“I liked conversing with Ellington and Pierre. They’re quite charming and complete gentlemen.”
His hand slid along her hip as he guided her through a little more crowded space. The feel of his large hand nearly over her ass aroused her incredibly too much. Why couldn’t he have the same feelings for her that she had for him and his team? Why couldn’t he see past her age, her experiences, and just feel?
“Their intentions are not noble. Both men practically had their hands on your ass on the dance floor,” he reprimanded and made her feel like some teenage girl who got caught making out with the older college guy who just wanted to have sex with her.
“Kind of like you right now, with your hand nearly over my ass?” she challenged him.
He went to say something to her but his mother and father appeared. She smiled wide but felt his hand squeeze her hip and pull her close. He kept that hold on her as they spoke with his mother about an invite to dinner. She thanked her for the invitation as she sensed Krane sniffing her hair. As she spoke with his mother, adding to the conversation, he slid his arms around her waist and placed his hand over her belly. She thought she was going to pass out. He was so big, his arms filled with muscles and hard against her petite frame. He could crush her, squeeze her, and bring her pain. Why she had that thought she didn’t know but she remained smiling and talking to his mother and then his father joined them. Mr. Mulicheck gave his son a wink and then held her gaze.
“So, I understand that you’re an artist and a photographer. My wife is an avid collector of fine pieces,” he said.
Mrs. Mulicheck gave his arm a hug. “Daren doesn’t really see the same things I do in a photograph or a painting. He leaves the choices up to me,” she said and smiled.
“Excuse me, you’re both needed in the other room,” one of the guards said to Mr. Mulicheck and to Krane. Krane nodded and then gave Malayna a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll be back. Don’t disappear,” he said and she felt her belly quiver.
“My sons can be so intense, like their father. Sometimes it’s hard to smile when they disappear like that,” Mrs. Mulicheck said to her.
“I’m sure it must be,” Malayna replied.
“You must know how that is, having Nicolai as your father,” she said to her.
“Not really. It’s all new to me. We’ve missed out on many years.”
“I heard about your rescue, but you seem to be bouncing back and are quite comfortable here,” she said and Malayna thought she sounded like she distrusted her.
“Not really, but I need to be.”
“So you’re just showing face, to please the guests and the people who are curious about Nicolai’s daughter?”
“It comes with the territory, sort of like your husband being summoned to disappear during a party,” she replied.
Mrs. Mulicheck held her gaze with a serious expression. “And like Krane being summoned and the disappointed expression on your face.”
She was shocked and she thought about denying it and then just felt it wasn’t worth it. Their mother was a forward woman, one who probably learned to be distrustful because of her husband’s position.
“I like Krane,” she simply said to her.
“What about my other sons?”
“Of course I do. They’re special to me and not just because they rescued me from hell. It’s different,” she said and looked around them to find none of them there watching over her. She placed her hand over her belly.
“They were summoned to the other room, too,” Mrs. Mulicheck said to her. She locked gazes with Malayna. “It was very thoughtful of Nicolai to invite us here to your party. I rarely get to see my sons. When they were in the military it was difficult for me not to worry about them. I prayed every night that God would watch over them and protect them. When they returned they were so different, and they returned with Lucca and Krane and so much changed.”
“War will do that. Anything traumatic and violent can have a great effect on a person and their future views towards life,” Malayna said to her.
“I think you understand that from your personal experience and I think that is why my sons are attracted to you, and so in tune to you.”
“Attracted to me?” She shook her head. “No, I’m afraid what they feel is an obligation. I understand how this works.”
“They’re men, stubborn, forceful, experienced men, but believe me, Malayna, when I tell you that they care for you. I have never seen so many daggers thrown from their eyes each time you danced with another man.”
She looked at their mother and her gut clenched. “I’m afraid they see me only as a victim of that violence they rescued me from. They don’t see me as a capable woman, though younger than them by many years. I’m okay with that for now. I’m trying to establish who I am, where I fit in this life, and in a family I didn’t know existed. I want to make my own name for myself, yet I also want to feel safe, but it won’t be easy.”
“Without my sons by your side, you mean?” she asked.
Her cheeks flushed. Malayna looked around them and no one was close enough to hear their conversation.
“It’s silly of me, right? Perhaps Star and Border were correct, and that I’m confusing their protectiveness and the fact they rescued me with an attraction.”
Mrs. Mulicheck’s eyes widened. “They told you that?”
She was embarrassed now and she looked away. “I shouldn’t be talking about this with you.”
“Why not? It seems to me you’re establishing your own protocol as a daughter of a Russian mobster. Your spunk, your sweetness and directness is refreshing. Assuming that you were abused during that time you were held prisoner, I find it amazing that you’re so strong and willing to make a stand.”
“It is not easy, but your sons are my motivation,” she admitted.
