by Ellie Jean
I. Will. Kill. Him…
Heat surges through to my head. I’m sure a demon just entered my body, sending me to purgatory.
Over my dead body…but I guess that will probably be on his list.
I have handled many negotiations, mergers, security issues and dealt with underworld activity when it has been asked of me, but personal, intimate issues regarding my heart and soul have never been tested. It’s never entered my radar, but hearing those words quietly spoken from Isla’s mouth is sending my mind into a raging abyss.
My hands stop caressing her shoulders and I see the agony in her violet eyes. Is she telling me this because she wants to be with him? I won’t let it happen. I left her for a short time, but it was for her own safety. She can’t want this…
“Isla, don’t ask me to go. Because I won’t. You have my heart. You belong to me.” My eyes are wildly fixed on hers, my hands have closed around her tiny ones. My breathing speeds up with fury.
“Never!” Isla cuts in. “I will never ask you to leave me, Alex, even though I know I should, I can’t. I’m stupidly selfish because I know you need to leave me alone. I know that we will possibly end up damaging each other’s hearts.” Wiping her hands over her face, she takes a breath. “I convinced myself in Las Vegas there would be no more you and me, but the reality is, even though Dimitri will try to hurt me and possibly try to kill you, I can’t ask you to leave. I’m going to need your strength and love to get us through this.” Her voice trembles and tears well in her eyes but she is saying exactly what I am feeling. Together we can fight this. We will we make it through hell to our heaven.
“But if you chose to leave, Alex, I won’t blame you.” Her sincerity is my undoing. I wish I could explain to her how her voice makes my heart skip a beat, how making her smile makes me feel prouder than anything else I have accomplished, and how being with her makes me complete.
“You are mine, Sweetness. Sokolov may think that you will be married to him. But let me make it crystal clear, it will never happen.” My voice is certain and commanding. We have an enormous task ahead of us, but we both know, one way or another, we will be together.
Holding her closer now, flesh on flesh, we are bare to each other and nothing feels more right. Safe guarding Isla and ultimately myself is top priority for the foreseeable future.
Whispering next to her ear, how she is mine, how we fit together perfectly, how our day will come where we don’t have to hide, lulls her psyche, pushing us toward our dreams and future.
Her delicate pale skin illuminates slightly as the curtain moves in the breeze allowing the moon to shine on us momentarily as the cloud wafts past it. Slowly urging her to lay back, my cock is at full attention. Her hands fondle my balls, stroking along my length with her nails, repeating it over and over, sparking my hands into action. Using the slightest touch, I float my fingers over her body, swirling my fingers over her full breasts down to her cleft. She is soaking wet. Teasing her, dipping my fingers inside of her, exploring her beauty, she murmurs my name, it’s my heaven. Wanting to make love to her, but the anger roaming my veins is making that impossible.
“I’m going to be rough, Isla.” Swiftly I spread her legs wider, not taking my eyes from her body. She is my future, my world, my universe. No. One. Will. Take. Her. From. Me.
I line my cock up and ram into her. No one will ever have her again. Her body is all mine.
My hips slam into her at warp speed. There’s no control, only a made man staking his claim. She arches her back, lifting her clit, achieving the desired amount of friction to drive us both out of our minds. My body takes on a life of its own, I have no control as I slap into her, her noises spurring me on to go faster and deeper. Her glorious squeezing starts as she bucks underneath me, grabbing my shoulders with her nails, delectably digging them in to my skin, no doubt piercing the skin, fuck how that turns me on… Crushing, pulsing, more squeezing around my cock pushes me into one of the most intense orgasms ever. The noise escaping my mouth is of pure ecstasy.
Mine…
Resting my forehead upon her chest, her breathing is slowing down, as is mine. Her eyes are drowsy, while she smiles her sweetest smile at me.
“You are mine, Isla. Don’t ever forget it.” The resolution in my voice is very clear.
“Yes, Alex. Only yours.” A small yawn escapes her mouth as I roll onto my side.
