Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

V adim

To say this night had turned out unexpectedly was an understatement.

I was still reeling from what she'd said regarding the assassination attempt made on my life. I'd long suspected Stefano was behind the shooting but finding proof would allow me to wrap my hand around the man's balls.

And boy, would I enjoy squeezing.

I'd try to take a look at the drive myself but right now, I wanted to get Caroline settled. Spanking her had been unfortunate but necessary. She deserved the harsh punishment and even more for her behavior. What in fuck's sake had she hoped to accomplish? Had she not realized mafia organizations were no longer organizations living in the dark ages?

I led her to the stairs, refusing to allow her to carry the bag herself. A go bag. I wasn't certain if I should feel slightly proud of her. Her father would be horrified, not that I had any love lost with the man. I had no intention of talking to him at this point.

However, she would need to tell her parents eventually.

All that could wait.

The girl had balls. I had to admit that. I flexed my fingers, still feeling the effects of the spanking on my fingertips. I'd enjoyed myself, especially when I'd gathered a whiff of her desire.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

Yeah, I was the kind of man to take what I wanted but she was my daughter's best friend. I had to shove my lurid thoughts aside. They weren't acceptable.

I opened a door, thankful the woman who cleaned my house once a week always insisted on sprucing up the guest room. Maybe the sweet, older lady had been hopeful I'd find someone to bring home.

Like a lost puppy dog.

"Here you go. I'm going to get you something to sleep in. I'll be right back."

I could still feel her heated look as I walked away, heading to my room at the other end of the hall. As soon as I walked in, I turned my head. She had the same pouting look on her face I remembered. But her voluptuous body reflected something else entirely. Oh, I was nothing but a dirty old man, for fuck's sake.

Hissing, I threw open one of my dresser drawers, finding a tee shirt that might work. I was huge in comparison to her small frame but right now, this would need to do. Inside the bag was another pair of jeans, two shirts and some underwear, along with makeup and a laptop. Not enough to keep her here for long unless I sent her shopping.

Right now, she had a target on her back a mile wide.

As I returned, I could tell she wasn't very comfortable but at this point, it was the best I could do. "Here you go. You'll find some toiletries including a new toothbrush in the attached bathroom. One of the women who works for me ensures that there's everything a guest could need. The refrigerator over there has bottled water as well."

She sat down on the side of the bed, her entire body stiff. As she lowered her head, I leaned against the doorjamb.

"They're going to hunt me down, aren't they?" she asked in a pitiful voice. When she lifted her head, her eyes were larger than before. The girl should be scared.

"They will try but I assure you that nothing will happen to you under my protection. You have my word."

She chewed on her bottom lip, which was far too adorable. "I'm sorry."

"At this point, you don't need to apologize to me. However, you do to yourself. This is a mess, but I'll help you work through it."

"Thank you." The little voice remained but I sensed she was stronger than before. Hell, she'd be just fine as long as she followed my rules. My house was a freaking fortress, security cameras and guards positioned everywhere on the sprawling estate.

Fuck. This wasn't a good scenario all the way around no matter how I played it.

"Goodnight, zavetnyy ."

"What does that mean?" she asked before I could close the door.

"It means cherished one. Incidentally, where do you live?"

"Why?"

"Because I'm going to have one of my men check it out to see what's salvageable and if there is any solid evidence as to the men responsible."

"Oh," she said as if fading away. Finally, she rattled off the address.

I was angry all over again. What the fuck was she doing living in that part of Brooklyn? The girl did have a death wish. "Okay. Get some sleep."

When I closed the door, I tried not to issue a roar of rage. There was no sense in scaring her any more than she already had been.

As I jogged down the stairs, I retrieved my phone, dialing Sergei.

"Yeah, boss? The package has been delivered."

"Excellent. I need you to do one more thing. Check an address for me. I think it was tossed. See if you can find anything useful. Take Francois in case you have any issues."

"The girl?"

"The girl." Although in my eyes, she was no longer a girl but a stunning woman. So much so that my cock was twitching. Fuck me.

"I'll see what I can find, boss."

"Call me." I returned to my office, tugging the jump drive into my hand. I had a feeling it was going to be a long night. I might as well get settled in for the long haul. And tomorrow, my beautiful guest and I would spend some quality time together. I had a feeling she hadn't told me everything.

Another drink was in order, another moment to reflect on what had occurred weeks before. My men were right in that since the incident, my interest in being just another target had gone down the sewer. When I was younger, I would have gotten up off the floor after being shot and chased down the perpetrators. Not any longer.

The field I'd been born into was dangerous. That much I'd known since around seven years old, but Jesus Christ, the times I'd been forced to deal with some asshole enemy or been threatened had started grating my nerves even before the shooting had occurred.