Mrs. Mulicheck held her gaze. “My life has not been a fairy tale, Malayna. I was a victim of abuse, neglect, and wished for death too many times to remember. Then Daren comes into my life and everything changes. I change. I want to live. I want to be strong, and to be free and to have the things I never thought I could have. Border and Star were a blessing, and when they returned from war with two best friends they were willing to die for and vice versa, I took Lucca and Krane in as my own. I love them as my sons and only want what is best for them. They have never shown such interest and care in a woman as they have for you. They are going to resist these feelings. They are going to minimize them and probably claim they are not deserving of your beauty, your youth, and your affection. I may be biased,” she said and winked. “But destiny has a way of bringing love together, and may also be the one power to conquer all other fears and dangers in life. Follow your heart and hopefully my sons will follow theirs.”
* * * *
“They are making threats, hinting that your daughter is a target to get you to comply with the deal they want to make,” Storm told Nicolai. Karlicov, Star and his team, Storm and his team as well as Daren Mulicheck gathered in Nicolai’s office.
“I knew this would be a possibility after my trip and after sealing the deal with Larcovian. Cruz is trying to intimidate me and threatening my daughter’s safety will cost him,” Nicolai stated firmly.
“What do you need us to do?” Star asked.
“I will arrange for more protection. I know she is making business plans this week. Dubkova and Murin need to be updated and made aware of the seriousness of her protection.”
“Has she had any training besides the hand-to-hand combat stuff Murin has been teaching her?” Storm asked.
“Murin has been training her?” Star asked, sounding pissed off. Nicolai looked at Daren and Daren raised one of his eyebrows at his son’s response.
“Yes, and doing quite well from Nalia’s understanding,” Cosivan added to the conversation.
“We should be the ones training her and watching over her,” Border insisted and Star jerked his head at his brother for speaking out.
“Why is that?” Nicol
ai asked, leaning back against his desk and crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“We searched for her the last three years. We rescued her from that prison, and we stood by her all this time. You even assigned us to her when you were on that trip to the Ukraine. We don’t trust any other guards to take her protection as seriously as we will,” Star said to him.
Nicolai looked around the room at all the faces. An extended family of military soldiers, some without blood ties to the family but with more loyalty than some of his closest family members.
“Perhaps you can be more specific as to why you feel you and your team should be her personal bodyguards when that is above your position as members of a top family?” Cosivan pushed.
Star gave him a hard expression.
“She trusts us, and will listen to us without question if we need to make a move quickly to protect her,” Star replied.
“I don’t know. She has a great rapport with Dubkova and Murin. Both men adore her,” Nicolai added to the conversation. He could see Star getting angry as well as the others. Border had looked ready to kill someone all night and Krane was actually biting the inside of his cheek. He looked at Lucca.
“We care for her, Nicolai, and would give our lives to protect her. I think that is fair enough,” Lucca said to him.
“I have to be fair to Malayna and run this by her so she understands the seriousness of this. She trusts the four of you. Be honest with me. Do you have feelings for my daughter that go beyond loyalty to me and your position in the organization?” Nicolai asked.
Star looked at his brothers and they were so damn serious and hard-looking Star felt a mix of emotions. They were warriors and they were part of a good family, one he trusted. They were also reckless in their ways and did dangerous things to accomplish violent, dark orders. Did he want his daughter involved with men so much older, so scarred and capable?
“All we can say at this moment, Nicolai, is that we care for her and would like to offer our protection to her. We will guard her with our lives,” Star said and Nicolai exhaled. They were not going to admit to anything. He nodded.
“Storm, I want you to update Star and his team on all the information you know about Cruz. In the interim, sometime tomorrow, I will speak with Malayna and let her know the change of plans. You will also decide amongst yourselves who will continue her training. Talk with Murin and see where he was at with that. I think that’s it for now. Return to the party,” he said to them. The men nodded and all walked out of the room except for Mulicheck and Karlicov.
Karlicov walked over to the bar and poured them each some vodka.
“What do you think?” Nicolai said to Mulicheck, who took the glass from Karlicov. They each held a glass and Mulicheck looked at them.
“Besides gaining a daughter, you may be gaining four sons-in-law.” Karlicov chuckled and Nicolai smirked.
“They are all scarred in many ways. Their fears, their experiences hold them back from accepting what they have no control over. They’ll fight that love, those feelings to try to protect one another from harm,” Nicolai said.
“But we all know sometimes destiny is inevitable. Malayna is safest if they give in to their attraction and protect her at all times, and at all costs. Otherwise, she will never truly be safe,” Mulicheck said and they agreed then clinked their glasses and sipped their vodka. Mulicheck had been smart enough to protect Soyva and save her from being killed. Nicolai and Karlicov had thought they were doing the right thing by denying their love for their women and protecting from afar. It cost them the loves of their lives, and a future of happiness. Nicolai didn’t want that for his daughter, but this was out of his control. The Mulicheck men needed to make a stand.
* * * *
Malayna sat down in the chair by the windows in her studio. It was late. Most of the guests had left and she had some alone time to think about the night, and of course her past birthdays.
She held a near empty glass of vodka in her hands, her legs tucked under her bottom and her eyes glistening with tears as she looked at the painting she had hidden. She took another sip of the vodka, hoping the warm, tingling sensation could numb her emotions, but it did very little but make her mind wander further into the past.
