Chapter Eight

Vladmir

The moment I walked away, I stormed out of the house, the sound of my footsteps echoing through the hallway, and hastily jumped into my car. The sound of tires peeling out reverberated through the compound when I left, determined to escape her presence, no matter how far I had to go. Her remarkable intelligence, cunning, and undeniable beauty overshadowed the woman’s irritating demeanor. She had survived hell, and the strength in her eyes reflected the resilience she had gained from her harrowing experience.

The moment I met her, I could sense her importance. While her fortitude and firm determination to live were admirable, her stubborn, ungrateful attitude overshadowed these qualities. Unbeknownst to her, I went through great lengths to secure her safety, facing numerous obstacles along the way. I risked everything for her—my life, my reputation in the organization, even my friendship with Maxim—all because I knew she was innocent. I could have walked away and left her to her fate. It would have been easy, too. I owed the woman no allegiance.

We were at war.

A war her fucking father started. Not that I think she cared. All she wanted was somewhere safe to hide out until the dust settled. Well, I had news for her. Her life would never be easy.

She was the known daughter of Konstantin Baranov and the legally wedded wife of Steele, the President of Satan’s Angels.

She was always going to be hunted for the rest of her life. Factions all over the world could always use her to further their gain. There was no place on this earth where she could go without someone trying to apprehend her.

She still didn’t understand the gravity of her situation.

Racing toward the city, I needed to clear my head. Gain some semblance of clarity from this messed-up situation. The boss was still on my ass about learning more about the woman. Though I didn’t know why, she barely talked to me, and when I was in her presence, she was always trying to feed me.

The only respite I had was when I was with her daughter.

Katiya was an adorable little girl. Sweet and gentle tempered, Katiya was nothing like her mother. I always wondered what it would have been like if I’d kept my own daughter. Would I have been able to protect her, or would her life still have turned out the same way? I missed so much of my daughter’s life. Milestones that I thought I never cared about, but lately realized I did.

I never planned on being a father. In my line of work, having a family was a detriment, a way for others to bring me to heel. I never wanted to be put in a position where I had to choose, because deep down, I knew I’d always choose the Bratva.

So, no. Even though a part of me regretted my decision all those years ago, I made the right one. Yes, my daughter suffered horribly, but she wouldn’t be where she was today, with a man she loved and children she adored, surrounded by people whom she considered her real family and friends.

Everything happens for a reason. That’s what my mother used to tell me. I could fight, ignore, and even walk away, but everything would still turn out as it was destined to. My mother, Irina Ivenok, was a superb classical violinist, who stepped away from the Russian National Orchestra when she learned she was pregnant with me. She had the world at her fingertips, though one night changed the trajectory of her life forever. She never complained, not once, always telling me she wouldn’t change a thing, that she loved her life. However, I knew she walked away from her dream to raise me, until she died of pneumonia when I was twelve years old.

The day she died, so did my entire world.

The one thing my mother left me was her gift for the violin. An instrument I hadn’t picked up in years. Like my mother, I was on my way to becoming one of the best when the night of the Bloody Massacre happened. It was at the Moscow University of Classical Music and Dance where I met Maxim. He was a few years ahead of me and a gifted pianist. But that night changed everything for us. That night, our worlds changed, and we never looked back.

It seemed that no matter what we did or where we went, the past refused to let us go. And now, a part of that past was at the compound, trying to drown me in food.

A ringing blaring through the speakers interrupted my thoughts.

Hitting the connect button on my steering wheel, I said, “Hello.”

“Hey, stranger. I’m in town for the weekend. Are you busy?”

Smiling, I answered, “No. In fact, I’m headed your way. What hotel are you staying at?”

“I’m at the Langham, room 304.”

“I’ll be there shortly,” I confirmed before disconnecting the call as my foot stepped on the accelerator.

With a playful glimmer in her eyes, she welcomed me at the door, her touch leaving an electrifying sensation through my pants. She yanked off the white robe she was wearing, clutching a condom between her teeth while I swiftly turned her toward the nearest wall.

Our relationship was purely physical, devoid of any emotional connection.

We both knew that going in.