As I poured my glass full of whiskey, I first thought about my father, which was rare. Vladimir Chernoff was definitely old school. He'd refused to speak English for years after immigrating to America, which is why I spoke it fluently. However, his more Americanized wife, my amazing mother, had eventually refused to acknowledge anything he'd said in their native language.

She'd won in the end, as women almost always did.

That was the power of feminine wiles.

As I took a gulp of the fine liquor, my thoughts drifted to the late afternoon on the day I'd been shot. I'd done what I could to put the incident out of my mind, especially since the event could have truly been tragic. My daughters had cancelled at the last minute. Thank God for that. I couldn't imagine losing a child.

I'd endured the pain, the weeks of recovery including physical therapy with a smile on my face because of that alone. Meanwhile, rage had bubbled inside of me. Being forced to lead the most powerful Bratva in the country from a fucking hospital bed had damaged my reputation significantly.

And if I had to guess, I'd say Don Marino had been laughing the entire time. We were both men involved in the diamond exchange and after the events, his stock and sales had soared while mine had plummeted.

They were only starting to correct themselves now. But the loss of business had been the tip of the iceberg. Losing traction and respect had been much worse.

My father had nearly gone on a rampage after the shooting, which wouldn't be good for the aging man. Maybe getting out in the wild, as Aleksander liked to say, would be good for me. However, now I had a guest to protect.

What in God's name was I going to do with the lovely, feisty, and bratty Caroline Randall?

Kiss her.

Taste her.

Fuck her.

Own her.

My mind usually didn't go to erotic, seductive places and I chastised myself for that being the case now, especially since my cock remained rock hard. I pulled out the jump drive, licking the rim of the glass as I sat down. Thinking of the woman as anything but my daughter's best friend was blasphemous.

But impossible to ignore.

I'd need to keep an arm's length in dealing with her.

As soon as I shoved the drive in, my phone rang. Expecting Sergei, I answered without looking. "What did you find at her place?"

"Dad?"

I immediately brightened hearing Sofiya's voice. "Hey, baby. Sorry, I was expecting Sergei."

"Another mission in the middle of the night?"

Her lilting laugh could always put me in a better mood no matter the circumstances. She was just like her mother, which was both amazing and gut-wrenching. "Something like that. How's the shopping trip?" She'd wanted a big girl trip for her birthday with Daniella, their Italian destination making me cringe even today. I'd relented after both daughters had begged for two weeks, but only after making a series of rules.

That had included two of my men going with them.

They were my biggest, meanest soldiers, capable of breaking a large man's neck with a single hand. Plus, I knew I could trust them with two sweet and innocent girls in a foreign country. They'd checked in regularly, which had given me comfort on their two plus week vacation.

"It's not just shopping, Dad." I heard Daniella giggling in the background. The two girls might not be biologically connected but that didn't mean they weren't at the hip. When you put Caroline with them, they were like peas in a pod. "It's a cultural experience allowing your daughters to embrace history and art, nature and different people. But yes, the shopping has been grand."

I burst into laughter. They both deserved the trip. They were my princesses but they'd both worked hard in school, making names for themselves. I was very proud of them. "Set to come home next week?"

"That's why I'm calling. I guess there are some issues with the airline we're on. I tried to change the tickets to another one but a no-go. Sadly, we're leaving in a few hours."

"Ah, I'm sorry, honey." I didn't want to tell them that right now I'd be happy to have them home where I could keep them safe.

Or so I liked to think.

I had a very bad feeling things were going to become just as dangerous as before.

"Uh-huh. I know you're smiling," Sofiya said.

"Maybe a tiny bit."

"Anyway, we want to come see you tomorrow maybe if you have time. We have some treats for you."

Anytime was a good time to see my daughters, although there would likely be some awkward moments. I'd need to determine how to explain Caroline's presence so as not to blow the girl's harrowing reality for now. Plus, her whereabouts had to remain a secret until I was ready to strike.

"Just give me a call, little birdie," I said, my nickname for her something she hated.

"You're in a mood. Can't wait to see you."

"Me too, honey." As soon as I ended the call, tossing the phone, I covered my face with my hands. Breathing in was still somewhat difficult, even after weeks of recovery. But as the doctor had reminded me, I was fucking lucky to be alive.

Half laughing, I had a feeling the next few days would be tedious. Might as well get some work done. I shifted to the jump drive, pulling up files. There were at least eight, but every single one was password protected. That didn't mean I wouldn't try to break the passcode.

And I did.

However, within twenty minutes, I realized it was useless. I hired computer experts for this kind of work and paid them handsomely. It would seem my little hacker was more formidable than I'd thought. Maybe I would hire her to be on my team. I chuckled from the thought and sat back, leaning my head against the chair and closing my eyes.

