Chapter Four

Piston

A couple of things went through my mind as I looked down into the upturned face of a woman who could be the deadliest female in the world. First was the fact that she hadn't already cut off my dick for kissing her. Some might scoff, but, personally, I called it progress. Second, she actually did look like an angry little Strawberry Shortcake.

Her expression was as disgruntled as it got, but I absolutely could not stop my lips from twitching. When that expression abruptly changed to something altogether lethal, my cock got impossibly harder. Instead of grabbing her hands to keep her from stabbing me with those dagger-like nails of hers, or shoving away from her, or any number of safe, sane, and cunningly clever things, I simply gripped her hips and pulled her more firmly against me. Let her feel exactly what she did to me. If she still wanted to disembowel me, I'd take it like a man.

"If that name repeated outside this room, I'll know where it came from."

"It's only for the two of us." I grinned down at her. "Shortcake." To my surprise, Venus gave me an annoyed look, but her lips turned up just the same. It was only a half smile, but it melted my heart. I'd known she was a remarkable woman all those years ago, but never truly appreciated her worth until I got close to her. "You're still irritated, but I'll take it."

"More than irritated." She chuckled, but the initial mirth was wearing off and her anger was poking through the surface. She muttered, "Cannot afford this."

"Can't afford what?"

"Nothing." She stepped away from me slowly, as if waiting for me to pounce on her. "You should leave. I'm tired."

I raised an eyebrow but gave her a slow nod. Then I narrowed my gaze on hers. "If you try to leave without me, I'll know it."

"No doubt you have spies all over compound."

I didn't even bother to deny it. "Yep. Keep that in mind when you're sneakin' out."

"You might think you know me, Piston. You do not."

"Oh, I know more about you than you might think. You and I aren't so different."

"El Diablo said much the same thing," she muttered. "Look. If you want to scratch itch, I suggest you find club whore. I've got too much on plate as is to fuck with you, Piston."

"If you're tryin' to piss me off so I'll leave, you're goin' about it the wrong way." I gave her a steady look, doing my best to keep a rein on my temper. She was trying to get to me. Even though it was working, I didn't want her to realize it. She'd push until something snapped.

Venus sighed, running a hand through her hair, clearly frustrated yet battling some inner turmoil that kept her rooted in place instead of throwing me out. The shadows played across her face, highlighting the sharp contours.

"Too damn stubborn for your own good."

She turned away, her shoulders rigid. The taut line of her back spoke of battles fought and scars hidden beneath layers of both leather and spirit. "And what would be right way?" she asked, her voice cold as the steel of the knives she favored. "You know. To piss you off."

I studied her for a moment longer, understanding that every word, every breath between us was a step on a minefield that could either blow us apart or bind us closer. "Do you really want to piss me off bad enough for me to leave you? Be honest. If not with me, at least be honest with yourself."

She scoffed, turning to look over her shoulder with a glare that should have killed me. Just made my cock all the harder. "I have no idea what you are talking about," she snapped. "I don't particularly care if you're pissed off or not. You go your way. I go mine. Problem solved."

"Like bloody hell," I muttered under my breath. "Like it or not, Venus, you're stuck with me. You can leave. You can go whatever way you want. But I'll always be close." With that, I made a strategic retreat, leaving her to her thoughts.

She'd run. Likely tonight, if the children didn't delay her. I knew enough to know if they waylaid her, she'd never disappoint them by taking off immediately unless it was an emergency. I wasn't worried, though. She could disappear when she wanted, but I'd been following her for most of her life. Watching over her. Protecting her.

Falling in love with her.

I took a deep breath in and held it. Letting it out slowly, I did my best to center myself. Venus was the only person in my life who could shake my control. I'd die for my brothers in Grim, but I was always in control. The mere thought of Venus in danger or even remotely at risk was enough to send me into a killing rage. Always had been from the moment I saw her. I tried to keep my distance, to do what I'd been ordered and nothing more, but I couldn't. Not then and certainly not now.

I headed back to the common room and down the hall to Sting's office. I needed some time with him and Wylde. Zaitsev was not getting away. If Venus wanted him to die, he was already dead. He just didn't know it yet.

"Any luck?" I queried as I stepped into Sting's office. The other man sat with his booted feet propped on the desk with his fingers laced together over his stomach.

"Wylde's been at it since he realized Zaitsev was on the move again. Said he's got a decent idea where he's headed but needs a few more hours to be certain."

"Will it be somewhere he stays put? I don't want to go on a wild goose chase."

"Yeah. That's why Wylde wants more time. He says he and your guys at Grim Road think they've found all his safe houses. Once they're sure, Wylde said they could force him to one of them and lock him down. Then you and Venus can take out the trash."

I liked this plan.

"You know, she's just as likely to kill you as she is to let you help her kill Victor Zaitsev."

I grinned at the thought. "Oh, yeah. She's gonna fight me, but honestly, Sting, that's half the fun."

