40. Andrey

40

ANDREY

She checks the jewels hanging off her ears and neck again and again, as though she's scared she'll lose them. Even when she tucks her fingers under her thighs to control herself, she keeps fidgeting for the rest of the drive. She trips twice on the way up the hotel stairs, even though I've got my arm looped around her waist.

I make no mention of it. Any of it. At least, not until we arrive outside the doors of the private rooms where we'll be having dinner and she comes to an abrupt stop.

"You okay?" I ask.

"I just need a moment."

I stand with her, my security detail spreading around the area, pretending like they don't notice us. Natalia closes her eyes and takes a few deep breaths. When she finally opens them again, she looks ever so slightly more composed.

"You won't leave me, will you?"

"Not until you're comfortable," I assure her.

With that promise secured, she grips my arm tightly and we stride into the lounge.

Cevdet, Luca and Bujar are all present, as are their wives, dripping in jewels and floor-length evening gowns. "Well, well," Cevdet thunders, drawing all eyes to him as usual. "If it isn't the lucky woman who managed to win the heart of our young leader."

Natalia's cheeks burn pink, but she smiles politely. "Pleasure to meet all of you."

The wives eye her from head to toe, and Natalia takes a step back, pressing into me.

"Just be yourself," I whisper in her ear. "It worked on me."

She clears her throat and reluctantly lets my forearm slide out of her hands. With one more mournful sigh, she takes a seat at the ladies' table.

"You'll have to forgive my nerves," she says by way of introduction. "This world is all a little new and confusing for me. So if I use the wrong fork at dinner, please don't, like, burn me at the stake or anything."

There's a momentary pause as if the room is holding its breath. Then, one by one, they all laugh.

Leonora, Cevdet's wife, pats Natalia's arm. "You have nothing to worry about. And if I may say, you look absolutely wonderful. I never looked half as lovely when I was pregnant."

Natalia blushes. "Thank you. I feel like a cow."

Bujar's wife barks out a laugh. "Wait ‘til you start breastfeeding. Then you'll really feel like a cow."

"Motherhood," Cevdet mutters in what passes for a whisper from him. "It's the great unifier. They won't stop blabbing for hours now."

As the men make their way to the armchairs in the corner, I catch Natalia's eye. She winks, letting me know I'm free to leave her.

To think I was ever worried about her in the first place.

"She's stunning, Andrey," Cevdet crows once we're out of earshot. "And it seems, very pregnant, too."

"I'm keeping that news quiet for now, gentleman. No need to tempt fate."

"Wise choice, my friend." Luca passes out crystal tumblers filled with whisky and we toast to the future and our new business prospects.

But the revelry lasts only through the first sip.

"I received word of increased surveillance on several of our trading routes yesterday," Bujar informs us, jumping straight into it. "If this continues, we might have to close a few temporarily."

Luca puts down his whiskey. "You think our operation has been compromised so soon?"

"I think we need to tread carefully. We have more people watching us than we might suspect. And not for the reasons we might suspect, either." His gaze falls directly on me. No prizes for guessing what he might be thinking.

"News travels fast, Andrey," Cevdet booms. "Apparently, the Bratva has more to worry about than we originally assumed."

I take an unbothered sip of my whiskey. "If you're referring to my father, I'm dealing with that."

"You don't seem concerned." Luca's eyes bore into my face.

"That's because there's nothing to be concerned about. The old man is out of his depth. I'm simply giving him the respect of a subtle defeat. If he were anyone else, he'd be nothing more than smoldering ash by now."

"Still, we need to consider alternate routes," Bujar says. "And perhaps a little more manpower."

"And if that doesn't cut it?" Luca asks.

Cevdet's gaze sweeps over to me. "Well then, I don't see the point of continuing a business venture that poses more risk than reward, do you?"

I return Cevdet's smile. "Of course not. But there's not going to be much more risk once I've dealt with the complications. You're not going to let a minor setback deter you, are you, Cevdet? I took you for a stronger man than that."

"Depends on what you define as ‘minor.'"

"As I said, I've got everything under control." I hold his gaze a second longer than necessary to ensure my point lands.

"Glad to hear it," Luca concludes, raising his glass. "Another toast then. To fruitful new ventures and our enemies coming only close enough to lick our boots."

Once we've clinked our glasses together, the topic falls back to less pressing business prospects. My eyes wander over to where the women are sitting and chatting.

The chandelier dapples Natalia's dress and highlights her cheekbones. When she tips her head back and laughs, I stand without a firm idea of where I'm going.

"Excuse me, gentleman."

All four ladies look expectantly at me as I approach, but I only have eyes for one. "Natalia, can I borrow you for a moment?"

"Of course." She reaches for the arm of the chair, but I offer my hand instead. She flushes. "Where are you taking me?"

I make eye contact with Olaf as we close in on the ladies' restroom. "We're not to be disturbed, Olaf."

"Understood, boss."

" I don't understand," Natalia interjects, looking more and more bewildered. "Andrey! You can't come in here with me. This is the ladies?—"

She gasps as I close the door and push her up against it. I slide my hand inside the high slit of her dress, stroking her thighs.

"Andrey! You can't… Wait…"

But her eyes flutter unconvincingly as I pull her panties to the side and bring myself home inside of her.

It's a fast and furious fucking. The door rattles in the frame as I plow Natalia into it, my hand cupped over her mouth to muffle her moans. We come almost in unison, mere minutes after we started. Only then can I breathe again.

"What was that?" she asks while I'm zipping myself back up and helping her do the same.

"I wanted you."

"Cut the shit, Andrey." She grabs my wrists and drags me toward her. "You're worried about something, aren't you?"

I sigh. It'd be easy to lie, to downplay everything. But that's not what I signed up for with Natalia. That's not what we agreed on.

And if I want a future with her, I have to be honest.

"This alliance can't fall apart, Natalia," I grit. "But the longer it takes me to deal with my enemies, the more vulnerable it becomes."

"It's only a matter of time. Soon, Nikolai and Slavik will be a thing of the past. And we can finally focus on our family."

Her arms are tight around my waist. I lean into them. Into her scent, her softness, her sweetness. "You're my secret weapon, you know that, little bird?"

"This little bird is flexing her talons," she winks.

I kiss the curve of her jaw. "My world doesn't know what it's in for."

"Should we go back in?" she asks. "I don't want them to think we snuck off to have sex."

I chuckle. "That's where you and I differ. I sincerely hope they do."