Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ollie

"Nothing. He's vanished off the face of the earth," Aleks says.

I shake my head. He should know better. Enemies don't just vanish into thin air. They hide, waiting to strike. We're not the kind of people with luck like that. We're the kind of people who make good fortune, not fall into it.

I'll have my revenge when I see Carlos Carerra's lifeless body buried six feet under.

"He had contacts, Ollie. Associates. And the buzz from all of them is that he's gone completely dark."

I shake my head and look through the sliver of an open door where Renata's taking a shower. I can hear her beautiful, resonant voice as she sings. From here, I catch a glimpse of her curves, her head tilted back, hair cascading like dark silk. Every inch of her pulls me closer. I'm hard as a fucking rock.

I try to focus, but she's everywhere—her scent, her voice, her goddamn addictive body—making it impossible to think straight.

"…and they said when he does, they'll let me know."

I rub my forehead with my fingers and concentrate. "When he does what?"

Aleks pauses. "Did you miss that whole thing? Jesus. I've never in my entire life seen you not pay attention or lose focus. All it took was a woman, huh?"

"Shut up," I growl.

"No," he retorts, not bothering to hide his glee. "You're whipped. You, Ollie Romanov, the original stoic himself on record for saying he'd never let a woman lead him around by his balls, who turned his nose up at all of us when we got married, have gone and done it."

"No, I haven't. Shut the fuck up."

"Ollie?" I turn to see Renata standing in the doorway, wrapped in nothing but a tiny towel, her skin glistening with water, the towel just above the vee between her thighs. I'm tempted to take her, right here.

I swallow hard and reach out to her wordlessly. I love the way she fits in my arms, nestling right in like she was created to be here.

"…and that's all I know."

I kiss Renata's forehead and swallow my damn pride because, for once, Aleks is right.

I am whipped.

Fucking hell.

"Say that again. Renata needed me."

I clench my jaw and ignore his whoop on the other line. Self-satisfied prick.

"Are you listening this time? Or has your wife turned your head again?"

Turned my head. She's turned my whole fucking self—mind, body, and soul—toward her. I hold her to me and press my finger to her lips. This is important. I need to hear.

Her tongue flicks against my finger, and my control snaps, desire roaring to life.

Aleks talks to me as if I'm five years old. "Carlos Carerra. The bad guy. Remember him? He's got a dirty cop he confides in. Lucky for us, Carlos fucked over said cop, who's now chomping at the bit to screw him over. When he contacts him, we'll know. Did you get that, or do I need to repeat it?"

"Fuck you. I got it. Keep me in the loop."

I hang the phone up to the sound of his chuckle and throw it on the bed.

Renata's hair hangs about her face in untamed waves, droplets pinging her beautiful dark skin. I bend and lick them off her, one by one.

"I decided on a name for the puppy," she says cheerfully.

I stifle a groan. "I don't give a fuck about the puppy."

"Ollie," Renata says with a strained giggle. "We can't just call him puppy. "

"Why not?" I kiss the underside of her jaw and tug the towel free. She places both hands on my shoulders to brace herself and folds herself into my embrace.

"Because he needs a name," she says staunchly. "And I have one. Also, when do I get him back from Polina?"

I look at the time on my watch. "You'll see him in a bit, but we're traveling today, and I don't want to take him with us until he's well-trained."

"Aww, Ollie." She pouts, and I almost cave.

"Your safety's more important right now. We'll come back, and soon, but until then, I've got a trainer working with him." I kiss her cheek. "What's his name?"

She pulls back a little to hold my gaze. "Arthur!" she proclaims with a note of triumph in her voice.

"Arthur," I repeat, rolling it over in my mind. "That's nerdy as fuck. Why Arthur?"

I hold her in front of me, her bare, still-damp body leaning back so she can have this very serious conversation.

" You know. Like King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table? The name carries a sense of nobility and strength. He was just a boy who came from humble beginnings but became a great leader. It's a strong, regal name, and that puppy is destined for greatness. "

Just a boy who came from humble beginnings…

I lean forward and kiss her. "I love it. It's perfect."

