Nikolai leans forward, his flinty eyes hard. “I do not like the sound of this, Stone. Be careful,” he warns.
“Your mother, she is rather fond of pink diamonds, I understand. Ones from Argyle Park in Australia, specifically, and only those of gem quality, of course. Very difficult to find. Yes?” I ask conversationally.
“Da,” he says suspiciously.
“It seems I have come into a rather large number of these rare pink diamonds, enough to potentially strangle the market. Enough for your mother, the sweet woman, to not be able to get another pink diamond. Ever.”
My look is pure malevolence, and my voice drips with venom as I offer, “I’m sure she could settle for a lab-created one. She’d be fine with that, right?”
Nikolai’s lip curls furiously. “And where are these diamonds?”
With a smirk, I pull the small bag from my inner chest pocket and Caleb magically shows up at my side, providing backup and demonstrating that he was solidly aware of the progress of my meeting, though from the sheen on his forehead, I suspect he’s been dancing this entire time.
I pour several of the pink beauties into my palm, offering them for Nikolai’s visual inspection. His eyes widen in surprise, the reflection of the light glinting from the raw stones to the dark depths of his eyes.
“Please, choose one of your liking. Have it evaluated, appraised, do whatever tests you’d like for authentication. Keep it as a gift—these are just the babies—and then decide if this is something you can do, unpleasant enough but simply one of the considerations we must give to make our families happy. I’m sure Mother Romanov would approve.”
Nikolai sits forward, picking up a three-carat stone from my palm and holding it up for examination. Subtly, I hold my breath, knowing this is the do-or-die moment. I think the stones are enough sway, but he could surprise me and still say no.
In the moment of anticipation, there’s a sudden noise to my right as a tree falls over, revealing Kitty. “Oh, my God!” she proclaims, the horror written plainly on her face. Both Nikolai and I jump to our feet, years of fighting putting us both in ready mode instantly.
I’m so surprised to see her, having been worried about her mingling with the party, that Nikolai jumps to the conclusion I should have first.
“You are eavesdropping! Sneaky whore, come here,” he snaps.
Kitty pales, her lipstick the only color on her face. I have the wherewithal to pour the stones back into the bag and tuck it away, but then she is beside us, cowering in fear. And my hackles are raised.
I don’t know what she was doing, but I don’t like her terror. I need some answers.
“What are you doing, Kitty?” I demand, my voice harsh and biting.
She shakes a bit. “Nothing, I just . . . you said to give you a minute, so I was waiting. For you.” She looks up at me, and I can see honesty in her eyes, but there’s something else. She pushes the drink in her hand toward me. “I got you this.”
Nikolai’s fury is rolling off in waves, though his cold demeanor is what is truly terrifying. “Nyet, she’s is spying, eavesdropping as we discuss business. What did you hear?” he challenges.
“Nothing,” she says, but even I can hear the lie in the word. She was listening, and my first instinct is to eliminate her because of it . . . but something in her eyes stays my hand.
Nikolai looks at me, not so influenced. “She must be dealt with. There is no telling what she has overheard, and more importantly, it is about respect.”
He spits the word like it means something great to him, though I know he truly means fear. “It is your territory so I will defer and let you handle it, or I would welcome the honor to take care of her myself.”
But his eyes flick to Kitty, tracing down her body as he leers at her, and every cell in my body wants to gouge his eyes out for daring to look at her. He goes as far as lifting his hand, running the rough back along her jaw. “Yes, I will kill you, but I will make your last moments sweet. I promise you that, whore.”
Rock. Hard place. And I’m stuck in the middle.
I don’t know Kitty, certainly don’t trust her, but I can’t let Nikolai take her, knowing the ugly fate he’ll give her. Not when there’s something buzzing here between us.
But I have questions, so many questions. Perhaps I can get those answers in a way that doesn’t result in Kitty’s death at Nikolai’s hand.
Her eyes are pleading with me, her breath jagged, but when a small whimper escapes as she waits for me to declare her fate, my mind is made up.
