“Probably giving us this time together,” Lucca said and kissed her shoulder.
“That’s a special bond you four have. To know when the others are hurting and need something. You met while serving, right?” she asked.
Lucca swallowed hard.
“We did, and had gotten into the same special operations team, too. Star and I had tried to remain in different groups but we both were accepted into this special operations division with about a dozen other men,” Border told her.
“That’s impressive. Was it hard to do dangerous missions with your brother? Like did you worry about Star and did he worry about you?”
“Of course, but the team was pretty elite, and we’re all close.”
“Some closer than others,” Border added and played with her necklace then caressed her collarbone.
“So you keep in touch with the others?” she asked.
Border stopped touching her and looked at Lucca. Lucca swallowed hard and locked gazes with Malayna.
“We lost a lot of guys on one particular mission. It was right before we were going to settle down a bit and were considering retiring,” Lucca said to her.
“That’s terrible. I couldn’t imagine losing such close friends, fellow soldiers like that.”
“It was terrible. Things happened,” Border said to her. She ran her hand along the tattoos on his arms and Lucca watched her caress his skin.
“Is that where the scars under your tattoos came from?” she asked, shocking both of them.
“Don’t,” Border said in a firm tone.
She took a slow breath. “Don’t what? Don’t ask, don’t care. Don’t want to know why you got so sad tonight and angry?” she pushed.
“I don’t want to talk about it. There’s no need to talk about it or to relive it,” Border said to her.
“You were reliving it tonight at Casper’s. Did you see pictures of men you lost there in the mission?” she asked.
“Malayna,” Lucca warned her.
She looked at him.
“I want to know. From the start, from when we first met and you guys, Star, and Krane rescued me, I felt like you understood what I went through, where my fears lie. It’s like I didn’t even have to talk about the things that happened in detail. You just understood it. Am I wrong?” she asked.
Lucca felt his chest tighten and Border was straight faced, unwilling to respond.
“No, Malayna, you’re not wrong. You’re right. Border and I were held prisoner by the men we were sent to eliminate.”
“Don’t, Lucca. She doesn’t need to know and we don’t need to think about it,” Border said to him.
“Maybe we do. We’ve been pissed off all night, and we instantly remembered the effects that week had on us. We should have died,” Lucca said to Border.
“You were held prisoner? Both of you?” she asked as tears filled her eyes.
“Yes,” Border said.
“It was a week of hell, absolute fucking hell. It was so bad, to watch other men being tortured and killed. Treated like animals, not human beings. We wished for death.”
“We don’t need to share the gory details,” Border said firmly and rolled to his back. Malayna ran her hand over his belly and up his chest. She laid her cheek against his chest and Lucca snuggled closer against her naked body and laid his cheek against her back. They were both holding her close.
“Sometimes, when I think about painting and placing something on the white, bare canvas that reminds me of them, and of the torture and abuse, I feel like if I do, if I paint those images that haunt me that I’ll give them life, and power. But then some of the other things I’ve painted that reminded me of them, of that place, my prison for three years, I think maybe it could help me let go and forget it all. Put it behind me and just live my life.”
Lucca kissed her skin.
“You’ve painted other scenes and felt relief and closure. Perhaps it would be the same for the other things. You’ve focused on the positives in your photography and your paintings,” Border said to her.
“The same could be true for you. Maybe if you do something to forget those times so you can both replace them with good things and fond moments it will be rewarding and a way of never forgetting what your friends sacrificed and always remembering them for the soldiers and friends they were. That you all got to live, because you were meant to do more in this life and to rescue me,” she said to them.
“Aw, Malayna,” Border said to her and brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. Lucca kissed her cheek and then lifted up to caress her ass.
“We love you so much,” he said to her.
“We all do,” Star added, joining them in the bedroom along with Krane. They approached the bed.
“Do we get to love our woman tonight, too? Because tomorrow night I think she is going to be exhausted after the show,” Krane said to them and winked at Malayna. Malayna smiled.
“Think I could use my four fiancés to make love to me together. You up for it?” she asked Star and Krane.
Krane shoved his boxers down. He stroked his cock. “Does this look like I’m up for it, little painter?” he teased.
“Little painter, huh? I think I like that,” Border said, smiling. Malayna moved from between Border and Lucca and crawled to the edge of the bed.
“I think I know exactly what you need.” She pulled Krane closer and lowered her mouth to his cock. Border and Lucca moved out of the way as Star undressed then climbed up onto the bed and moved in behind Malayna.
“Oh yeah, we are definitely up for loving our woman.” Malayna gasped as Star thrust into her pussy from behind in one smooth stroke. He slapped her ass then grabbed on to her hips. “I thought of nothing else all night but getting you back here to make love to you. Hearing my brothers making you scream out their names was fucking torture downstairs,” Star told her as he pumped his hips faster and faster then slid his hands under her to play with her breasts.
Krane ran his hands through her hair as he pumped his hips. “I’d say our security teams know exactly how wild our little painter really is in bed.”
