by Sienna Snow
I’d spent so much of the last eight months angry at her, and with one conversation with Sebastian, everything had disappeared. Our mothers and grandfathers had been trying to keep Sebastian and me alive.
It would have been great if I was aware of all that was going on at the time. It would have also been better to learn this information from my husband before he left on his “mission” as he’d put it.
But I couldn’t fault him for that bit. I wasn’t conscious at the time Adrian and Sebastian left to handle Jonas and Malkovich.
I hadn’t woken until two days after Sebastian returned to Germany and then it had taken me another two weeks to recover from the gunshot wound and concussion.
Now it had been two full months since I’d seen Sebastian and Ana had seen Adrian. The constant worry for our men was exhausting. It was worse for Ana—she was almost due and experiencing some of the milestones of pregnancy without Adrian. She had her crazy family around her, but it wasn’t the same as being with one’s own husband.
“Soon, Mama.”
“At least tell me where you are. Do you know how worried we are? Oma spends all her time at the chapel praying, and your father…” She paused as if trying to compose herself. “He isn’t himself.”
Sebastian had told me during one of my first conversations with him after he’d arrived in Germany that Papa had been ready to wage war on Malkovich when he learned I’d been shot. He’d gone as far as calling a meeting of all the heads of the allied families to garner support for a takeover without retaliation.
Thankfully Sebastian had talked Papa down from what could have been a very public and a very brutal fight with God knew how many casualties. Which meant the authorities would get involved and that would cause problems for everyone all around. Sebastian had convinced Papa to keep up the business-as-usual image, while Sebastian used their connections to topple Malkovich’s organization from the inside out.
That was the extent of the information he’d given me. He wanted to keep me out of the loop.
I’d essentially gone into hiding. Confined to Ana and Adrian’s property, with its state-of-the-art security and personnel. Truthfully, it wasn’t a hardship to be at the mansion.
At least I was able to communicate with the staff of my clubs to discuss operations. I guess it helped that Sebastian made periodic visits to each venue to make sure everything was running smoothly.
I missed Sebastian, so much. And the sporadic calls weren’t enough. I worried for him and what he was doing to make it safe for me again. He wouldn’t stop until he reached his goal.
The time apart also made me realize I did trust him. With my life, my body, and my heart.
Since the last time we were together and he’d told me he loved me, he’d ended every call with those words.
I’d held back.
There was no doubt I loved him, but it scared me to say it and be hurt again.
“I’m sorry, Mama. I can’t.”
“Have you spoken to him?”
“Yes. He calls me nearly every night.”
Though this time, he’d gone longer. Three days, in fact.
“So, the rumors are true. He’s doing all of this for you.”
“Doing all of what?”
From the information I researched daily, territory wars were in full swing throughout the major cities in Germany. They weren’t wars as most people believed but strategically planned assaults on major players where the lowest number of casualties occurred. There was never any mess for the public to clean up, just an underlying knowledge that something happened.
“He hasn’t told you?”
“Told me what?”
“Your father-in-law’s body was found last night.”
My stomach dropped. No matter if Jonas wasn’t Sebastian’s father or that he’d been responsible for the death of Sebastian’s mother and sister, I wouldn’t want his death on Sebastian’s hands.
“How?”
“Malkovich. From what I heard, Malkovich blames Jonas for bringing war to his territory. Jonas’s body washed up on the shore of the Spree River.”
I shouldn’t feel it was justice that his fate was the same as the one he let happen to his wife and daughter.
“What about Malkovich? Is he alive?”
“Yes, unfortunately, he’s alive.” The way Mama said that made me realize how much she hated the man.
“So, he gets away with what he did to us. For sending Kane after us. For what Kane did to Lilly?”
My heart ached for my best friend. She’d all but turned into a recluse. She blamed herself for bringing Kane into our lives. A sweep of Lilly’s apartment revealed multiple recording and transmitting devices. Without realizing it, Lilly had relayed key things about me and my relationship with Sebastian. It was something I wasn’t sure Lilly would ever forgive herself for doing.
“No, he hasn’t gotten away with it,” a deep voice said behind me. “I made sure Malkovich won’t be a problem now or in the future. And Kane, as you know, was handled by Lilly’s father.”
I froze and my skin prickled. “Mama, I have to go.”
“What’s going on? Are you safe?”