She tips her head to the side. My cock presses against her naked body, and I want her… right here, right now.

"What is it?" she asks. When she concentrates, she gets this adorable little furrow between her brows.

I shrug. I don't always like talking.

"You can't always revert to silence, Ollie."

"Why not? It's served me well. It keeps people thinking." I kiss her again, deeper this time, tasting her, claiming her with every stroke of my tongue.

"Don't distract me with sex," she groans out.

"I will absolutely distract you with sex."

"But we don't have time."

"Time? Who's keeping track of time?"

" Me ," she responds. "Isabella said I should join the girls for self-defense classes today, and I want to."

This time, I don't respond because I'm warring between what I want and what she wants. This is new to me, thinking about another person. I'm black and white, as predictable as the sunrise, and I want to keep her trust.

"I want to be the one who teaches you."

I kiss her again. With her wet hair in my fingers, I tangle and tug until her mouth parts further. I bite her lip and taste mint.

We pull away. "Ollie," she says gently. "I need to make peace with Isabella. It's the only way we can truly unite this family. You and I both know how much better off our family will be if we're allies, not enemies."

I think it over while I kiss the soft fullness of each breast, one at a time. "True."

There's a sharp knock at the door. I adjust my cock and nod toward the bathroom. "Get your robe on. That will be Polina with… Arthur. How about King Arthur? I like that."

"Ooooh," she says. I let her go with reluctance. "King Arthur is perfect."

The door shuts with a click. Half a minute later, I've got a wriggling, squirming, way over excited puppy licking my face.

Khristos.

Polina covers her mouth with her hand and giggles. "He likes you."

I grunt and hold the pup in front of me. "Listen up, King Arthur. You're not allowed in here until you know where to do your business. You'll learn to obey, and soon." I take him by the scruff of the neck and give him a little shake. "Understand?"

He predictably licks my hand.

"You clearly instilled the fear of God in him," Renata says approvingly behind me.

"Morning, sunshine," Polina says. "Are you joining us for practice?"

Renata looks at me, and I give her a reluctant nod. "This one time, and only because of what you said you needed to do."

She grins at me and takes off the robe, revealing workout clothes underneath. I was totally played. I narrow my eyes at her but can't resist that shit-eating grin she gives me.

"You and King Arthur can bond, and I'll be back in a bit," she says, heading for the door.

"We'll join you." Polina snaps a leash on the pup and pats his fuzzy little head. I put him on the floor, and he trots beside us with an almost majestic air as if he knows he's been crowned royalty.

I hold his leash firmly by my side. "Heel, boy." When he gives me a lopsided grin, I frown at him. "Behave. This is not fun and games. You are supposed to be protecting her." I point to Renata. "You get that?"

He wriggles his little butt and barks, though it sounds a little more like a squeak than anything.

We've got some work to do.

When we reach the training room, Isabella stands in front of the girls wearing a tight tube top and workout shorts. She's starting to show and isn't afraid to flaunt it.

When Isabella married Lev, she said the women in our family needed self-defense classes. She wasn't wrong. We're a newer group, under new leadership, with my brother taking the reins in the wake of my father's death. We've focused our energies on protecting our family and putting down solid roots. Teaching the women self-defense was not a priority, but it has been helpful.

Renata hangs back. It's unlike her to be shy.

"Go on," I urge her. When she gives me a quick glance, I reassure her. "You belong there, Renata. Go." I give her a hint of a nudge in that direction.

She takes a deep breath, steadying herself as she faces the mirror in the training room. Isabella knows she's there but, at first, doesn't acknowledge her.

The afternoon sun filters through the high windows, casting a warm glow on the exercise mats spread across the floor. I stand in the doorway with the pup, who's fallen asleep against my foot, snoring softly. I lean back farther so I can watch in quiet, folding my arms across my chest. Watching.

I want her fully capable of defending herself, but she's right—she and Isabella need this. Their combined forces will be so much more powerful. Renata adjusts her stance, mirroring Isabella's actions.

"Relax your shoulders," Isabella snaps. "You're too tense."

Renata exhales, following her advice.

"Not like that." Isabella's voice is sharper now, and I can see Renata stiffen from here.