Malayna pulled from his cock and gasped. “What?” she asked, looking completely embarrassed. Her cheeks were red and she looked shocked.
Krane chuckled and Star pulled out of her, turned her around, and lifted her up onto him as he lay on his back. He slid to the edge of the bed as Krane stood up and Lucca passed him the tube of lube. She slid over Star’s cock and he shoved up into her.
“The secret is out. Our woman is a little seductress in the bedroom,” Star teased her next.
“Oh God, are you serious?” she asked him and then she jerked as Krane pressed lube to her ass with his fingers. He hung over her back as he stroked them into her.
“No, we’re just teasing. No way do we want other men to know how wild and crazy you are in bed, or how badly you love a dick in your ass, in your pussy, and in your mouth at the same time.” He slapped her ass and pulled his fingers out.
“Krane,” she scolded and went to give his thigh a slap but Star grabbed her wrists and pulled her down against his chest.
“We’re in charge, remember that.”
As she went to speak, Krane slid his cock into her ass and shoved in deep.
“Oh,” she moaned.
“That’s right. Not so mouthy now, are you?” Star teased her and then kissed her deeply.
Lucca laughed as Border came back from the bathroom after washing up.
“I think she’s missing something,” he said as he stroked his cock and climbed up onto the bed.
Star released her lips and then glanced at Border. “Come on, baby, you need a nice thick cock in that mouth,” Border said and she looked at him with hooded eyes as she opened her mouth and accepted him.
Lucca watched with such love and adoration for his family. Together like this nothing else mattered. Just then Krane grunted and came as he jerked his hips and then kissed Malayna’s back. He eased out of her and she wiggl
ed her hips. Krane gave her ass a smack.
“Looks like our little painter needs another cock in her ass.”
Lucca smiled and ran his hands along her ass cheeks. “We aim to please. Wouldn’t want her to ever feel empty,” he said, his heart racing, his body in need of claiming Malayna again and again so he could always feel the love she gave and the sensation of being free and able to let go. As he slid his cock into her ass and closed his eyes to relish in the feel of her, he felt the slight pinch of foreboding. Something made him still have a bit of worry, but the sounds of their moans and the way Malayna pushed back against his cock made him push those sensations aside and delve in deep to the sensations of love, and of family they sacrificed so much to get here.
Chapter 9
“Where did you pick up this information?” Star asked one of his men over the cell phone. He was in Chicago and looking into the drugs and money stolen from Cruz that Cruz claimed Nicolai was part of.
“An associate of my uncle was drinking at Talib Larcovian’s bar. He saw Pedro Cruz meeting with him before going into the back office. It didn’t sit right with him that those two would be doing business together. Anyway, he called me and I thought it seemed suspicious so I tracked down Cruz and found out that some guy came to see him a few weeks ago. Cruz was blabbing to his guys about making some big money and taking over Nicolai’s territory because the guy was going to get killed.”
“What?” Star asked, and then walked out of the gallery to the back hallway to talk. Border followed him.
“What else? Any word on who the guy was?”
“I had one of our guys go hang out with Cruz’s guys at the bar. He got them nice and liquored up. Seems that the guy who made this deal with Cruz is Russian. A big dude, too. Has tattoos on his arms, and is a mean-looking son of a bitch from what Cruz’s guys say. Also found out that Cruz met with Larcovian to get a schedule or some information on where Malayna would be the next two weeks.”
“What?” Star asked, teeth clenched.
“I know. Seems like Larcovian is helping Cruz and this Russian out. I think Nicolai’s daughter is in danger. What do you want us to do about him and Cruz and finding this Russian asshole?”
“We head back tomorrow. I’m going to talk to Nicolai and let him handle Larcovian. I’m personally going to handle Cruz tomorrow.”
“I’ll keep my ears open and keep watch over both of them and maybe catch this Russian dude. Star, so you know, our guys after they talked with Cruz’s men, they said this guy was bad ass and big. A real mean son of a bitch. They never saw him before, but they were scared of him.”
“Keep me posted on everything. We’ll meet up when we get back tomorrow afternoon.” Star disconnected the call and told Border all about it.
“Fuck, do you think it could be Vlladim?” Border asked.
Star held his gaze and felt his blood pressure boil.
“I think it is him. Malayna is going to panic.”
* * * *
Malayna was so excited, she couldn’t have asked for a better turnout or for more positive remarks and kudos for her work. In fact, she was thinking about adding some additional photo scenes to the gallery in Chicago and the show scheduled for next week. She wanted to talk to Ellington about it and saw him heading down the hallway toward the offices. She followed when she felt the hand at her waist and Krane accompany her. “Where are you sneaking off to?” he asked.
She chuckled. “Not sneaking. I’m looking for Ellington and saw him head to the offices. I want to talk to him about the gallery next week and an idea I had. Could you let me talk to him alone?” she asked.
He squinted his eyes at her. “Alone? What are you up to?”
She laughed. “Come on, Krane, I’m not up to anything. Ellington knows that we’re engaged. I’ll be back shortly.”
He hesitated and then pulled her close and kissed her. He gave her ass a slap. “Hurry,” he said and she smiled then headed down the hallway.
