Chapter 28 - Jenna

I really didn't understand how scared I was until Lev walked through the door. He was alive, but covered in bruises. His eye was going to be black and blue, his jaw was swelling, and there was so much blood on his shirt I nearly passed out.

Then, my mind went blank with unexplainable anger. He dared to grin at me and say it was nothing after I'd been making myself dizzy, pacing back and forth, when I wasn't crying my eyes out. It had all become too much and seeing him swaggering in like that was the final straw.

Yes, I'd probably been trying to hurt him when I was cleaning up his cuts and bruises. Because I didn't believe him for a second that everything was fine. He had promised to answer my questions truthfully, but how could someone come home looking like he did and be so completely calm? To the point, he was treating it like a joke.

It was not because I cared about him. No matter that the easiest way to get out of this marriage was if I was widowed out of it. That was the last thing I wanted. Because there was no justice in that. It was better that he ended up in jail, where he could brawl to his heart's content. Once again, my thoughts and feelings were in such a jumble that I didn't think I could have told someone my own name. I just had to make sure Lev was all right.

So I could get my revenge.

That's what I'd keep telling myself, anyway. When he finally assured me with clear, honest eyes that everything was all right and I didn't need to worry, I believed him and was able to breathe again. Concentrate and think straight? Not so much. Because the next thing I knew, he was kissing me.

It was probably meant to be reassuring, nothing more, but I was so far off the Lev diet that my body instinctively leaned closer to him. The kiss grew deeper, and his hands moved lower to cup my backside and tug me right up against the swelling bulge in his pants.

His skin was hot, burning me up so I felt like I had on too many clothes, even though I just wore shorts and a t-shirt. I tightened my grasp on him, leaning my head back further so his tongue could dance against mine, then driving me crazy by trailing kisses down the side of my neck.

I dug my fingers into the stiff muscles in his back, and he backed me up until I bumped against the counter. The alcohol bottle tumbled into the sink, filling the air behind us with its sharp scent but soon dissipating. A moment later, he lifted me with strong hands so I could sit on the edge of the counter, the cold granite chilling the backs of my thighs.

Nudging my legs apart, he stepped between them, and I grappled at the zipper on his jeans. It wasn't common to see him dressed so casually, but the way they formed to his muscular legs had me panting as I looked down at him.

"Get them off," I moaned.

"Yours or mine?" he said with the sound of laughter in his voice.

"Both."

His hand was already sliding up the inside of my leg, his fingers stroking beneath the edge of my shorts. I got his jeans open and eagerly shoved them down his hips, then gripped his thick rod in my hand. He made a wild sound against my throat, pushing his fingers under my panties to sink into my wet heat.

"I love that you worry about me," he said, finding my most sensitive spot. "But I hate it, too. I hate that I made you cry, my little one."

There was a flash of remembered misery, and I gave him a short, sharp push. Not strong enough to move him an inch, but it got that bit of aggression out. "I hate it too," I pouted.

He caught my lower lip between his teeth, nipping gently before he had me trapped in a searing kiss. I melted back against the mirror, and he yanked my shorts and panties off.

"Make it all better," I whispered. "Please."

His hand slid down my belly to rest against my pussy, his fingers tantalizing my slippery folds. I made a low noise in my throat, arching my back to push my body closer to him. He looked down at where his fingers moved inside me, his eyes as dark as midnight skies. They slowly searched up my body, his lip curling in a wicked smile.

"I need to see every inch of my beautiful girl," he said.

I twisted out of my top and threw it behind him. As soon as my breasts were free, he dipped his head to capture each nipple in his mouth, sucking and licking until they were tight peaks, and I was writhing on the countertop.

Dragging me close, his free hand holding me tight, I wrapped my legs around him so that that big, throbbing cock of his was clamped against my wet heat. I rubbed up and down as I held on around his neck, breathlessly pleading for him to take me.

"Hurry, hurry," I said, nipping his earlobe.

He kept rubbing, up and down, his breath quick and hot against my hair. He grabbed a handful and pulled my head back to kiss me, growling deep in his throat as he drove us both slowly insane.

It was only when I came against his shaft, burying my face in his shoulder as he drove me on, that he finally relented and pushed deep inside me. Where he belonged. I shouted at the ceiling, collapsing back against the mirror like a rag doll before he pulled me close.

Tucking me up against his body, he bounced me on his hard cock, alternating looking at our reflection in the mirror and at me.

"You're so damn beautiful," he gasped. "I love fucking you, and I love watching your body move against mine."

He twisted so I could see, and I ducked, embarrassed for a moment. Then I was too curious, wanting to see what he was doing to me. It only added to the frenzy of need that was rebuilding, along with his heated whispers. With one hand clamped around my back to keep me steady as he pounded into me, his other hand roamed down my ass, his fingers dipping to toy with me from behind.

"Look at how well my little girl takes every inch," he said. "And Christ, look at those perfect little tits of yours bounce."

My skin burned under his praise, my body getting even hotter as I took in the sight he described. It felt amazing. Not just what he was doing to me, which was as masterful as usual, but almost being worshiped as he did.

"I've got to come inside you," he said, desperate now. "I want to feel your tight little pussy spasm. Come for me now, Jenna."

His voice alone would have had me obeying his command, but when his fingers found my swollen clit, I was wracked with the orgasm he'd ordered me to have. That he kept giving me, even as I could barely hold onto him anymore.