Stupid or not, I jump in.
With a put-upon sigh, I glare at Nikolai and then to Kitty, standing tall and letting every bit of power I wield into my countenance.
I scold her, “What are you doing? I told you to give me a moment and I fucking meant it. You will be punished for your disobedience, Kitty.” I sound like a disappointed father, like a dark romance movie version of a Dom, but the act is enough to get my gist across.
Her eyes flash fire for a moment, but then she sees my demand that she go along with this fantasized kinky tilt to our nonexistent relationship.
She demurely says, “I’m sorry, sir. I was only trying to be good and wait nearby for you to be ready when you wished to return to the party.”
I swear I can hear the quiver in her voice and the urge to curtsy, like some days-past princess. It gives me an idea, a dirty and delightful one.
“Your desire to be close to me has resulted in your interruption of an important meeting. Kneel and apologize.” I’m pushing it, but this needs to be good or Nikolai might just kill her right here and now. He’s done much worse for far less of an infraction.
Beside me, Caleb’s eyebrow lifts, but that’s it. I’m sure if we were in private, he’d be laughing his ass off and asking me what was running through my head, but with Nikolai here, his eyebrow is his only betrayal of his inner thoughts.
Kitty stumbles as she hesitantly tries to lower herself in her heels and dress, and I fight the desire to help her as her right knee smacks into the ground. Punishment should not be easy or kind.
She drops her chin, speaking clearly to the floor. “I’m sorry, sir.”
“And to Mr. Romanov.”
She glances up, eyes meeting Nikolai’s boldly. “I am sorry, Mr. Romanov.” Her chin droops again as she waits for my next order, and I can see her pulse racing in her neck. Though we are role-playing something well beyond our limited interaction, I find I rather like her at my side on her knees.
If only it weren’t under such fearsome circumstances.
Finally, I look back to Nikolai. “My apologies. Kitty is my girlfriend, a rather new and untrained one at that. But be certain that she heard nothing, and if she did hear anything, she heard nothing.” I emphasize the last word, and Kitty swallows loudly and nods silently.
Nikolai’s look is one of calculation as he appraises the situation to see if I’m telling the truth. “Girlfriend or no, you should kill her. Some are simply untrainable, only good for a hole to fuck. And those are easy enough to come by.” He grins, baring his teeth toward Kitty, but her eyes are still downcast so she doesn’t see his leer. “Ha, I made an English joke. Come in a fuck hole. Funny, yes?”
I huff a humorless laugh and lay a hand on Kitty’s head, possessive and protective at the same time. “Yes. But I do care for this one. She has . . . special talents. My apologies again, but I will deal with her as I see fit. I promise you there will be a significant punishment for the disrespect.” I choose his word intentionally, to show that he has been heard.
He hums, and I’m not sure if he’s agreeing with my plan or disappointed that he didn’t get to kill Kitty tonight. Knowing him, it could be either one.
“As to our other business, please take the sample as a token of my friendship. Complete your due diligence to confirm what I’m saying is true, and then we should meet to discuss terms of my safe passage and your receipt of the remainder of the offering.” I keep the terms vague, still not sure what
’s going on with Kitty but needing to finish this meeting on a positive note.
“Da, I will take a sample,” Nikolai agrees, holding out his hand.
Caleb interrupts, holding up a hand. “I think the rather large one you already put in your pocket should suffice. A second should not be necessary for testing.”
Nikolai smirks at Caleb and withdraws his hand, putting it in his pocket. “You cannot blame me for trying.” He turns to me, chuckling. “It is good to have a brother to watch for you.”
I agree, even if Nikolai’s being sarcastic and Caleb’s often a pain in the ass. “He is rather helpful on occasion.”
Nikolai sobers. “This business, it is not done. I do not like your methods, will likely not give you permission, but I will take this sample and consider. Perhaps, we should meet again? The three of us.” His eyes drop to Kitty where she still kneels, and then he squats down, getting on her level, and I think for a moment that he is going to threaten her again, but he looks up at me. “I have found a new hobby, tovarisch of mine taught me. Eating sushi off a naked woman. You could be a beautiful serving platter while we eat. Isn’t that right?”