“Sweetness, you need to sleep. And I need to leave before Sokolov’s men arrive to watch you. I have left you a phone on your dresser. It has my number in it, plus Seth’s, Liam’s, and Jared’s. If you need me, day or night, use this phone. It’s been set up so it can’t be traced back to us. My men are watching you every minute of the day, Isla. You are safe.”
“Knowing you are still with me, Alex, gives me renewed courage and strength. We will find our happiness together soon, my undercover angel… Soon…” Drifting off, her dark hair lays across the pillow. I run my fingers through the silkiness of it, running them down to her cheek and neck, cupping her face, tilting her lips to mine, kissing her, worshipping her.
Tucking her blanket around her delectable body, I stare at her image before I leave her room, slipping into the darkness, leaving my Sweetness.
Her undercover angel, for now…
Choices…
We all make them. Good or bad, but we all have a choice in life.
Choosing to take the bus to Isla’s earlier seemed like the best choice at the time. So, wandering the streets this early morning hour, trying to get a taxi, with intermittent rain falling on me, helps me to clear the ramblings going through my mind.
My pocket vibrates. Who the hell is calling me at 4:07am in the morning?
Seth’s name flashes on the screen.
“Yeah, man. What’s up?” I ask as I round the corner from her apartment.
“You look like you could use a lift.” His dark blue jeep is idling 200 feet from where I am walking.
Sighing, I hang up as I reach his car, opening the door to Seth’s stony and serious face.
Fuck, my choice to see Isla may not have gone down well with the family.
Closing the door, the vehicle moves. Seth won’t question me. He knows his place in the hierarchy of the family. But being each other’s protection and closest friends for our entire life, he deserves an answer to why I’m risking everyone’s lives.
“I know I fucked up… Fuck man, I know, but she’s everything I think about. She makes me burn from inside out. I’m nothing without her. I had to see her.” Closing my eyes, there’s nothing truer than the words I utter to my closest friend.
“I get it, man. I do.” His eyes stare straight ahead, watching the dark road as we travel it without any lights on. “But, uncle…? We are all trying to find a route in to the heart of this Russians fortress, but it’s going to take time and patience.”
Scrubbing my hands over my days’-old stubble and through my hair, I drop the new bombshell, “The Russian told Isla they will be married in three months. Three fucking months.” My voice trails off. Hearing it off my lips kills another inch of my heart.
Banging the steering wheel with one of his hands, Seth gets another piece of the puzzle. “Fucker. Why the hell does he want that?”
“I have no goddamn idea. I didn’t want to talk about it with Isla. She’s strong. For her family she will do this, but I won’t let it happen. The time frame to end this motherfucker’s life just got shorter. We have three months.” My hands type a message to uncle:
Time frame just got shorter.
Meeting 10am.
That should give me a few hours to try to sleep to clear the haze from my head. Uncle should have calmed down by then too, or he may erupt when I walk in his office. He ordered me to stay away from Isla. And I defied him.
“Take me home, Seth. We both need a few hours of sleep before the next round.” Placing his foot on the accelerator pedal, headlights now on, we both know today is going to be a tough day.
It’s 9:30a.m.
and I am ready as I will ever be. Today I must end my freedom. Walking up the concrete steps, pushing on the wooden door, I step into my work place one last time. God, how I love coming here every morning so that I can assist clients in making their special celebrations a magical and special event. It gratifies me when Jules and I transform any space, transcending people into another place. One that they will remember forever.
I have to make Jules understand with as little fuss as possible.
Slowly crossing the wooden floor to my space, Jules finally hears my silent footsteps.
Rushing toward me she holds out her arms. I collapse into them. She hugs me tight as I take steadying breaths, wrapping my arms around her waist. Who knows when the next time will be?
Without letting me go, her voice calms me, “Isla… Are you sure you should be back? You should have let me know and I would have picked you up today.” Relaxing my arms, I move back from her hug.
“It’s okay, Jules. You know the bus drops me easily enough.” Looking down, avoiding her eyes, I walk to my desk and sit on my chair for the last time. I try to memorize the feel of it. The soft foam cushion and weaved fabric. Nothing special. But something so simple. I chose it and it is mine.