She tightened up as she closed her eyes and envisioned a time only a year ago today. Cornikup’s hand patted her head as she knelt on the floor next to his feet. His thick, hard fingers grabbed her hair, tilting her head back as he spoke to her and fed her the prime piece of meat. He told her it was special. That he knew it was her birthday and that for years to follow she would be given more and more freedom. Just as long as she remained obedient to him.
She shivered and tightened her eyes as she felt his hot breath against her neck, his fingers delving into her top and stroking her breast. She dropped the glass as she covered her body and then jerked, hearing the sound of it crashing to the floor.
The door sprung open.
“Malayna?” Star and his deep, penetrating tone filtered through the room. She remained in the dimness of the moonlight, her eyes glistening with tears and staring at the picture of the view from floor to tabletop. Just the bottom half of her captor could be seen, along with the thick, long knife he kept in the leather sheath, the strap of leather that held his holster and gun on the opposite side, and the thick, callused hand with the pink and red stone on his pinky finger stared at her.
She jerked as Star’s hands landed on her shoulders from behind. She didn’t twist away. She didn’t say a word. She just cried silent tears until the others joined them.
It was Lucca who knelt next to her chair with an expression of concern, his dark eyes scrunched up and his lips sealed in a thin line.
“Why are you crying?” he asked.
Krane picked up the empty glass and looked at her. “Were you drinking?” he asked her in that tone that reprimanded her and made her feel guilty, of what she didn’t know. Being around them meant so much, but lately she felt like she was walking on eggshells, afraid to say the wrong thing and turn them away from her. What would they think of her now, knowing she had been forced to remain on her knees even on her birthday, a day she had one wish that never came true.
“Malayna?” Border said her name and she blinked more tears from her eyes.
“I’m just remembering where I was a year ago today. Recalling how my birthday was celebrated and how I never got my wish. Not three years in a row did it come true.”
“What wish was that?” Star asked her, his hands still on her shoulders caressing her, infusing strength into her soul.
“To die,” she said and then sniffled as more tears flowed and Star’s hands stilled on her shoulders.
Border sat up and ran his hands along her thighs to her waist and pressed against her. He gripped her hips and gave her a shake. “If that wish came true, baby, then you wouldn’t be here with us now. You wouldn’t have Nicolai, Aspen, Nalia, or all the other family you have.”
She heard his words and felt his touch to her core. It was crazy but with him and Star touching her, holding her at the same time, she felt aroused and safe. She looked at Border and swallowed hard.
“I’m grateful to be here. To be alive and to have the opportunity to find happiness. I just don’t think I’ll ever feel whole, or not have this gap inside my heart, inside my spirit ever filled. It’s not something for you to have to worry about. I’m sorry. Why are you still here? Isn’t it late?” she asked, leaning forward as if she would get up even though she felt tipsy from the vodka.
“Slow down. There’s no need to get up. We stayed so we could spend some time with you,” Border told her.
“That’s nice, but I think I’m going to head to bed.”
“Not before we give you your birthday gift,” Krane said to her. She sat up in the chair and looked up at him then at Border, Lucca, and Star who moved to stand in front of her, too.
Lucca pulled out the small red velvet box.
“We know that Nicolai has gotten
you anything you could need. It’s just a little something Border thought of,” Lucca said and winked.
“Border?” she asked, surprised at that. He was so resistant to showing emotion. He was as hard and defiant as Star.
She smiled softly as tears filled her eyes. “You didn’t have to buy me anything. Just you all being here for my birthday means so much to me.”
“Really?” Star asked.
“Yes. I told you before, I feel safest when you’re around me.” She held his gaze a moment as he squinted at her like he didn’t believe her.
“Open the gift,” Krane pushed, revealing his excitement. She slowly opened the box and her heart swelled with love for them. Inside was a small gold paint palette, with a tiny diamond-studded paintbrush with chocolate diamonds lined up to look like the bristles of the brush, so delicate and tiny. Then for each color was a different set of tiny stones to look like paint. Red garnets for red, topaz for yellow, emeralds for green, blue sapphires for blue, and an orange spessartite garnet the color of a sunset.
“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered.
Border took the box from her hands, removed the necklace, and then went to put it on her. She stood up and lost her balance, but Lucca and Krane placed hands on her hips to steady her. She was surrounded by them.
“I drank a glass of vodka,” she said to them.
“One glass?” Star questioned her.
She held his gaze as she lifted her hair to give Border room to put on her necklace. She knew she looked sexy in her dress and that they couldn’t seem to keep their eyes off her all night. “Yes, just one, Star,” she said firmly. She was shocked when she felt Border’s lips press against the back of her neck and over the clasp of the necklace.
She let her hair down and placed her hand over the pendant, looking down before she glanced up at Lucca. “I love it,” she told him.
Lucca pulled her close and kissed her cheek, letting his lips remain against her skin. She gripped his forearms and inhaled his cologne then felt his lips kiss her again. Border pressed her hair away from her shoulder and kissed her bare skin there. She tightened up and closed her eyes as her body erupted with desire.
The American Soldier Collection 15: Their Battle for Love (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 7