He makes it sound like that’s a fun evening even as my gut twists in revulsion. Not that seeing Kitty nude and revealed piece by piece wouldn’t be exquisite erotic and culinary torture, but to think that a pig like Nikolai would be there as well twists my guts into a ball.
I don’t answer right away, and Nikolai looks back to Kitty with a smug smirk, whistling. “Or maybe you’d prefer to sit at Nathan’s feet and eat from his hand? Woof-woof.”
I know that she’s reaching her limit, can feel the coiled tension in her about to erupt, and I don’t put it past her to attack Nikolai, not knowing the depravity of what he would do to her in return. I clear my throat and pull his attention back to me.
“Dinner would be an honor. I do prefer to have Kitty sit with me though. I’m afraid this display was rather personal and not our usual style.”
The deference is smooth, even as I agree to a dinner I would prefer not to have. But it does placate him, and what’s more, it seems to intrigue him, a rare feat with a man as ungodly as Nikolai who has seen and done damn near everything.
“Mmm, pity. There may be more to be done on this deal than I expected. I’m sure you would do just about anything to honor your father.”
This time, his smile is pure evil, and I know that while I’m likely going to get my way, it’s going to be costly and I may have to do some things that I’m not comfortable with. Considering what I’ve already done in life, that’s a lot.
I only wonder if I can come out the other side uninjured and with the stone that is my true reason for wanting safe passage through Romanov’s lands in Brazil. Caleb might think following in Dad’s footsteps is foolish, and Romanov might find it dangerous, but I can only hope that I can find the thing that will make this all worthwhile. A diamond that holds the answer to so many questions.
Because by finding it, I will find those responsible for Dad’s murder. I’m sure of it. And I’ll make them pay.
“Within reason,” I agree, though Nikolai and I both know that reason left the equation long ago. For us both.
“I am here for a few weeks. We will do dinner and discuss this plan of yours,” Nikolai says, sliding his hand back in his pocket. I can tell that he caresses the sample stone he slipped there in the confusion of the falling tree. The tell shows me that as invested as I am in the outcome of this potential deal, he is equally so.
With a nod, he moves toward the door and his gang instantly follows, stopping mid-sentence and mid-dance to shadow him, the command to roll out not even needing to be voiced. A few of the hostesses look frustrated, but they’re professional enough that nobody does more than pout.
As soon as the Russians exit, Caleb turns to me, keeping his voice low but angry. “What the fuck, Nathan?”
“Not here,” I growl, my eyes cutting to the guests we still have present. Not all of them are fully aware of my business dealings.
I offer a hand to Kitty, helping her from the floor, but when she tries to pull her hand away, I hold tighter. “Oh, no, Miss Kitty. We have much to discuss, regardless of whether you want to use your claws or not. Come with me.”
She freezes, but when I take firm steps toward the door, she comes along, Caleb bringing up the rear like he fears she’ll make a run for it. I fear the same if I’m honest, because I know if she even makes a single step toward the door, things are going to get ugly.
Safely enclosed in my office, I give her a tumbler of scotch without asking if she’d like it. I figure the best-case scenario is that it’ll steady her nerves which are obviously jangled, and worst-case scenario, it’ll loosen her lips to encourage her to tell me everything.
She takes it without complaint, swallowing it in one go instead of sipping as I’d expected. Her manners, or lack thereof, surprise me considering how demure she’d been earlier. I suspect there are more layers to Kitty than one would first think. The thought intrigues me and makes me uncomfortable, considering what she just overheard.
“Tell me what you were doing. What you heard,” I say firmly.
She shakes her head and sets the tumbler on my desk. “I told you, I was just waiting for you. I didn’t hear or see anything.”
I have to give her credit. She’s a good actress, but the fact that she fell the moment Nikolai was looking at the stones tells me she likely leaned forward to get a better look herself. And that means she’s lying right now. Bold-faced lying.