Stefano Marino was a pig by anyone's standards. He was a pompous jerk who believed in the old ways as much as my father did. He was likely still living in the regime of the Cosa Nostra back in Sicily, Italy. I'd forbidden my daughters to go there, keeping them in Milan and the outer fringes.

If what my guest had told me was true, and what she'd heard was a direct link to the shooting, I'd plan the Don's demise carefully. I sensed a presence and tensed.

"I, um. I couldn't sleep."

Hearing Caroline's voice drilled a jolt of current through every muscle and tendon. I slowly lifted my head, opening my eyes. The sight of her in my tee shirt and nothing else, her long legs leading to bare feet was almost too much for me to take. "You should at least try to get some rest."

She walked further inside, obviously shy around me by the way she had her hands clasped together, her arms positioned in front of her.

Nothing made my libido skyrocket like a woman in a man's tee shirt. I did what I could to look away as she dared walk closer. She had no idea she'd entered the lair of a predator. "I was just tossing and turning. I don't sleep well in unknown places."

The funny thing was that over the years she'd slept in either Sofiya's or Daniella's room several times, the girls truly becoming like the three musketeers. They'd been normal teenagers, making popcorn, sending way too many Instagram texts, and watching movies. All while laughing until three in the morning.

And I'd loved every minute of it, some of the few times I could feel like a normal father instead of a heartless monster.

I had no idea what to say to her. I should tell her to leave my office, that I had work to do, but she'd been through a traumatic experience and deserved to be in a little panic mode. "How many men broke into your place?"

She raked her hands through her hair as she closed the distance. "Four. Four huge men."

"Did they say anything?"

As she rounded the edge of my desk, I was more uncomfortable than I'd been before given the close proximity. "Yes, but they were speaking Italian. One guy did say he wouldn't hurt me. That's the one I nailed with my bat."

"Fearless but reckless."

Caroline shrugged. "A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do."

"I'll need to teach you about choosing your battles."

She didn't answer me, instead leaning over and staring at the files. "I told you that you wouldn't be able to get into my system." She was obviously proud of herself. With her fingers flying, she typed in various codes, which took her to three different security screens, almost none of which I was able to decipher.

"There," she said, finally standing back and folding her arms.

Her scent was rocketing through me like wildfire and I shifted in my seat, trying to give us as much distance as possible. I concentrated on the file, noticing how much she'd acquired before being noticed. "How were you discovered?"

"I'm going to guess there was extra security on the financial transactions, even though Joshua had told me the account was almost never touched or paid attention to."

"Joshua?" I lifted my eyebrows as I looked at her.

"My handler."

"Where did you meet this guy?"

Her face flushing, she barely looked down at me. "You can find all kinds of people on the dark web if you know how to look. Everyone has a name, a code, and the way they speak would seem like gibberish to most people, but it's easy to decipher if you know what you're doing."

"And you do."

She gave me a sly grin. "Of course. I'm the best at what I do."

"Even though you were caught." From what I could tell after a few seconds of searching the files, she'd discovered a goldmine with regards to insider information, including about Marino's diamond business. Even his hierarchy had been discovered. That was the issue with keeping everything on the computer. Anyone with skills like the beautiful Caroline could crack it.

"Are you going to throw that in my face?"

"It's just a fact, zavetnyy ."

She ignored my comment, maneuvering to another file within the folder. "Here's the email I found."

As soon as she pulled it up, my blood began to boil. The intention of ending my life was clear, the email all the smoking gun I needed. However, I wasn't going to terrify her any more than she had been by illuminating my plans on killing the man.

When her stomach growled loudly, I was caught off guard and able to laugh. "You're hungry."

The way she shrugged was so nonchalant, but I could tell by the instant sparkle in her eyes I needed to feed her. "I could eat."

"When was the last time you did?"

"I dunno. A couple days?"

"What? Come on, let me make you something." She barely backed away as I stood, which forced me to brush against her. I'd be damned if the look she gave me wasn't carnal.

Shit.

Ignoring my needs would likely become even more difficult than keeping patient before putting a bullet in Marino's brain. She trailed behind me into the kitchen, shifting against the island and watching me.

"Let's see. What can I make you? An omelet? Chicken fingers?"

She was already giggling, which was unnerving on so many levels.

"What is it?"

After rolling her eyes, she moved to the refrigerator, throwing both doors open. "Forgive me, Mr. C, but you're a terrible cook."

"I am not." I was too, horrible. Having a chef wasn't just a luxury but a necessity if I didn't want to eat out all the time.

She slowly turned her head and pulled out something from inside. "Um, do you remember the pizza you tried to reheat for us girls?"

"Vaguely."

