8. Inessa

Every step I take has my toes curling inside my heels. It's worse being elevated, the position of the vibrator has changed, and I'm going to kill Vlad in his sleep or cry because it feels too good. At least he doesn't make me take the stairs and calls the elevator down to the hall.The heat from his palm radiates through my dress and the smug prick stands beside me and starts torturing me using his phone. The vibrations start and I have to cross my ankles. He looks up, raising one brow and asks, "Do you need to pee, malysh?"

"I'm going to punch you in the face."

My threat is spat out between gritted teeth, and he just laughs.

"Let's hope your aim is better than with a gun."

The elevator is moving too slowly, and I can't even see straight as he taps out a sequence that has my knees going weak.

"Vlad, stop it."

His hand smooths over my back and he digs his fingers into my hip as he reduces the intensity of the vibrations.

"Are you going to be good tonight?"

My breathing turns ragged, and I hit the button to stop the slowest descent in existence before I attempt to snatch his phone out of his hand.

He's faster and holds it above my head as he grabs my throat, pushing me against the paneled wall. There's no anger on his face, he's proud, as he assesses me.

"You have no control, meely moy, you are mine to play with."

I sweeten my voice and lean into his palm as I ask, "But what if I want to share?"

His fingers flex, filling me with power, and I love the way his eyes darken, turning a deeper shade of blue like violent waters.

"Watch your mouth and your fucking imagination." I'm about to agree when he squeezes the sides of my neck and becomes sinister. "Or I'll start doing the same."

That's unnecessary when we both know I'm lying, and my voice turns into a mumble.

"I meant share with you."

He relaxes instantly and kisses my cheek as he restarts the elevator and turns off the vibrations. He allows me some peace and remains at my side without any extra stimulation.

I've never been to a Steorra event with other people, Grandfather would turn up in support, but I always walked in alone. As the elevator doors open, it shows every Vartanov is decked out and waiting for us. Vitali is a dangerous flirt and wolf whistles, being an asshole as we make our way to them. He smirks when he sees his brother and announces, "How cute, the parents are matching."

Ignoring his need to keep calling Vlad and me his parents, I wait until everyone's together to meet each of their eyes and give my rules.

"Every head of the other families will be there and Steorra is a neutral zone." Starting with Valentin, I give them their only jobs of the night. "You, no provoking people." On to Vitali. "You, no fighting." Turning to Vlad. "And you, don't kill anyone." I change my mind halfway through his rule. "That's unrealistic, just don't get blood on your suit and make sure they've paid up before you do it."

Viktor is cute in his tuxedo and waits for me to band him in with his dad and uncles.

"What about me?" he asks.

I comb his hair back where it's come loose to match his dad and soften my voice.

"You have a very important job, rypka, make sure these three don't break the rules."

Nodding seriously, he acts like my little soldier while Dani tries and fails to hide her laugh.

"Dani, your job is to get drunk and make them spend all their money."

She gives me a mock salute as Vlad's annoying voice comes out.

"If you're done commanding everyone, we better leave."

I can't think of anything I've left out, so I walk ahead with Viktor and Dani at my side like they're all my soldiers.

Separating into the cars, Vlad guides me into his, away from everyone else, and the twisted smile tells me I'm going to be tortured the entire fucking drive. The smirk gets wider as he sits behind the steering wheel and rests his phone on his thigh, furthest away from me.

"When did you link it to your phone?"

Out of all the questions I could ask, it's that one that leaves my mouth.He gave me his ridiculous gifts before we were even married, and I left it in the box as soon as I saw what was in it. The bastard is too handsome and does that thing that makes me melt. I nearly miss every word he says as he looks at me, places one hand on my headrest, and reverses.

"Before I gave it to you, it sends me an alert when it's turned on." Slowly rolling to a stop when we're facing the road, he pauses and traces the length of my body. "Just like you do, meelaya."

I'm so fucked beyond belief, and he's corrupted my brain to be the same as his, making me laugh at the pathetic pun. Switching topics, he doesn't show any signs of lust and asks random questions about how much we need to raise. I've already used his card to refurbish one of the homes we work with and pledged his donation because I'm nothing if not a helpful wife.

My body relaxes when he doesn't touch his phone and I settle when his hand holds my nape, knowing that he won't be able to reach it. It's the wrong thing to do, the devil always attacks when you least expect it and I clench my thighs together as the vibrations start. They're not against my clit but inside me and all I managed to do is push them deeper. I drop my chin to my chest to attempt to ignore it, but his unaffected tone has me snapping back up.

"Is your phone ringing? I can hear something buzzing."

Increasing the vibrations on the last word, he doesn't look at me and keeps driving.

I really hate him, in a way where I'd do anything he asks, and I never want to be away from his presence even when it annoys me. I stroke up his thigh and cup his dick because I'm not sitting in torture alone. He's hard and the muted taste of his pre-cum is replaying on my tongue, adding to my frustration. Gripping him harder when a random pattern starts vibrating between my clit and the vibrator, his deep rumble bounces around the car.

"Undo my belt."

I don't need to be told twice and my fingers are a blur, rushing to get release. Unbuckling so I can close the gap, he pulls me back by my nape and the hard stare is soft in comparison to his voice.

"Put your seatbelt back on."

I look from his crotch to his face in confusion and he moves my hand up and down his length, repeating the request.

"Seatbelt, meelaya, it's not safe while I'm driving."

I don't understand this man, he kills people. On more than one occasion, I've seen him covered in blood, and I never even blinked, knowing what he is, but his requirements for everyone's safety are strict.