I tell her as much, evaluating every nuance of her flawless face as I do. “Did you get a good view of the stones? Or did you fall before you could really see them?”
She shrinks under the fierceness of my gaze but then gathers herself, trying to argue her case. “We already did this. I thought you believed me based on that humiliating display you made me put on. Can I just go now? Let’s just pretend none of this ever happened.”
The hope is obvious in the depths of her blue eyes, but I need to squash it with the hard reality. “What we did back there, the humiliating display, as you called it, just saved your life. Because make no mistake that Nikolai would’ve killed you without a second thought. He is a cold-blooded monster clad in human skin. So, you’re welcome for my saving your life. But now, you are left with me. And while I’m definitely the preferable option—I am at least a human being—I am not without my own methods for dealing with lying spies.”
Her breath hitches and her eyes widen, and for the first time her feathers are ruffled. “What? No. I’m not . . . what are you talking about?”
I sigh, frustrated with her, but also with my body’s own reaction to her discomfort. I’ve never wanted to pat someone comfortingly as I interrogated them, that’s for damn sure.
“What. Did. You. Hear?” I demand, my voice loud and booming.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Caleb’s eyes tighten, but he says nothing. He doesn’t like treating women like this, and neither do I, but we both know it has to be done in this instance.
Kitty winces but then looks at me haughtily, like no one has ever dared to yell at her. It makes me want to wipe the pout off her face and teach her some manners.
“Is this the part where I keep saying nothing or the part where I tell the truth?” She says ‘nothing’ like I did to Nikolai when I promised she’d keep her mouth shut no matter what.
“Truth,” I say, curious whether she’ll tell it.
“I heard it all,” she confesses boldly. “Safe passage to Brazil to spread Daddy’s ashes, pink diamonds for Mother Romanov, neither of you wanting to do it but sometimes having to do hard shit. Bad things for good reasons. That about sum it up . . . sir?” She tosses in that last word with so much attitude, she’s daring me to go through with the promise to punish her. I swear she is.
For the first time, Caleb swears and runs his fingers through his hair. “What are we gonna do, Nathan? She can’t go walking around knowing all this shit,
man. Want me to call Jake?”
Kitty looks fearful for the first time, and maybe she finally gets the depth of danger she’s found herself in. I take the moment to evaluate. Could she actually be a spy? If so, she’s a pretty crappy one considering the fall from her hidey-hole spot. Could she have just been waiting on me as she said and gotten curious?
I consider his suggestion, knowing that it is the best and most assured way out of this mess. But there’s another problem. “If I kill her and go to this dinner meeting with Nikolai without her, he will question my judgment, my veracity, my power. And I need him to trust me, at least until I get to the caves and search them.”
Caleb knows I’m right, judging by the way he’s grinding his jaw like he used to when he had to work his way through something particularly disgusting to eat in some godforsaken village in the middle of nowhere. Finally, he says what’s really on his mind.
“Or you just give up on this stupid idea and let it go. Like I’ve been saying all along, there’s nothing there, Nathan.”
I’m not getting into this argument again and choose to stick with the matter at hand instead of rehashing old disagreements. Especially with a new guest in attendance.
“No, I think I’m going to keep her instead.” I smile at Kitty and blow her a sarcastic kiss. “Looks like I just got myself a new girlfriend, Brother.”
She shakes her head instantly, arguing, “No, no, no, no. Did I happen to mention No, like as in Fuck No? Because just in case I didn’t . . . no.”
Every word out of her mouth makes me more certain that I’m doing the right thing. She’s feisty, sassy, and smart, and I like that she is unafraid of me, even when I truly hold her life in my hands.
And no small part of me wants to turn every one of those noes into moaned yeses as she writhes on my cock. I don’t know what she’s doing to elicit that response from me so strongly. I’m more of a hit it and quit it kind of guy, but she makes me want long, repeated sessions. Her on her knees again, me pounding into her mouth. It makes me feel weak. She makes me question my strength.
Power Play: A Romance Collection Page 7
