Chapter Eleven

Vladmir

The second I heard Aksana scream, I didn’t think. I ran.

I knew I should have immediately chased after her when she left the diner, but I stupidly thought she wouldn’t go far. That she only went outside to get some air. She was mad at me again and for the life of me, I didn’t know what I’d done.

I thought she would love to meet Javier, and they seemed to hit it off. They talked nonstop about food and shit. She even got to cook a meal with his help. Yet, it wasn’t enough because the next thing I knew, she screamed at me and fled.

When she didn’t come back inside the diner, I got up to go check on her, only to see her nowhere around, and that’s when I heard her scream. However, when I heard a distinctively male voice cry out, I knew she wasn’t alone. Following the man’s wails, I turned down the alley between two warehouses and came to a complete stop.

There on the ground, with blood and tears running down her face, was Aksana. She glared at the fucker in front of her, who was cupping his bleeding crotch. But when Aksana spit out the man’s dick, I didn’t even think as I blew that fucker’s brains out.

He fucking touched her.

Rushing over to her, I gathered her in my arms, holding her close as she clung to me, her body shaking uncontrollably.

“It’s alright. He’s dead. He won’t touch you again.”

“No, but I will,” someone said from behind me when I felt the barrel of a gun at the base of my neck. “That bitch is coming with me.”

“I don’t fucking think so,” a familiar voice said before adding, “Your woman’s got style, Vlad. I like her.”

“Shut up, Payne, and get the fucker’s gun away from my head.”

“You heard the man,” Payne sneered. “Drop it. Now.”

The second the fucker lowered the gun, I spun away from him with Aksana in my arms. Peeling her off me, I checked her from head to toe, needing to make sure she wasn’t injured.

“I’m fine.” Her voice trembled while she looked everywhere but at me.

Carefully cupping her head, I whispered, “You are not fine, but you will be.” Gathering her close again, she burrowed herself deep in my chest as her legs gave out. I knew her adrenaline rush was waning, and I didn’t think when I gathered her up into my arms.

I looked at the fucker Payne held at gunpoint.

It was a Satan’s Angel.

Fuck!

“Who sent you?” I sneered as the fucker smirked but said nothing.

“Oh, don’t you worry.” Payne grinned, grabbing the man by the back of his cut. “Malice has been extra moody lately. Therapy is really pissing him off. I’m sure he’d love to take some of his frustrations out on this one. Might make him tolerable again. Would you like that, motherfucker? Want to meet the one and only Malice?”

The man gulped.

Yeah.

Bikers all around the world knew about Malice. His reputation was only second to Sandman from the Golden Skulls, and God help the poor bastard who got put in a room with both of those men.

“I need to get Aksana out of here. I will call for a pickup.”

“Nuh-uh, Vlad,” Payne shook his head. “You know the drill. You’re in our territory. Let’s go see the Prez.”

Shit.

Nodding, with Aksana in my arms, I followed Payne.

Even from where we were, I could hear the music pounding from the clubhouse as we headed toward the Soulless Sinners’ compound, and that’s when I remembered... it was the first weekend of the month.

The clubhouse was hosting girls from the Gentleman’s Club.

Which meant every brother would be there, married or not.

“Where are we going?” Aksana whispered while she clung to me tightly.

“I have to speak with someone before I can take you home. Should only take a few minutes. I promise.”

The second I walked into the clubhouse, the music stopped as everyone looked at me.

Tessa, Montana’s wife, rushed over.

“My God, Vladmir,” the pretty woman gasped. “What the hell happened?”

“A Satan’s Angel attacked her. I need to speak with your husband before I can take her home.”

“No, she needs to be looked at right now by a doctor. And oh, guess what? I am one. Follow me,” the stubborn woman ordered. Not wanting to upset Montana, I did as I was told. Bad enough I killed a biker, but entering Soulless Sinners’ territory without letting Maxim or Montana know was a big no-no.

Entering the club’s infirmary, Tessa pointed at the table and instructed, “Put her there.”

Setting Aksana on the gurney, Tessa wasted no time.

“My name is Tess and yours is?”

“Aksana,” I clearly said, as Tessa slowly turned and glared at me.

