Chapter 31

Penny

"Lyubov' do kontsa vremen. Nikto bol'she tebya ne tronet."

I could still hear Kraven whispering the words in Russian and in English. Love until the end of time. No one else will touch you. They'd haunted me for the almost three weeks since I'd last seen the amazing man.

I knew I'd done the right thing by leaving but that didn't mean my heart wasn't aching. Or that I hadn't fantasized about him night after night. Even with time and distance, the way I felt about him had only grown stronger.

Woof.

Laughing, I pulled my thoughts from the clouds, giving Remington a look. "I know, buddy. You're hungry. I'll get you some breakfast. Okay?"

He patted and bumped me with his head before heading into the kitchen and to his water bowl. I took my time following behind him, turning on the newly purchased television before grabbing his bowl and heading for the pantry to pull out his food. Was it going to get any easier being without the strapping Russian man?

Would I ever stop thinking about him?

Doubtful.

We'd stormed into each other's lives and he would be difficult to shove into a neat box. Moving to the little town in Maryland where my mother had grown up gave me some space while feeling closer to her. Plus, it wasn't that far from my dad, who'd finally regrouped and was thriving again. I almost felt like I had family.

With the winnings I'd been shocked at receiving before heading out of Las Vegas, I'd been able to rent a little cabin, purchase everything I needed including a nice used car, and have a little cash on the side. It had also bought me time to figure out what I wanted to do. However, the loneliness was killing me.

I poured some dog food, placing the bowl on the floor just as a news report caught my eye.

With the sound low, I couldn't make out all the details, but I didn't need to hear to know what had happened.

Jake and his father had been murdered in a drive-by at one of their favorite DC restaurants. I started to shake but not from fear, from a sense of relief. I'd gotten yet another phone, had taken my mother's maiden name, and had laid low because I'd still been fearful of what Jake and his father might do.

I also knew who was behind their deaths. I was certain of it.

Oh, my God. He'd killed them for me. To protect me.

While my stomach churned, nausea forming, I wanted to laugh and scream. The bastard couldn't hurt me. I laughed out loud, trying to keep myself together while also reminding the good girl inside of me that murder was never acceptable.

When I heard a knock on the door, I was forced to gasp. It was a tiny town. It could be a nice neighbor, and I'd met several. "I'll be right back, baby. Don't go anywhere." I headed for the door, doing my best to fluff my hair since I still had bedhead. At least I'd brushed my teeth and slipped on pair of shorts and a tank top.

I wasn't certain whether to be shocked or amused seeing the flower delivery guy struggling to hold onto the two or three dozen roses in his arms.

"Delivery for Ms. Valentine."

My real name was used. Instantly, my hackles were raised.

I stiffened, taking gasping breaths. "Who are they from?" Maybe my dad? No, it wasn't his style. A tiny trickle of terror tore through me but as soon as I reminded myself Jake was dead, I felt guilty.

"Can I set these down first?"

"Sure." The guy took them to my coffee table, easing them down gently. They were beautiful in shades of red and white. My favorites.

He pulled out some paperwork and shook his head. "Maybe it's on the card, which I'm not allowed to open."

"Let me get you a tip."

"No. I was told explicitly the tip has already been taken care of. I hope you have a nice day."

I walked him to the door, moving onto the small porch as he climbed back into his delivery van. When he pulled out, I glanced around the wooded yard, a chill coursing down my spine. Of course Remington would come bounding out the door, taking off running down the driveway.

"Remington! I don't have shoes on." When I stumbled off the porch, I growled and wondered what squirrel he was chasing this time.

I didn't need to go very far before I found out.

Standing in my driveway by a stunning red sports car was the man of my dreams. He was petting my pup and grinning as if no time had passed.

I folded my arms and walked toward him, giving him a hard onceover. "Why are you here?"

"Because I came to collect what belongs to me." He walked closer, a sly grin on his face.

"I don't belong to you. Besides, you did something evil."

"You're just figuring that out?" Kraven said as he grinned.

"You had something do to with the drive-by shooting of the Withers men. I know you did." As always, I was so drawn to him, more excited than I'd ever been as electricity shot from one to the other.

He shrugged and came closer. "I can neither confirm nor deny."

"You're a bad liar."

He pointed to his chest and laughed. "Who, me?"

"Yeah, you. I should toss you off my property."

"Only you won't do that. Will you?"

I dared to take another step and was almost intoxicated by his amazing aftershave. My pussy was throbbing, my nipples already little pebbles, which I was certain he could see. "It depends. Roses. A hot car. Not a bad looking man. What else do you have to offer?"