I felt him shoot his seed deep inside me, and I sank my teeth into his shoulder, holding on with what was left of my strength until he was spent. Settling me down on the counter again, he rested his forehead against the mirror next to me, his breathing as ragged as mine, his heart hammering in his chest loud enough to hear.

With one deep breath, he lifted me, cradling me against him to carry me out of the bathroom. We fell onto the bed in a tangle, lying there with our faces inches apart. Even with my eyes closed, I could see him perfectly. The memory of his face, as he roared out his pleasure, would be imprinted on my memory for a long time, as well as the sweet, caring look he'd given me right before I let my eyelids drift shut.

It was a while before he moved to pull the covers out from under us, then we were snuggled together under the crisp, cool sheets. Instead of being tired, I was reinvigorated, ready to go again as soon as he was.

Then, my brain kicked in a few minutes later. I tried to push away the anxiety that had gnawed at me all morning and into the afternoon, but it was relentless. And since my brain was determined to go into overdrive, it was easier to think about where Lev might have been all that time, and who he was fighting with, than all the other things that were tormenting me.

Scooting back to see him better, I propped the pillows up behind my head and looked at him until he opened his eyes. He started to smile, lazy and slow, but I had to go and open my mouth.

"What really happened today?" I asked. "You said you'd tell me whatever I wanted to know."

He groaned. "I had a feeling you wouldn't forget that or that I'd end up regretting it."

He was trying to joke around but I wasn't having it. Not even a trace of a smile crossed my face. "So it was really bad, and you think I shouldn't know," I accused.

Giving up under my onslaught, he propped the pillows up on his side so we'd be eye to eye. Good, easier to read him that way.

"It's not so much that you shouldn't know, but that I didn't think you'd want to," he said, holding up his hands so I could see the backs of them.

It wasn't like I'd never seen his knuckles unscathed. He liked to punch things for exercise, for goodness' sake. But this time, they were worse than usual, with deeper cuts from where his fists had landed against bone and teeth instead of the equipment in his gym.

"So what if I do want to know?" I pushed.

He shook his head. "It's better if you just forget it. I already have."

I could see in his eyes that he hadn't forgotten it, though. His wheels were turning beneath the blue depths, and combined with what Katie had shared with me earlier, it was apparent that whatever happened today wasn't over. It was also obvious that he was done talking about it.

Deciding not to bring up what I knew from Katie, or press the issue anymore, I stretched and got out from under the sheets. His disappointed look made me waver, but I was disappointed, too. Did he not trust me, or was he trying to keep me from having nightmares? What he wasn't doing was answer my questions.

"Well, now that I'm not worried anymore, and don't have any reason to be, I guess I better get back to studying."

He made a face at my pointed tone, but only said he'd get a little rest and then order us something for dinner. I told him that sounded good as I wrapped myself up in my robe. With a smile I hoped looked natural, I headed to my study, where I closed myself in to pace back and forth. It was like our little reunion never happened, and I was back in the same spot and just as confused.

I was a lot more relaxed, though, and after a bit of pacing, my head had cleared enough to have a few coherent thoughts.

I was in the middle of this life, no matter what. I could either embrace it or get out completely. Getting out meant going through with my plan. It also meant cutting all ties with Katie. Not just financially, but no more visits, no more long talks on the phone, no more holidays. I might never meet my niece. If I went ahead with my plan to destroy Lev, the truth about us would have to come out, and she'd want nothing to do with me anyway for messing with her new family.

The thought of losing my sister forever was too much to bear, and I headed back to the bedroom, no closer to a decision than before. I was exhausted and didn't care about dinner. If Lev was still napping, I'd crawl quietly into bed beside him and fall asleep to the soothing sound of his deep breathing. Any big decisions would have to wait a little longer.

The bedroom door was shut, but I heard his voice through it, so I knew he was awake. Instead of turning around and waiting until he was done, I saw a chance to snoop and pressed my ear to the door. The guilt started to gnaw at me again, but I ignored it and kept eavesdropping. There was always a chance that the next thing I learned might help me make the most important decision of my life.

Embrace being a Bratva wife or get out?

"We're going to need to make an example out of him," Lev said, his voice so cold it made me wrap my arms around myself. Thankfully, he'd never aimed such a tone at me, and I pitied the person he was talking to. And about. "I've been patient too long," he continued. "If he won't talk, he's useless, so get rid of him."

Biting down on my lip to keep from gasping out loud, I raced back to my study, covered in icy goosebumps. I turned the little lock in the fancy brass handle; impossible to keep anyone out if they were determined to get in, and the futile act didn't make me feel any better.

Did Lev just order a murder?

I couldn't stand still, but my heart was about to come out of my throat, and I had to sit down as dizziness swept over me.

Did I actually just overhear the man I was married to order someone's murder?

I wanted to slap myself for being so naive. Of course, he did, and it most likely wasn't the first time. Leaning over the edge of my pretty blue armchair, I put my head between my knees to keep from being sick.

This was the life Katie had chosen. My older sister, who was always the best example I ever could have asked for, had happily accepted this way of life.

And I was no better. It was only half an hour ago that I rolled out of Lev's bed, and I loved every minute I'd been in it with him. I was so eager to put off making a decision that I would slink back into it with him, hoping he'd take my mind off these silly little problems all over again. Right into the arms of a killer.

Enough was enough.

It was getting late, but this was important. I found my phone on the desk and messaged the councilman, my hands shaking as I tapped out my simple question.

Do you still want to work together?

Frozen in place, I sat there staring at the phone until a reply pinged a few minutes later.

Find a way to meet me. I have a plan.