Sting chuckled. "You're one sick bastard."

I shrugged. "Can't deny that. Guess I like the adrenaline rush."

"Yeah? Let me know how you like it when that rush gets you killed." It was more an amused comment than anything else. Sting knew me well enough to know that, if I'd decided I wanted Venus, I'd never give her up. She might not accept me now, but we were further along than I expected at this stage. Granted, I had moved at a glacier's speed up until now, so even though it probably seemed fast for her, for me it had been literally a decade in the making. Something I needed to remember as I navigated the minefield that was Venus's heart.

Sting's gaze shifted slightly, the levity fading from his eyes, the gravity of our situation not lost on either of us. "Be careful, man. This isn't just about whatever game you're playing with Venus. Zaitsev is dangerous, and not just to her. He's a threat to everything she holds dear. Wylde found out that much about him. Seemed it was very difficult to get what he did. At first, anyway. He said he thought there might have been some kind of outside interference helping him find information about the guy, but he wouldn't say who or what he suspected."

I nodded, the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. "I'm not underestimating Zaitsev. I know what he's capable of. I watched him sell Venus to the state when she was a girl so he could have some pull inside. He didn't know it at the time, but the FSB knew exactly what he wanted to do. It was a major reason her handlers in the FSB sent her for the kind of training they put her through. Not only did they see her potential, but it made Zaitsev easier to control. All they had to do was make him think Venus was feeding him whatever intel he wanted. Then they controlled the narrative."

"I take it the man has enough money and/or power to make him a threat to the state?"

I shrugged. "Hard to say. I think he's simply an oligarch with more political sway than someone was comfortable with. Likely because of how he makes his money."

"Selling skin." Sting stroked his beard a couple of times.

"Yep. Could be they wanted to make sure he kept his business dealings private, if you know what I mean."

Sting nodded. "Someone wanted a warning in case he decided to name names. That way, they had time to kill him before he embarrassed anyone enough to make waves."

"Most likely. Though I suspect it had more to do with people outside of the country. People whose political and social standing in Europe and America could affect how the rest of the world treated their country's leaders."

"Yeah. I could see how that could be a problem. And why some might want rid of him."

"Can't get rid of him. Not if they want to keep the money and the goods rolling in. Zaitsev is complete scum, but he has several powerful men protecting him for various reasons. None of them good." I stood and groaned as I straightened.

"Gettin' stiff, old man?" Sting smirked at me, and I scowled.

"Ain't too old to beat your ass for the young whippersnapper you are."

Sting burst out laughing and I chuckled with him. "Stay here as long as you like, Piston. We'll protect you and Venus if necessary. She might as well be one of mine. Lord knows if she asked to patch in, I'd never tell her no. Tzars don't usually patch women, but for Venus, I'd make an exception and dare anyone to go against me."

"I'll remember that. Might take you up on it."

"Do me a favor, will you?" Sting stood then, moving around his desk.

"Name it."

"When you find him next time, kill the bastard. Fuckers like him don't deserve to live."

"We'll get him, and we'll make sure it's permanent."

With those words hanging between us, I left Sting's office for my own room in the compound, located conveniently next to Venus's. Something Sting said during our conversation was bugging me and I needed to put it to rest. Wylde told him Sting he thought there had been someone helping him get what he needed on Zaitsev. I had the feeling I knew who that help was.

Taking out a satellite phone, I sent a message to the only contact in the phone.

Me: Victor Zaitsev. You helping with the intel ?

It was a couple minutes before there was a reply.

Giovanni Romano: Yes. Venus ?

Me: With me at Tzars .

Giovanni Romano: She's a big girl .

Me: You're a big ass .

Giovanni, the bastard, got a kick out of knowing Venus was the woman I'd chosen for myself. He said my infatuation with her was the reason he decided he never wanted a woman of his own. He said he was content watching Alexi and Azriel dance around their women and to load up their kids with pixie sticks before sending them home. I didn't point out Alexi and Azriel's kids were adults now. Mainly because that would have reminded the other man how they'd nearly lost Alexi and Merrily's daughter, Bellarose a year ago. Had lost the child she'd been carrying.

Bellarose, more than anyone, seemed to be a beacon for Venus, since the attack on the Tzars compound by a man named Milo Hutch. That man was long dead, but I think what happened to Rose and to Eagle's woman, Nyla, was so similar to Venus' situation she would keep being drawn to Iron Tzars. She had a connection with the women in this club she didn't have anywhere else. Hutch had used Nyla much the same way Victor used girls. Hutch was just more of a pimp than Victor. Both evil, but Victor Zaitsev was on a whole other level.

Time to get a couple hours sleep. I needed to reset my brain and body. And God knew I'd need strength of mind and body to deal with Venus when she decided she was going back on the hunt. Whenever that happened to be, I intended to be with her every step of the way.