Don't ride the horses without a helmet, don't leave the pool cover off, don't suck my dick while I'm driving even though we're both in need. It's all strange, especially with the windows. Vlad will lose his shit if a window is left open at night. There could be a heatwave, and the air conditioning could break, but he would rather die than allow the window to be open while anyone sleeps.

He wraps his hand around my thigh, stopping me from clenching harder. Grinding my hips down instead, the vibrations suddenly stop, and he's still hard in my hand. He squeezes my thigh three times as he calmly shows his control.

"You're not going to come until we're at home. No one gets to see or hear what isn't meant for them."

I stare out of the window as anger works through me and move my hand away from his undone belt.

It's all rooted in frustration, not just carnal but mental. I want to understand him, to have him in my life in a cemented place. But he's too controlled and focused on his one goal of taking over the world or whatever the fuck else he's plotting that it will never happen. He has secret phone calls and a phone that holds no contacts or logs but is always in his possession. He doesn't even allow anyone else inside, he's covered himself in brutality as a defense.

My stupid, traitorous heart wants him, the man, the devil, the violence, everything. I don't care about what he's capable of, or how many deaths he's responsible for. I don't even care that I know he's using me to solidify his position because he does little things that tell me to trust his actions rather than any previous agreement.

* * *

I remindmyself for the thousandth time that there's press and too many witnesses, I stop my hands from killing Vlad. His stupid fucking smirk comes over the top of his tumbler as he slides his phone back into his pocket, and I step down from the podium on shaky legs. I've heard of edging, but this is just sadistic fucking torture, constantly building me up to never allow me release. My brain knows it's not going to happen, and my body ignores every signal confirming it.

The other Vartanovs have managed to behave themselves with Ana, Stasya, and Dima joining our table, keeping them occupied. Keeping my shoulders straight and my face blank, I'm only focused on how to destroy my husband's phone when the mayor blocks my path. I hate this prick; he pretends to care about citizens and whatever other bullshit manages to get him votes, but he's a slimy bastard with no integrity. I may have been raised within the Bratva, but I've never met a criminal worse than a corrupt official.

His lips are wet as he kisses my cheek, making my insides recoil, and I stop myself from swiping at my face to get him off.

"You've done a fine job tonight. I'm sure your grandfather is proud. Where is Maximoff?"

I wonder if his lips are wet when he kisses Grandfather's ass too or is that only reserved for my cheek. I don't have time to answer his question when a warm hand lands on my back, and Vlad overshadows everything, holding out his inked, brutal hand.

"It's poor manners to kiss a man's wife, especially when you haven't greeted him."

The low, deadly tone doesn't call anyone else's attention, and the gentleman is all they can see as he threatens the mayor without saying a single violent word.

The mayor takes his hand and winces as his fingers bleach white from the force. Vlad pulls him closer and continues with the thinly veiled threat.

"I'm sure there was no disrespect on your part."

He nods his head in agreement, to save his own life. I smile the polite, practiced smile I was taught. I'd rather be watching pimple-popping videos with Vitali and Viktor, but being the heiress means these parties and galas have been the norm for as long as I can remember. It's all bullshit to try to legitimize relationships and show your bank balance. But right now, it's working in my favor as my devil effectively goes in the mayor's pocket, forcing his donation.

"How much have you helped the citizens of your own city? You are aware my wife isn't even a resident of any of your boroughs?"

I zone out, not paying attention, as I lean into Vlad's side at his claim.

After adding a few zeroes on the initial donation, Vlad is satisfied and dismisses him. He guides us away and without moving his lips, says. "Don't allow any of these pricks to see you uncomfortable."

I straighten my shoulders and stand taller, but he stiffens as we approach the bar. The head of every family is standing, staring down at Viktor as he stands in front of Horatio Verelli. The harsh stares have me wanting to rip him away from them.

"Where is Mara?"

There's an order in his tone as he asks for my business partner. Xiomara may be kind and one of the most beautiful souls I've ever met, but her husband is the head of the ‘Ndrangheta for fuck's sake. His hard stare comes up, calling Gio forward and instructing him to take Viktor to see Mara, and I can breathe. There's not enough time to remind Vlad to not be himself, and they're like deadly teenagers passing hate through their eyes.

Repositioning himself on my other side, Vlad puts his body between me and the other three. It's stupid when they've all visited Steorra and could easily kill me on the days they pick up their wives, but I leave that information out. My attention is diverted from ensuring they all behave as Parker sips her martini and exchanges niceties.

"Marriage suits you, dear."

She's an older woman, a guardian Angel who never asks for anything and has been there for the children since the doors opened.

The devil on my other side is vibrating with excited anger and I'm more focused on his conversation with Verelli.

"I heard you were dead."

My stomach sinks at his commentary and the rumors about Vlad. If Vlad kills him now, I won't even be angry. He laughs lightly full of bullshit and taps in his pattern of three, three, four on my back with his thumb. The pattern is wrong and that should be my first warning when it's always the same set of three.

His suave, sophisticated act continues, and he speaks calmly despite his audience.

"A man in your position should know better than to believe everything he hears, or is there truth in the rumors I may have heard?"

I haven't heard any rumors about Verelli, other than him being a bastard child. Everyone has heard them, though, and there are whispers about who his mother is. No one can deny his father when he has the late Verelli senior's eye color, and his sister has publicly acknowledged who he is. So, I make a mental note to get the gossip from my husband when we leave.

My worry over Valentin provoking a reaction was misplaced, it's Vlad I should have told not to as he asks Dion Kadare.

"How's your niece, Liliya?"

The lying bastard has been keeping things from me. They may not be important, but I still want to know and eavesdrop as the tension increases. Whatever Vlad knows gets a reaction, but it's not the one he wanted as they walk away, and he's left frustrated in his violence like he's left me in lust.