep. I need to take care of some business and then I will go to bed myself."

"Oh," she replies.

I can tell she's disappointed that I'm not staying the night.

"We said no strings, no romance. Sharing a bed… it's intimate, it complicates things," I explain.

"Oh, of course," she replies, her face lost in thought.

I wish I knew what those thoughts were.

"Goodnight, Arianna."

"Goodnight, Nikolai."

As much as I'd like to sleep, just like I told Arianna I would, I have business to attend to. Following the attack at the club and Lucchese's demise yesterday, there will no doubt be a turf war over his assets. De Luca and Di Stefano are both Chicago-based, which bought us some time to take over some of Lucchese's less guarded areas here before they got wind of what happened and sent their men in to claim their fallen ally's enterprise.

It's unclear whether or not they were in on my assassination attempt or if Lucchese acted alone. Neither of them has made a move against me yet, but even if they weren't involved, the fact Lucchese died by my hand in one of my clubs means they're sure to do so soon. Neither De Luca nor Di Stefano have been seen, so it's likely that, if they did know, they stayed behind in Chicago and let Lucchese do the dirty work.

Not that Di Stefano is ever seen. The man's an enigma these days, never out in public, preferring to send his henchmen to do his bidding. A coward who can't fight his own battles. I'm not afraid of them, but I do need to know what they know and how to take them down. Luckily, I just so happen to have someone here who knows all about De Luca. I'm hoping Arianna will be more than willing to tell us what we need to know tomorrow. But if not, I'll have fun getting the information out of her.

I head downstairs to find Endo, Kimiko, Dimitri, and a couple of my men, Mikhail and Lev, in the kitchen, shooting the shit and drinking expensive sake that Kimiko brought back with her. The sound of their laughter and banter permeates the halls.

When I enter the room, they fall silent, quickly jumping out of their seats to face me with guilty expressions on their faces.

"Pakhan," Lev says respectfully.

"Sorry to interrupt your little party but we've got business to attend to. Shouldn't you two be patrolling the grounds?" I snarl at Mikhail and Lev, a little harsher than intended but right now it's better than beating this shit out of them which is what I want to do.

"Sorry, Pakhan, it's my fault. I convinced them to join us, just for one," Kimiko pipes up.

As the elder of the two, Lev should know better. He's been with me long enough. His averted gaze and shamefaced look tell me he's preparing himself for punishment.

"We're under threat. Lucchese knew that we have Arianna and made an attempt on my life. This means it's likely De Luca and Di Stefano know too and could be planning an attack at any moment. Two fewer men outside than there should be is a vulnerability we can't afford. The only reason you're still standing right now is the fact that you'd be no use to me half-beaten to death. Do I make myself clear?" I hiss icily.

"Yes, sir," Mikhail squeaks.

"Thank you, Pakhan, it won't happen again," Lev says before they both quickly hightail out of there.

The other three exchange guilty looks.

"Endo, as head of security, this falls on you, too. I know it's been a year since you and Kimiko have seen each other, but now is not the time to let down our guards," I scowl at him.

"Sorry, Pakhan," Endo says, the fact he doesn't have a pithy comeback or call me boss lets me know he's contrite.

I decide to let the matter drop. We have other more important things to worry about. On the plus side, catching them in trouble means I've mercifully dodged having to fend off a barrage of questions about Arianna. No doubt they heard what just happened and the last thing I want to talk about is my sex life.

Usually, Endo would tease, Dimitri would remind me of how I need to get married soon, and Kimiko would try to play matchmaker, so all in all, I'm not as furious as I could be. But I won't let them know that. Right now, it's their Pakhan, not Nikolai, they need to talk to.

"Kimiko, how was your trip, I trust things went according to plan?" I ask.

"Yes, all good. The team in Japan is conducting the final round of clinical trials, the new product should be good to go in a few months. The Russians will then handle distribution throughout Europe. The US shipments will go via Mexico to be smuggled in over the border," she confirms.

"And the Cartel are happy with the arrangement? I don't want them backing out or getting greedy on us," I ask.

The Garcia Cartel is notoriously tight about sharing with others. The deal is an innovative and dangerous one that could make us all very rich or blow up in our faces. Our team in Japan has been making a synthetic product that when cut with most street drugs improves the high and the addictiveness while making the product safer. Most drugs are cut with all kinds of things to keep costs down but can have deadly effects.

A drug that feels better, and more addictive, but doesn't kill their customers so they can keep buying is every drug lord's dream. Rather than trying to go against the biggest, most ruthless drug suppliers in the world, we've decided to team up and share the wealth. Though sharing isn't something criminal underworld bosses are known for.

"Yes, they know that, without us, they wouldn't have the link with the Yakuza or the Bratva and then the whole thing falls apart. Though there were some… stipulations," Kimiko says hesitantly.

"What kind of stipulations?" All three of us ask her in unison.