"Like this?" Renata adjusts again, but it's evident she's frustrated.

Isabella steps closer, her eyes hard on Renata as the other women here—Aleksandr's Harper, Mikhail's Aria, and Polina—continue the drill. "You have to be precise. Control your breathing. Don't just follow my movements like a robot. Understand them. Make them yours. "

Renata's face flushes. I know her well enough to know she's fighting both embarrassment and anger. "I'm trying, Isabella."

"Try harder," Isabella retorts, her tone unyielding. "Do you think an enemy will wait for you to get it right? You think half-assing it will cut it?"

Renata's fists clench. "Of course not. I'm not stupid."

"Then show me!" Isabella's voice rises as she shoves Renata's shoulder. "Prove it!"

I clench my own fists but hold myself back.

Something snaps in Renata. "Enough!" she yells. "I'm not half-assing anything." She shoves Isabella back with a force that seems to surprise them both.

For a moment, they stand still, staring at each other before they both spring into action. There's precision in Renata's strikes, a power that catches Isabella off guard. She's forced to defend herself vigorously.

"There you go," she says with reluctant pride as they continue to spar. "That's it, Renata. You're fierce. I know where you come from. I know who you are. Fucking prove it ."

They move as one, sparring, blow after blow, following until Isabella calls for a halt, her palm in the air. Both of the women are heaving from the exhaustion, their hair wild and untamed. Renata's clings to her damp neck.

"Better," Isabella says. "Control your emotions when you fight. Anger can be powerful, but it can be your downfall if you don't pace yourself."

Renata nods, more subdued. "I get it."

"You're getting the hang of this."

"Thanks," Renata says softly. "It's been a while since I've felt this… powerful."

Isabella's expression softens. She lays an absentminded hand on the gentle swell of her belly. "You've always been powerful. Capable. Strong. You need to remember not to bow under the weight of adversity. Lean into it. Make its energy your own."

Renata stares at her friend. "Thank you. I'll remember that."

Isabella holds Renata's gaze for a long moment and finally nods.

"You did well. I'm proud of you." She turns away and helps Polina with her stance.

I beckon to Renata. "Come here."

She gives one last look toward Isabella, who turns and nods, dismissing her. They're moving forward.

When Renata reaches for me, I place a gentle finger under her chin, capturing her gaze with mine. "I allowed that because you two needed to reconnect. But from now on? I'm the one who teaches you self-defense. I wanted you to make your peace, but I'm a jealous man, Renata. I don't share. What's mine stays mine, and no one else gets a claim on you."

Her eyes twinkle mischievously, but she only nods.

"Say goodbye to King Arthur for a bit. We're going out."

"Out where?"

I blow out a breath and look around me, half expecting the motherfucker to materialize out of thin air.

"Away from here. I want to test a theory."

Turning to face her, I pull her closer to me.

"What theory is that?"

"That he's watching. Waiting. If I can…" I reach for the back of her head and cup her to me. "I'll draw him out, like a poison that needs to be purged. I won't stop until he's eliminated, once and for all."

My lips meet hers. I remain alert but can feel her sinking into me when I pull her closer to me and tip her head back, one hand at the back of her neck, the other cupping her perfect round ass.

Carlos who?

When we pull away, she's breathing heavily. I hold her to me protectively with one arm, and with the other, I flip the bird to the wide open air around us. Carlos Carerra can kiss my ass.

"Well then." She gives me a curious look. "Just in case?"

"Just in case." I take her hand and lead her to a car that waits, purring, at the curb. "Let's go, Renata."

I've lived like a nomad for years. Once Carlos is buried, we'll put down roots and settle down with King Arthur, preferably in a place that has a farmers' market and a change of seasons. I don't really care where, as long as she's with me.

I want to give her everything she needs, and it begins right here. Right now. We're putting everything behind us and forging on.

She goes with me without protest.

Maybe it's because she finally worked things out with Bella. Or perhaps she feels what I do, that whisper of promise and a hope of good things to come.

I feel lighter than I have in years. Hopeful. Renata is mine, and the world is our oyster.

If only… if only it could last.