Shutting up, I said nothing more.

“I’m fine,” Aksana muttered while Tessa took her blood pressure. “Really, I am. I just want to go home.”

“Sweetie, you’re covered in blood. Your throat is red, your knees look like mincemeat, and your clothes are barely hanging on. You are not fine. Would you like to tell me what happened tonight?”

Aksana shook her head.

“It’s alright. You don’t have to tell me. Just answer me this. Did whoever did this to you rape you?”

Tears rolled down Aksana’s face as she slowly shook her head. “No.”

“Yes,” I growled, stepping forward. “The fucker forced himself on her. She bit his dick off.”

Tessa’s eyes widened as a smile appeared on her face.

Leaning forward, Tessa took Aksana’s hands in hers and said, “Good for you, girl.”

Just then, the door to the room opened and Montana barged in.

“What the fuck, Vla... Amy?”

“Montana, calm down.” My boss sighed as he sat across from the fuming man, who, the second he saw Aksana, had me up against the wall, threatening all kinds of punishment and retribution. “I’m sure there is a logical explanation.”

“Sure there is,” he growled. “You fucking stole from my brother.”

“What did I steal? I didn’t even know you knew Aksana and, as she is Russian, I didn’t know I needed to keep you informed of who I have dealings with.”

“Don’t get all righteous with me, Fedorov. That woman is the spitting image of Bane’s sister, Amy. How the fuck do you know her?”

Maxim slowly shook his head. “That’s my business, Montana.”

Montana glared. “Don’t do this, Max. We have a good relationship. Don’t let some bitch come between us.”

I growled, stepping forward.

Maxim held up his hand, stopping me.

“Rest assured, our relationship is intact. Now, if you don’t mind, I am tired and want to go home. Vladmir, please go gather Aksana.”

“She’s not going anywhere,” Montana clipped. “Told you she’s the spitting image of Bane’s sister, Amy.”

Maxim stood to his full height as he stared at one of his best friends, when Montana added, “She gives Tess a vial of her blood and you can take her. She doesn’t. Well then, I will take it from her one way or another, because that bitch isn’t leaving until I know who she really is.”

“She’s my wife.”

Maxim whipped around and looked at me.

Walking past my boss, I faced off with Montana. “She’s my wife and as such, touching her constitutes an act of war between the Biker Federation and the Russian Bratva.”

“Bullshit,” Montana scoffed. “You are not married to that bitch.”

“Call my wife a bitch one more time and you will see just how married I am, asshole.”

Maxim stepped up behind me, placing his hand on my shoulder. “I can assure you, Vladmir and Aksana are married. Therefore, all three of us are walking out of here together. Now, I am willing to sit down with you at a time and place of your choosing to discuss this matter further, but for right now, Vladmir needs to get his wife home because she is uncomfortable around bikers.”

Montana narrowed his eyes. “Fine. Take her, but when I see you tomorrow, I want proof of marriage or I will be formerly claiming her.”

“Done.” Maxim grinned, turning me away from the fuming bastard and shoving me toward the door. “I look forward to our next meeting.”

The second Maxim slid into the backseat of his Range Rover, he glared at me. “What the hell is going on, Vladmir? Why does Montana think Aksana belongs to Bane’s sister Amy?”

“I don’t know, boss,” I said, looking at Aksana, who was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. The poor woman needed a hot shower and rest.

“Maybe it has something to do with George Stone selling me to Konstantin Baranov,” she whispered. “I already told you guys that.”

“If there is any truth to the matter, we need to find out before Montana does. Because if he’s right and Aksana is the daughter of Bane’s sister Amy, Bane will claim her. If he does that, my hands are tied, Vladmir.”

“Not if I marry her tonight.”

“Won’t work.” Maxim sighed. “She’s already married.”

“Sure, it will. I can get Dmitry to falsify a death certificate and whip up a marriage license. Nikandr and I can kidnap a priest to perform the ceremony, and no one will be the wiser. Montana can eat shit and Aksana stays safe.”

“Won’t matter,” Aksana groaned, rubbing her forehead.

“Why’s that?” I asked.

“BECAUSE I’M ALREADY MARRIED!”