I met Dr. Veronica Collier, a brilliant individual, after successfully rescuing Illyria from Boris Petrovitch. Even today, the memory of the damage caused by that wretched man lingered in Illyria’s dreams. Physically healed, Illyria would always carry the reminder of her time with Petrovitch in her soul.

That was something no one on earth could remove, not even Veronica.

Though Veronica and I didn’t quite hit it off when we first met, we both came to a mutual understanding and a very beneficial arrangement. I didn’t need any attachments, and she wanted nothing permanent, as she needed to concentrate on her patients and her profession. Veronica was the leading psychologist and psychotherapist for women rescued from human trafficking rings. She had written several papers on the subject and even spoke in front of congress regarding her findings. Now, when she wasn’t at her facility in Glacier National Park, the previous home of Salvatore Valentinetti, she was giving lectures all around the world on how to treat men, women, and children of human trafficking.

It was an honorable profession and one I admired.

However, in this particular instance, I had absolutely no interest in any of that. In that moment, my sole focus was on removing my clothes swiftly and experiencing the exhilaration of her passionate cries as I pounded deep into her willing body.

It had been months since we last spoke or saw each other and we realized that there was no need for us to do so. The only form of communication that mattered between us was primal. It conveyed the simplicity of our desires—she desired me, I desired her, and in that moment, it was clear that both of us were on the verge of obtaining what we sought.

When we were both sated, our transaction would be complete.

With a sense of urgency, I attempted to free myself from my constraints as she eagerly removed the condom from her mouth and reached her hand down my pants. When my pants slipped down my hips, she wasted no time in running her hand sensually down the front of my boxers. With ease, she slipped her hand inside and firmly grabbed hold of my cock.

“Damn, I’ve missed your cock,” she said, as she pulled my dick out.

In that moment, I stood still while she slowly slid down my body until she reached my hard cock. Filled with intense passion and unwavering enthusiasm, she tried to show me pleasure, employing various techniques such as sucking, licking, and slurping to create an unforgettable experience. While she may not have been as good as others, that was not what I came here for, but I did give her a few minutes to enjoy herself before I eventually had enough.

Bored and needing more, I led her back up with my hands as I stepped out of my shoes and kicked off my pants, leaving them on the floor. I reached out and firmly grasped her buttocks, effortlessly lifting her off the ground. As I did so, her eyes widened in surprise and anticipation. With her waist pulled toward me, her legs instinctively wrapped around my body, bringing us closer together. The undeniable lust between us was palpable as my arousal pressed against her warm and wet pussy.

“Oh yes, fuck me right here,” she cried out when I rubbed my dick along her wet folds.

With a swift motion, she ripped open the condom using her teeth, then proceeded to expertly slide it over my throbbing dick. The second it was on, I didn’t hesitate and immediately pushed myself inside her. I slid in quickly and deeply, experiencing the sensation of her semi-tight pussy as her legs tightened around my hips.

I found her to be both pleasant and energetic as we engaged intimately. However, the presence of lubrication on the condom and her own arousal made the process of penetration incredibly smooth and uncomplicated.

With a forceful and unwavering movement, I propelled myself forward, maintaining a firm grip on her buttocks as I delved deeply inside her, savoring the satisfying sound of my scrotum colliding with her ass.

The intensity of our encounter escalated when she ripped open my shirt, her body pressed against mine and her hands explored my bare chest.

She couldn’t hold back any longer, overwhelmed by the sensation of my cock and her already heightened state of arousal.

I could feel the pressure of her nails on my back, intensifying with each moment, and when she neared her own orgasm, the sharp sensation of her teeth on my shoulder sent waves of pleasure through me as she released a cacophony of involuntary noises from her throat. Pounding into her with increasing force, she leaned back against the wall, consumed by her own pleasure.

“Oh, YES!” she cried, her speech interrupted with each of my thrusts.

My eyes drifted downward, fixating on the sight of her breasts bouncing with each movement, when she guided my hand to one, granting me the pleasure of squeezing it while I approached climax. Rather than immediately emptying myself, I paused and withdrew, spinning her around to face a different direction.