"Marriages, to secure the alliance. The Sato Yakuza, Garcia Cartel, and Petrov Bratva all have daughters they have offered," she says, calmly taking a sip of sake like she hasn't just dropped a huge bombshell.

"Well, who the fuck do they expect to marry them?" Endo asks in amazement. "There's only Nikolai and Dimitri left in the Kuzmin family here, and they can't very well marry a relative in Russia. So that leaves one bride without a groom."

"As adopted members of the family, and heirs to the former Tanaka Yakuza, they felt that you and I are both in strong positions to marry to secure the alliance. Plus, the Petrov Bratva are relatives by marriage, not blood," Kimiko points out.

"Great, so I have to marry someone too?" Endo grumbles.

"No. At least not yet. I have secured our alliance with the Garcia Cartel, which is the main one we need to worry about since we have no family ties with them. My wedding is in a month. The rest are willing to wait and for meetings between suitors to happen first before any arrangements are made."

We sit gawping at Kimiko, trying to process what we've just heard. Again, Endo is the one to ask what we're all thinking.

"So, let me get this straight, the head of the Garcia Cartel is happy for you to marry his daughter?"

"Don't be absurd, he's more homophobic than a closeted politician. No, I'm marrying his son, Juan," she says.

"But you're you know…" Dimitri chimes in.

"A lesbian?" Kimiko asks, raising an amused eyebrow at Dimitri's uncertainty about the correct terminology. "Yes, but thankfully, Juan is also gay. This will be a marriage of convenience on both sides. We get along well. For the most part, we'll barely see each other, though we will be expected to produce an heir, of course."

"Kimiko, you don't have to do this," I say, concern knotting my brow as I think about how the hell we are going to get out of this without making an enemy.

"No, I don't. I want to. And besides, the deal is done," she says determinedly.

We all know better than to argue with her. Kimiko is one of the toughest people I know, man or woman. It's how she rose so high in the ranks, she may be like a sister to me, but she earned it. She's as well trained in martial arts as Endo, highly skilled with weapons, and an incredible businesswoman with a great mind for strategy. It's why she's the head of our foreign operations. I trust her implicitly.

"Okay," I confirm, nodding my approval, neither Endo nor Dimitri will go against this now I've agreed. "So, what's next?"

"The wedding will take place on the Garcia ranch in Mexico in a month. But first, there will be an engagement party in New York next week. All of the families will attend to celebrate the alliance and success of the trials. We'll be hosting it, of course."

"Great," I say dryly.

They know how much I hate these kinds of parties, being paraded around desperate women desperate to snag Nikolai Kuzmin as their husband. I'm trying not to think about the fact that I might actually have to marry someone at this party. Nor the fact that the only woman I can think of right now is sleeping upstairs. I'd always known I would have to eventually, but right now the thought fills me with dread.

"So, now you know my news. How about you tell me your news?" Kimiko asks sweetly.

Her tone immediately has me on edge, Kimiko isn't sweet, if she's asking this it's because Endo and Dimitri have already spilled the beans.

"Nothing we can't handle," I grunt.

"Oh, well that's a relief. Here's me thinking you'd kidnapped a Mafia princess and murdered Lorenzo Lucchese, starting a war that we don't need or want to have to deal with on the cusp of one of our most important endeavors in the history of our family," she says sarcastically.

"They were forming a powerful alliance against our turf, it was necessary to do something," Dimitri chips in, loyal as ever.

"And in fairness to Nikolai, Lucchese was the one who made a move, not us," Endo also rushes to my aid.

"And the girl?" she asks.

"She has information we need, she's leverage," I lie. We all know she's more than that now.

"Oh yes, it sure sounds like it," she says rolling her eyes, "I'm sure you're having lots of fun with the girl. But we need to get serious now. If your… methods… aren't working, then perhaps I could try to…"

"No," I growl, jumping up like a coiled spring ready to protect her. "No one hurts her."

Kimiko's eyes open wide in surprise, Dimitri looks misty eyes and fondly, and Endo looks like he's ready to laugh.

"Told ya, sis, he's touchy about this one," he says with a grin.

"Yeah, you weren't kidding. Chill, boss, I didn't mean I'd hurt her. You know I prefer more… subtle methods. I mean that, have you just tried you know, talking to her? From what I hear, you've been acting like a caveman and Endo has been, well, Endo. Dimitri sounds like the only one who's bothered asking her anything about herself," she points out.

"She's told me some stuff. Like about her sister," I protest.

"And how did that go? Did you offer any sympathy?" she asks knowingly.

"Yes," I reply abruptly, choosing to omit the fact that I moved straight onto pressuring her to tell me more and the fact it was mid-argument.

Kimiko's expression makes it perfectly clear she's seen through me.

"Fine. You can talk to her," I agree reluctantly.

Not that it's going to stop me from trying my way too. If I was hoping that fucking Arianna would get her out of my head, I was sorely mistaken. Already I crave more. Need more.