Chapter Twenty-two

Milos

Aleksander sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Very slowly. Don't leave anything out. Why is Manuel Rodriguez going to kill me?”

Richie’s second, Vinny, who believes as soon as Richie is dead, he’ll become capo throws back his whiskey—his second since we arrived five minutes ago. “Richie knows you want him dead. It's why he didn't show for the meeting you guys set up for him. Not because he's sick the way he's telling everybody, but so he can hide from you. He was trying to find the Fed after the guys lost her and came up with your marriage license with her. When he saw it he freaked. Then, as you know, you disappeared the men who beat your woman. He figured out he was next.”

Aleksander meets my eye. We had wondered if Richie managed to figure it out. Up until now he was a dependable if not all that smart ally. Him not showing or calling to explain why was unusual.

“So anyways, Luca Sabatini snatched Manuel's fiancée off a truck on account she was running. Manuel didn't know she was forced. He didn't want a forced wife but he does need a mom for his kids. Like yesterday because his wife died. Luca and Dominic Sabatini went to Ritchie's daughter and asked her if she was willing, on account of her mom got deported back to Colombia and it's where Manuel lives. Richie is forcing his daughter to marry Manuel. Once the contract is signed off, he's going to have Manuel kill Aleksander. Since Manuel is good at making people disappear, he thinks no one can track the hit to him. He can't go to the Outfit for protection after the heist you guys did. He didn't clear it with Carlo or give his cut.” He pours another whiskey and swallows it loudly.

Fucking hell. I consider if Manuel will do it. “Richie hasn't asked yet.”

Vinny shakes his head so hard, I wonder if it hurts. “No. They are negotiating the contract today. Even though Luca intended to pay Richie for the bride price, Manuel refused. Wanted to be the one to settle terms for her. It’s obvious Manuel wants to get between the girl’s legs. Richie wants to give Manuel time to look forward to marrying his daughter—the only way he’s going to fuck her for a few days. He's going to ask Friday in case Manuel wants to make it happen as soon as Saturday when he gets to your engagement party.”

I motion to him he can leave.

The moment the door is closed behind him, Maxim sighs. “Women.”

“Shut the fuck up, Maxim. Unless you have something constructive to add to the discussion, I don't want to hear you bitching. You are not getting out of a marriage. If you don't pick for yourself within the next thirty days, Vasily will do it for you,” I warn him.

Looking to Aleksander. “We have four days. It's enough time. Nothing more than a pain in the ass to keep it clean. He has to disappear. No mess left behind the Outfit can tie to us.”

“Why not go to the Outfit? Tell Carlo what Richie did. He is your father-in-law now. Turn Ritchie's plan around on him,” Damien suggests.

Aleksander shakes his head before I can. “What he did was bad but doesn't warrant death in the Outfit. Add in we already killed two Outfit members without permission, and Carlo will be pissed.”

“Exactly, it could cause an unnecessary breaking of ties.” I sigh as I go over the interactions I've had with Manuel Rodriguez over the years. The man is the classical definition of a psychopath. He doesn't feel any emotions. No fear, anger. Not a damn thing. Admitted once his pain tolerance was so high he'd been shot and hadn't felt anything until the bullet moved next to his lungs and he started coughing blood.

I’ve told Aleksander of my interactions with the man. I can feel him thinking of them too. The answer comes to me. “He won't do it. Manuel might not feel emotion, but his father laid down an honor code to keep him in check. We talk with Manuel and tell him how this started and what's at stake. He won't kill you. But he will probably kill Richie without hesitation and he might not even hide it.”

Our eyes meet. Aleksander agrees. “I'll throw the announcement of our marriage into the paper for tomorrow and make sure it gets out over the internet today. Which reminds me I need to get back to her—it's been a few hours.” He stands. “The announcement will help with her too. She thinks she can walk away.”

“I'll handle it for you, get back to her,” I tell him.

Once the door closes behind him, Maxim sighs. “Women.”

“Fuck you, Maxim,” I growl.

***

Milos

I want to go home for dinner. To see Celia, hold her, feel her body against mine. But this cannot wait. The announcement on Alexander's marriage to the FBI agent has been out for several hours now. Richie’s second called an hour ago, the marriage contract has been signed. It's time.

Manuel answers the call yet says nothing. “I was wondering if you were free for dinner tonight. My restaurant?”

“I am hungry. Twenty minutes.” He disconnects.

We're upstairs in the VIP area mainly for celebrities and local government who don't want the public approaching them.

I ask him if he wants dessert, he declines.

“I've heard you were going to kill Aleksander's wife.” I sip my wine, studying him over the rim of the glass.

Empty black eyes meet mine. “I was going to.”

“Did Richie tell you why he wanted to kill her?” I ask.