Pulling her hips back, she pressed her hands against the wall, while I pressed down on the middle of her back, causing her to bend over with her rear end elevated. I lined myself up and smoothly slid into her, prompting a startled yelp to escape her lips. With a firm grasp on her waist, I felt the rising pulse of my arousal. The sound of her moans filled the room while my thrusts grew more desperate, and her hand found its way to her clit, signaling that she too was nearing another climax.

She came again, her cries piercing the chaotic symphony of the city below.

Her wails became more intense, and my pleasure surged, shooting through me and filling the condom with an explosive release. I gasped for air as I held her close, my body responding with intense pleasure, releasing myself into the condom.

When the last drop seeped from the tip of my cock, I pulled out, leaving her pink, glistening core behind, completely satisfied. Without hesitation, I removed the condom, carefully knotting the end and disposing of it in the closest garbage bin. Picking up my pants, I quickly put them on before sitting on the edge of the bed.

Now completely covered in her robe, she sat next to me and sighed. “You weren’t your usual self tonight, Vladmir. What’s bothering you?”

“We don’t do personal, Veronica. You know that.”

“I do, but I can clearly see something is bothering you. So right now, I’m the doctor. Client-patient privilege and all that.”

“I’m not your patient.”

“Vladmir,” she sighed, getting to her feet. “The thing I liked about our arrangement was how, for a few hours, I could just be me. You expected nothing from me. You wanted nothing from me. You allowed me to just be me. And right now, as your friend, I want to reciprocate. I want to know what’s wrong with you.”

“Am I your friend?” I challenged.

I knew she was only trying to help, but I wasn’t good with feelings and all the shit that went with them. I preferred to stew and let everything fester until I could vent my frustrations out on another willing body. Only that didn’t happen this time, and right now, I felt worse than when I arrived.

Pulling a chair from under the small table in the room, Veronica sat.

“What is her name?”

Smirking, I looked at the handsome woman. “What if she is a he?”

At that, Veronica threw her head back and laughed. “Oh please. As freaky as you’ve been in bed, I highly doubt it. Now, stop deflecting.”

Getting to my feet, I started pacing the room.

“She’s a pain in the ass. She was just a job. Someone who needed to hide. I thought that was it, but then she told me who she really was, and I knew I couldn’t just drop her somewhere and walk away. Now, she’s everywhere I look. I can’t get away from her. She smiles all the time. No one is that damn happy. And she’s always trying to feed me. Why is she trying to feed me?”

“Clinically, food has a deeper meaning. Food is used to break the ice, a way to open communication, a way to mend something that’s broken or make a new friend. Maybe this woman is lonely and wants you to be her friend.”

I growled. “I don’t have time for friends.”

“That’s right,” Veronica scoffed. “Because your life is so fucking busy. Tell me, Vladmir, have you kidnapped anymore women lately?”

“I did not kidnap you. You just wouldn’t comply.”

“Well, maybe this woman is trying the only way she knows how to comply, by cooking for you. Not everyone likes to be manhandled, Vladmir. Maybe try a softer approach.”

“I don’t do soft.”

“Well, you better come up with something, because from what I can tell, it’s a wonder this woman hasn’t hit you over the head with a frying pan.”

I grinned at that.

“She would too,” I muttered, remembering how mad she was before I left the house. “Though she had no problem putting me in place today. I made one snarky comment, and the woman snapped, laying into me like I was the cause of all her problems. She was relentless about it too.”

“You like this woman.”

Looking at Veronica, I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t like her.”

“Oh yes, you do. You are smiling. You like that she stood up to you. You like that she doesn’t take any of your crap. You like that even though she’s a pain in the ass, she doesn’t bow down to your dictate.”

Shaking my head, I stormed toward the door.

I was done with this stupid conversation.

The woman was a quack. She clearly had no idea or any valuable information on this particular subject.

“Vladmir?”

Opening the door, I turned and looked back at her.

“I won’t be calling you anymore. You know that, right?”

I nodded. “Goodbye, Veronica.”

After leaving the hotel, I drove by the docks to make sure everything was running smoothly before heading back to the compound. It was late when I finally arrived back home and yet, as I sat in my car, I couldn’t move.