“Actually, Jules, I’m not here for long.” My hands play with my handbag as I drop the next bomb on my best friend. “There’s no easy way to say this, but I have to quit. Today. I’m s…sorry, Jules.” A sadness takes over my face. I can’t stop it. Our business is the only thing that keeps me sane.
“What the hell are you talking about, Isla?” Jules voice is a high-pitched squeal. Her arms wave frantically around in chaos. “There’s no way you can just leave me like that! We have clients and weddings.” Her long blonde hair swishes from side to side as she strides back and forth in the one area, shaking her head. Halting abruptly, she straightens her back, and walks directly in front of me. Looking up at her, I won’t cry. I have to be strong for my family and my friends. Her eyes pierce mine, her voice comes out strong and loud, “What the hell is that Russian asshole doing to you this time? What’s really going on?” She can read my life like an open page book.
My shoulders slump. “I saw him last night. Oh…crap… Jules. I have to do what I am told or you know my mother and brother will be hurt.” I shut my eyes so her piercing blue spears can’t penetrate mine.
“Fuck, Isla. You already have given up the past six years of your life for your family. How much more are you willing to give?” She kneels in front of me as she drops her voice down to a whisper. “You didn’t kill your father, Isla. He did it himself. You aren’t responsible.” Tears once again start rolling down my cheeks.
“Jules, it doesn’t matter anymore. If I leave Dimitri, he will kill my family and I don’t know who else he may go after. I am not willing to take any chances with the people I love.” Following my tears down my face with her fingers, Jules sighs.
Her shoulders sag as she places her head on my knees. “So what are his demands this time?” Her voice is soft as though she is speaking to a broken child.
Defeated I say, “I am now his completely. I’m not allowed to work. I am to move in with him and in three months I am… I’m…” The sobbing takes hold of my body, “…to be…married to him.” My arms wrap around her, holding on for dear life. Christ knows when the next time will be that I see my friend. Hostage in Sokolov’s house from tomorrow, I don’t know when it will be.
Lifting her head so my chin lifts as well, she finds my eyes. Her voice pleads with me. “Isla. This man should be locked up and yet you’re willingly going into the lion’s den. Go to the police. I will come with you. I will tell them everything he has done to you. You can’t marry him.”
I will be praying every night for the next ninety days that I don’t marry Dimitri, but a miracle is going to have to occur. Or Alex…
“I will be all right, Jules. I will still phone you and hopefully I will be able to have you come over, if you can stand it. This is something I have to do. I failed my family once, I won’t let it happen again.” I stand and slowly look around the office one last time for the foreseeable future.
Jules stands up and hangs her head in defeat. She knows she won’t change my mind. I am a stubborn mule when it comes to protecting the ones I love.
“Give me one last hug, bestest friend in the world. I expect a call every day. Okay? You know you can call me any time of the day or night. I’m never far away.” Her warmth radiates through my chilled body as I take in her strength one last time, for now any way.
“You know I love you, Jules, and the business will survive.” Trying hard to hold on for as long as possible, we both stand there wrapped in each other’s arms.
“I have to go.” I embrace her hard, one last time then release her.
“I know… Call me anytime, Isla Winters. I will see you soon though. Some way or another, I will see you soon. And if you don’t call, I will be calling you every night. He can’t stop that!” Turning away from me, I hear her sniffling as she heads to the bathroom. Leaving me to gather my thoughts and memories.
Pulling myself together momentarily, I decide I won’t take anything. Hopefully I will be back one day soon.
Reluctantly, I make my feet move, taking me away from the one thing that has kept me sane over the past years. The unknown making my body tremble. I take a deep breath of the cool air as it blows past me.
Quit job. Done…
Braced for an explosive morning, riding the elevator up to the top floor of my resort to discuss proceedings, I keep my thoughts on track. We are all in this to help Isla. For me… My family is here for me.
Cleaning myself up after days of feeling sorry for myself, the fire inside me has returned. Sokolov is meeting his end sooner rather than later.