His eyes narrow. One thing the man does not abide by is being lied to or manipulated. He shakes his head.

“She was after us, my family. Richie and I went in on a hijacking of product. We each got what we wanted and parted ways. First time I worked with him, can’t say I was impressed. He was messy, lazy. She connected him to it. Through his laziness, she connected him to us, tried to use him against us. You are cleaning up his mess. The woman is…” I shake my head, remembering her file from Valdez. It was the first time in a long time I was horrified by something.

“It isn't that she's a Fed. It's how she got to where she is now. She's one of those rare ones who should never see us with a gun in our hand. I offered her twenty grand to go away, she spit in my face. A hundred grand, I got all the way up to a million with help on how to hide it.”

Our eyes meet. I allow a smile. “She wouldn't take it. Idiot is too pure to be in this. It's why Aleksander married her. It's why she will remain his wife until her last breath. Richie is going to ask you to finish what you didn’t accomplish with her. Before it's all over, he’s going to ask you to kill Aleksander. Who knows, if he figures out how dumb he's been, he'll ask you to kill me.”

It's clear he's thinking. He has a mind like a computer, calculating, evaluating the moves and future plays. “I'm going to kill Richie.”

I shake my head. “I'm not asking you to. Aleksander has plans for him as the cause of his wife's pain. He would be pissed if someone else did it.”

“I want to kill Richie.” The words are a statement.

Fuck. I pull my phone, call Aleksander and hit speaker. “He wants to kill Richie.”

“No.” Aleksander answers hard and fast. “The fucker is mine.”

I cock an eyebrow at Manuel.

“Wrong. He’s mine. He beat his daughter, my woman.” Manuel isn't asking.

Aleksander swears in Russian. “Fine. As long as you make it messy and painful.”

Manuel nods. “I will.”

I end the call. “Congratulations on your marriage.”

“You too.” He nods, then gets up and walks away.

I'm a block away from my office when I get a call. A congressman who might yet become a senator has need of assistance. Since he's been worth my investment so far, I direct the car to his home instead of mine.

The issue is complicated. I don't leave until almost midnight. In the end it was resolved with a congressman deeply in my debt. If Celia weren't waiting for me it would have been worth it. But she is and I resent the fuck out of the hours I missed with her.

The drive home takes forever. It's a struggle to stay awake. When I get home I'm not surprised Celia is already asleep. I can't keep from running a finger over the skin of her cheek.

This isn't how I want things. I want her in my bed every night, to fall asleep with her in my arms after fucking us both to exhaustion. I want to wake up with her lush, sexy body against mine, only not yet. A few more weeks past the time Grigori is a threat to her.

A little sigh escapes from between her lips. She shifts and a hiss comes from beneath the covers. What the fuck? I yank them off her to find a ginger kitten tucked into her side. The damn thing hisses at me then tries to bury itself into her.

“Milos, don’t stress out the kitten.” She sighs. “It took forever to get him settled.”

I shake my head, laughing. This is what I married. An adorable cat lady who prefers cats over her husband. “You would kick me out of your bed in favor of the kitten?”

Her brow furrows as she blinks back the sleep clinging to her. “No, of course not. It's just he's here first. He's only here for the night. One of the construction guys had to ask his girlfriend before he brought him home. He called a little earlier and said he can take him—”

Capturing her mouth in a kiss I swear is intended as a small one for good night. Except the moment my lips meet hers, I’m lost in Celia’s passionate response. The kitten hisses at me, pulling me away from my wife.

“Stop it, Peanut. No hissing at Daddy. Into the cage with you, spicy kitty.” I watch as she slides out of bed. She's wearing the nightgown again. Then she pads into the bathroom. There's a large cage with a litter box and pillows set up underneath the vanity. On her way back to me she pulls off the nightgown, leaving only white silk panties covering her. I should leave her—she's tired. But I've never claimed to be a good man. I won't be one now.

Picking her up, I pull the covers back and lay her down, sliding the panties off her as I do—loving how they cling to her wet slit. Greedy for a taste of her, I'm in between her legs. Her hands go into my hair.

For the first time I welcome being touched. Want more of her small, delicate hands on me. I grasp one wrist and press a kiss into her palm. I can barely see her smile of pleasure, I simply feel the trembling of her body. It’s not enough—I reach over and flick on the switch for the bedside lamps.

God, even her pout is sexy. “Please turn off the lights, Milos.”

I shake my head as I bring her hand down to my chest. Tearing open my shirt, needing more of her touch, I watch her teeth catch her bottom lip as her hands run over me on their own. “I can't see your eyes in the dark. Can't watch your puffy swollen lips glinting with juice, open for my cock as you take me inside you. Can’t watch your beautiful face as you orgasm. You’re so gorgeous when you break apart for me. I could come from just watching you. I need to see you.”