“Yes, I’m as safe as I can be.” Without saying anything else, I hung up and turned.
Sebastian leaned against the doorframe of the balcony doors. There was a healing bruise on his temple and cheek. He’d grown out the light dusting of stubble he always carried to a full-blown beard, almost giving him a piratical edge.
“Baz.” My voice cracked.
“You shot a man.”
“Yes. I’d do it again.”
His lips quirked at the edge. “As long as it’s not me, I have no objection.”
I took a step toward him, when he lifted a hand to stay me.
“I have one request.”
“Okay.”
“The next time I tell you I love you, you aren’t allowed to get shot. My heart can’t take it. And…”
“And what?”
“You have to tell me you love me back.”
“I have no problem with that.” My lips trembled as the emotions of the last few weeks seemed to rush forth.
I never wanted to be apart from him again. Not like this, anyway.
Sebastian stalked toward me, engulfing me in his arms. “God, baby. I missed you.”
My tears flowed free as I held on to Sebastian.
“I love you, Isa.”
I wouldn’t hold this from him again. He needed the words as much as I did.
I pulled back to look into his dark eyes. “I love you. More than you could ever know. The good, the bad, and the Baz.”
A smile touched his lips. “And the Baz?”
He carried me to a chair overlooking the desert and sat down with me in his lap.
I couldn’t help but return his smile. “Too much?”
“Not in the least.” He cradled me against him, pressing my face into his chest.
“Did Adrian come back with you?”
“Yes. He’s with Ana.” He paused, smirked, and then said, “Groveling.”
Ana had told me over the last few weeks that she was going to make Adrian work his way back into her good graces. Which meant sex in her book. Hopefully it wouldn’t induce labor.
I pushed that thought back and focused on the man holding me to him.
“Speaking of groveling. I believe you need to do some.”
“I just spent the last month cleaning up a territory war. I promise I haven’t engaged in any activity that requires me to grovel.”
“You did leave me without a word.” I shifted my body so I could straddle him, settling one knee on each side of his thighs and my arms around his neck.
Sebastian gripped my waist. “I’d argue that you were asleep and weren’t available for consultation.”
“Those technicalities aren’t important.”
“How would you like me to grovel? You name it, I’ll do it.”
I thought about it for a second and then sai
d, “I’d like another night at the club in Ida.”
Heat entered Sebastian’s eyes, sending a tingle deep in my core.
“How about the one you visited in Berlin? I know the owner.”
I licked my lips and leaned forward to graze my mouth against his. “Let’s play here today and then visit the one in Berlin tomorrow.”
“Anything you want, Prinzessin. Your wish is my command.”
THE END
Gods of Vegas Book 1
Read the first book in the Gods of Vegas Series:
www.books2read.com/masterofsin
It was always him...
The one I shouldn't want, shouldn't crave, the one who could destroy my carefully built life.
Hagen Lykaios was the essence of sin, indulgence, and danger - everything I knew to avoid.
All it took was one unexpected touch, and he consumed me, left me begging, needy, and hungry for more.
He said if I entered his world he would corrupt me, own me, and change all that I had ever known...and you know what? I went anyway.
About Sienna Snow
Inspired by her years working in corporate America, Sienna loves to serve up stories woven around confident and successful women who know what they want and how to get it, both in – and out – of the bedroom.
Her heroines are fresh, well-educated, and often find love and romance through atypical circumstances. Sienna treats her readers to enticing slices of hot romance infused with empowerment and indulgent satisfaction.
Sienna loves the life of travel and adventure. She plans to visit even the farthest corners of the world and delight in experiencing the variety of cultures along the way. When she isn’t writing or traveling, Sienna is working on her “happily ever after” with her husband and children.
Find out more about Sienna at www.siennasnow.com
Books by Sienna Snow
Rules of Engagement
Rule Breaker
Rule Master
Rule Changer
Politics of Love
Celebrity
Senator
Commander
Gods of Vegas
Master of Sin
Master of Games
Master of Revenge
Master of Secrets
Master of Control
Collections
Take Me To Bed
Reckless Rome (A Cocky Hero Club Novel)
Intrigued By Love
Street Kings
Dangerous King (2021)
Street Kings Book 2 (2021)
Street Kings Book 3 (2021)
Street Kings Book 4 (2021)