At the end of the corridor, I see my uncle’s trusted bodyguards at the door way. No one can get to this floor without a key, but he doesn’t travel anywhere without them and for good reason. The threats to his life may be minimal in Sydney, Australia, but around the world our family is still feared by many other mob families. Keeping a low profile and only acting when it’s completely necessary, keeps mine, Seth’s, Jared’s, and Liam’s family connection hidden.
Marco, six-foot-five and nearly as wide, fitted out in his standard black suit, grey shirt, and black tie, sees me approaching. I’m five minutes early. A smirk crosses his normally serious face, “Good luck in there.” He opens the door for me to enter.
Deep and gruff, my uncle demands, “Fuck! What were you thinking, Alessandro!” Cold black eyes bore directly into me as smoke wafts around the room from his cigar. Benito, his most loyal friend and trusted confidant stands to the right of his shoulder. Nearly as old as my uncle, he is a physical hulk. Someone you don’t mess with…ever.
Not missing a beat, I continue to walk toward the square table where Liam and Jared are already sitting. Leaning back as casual as sitting on a beach verandah, they take in the show that’s about to start. I sit down on the black leather chair holding my uncle’s stare. I know he won’t ask me twice. It’s bad enough he’s had to ask me once.
“Uncle…Stefano,” I straighten my back as tall as it will go and lean forward in the chair. “This girl is mine. I had no choice, I had to see her.”
Fists slam onto the wooden desk, shaking the crystal glasses sitting on it. “I gave you a direct order! You ignored it.”
Calmly speaking I say, “She needed me.”
Scoffing in my face, “Does she need you dead, Alessandro, because that could happen. No protection, no car, no weapon. Fuck!”
“Have you forgotten, Uncle, I’m a trained weapon. After Catherine, and how her connection to me and our family killed her, I won’t be taking any chances again. Let me make that clear. I will be protecting what’s mine. I can’t leave it all to everyone else.” Standing and walking over to the cupboard to get myself a scotch, I pour three fingers and return to my seat. I need to move this along to figure out why we are here.
&nbs
p; “Your stunt has put you directly in danger. And your woman’s.” His stern face doesn’t change. He’s pissed. “Men will be put on you twenty-four-seven. We can’t take any chances.”
Expecting more of a blasting for last night’s actions, I lower my head and eyes as a sign of respect, “I apologize to you.” I know he could sanction me further, so I won’t push him.
The fury still evident in his eyes, he sucks on his cigar and nods.
Seth enters through the door as Benito moves from my uncle’s side and takes a seat next to him. Seth takes a seat next to me. Tension filters through the room.
“Did I miss anything?” Seth asks as we all wait for uncle to address us.
I calmly take a drink, letting the heat of the whiskey burn through my throat. There’s nothing as good as a stiff hard drink at ten in the morning to get the blood pumping.
“We’ve found some info on Sokolov. His main living is at Bennelong Apartments and he has other apartments as offices scattered around Sydney and Melbourne. They are all heavily guarded.” Benito pauses as he takes a suck of his cigar, sending more smoke throughout the room. “He has two bodyguards with him when he leaves his premises. He won’t be easy to take out.”
Leaning back in my chair, I sigh silently. It will only take one bullet and it will all be over with, but I know the retaliation will be the problem.
“What’s Kolton found out about the hold on Isla?” Liam asks, crossing his arms.
Benito recaps what we already know. “The only tie we can confirm comes from Alex’s conversation with Isla. She was his main escort income, and she thinks she killed her father. Sokolov is holding this over her to keep her with him.”
“Which is fucking crap. She’s no killer.” Frustrated with lack of information is making me crazy. “We need him gone now.” Slamming my glass on the table, I’m out of patience.
Clasping his hand on my shoulder, Seth reassures me they all want the same outcome.
Benito takes over. “We have to be smart about it. One chance is all we’ll have. Assuming you were able to get a phone into Isla, we will be tracking her. We have men on her and Kolton has been able to hack into Sokolov’s computer so we have his schedule. There are opportunities, Alex. Patience, my friend.” What I would call a slight smile creeps upon Benito’s face. With only a fraction of his experience, I have to accept what he says.