Watching her pupils dilate at my words, hearing her breath catch has my cock leaking, keeps me telling her everything she needs to hear. “No dark. No chance this is a dream. That any moment I might awaken to find you gone Your body is every fantasy come true. It belongs between the pages of a dirty magazine for men to jack off to. If I wouldn't tear their eyes out for it, I'd want someone to paint you naked with your legs spread for me. So I could look at you anytime I want.”

Her blush runs down her breasts. “You're so dirty, husband. I shouldn't like it so much.”

“A dirty husband for a dirty wife. Open your legs and show me what's mine,” I command her.

She does with a naughty smile. Her cunt is overflowing, running like a river down to her ass. I use her juice to press a finger into her tiny hole. My cock jumps at the way she moans, doesn't fight me at all. “I'll be here soon.”

Silver glints bright up at me as her hands go up to her breasts, tugging her tight nipples. “Yes, you will.”

My woman accepting me, all of me—wanting all of me. I fall on her, all thought gone, till only animal need remains. Fucking my finger into her ass in tandem with my tongue in her cunt sets her off.

“Oh, Milos. It feels so good. I can't wait until you're there inside me. Taking every part of me, all of me. I love your tongue but it isn't enough. I need your cock. I need you inside me.”

I add a second finger to her ass. I'm gentle, slow at first. But greedy Celia begs for more within seconds. Giving in to her, I’m rewarded by her cunt spasming around my tongue in time with my fingers. She’s mewling now, thrashing beneath me. I slide my thumb over her clit, four swipes are all it takes for her to come all over my face. I devour her cream, sucking deep, lapping at every inch of her sweet cunt.

Need claws at me. I undo my pants and push them down enough to free my cock. So fucking wet and still she’s so tight. I hear the pain me entering brings her in the gasp of my name, feel it in the nails digging into my shoulders. Yet dirty, sweet Celia widens her legs, begging for more. I give it to her, thrusting hard until I’m as deep as I can go. I’m fighting not to move—to give her body time to adjust. She undoes my control as she whispers my name and begs me to fuck her, her cunt clenching tight around me.

I wrap my hand around her neck and pull her up to me. “You squeeze your cunt like that and I'll come in minutes. I need longer inside you.”

A whimper escapes her. “You just feel so good inside me.”

“You feel even better, malyshka. Would you keep me from feeling this good?” I ask in her ear. Giving in to need, I suck on the soft part of her ear, tugging with my teeth.

She gasps, her cunt quivers in response. Shaking her head, she runs her hand down my chest. “No, I'm sorry.”

“What a good girl you are,” I exhale against her neck, loving the way she shivers at my words. “Wrap your arms around my neck, your legs around my waist and hold on tight.” I move until I'm sitting up against the headboard with her in my lap.

“Oh, Milos, you're so—” She gasps.

“I think the word you're looking for is,” I grab her hips and thrust up into her as I hold her in place, “deep. The better to fuck you slowly, giving your cunt time to mold to my cock with pleasure. You love my cock inside you, don't you? When you woke up this morning, did you feel empty?”

“Yesss.” It's a moan as she collapses onto me, her arms wrapped around my neck.

The feel of her in my arms, her sexy, lush body plastered against me, is almost as amazing as her tight cunt wrapped around my cock. This isn't the best position for her to come but will allow me to fuck her leisurely, stretching her tight cunt to accept me without pain.

This is heaven. Celia hot, tight and wet. Taking me deep, humming with pleasure as I barely move within her.

Her tongue slides up my neck. “All of you tastes good.” She hums low.

She lifts her head, her fingers running over my chest. “You’re so gorgeous you belong on one of those beefcake calendars. I swear I never thought tattoos were sexy until I saw the ones on your forearms when you spanked me.”

Closing my eyes, I enjoy her tongue tracing over the star on my sternum. The moment her fingers find the Roman numerals across my heart, it’s time to end playtime. I’m not ready to answer the questions she’s going to ask.

I catch her hair in my fist, pulling her back so I can feast on her mouth. So damn sweet, adorable. The way her kiss is all need, no skill. I slow, teaching her, taunting her. Brat. Her tongue teases mine, then sucks my tongue. Ah fuck. We battle long and deep, both of us gasping for air as we break apart. In seconds we’re back for more, greedy for each other.

Celia begins grinding on my cock, her cunt gripping me tight.

My cock demands to fill her with my seed, claim her as mine with the first of many children—tying her to me until there is no way she will ever be free of me. Grasping her hips. I fuck her deep. She's close but not there. Her cries fill the room, desperate for what’s just beyond her reach.