"You almost burned down the house. The fire department had to be called. Do you have any peanut butter and bread? I adore this jam and would love a PB&J."

"A what?"

"Peanut butter and jelly sammie? Duh."

Chuckling, I moved to one of the pantries where it took me a full minute to find the jar of Peter Pan. I yanked the bread from the counter, grateful my brilliant chef ensured I had a little of everything stocked.

She was obviously delighted, her smile bright. She knew exactly where everything was, easily grabbing a plate. "Do you want one?"

I had to shake my head. "Not this go-around."

"You're missing out. There is nothing better than a late night PB&J."

"I'll take your word for it." Watching her was like studying the actions of an angel. While some of her actions were a reminder of the times spent with my daughters, everything else was all woman.

She seemed thoughtful as she prepared her sandwich, doing everything meticulously, something she'd always done. I'd had a feeling for as long as I'd known her that her father was a harsh taskmaster. When she was finished, she grabbed a napkin and stood against the counter to eat.

"Do you want to sit down at the table?" I asked.

"Not really. Do you know what I'd like?"

I found myself inching closer against my better judgment. "Why don't you tell me."

"To sit on the sofa and watch some stupid show on television. I don't even care what it is."

"You don't own a television?"

She took a bite and shook her head. "I never got around to it. But I love movies and just being mindless for a little while. You know?"

Very little had allowed me to feel mindless. That wasn't in my best interest.

"Then grab something to drink and let's go."

"Really?" Her eyes could light up an entire building. It was as if I'd just given her a significant gift.

"Really."

It was funny that I almost never used the family room. I had no time for watching shows or movies, or maybe I was just never entertained. But as she flopped down on the couch, curling her long legs under her, I sensed this might be something I finally allowed myself to enjoy.

I handed her the remote, fascinated as she sped through channels, surfing like a pro. When she found something she wanted to watch, she settled in even more, chomping down on her sandwich.

While I couldn't care less about what was on the screen, it was interesting how relaxed I felt. Especially given the circumstances. Within seconds, she was chuckling at whatever the actors were doing.

I had no idea how much time had passed, but at least she was content, the quiet we shared not unusual. I honestly had no clue what to say to her at this point. She did need her rest. Rules would be put into place in the morning, but for now, she deserved to feel protected.

When my phone rang, I snarled from the interruption. "I'll be right back." I moved into the hallway before taking the call. This time, it was Sergei. "How bad was it?"

"Her place was destroyed. All the computers were smashed. They even cut up her couch. They were looking for something. Francois found blood in the parking lot."

"Yeah, a jump drive that she brought with her. Any sign of the fuckers?" She really had nailed one of the bastards with the bat.

Sergei snorted. "Like I said, just blood. The small parking lot had a trail leading to nowhere but no sign of them."

"Okay, well, go home. We'll talk further in the morning."

"Good deal, boss. Have a good night."

Yeah, I was trying. I held the phone in my hand for a full twenty seconds. Either Marino was worried that she'd found out about the email regarding the assassination or there was something on the drive that was more important than either one of us believed.

I was choosing the latter given assassinations were commonplace in my world. It wasn't enough of a reason to warrant destroying a girl's apartment.

After shoving the phone into my pocket, I returned to the family room. "I'm sorry, Caroline. Your place was trashed." When I looked up, I had to laugh.

She was fast asleep, the empty plate dangling from her hand. Sighing, I walked in, staring down at her. Yeah, this was awkward as fuck. I shouldn't be having the kind of feelings I was.

I took the plate from her hand, placing it on the table before gathering her into my arms. As I cradled her against my chest, she briefly opened her eyes, offering a salacious smile.

"Did anyone ever tell you that you are handsome?" she asked, although her voice was more like she was purring.

My cock was now at full attention. "Sleep, krasivaya devushka . Sleep. You're safe now."

She was a beautiful girl, too much so.

"I'm not tired." Yet her eyes were getting heavy.

"Just relax." I was surprised that she was falling asleep in my arms. It was also disturbing how comfortable she was around me.

As I carried her back to the room, she shifted closer to my chest, placing her hand across my heart. I did what I could to ignore not only her but my rabid feelings, throwing back the covers even more and nestling her inside. After tucking her in, I reacted as I'd done with my daughters dozens of times. I leaned over, kissing her cheek.

But she involuntarily shifted again, which forced our lips to touch.

Shit. The taste of her was paralyzing, the strawberry jam that had always been her favorite tingling my senses.

Very few things in my life startled me. This was definitely one of them. I backed away, but not before allowing the kiss to linger. I even found myself standing in the doorway for far too long, glancing over my shoulder more than once before turning out the light.

"Goodnight, sweet Caroline."

Goodnight…