"The rest of your life in the lap of luxury. As long as you surrender to me."

"Surrender, huh? I think that's a deal breaker." I adored teasing him, turning and trying to run but within seconds, I was slammed against the heat of his body. As he crushed his mouth over mine, all the fight was ripped from me, the longing returning in full force. I wanted this man, not just in my bed but in my life.

As the kiss became explosive, I was pulled into the most wonderful abyss, allowing him to dominate my tongue in every way. I'd missed his touch, his powerful presence more than I'd realized. I tingled all over just realizing it.

When he finally backed away, he cupped both sides of my face. "You need to hear me, pretty Penny, because I'm only going to say this once. You are mine. Not for just now. Not as the flavor of the week. Forever. I love you, Penny. You rocked my world and I plan on doing so to yours for a very long time. We will find a balance and I want nothing more than to share everything with you."

"Including learning how to grill?" I teased.

"That too."

I acted as if I was debating. "It's a deal."

His smile was larger than I'd seen before, his eyes shimmering with flecks of gold. "Now that your future is settled, there's the issue of you misbehaving."

He tossed me over the hood of the fabulous sports car, immediately ripping down my shorts.

"What do you think you're doing?" I craned my neck, wiggling to try to get out of his hold. In turn, he pulled a switch from God knows where, the piece of wood already prepped with the bark shaved off.

"Reminding you who's in charge. Which you need desperately."

"I did nothing wrong."

He snorted. "You stole money from me and ran away, worrying me half to death."

"Oh, that." As he brought the switch down several times, the pain was unable to destroy the rush of excitement or the need that continued to build.

After another four swats, I was positive I was wrong. The pain brought tears to my eyes and I almost managed to jerk out of his hold.

"Be a good girl or you know what happens."

"Ouch. Ouch. Ouch."

"Spankings are supposed to hurt, you know."

He was having way too much fun with this. He refused to stop and as I allowed the tears to fall, I realized they were my way of letting go of the heartache and anger from the past, ready to accept a new future.

Would there always be danger? Yes, but I'd learned that you could be a good girl and follow all the rules and bad things still happened.

I loved him.

Unconventional yet beautiful.

And I adored being his Red Penny for now and for always.

One week later

Kraven

"Gentlemen," Constantine Thorn stated as he held up his glass of whiskey. "It's time to take a vote."

I stood studying the powerful men inside my secluded bar that had a very private entrance in one of my resorts. It had allowed total seclusion for the meeting, which had been eye-opening. I'd signed the nondisclosure agreement, prepared to do my due diligence in getting up to speed on their rules and what they knew about the Death Squad.

Business would go on as usual, our worlds only aligning if one or the other needed assistance of any kind. I had to admit, having several powerful syndicates watching my back held appeal.

Especially since I had a family to consider.

I stood away from them, making noting of all the men. Constantine had started the Brotherhood with an old friend who'd been murdered, subsequently inviting in Gabriel Giordano from New York, Dante and Diego, Brogan Callahan from Chicago, Maxim Nikitin from South Florida and New Orleans, Phoenix Diamondis and his brother Stavros from Philly, Constantine's brother Daniel, and Sabatino DiMaggio from Baltimore.

Every syndicate was extremely powerful. But together, we would be a force to be reckoned with.

"He belongs with us," Brogan stated.

"Agreed," Phoenix stated, lifting his glass.

One by one they all gave the affirmative. Until Maxim. He was still studying me with a mixture of uncertainty and disdain. But I could tell the others were amused. So I decided to take my new place in the alliance out for a spin. "Kogda muzhchina smotrit, yemu navernyaka yest' chto skryvat'. No v vashem sluchaye ya somnevayus', chto tam voobshche chto-to yest'."

It took a second for Maxim to respond, his eyes opening wide. Then he burst into laughter.

"Yes, he is one of us."

"Then I will prepare the final ceremony. Congratulations," Constantine said as Diego walked in my direction.

"I am curious. What did you say to the mad Russian?"

I took a sip of my drink before answering. "I said when a man stares, he must have something to hide. But in your case, I doubt there's anything there at all."

Diego lifted an eyebrow before grinning, clapping me on the back. "Yep. You belong here, my friend. Welcome to the Brotherhood. May we send the Death Squad to the hell they deserve."

As a knife was brought for the blood initiation, I thought about the events of the past few weeks. Whether or not the secret society was found would not alter our methods of doing business or our way of life.

In truth, if they were anything like me, they'd embraced even more how important family was.

I made a mental toast to the woman who'd changed everything.

My pretty Penny, the woman I loved.

And they said a bad man could never fall in love.

Hogwash.

The End