The harder she comes, the better chance my seed will take and hold. Instead of rubbing her clit to send her into orgasm, I pull out and flip her onto her stomach. I'm out of her for only seconds, but it's too damn long. I slide back in, pressing her breasts down against the bed, as one hand keeps her ass up in the air. There it is, my name is wrenched from her as I hit her g-spot.

Losing herself, her back arches, sending her head back. “You're so fucking sexy on your knees, malyshka. Whether it's sucking my cock like a good girl, or your ass in the air with my cock fucking you deep. Are you ready for my come? Ready for me to breed you, filling you with seed until it runs out of your cunt? Fuck, yeah. Your cunt clenches so fucking tight when I say it.”

I fuck her hard and fast, she’s so wet my speed keeps her from gripping me. In what feels like seconds she hits her climax with my name on her lips. Nothing in this world sounds better than that. Closing my eyes, I follow her into heaven.

This time I'm able to keep from falling onto her. Barely. I bring her down with me onto my side. “I'm keeping my cock inside you. So my seed doesn't leak out. The better to breed you, malyshka.”

Fuck. Her cunt grips me tight, milking me for my come. Even as she whimpers what might be a no.

“No?” I run my hand from her hip down to where I'm buried inside her. “No, what, malyshka? Your cunt wants my come, wants every last drop.”

I chuckle as her body betrays her mind. Her hips begging for more, moving against me. Cupping a pretty pouting breast, I roll the tight nipple between my fingers, then twist painfully. Her squeal is so cute. “Don't tell me no when your body's begging for more. What did I tell you about being a woman? No saying no when you mean yes. Do you like my cock filling you with come?”

A whimper. “Yes.”

Licking her neck, I hum in approval. “Good girl. Do you want my seed? Do you want me to fill you with come?”

Her sigh is louder than her whisper of, “Yes.”

“If you think it's only about getting you pregnant, you're wrong. It's the cherry on top. I'm not looking forward to what might be months without being able to fuck you,” I admit.

“Then why?” Her voice is low.

“I told you, it's to mark you as mine, to get you as addicted to me and my cock as possible.” Need overcomes me, I bite into the skin of her neck where it meets her shoulder, marking her for everyone to see. It goes straight to her cunt. She squeezes me tight. Fucking hell. I'm hard all over again.

“Are you ready, kotyonok?”

“Ready for what?” She pants. Her breathing shallow.

“For me to fill you up again.” I slip my hand down to where I'm still inside her, finding her clit hot and swollen.

“Yes, please.” She whimpers.

I begin moving inside her. “Such a good girl. Asking for what she wants. I love the word please on your lips. I'm so proud of you.”

Celia is fucking me, greedy little thing pushing back against me with desperation. Her need, naked, and uninhibited, snaps my control. Grabbing her hips, I fuck deep and fast. In minutes she’s screaming my name as she comes, I let her spasming cunt pull me into my climax.

For far too long. All I can do is lie with her holding her against me. She'd been slipping into sleep. I need to go now or I won't want to. The moment I pull out of her, she moans from the loss. Christ, what she does to me.

“One minute.” I press a kiss into her forehead. In the bathroom, I clean up. I shake my head as I realize I hadn't even completely undressed for her. All I need to do is pull up my pants and fasten them again. I leave my shirt unbuttoned and wet another washcloth for her.

I find her on the edge of sleep. Gently, I open her legs to clean her. Her blush is sweet, going all the way down to her breasts. Damn, I hadn't even given them a kiss. I rectify that. Pressing a firm kiss to her nipples than lightly sucking each one. When I pull away she reaches for me.

“You won't stay at least until I fall asleep?” Her sleepy question is sad.

Giving in, I nod. “Until you fall asleep. Let me toss this.” I hold up the washcloth.

She’s holding the covers up for me. Sliding into bed, I pull her into my arms. Her head is on my chest. A small hand caresses my chest. I cover her hand with mine to keep her from moving. The brat slips out from under it and traces the tattoo on the back of my hand.

“I thought you said once you didn't want your tattoos showing?” She’s curious.

Since it’s not a question she can know the answer to yet, I shut it down. “I changed my mind.” My tone leaving no room for her to continue asking. Reaching out, I flip the switch to turn off the lights.

Celia is still tense in my arms. It was a mistake to stay.

“Milos?” My name is a whisper.

“What?” Why can’t she go to sleep so this night can end with both of us content?

“Are you okay? Your brothers seemed really stressed when they came home today—"

“No, we don't talk about my business. What happens outside our home stays there.”

Despite me making it clear it wasn’t up for discussion, she pushes. “You did when I was here before. I've heard everything from smash and grabs, to murders ordered, hits that went wrong—"

“It's time I went to bed. Good night.” I let go of her and roll out of bed, ignoring the sound of her sniffling behind me. I hate that I made her cry. But I need to set boundaries and keep to them. For her sake as well as mine.