She was in there.

It still bugged me that I let her get to me so easily, and while I still didn’t understand her or why she did half the things she did, I knew she was only trying to protect her daughter.

Sighing, I stepped out of my car and headed inside to find the place blissfully quiet. Seeing the time, I knew everyone had retired for the night. Making my way upstairs, I headed for my room when a strange noise stopped me in my tracks. Listening intently, I heard the noise again and went in search of it.

Opening a door, I peeked inside to find Katiya sitting up in her crib, quietly playing with a stuffed animal. Walking over to her, I leaned against the railing and whispered, “And what are you doing awake, young lady?”

The cute little girl smiled up at me as she lifted her arms.

Shaking my head, I picked up the little girl, holding her close as she laid her little head on my shoulder. Walking her over to the rocking chair near the window, I sat down as she snuggled closer.

She truly was a beautiful little girl.

In some ways, she resembled my Remi, with her blonde curls and bright blue eyes. Holding tight to her stuffed animal, she yawned and sweetly closed her eyes.

Sitting there in the dark, rocking her to sleep, I stared out the window and wondered how I got into this position.

I never wanted kids yet had a grown daughter.

I never cared for anyone yet found myself drawn to this little girl.

I never asked for a second chance yet found myself on the cusp of one. All I had to do was reach out and grab it.

Veronica was right.

I did like Aksana. More than I should. Maybe that was why I kept my distance. Deep down, I knew she was getting to me. Somehow, she was slowly lowering my guards, and I was letting her. But it was something more. I knew it. There was something greater at play here. Something I couldn’t comprehend and that’s what scared me the most.

“It sneaks up on you, doesn’t it?”

I looked over my shoulder to see Maxim standing in the doorway, staring at me.

“What does?”

“Love.”

Rolling my eyes, I turned back to the window.

“I don’t love anyone.”

“You can’t lie to me, Vladmir. I know you, remember?”

“Okay, fine. I will admit, I care for my daughter.”

“No. You love Remi.”

“Fine. I love Remi.”

“And you love that little girl, too,” he added, leaning against the wall near the window. “Deny it all you want, but I saw how you reacted earlier today. We all did.”

He was right, though I would never admit shit to him. I knew something was wrong when Aleksandr got hurt. The second I heard Katiya cry, I was running. The sudden need to find her and make sure she was okay was so overwhelming, it damn near robbed me of my breath.

“When I first laid eyes on my son, something powerful, something so overwhelming washed over me that everything around me vanished. Nothing mattered anymore. All I cared about was him. Protecting him, making sure he was safe and loved. Leaving him in that penthouse was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, Vladmir. How you walked away from Remi I will never know, but I know I couldn’t do it.”

“It was a different time back then. We were at war.”

“And now we’re not. Yes, we still have problems that require our attention, but it’s nothing we can’t handle ourselves. You should know that Aksana felt terrible for what she said to you. She didn’t say a word throughout dinner.”

I huffed, then grinned. “And what did she cook tonight?”

“She didn’t. We ordered takeout. After she fixed up Aleksandr, she spent the majority of her time in her room. She only came out to feed Katiya before retiring for the night.”

Frowning, I muttered as I sat there rocking Katiya.

“Look, Vladmir. You are a grown ass man, and I refuse to interfere in your personal life, but if you let this woman walk away without a fight, then you are not the man I thought you were.”

“She’s too young. I’m old enough to be her father. Hell, Maxim, Remi is older than her.”

“You really want to go there with me?” Maxim snarked, glaring at me. Okay, so Maxim had a point. The age difference between him and Illyria was a borderline criminal offense, but neither cared. They loved each other, and it worked.

Looking up at my boss, he added, “In our line of work, we rarely get second chances. Don’t let this one slip by you because, mark my words, you will regret it.”

With that, Maxim quietly left the room, leaving me more confused than ever. Scoffing, I whispered as I looked down at the sleeping girl in my arms, “Second chances. What do I know about second chances? Nobody wants an old, washed-up man, set in his ways, with too much blood on his hands.”