As she got to the office she knocked and heard Ellington’s voice.
“It’s Malayna, can we talk? I have an idea and I want to run it by you.”
As she turned the knob to enter, she felt the gun against her back. She gasped as a strong arm pulled her to the right and out the side door.
She struggled to get free, kicking and screaming, hoping to alert someone to her being taken. The gun pressed harder against her and the back door swung open. She saw Krane and he reached for his gun when the man holding her shot him. Krane went down.
Malayna screamed and kicked but couldn’t get free. She heard the sounds of tires squealing and then a van approached and the man pulled her into it. He threw her onto the floor of the van, ripping the dress she wore and making her cheek hit the metal flooring. The gun was pressed to the back of her head.
“Cooperate. He said he didn’t care what we did to make you cooperate, just keep you alive.”
She cried as she felt the pain to her cheek and the realization that Krane had been shot. Who were these people? Were they part of Cruz’s crew? Oh God. Krane? Krane, please be alive. Oh God. She cried. “Who are you? What do you want with me?” she demanded to know.
“Are you part of Cruz’s gang? He can’t get away with this,” she carried on, rolling over and getting up. The guy struck her in the face then shoved her down. She was so scared. She couldn’t believe this was happening. Where was the security? How did they get this close? Was Krane alive? She cried as she listened to the man driving talk on the phone. He was speaking in Russian and she understood it. The moment he said Vlladim’s name she gasped and felt her entire body begin to shake. Vlladim was alive and in Texas? He came for her. He didn’t give up finding her. He said he wouldn’t, and that he would come back and make her his. Oh God, no. No.
* * * *
The gallery was in total chaos. Police were arriving on the scene. Border was by Krane, who had taken a gunshot to his shoulder. He was pissed off and carrying on about not going to the hospital but trying to find Malayna.
“I’m not going. I’ll be fucking fine. Where are the guards? How the fuck did this happen?” Krane yelled at them.
“They were killed. We found their bodies by the back and in the other office,” Lucca told him. The paramedics arrived. “Let them take you to the hospital. You won’t be any good to us like this. We’ll find her. We have everyone on top of this and a make of the van. Let us do what we do best, Krane. You need this bullet removed.”
“I’ll go with him. My men will be helping you anyway,” Nalia said to them as she knelt next to Krane.
“Fuck. Find her, Lucca. She can’t go through something like this. She can’t,” Krane said to him as the paramedics made him get onto the gurney with his brothers’ help.
Lucca watched as Nalia went with him and then he looked at Boian and Viktor.
“What did you find out?” he asked them.
“Star is on the phone with someone, but Nicolai called. It’s Vlladim, Lucca. He made a threat to Nicolai and told him he would have Malayna in his possession in less than a few hours,” Viktor said to him.
Lucca felt the color leave his face and then the anger hit him hard.
“What do we do? How the fuck do we find her and find him?”
“We’re working on it. It might take some time, but he had to have had help in this obviously, and that means someone knows his plan and where he’s headed. We’ll find her. Everyone is going to work on this together,” Viktor told him.
* * * *
Conway, the Chief of Police, kept them abreast of what was going on. Star was grateful that the camaraderie from being soldiers got them a shitload of help tracking the van and trying to find Malayna before Vlladim could hurt her. They were all doing what they could. Everyone was offering help, even retired Special Forces soldiers were on board for whatever was needed. Even Gunny, a Texas Ranger, offered assistance.
He got off the phone with Dylan, one of his men who called him earlier indicating that Cruz and Larc
ovian were helping to sabotage Nicolai’s businesses, and that Cruz was helping Vlladim. It killed him inside to think that Malayna was hurt and that the man who had been abusing her, holding her against her will and made it clear to her that he wanted her for himself, now had her in his possession.
He worried about Krane, who was beating himself over the head about letting her walk down the hallway alone to speak with Ellington, who didn’t even know what was going on until he opened the door and saw that Malayna was gone. A glance up the hallway and there was Krane looking concerned and hurrying toward him. They knew something was wrong. Star heard the gunshot and then people scream.
He ran as did the others and it was too late. Krane was shot and the van was speeding away.
He ran his fingers through his hair and paced the hallway. He needed to be smart here. Nicolai was fuming and trying to deal with things in Chicago and worried about Malayna. He looked up to see Dubkova and Murin there. He had placed them in the front of the venue where they could watch the people come and go and keep an eye on things. He should have had them shadow Malayna. Hell, he should have been by her side, but they were trying to give her space and let her be independent and in control of her new profession. Everyone was talking about her work, both the photography and the paintings. He had to get her back. They were nothing without her.
How could this happen? They let their guards down. Forgot who they were and what type of world they came from. They were bringing her into this world. She accepted that, and they failed in protecting her.
“What do we do next? We have to make every effort to weed these assholes who helped Vlladim out,” Border said to him. Lucca was there, too. Star had been thinking about what needed to be done.
“Vlladim is slick, but he’s also on the run. He had to have had help in taking her, we know that. Now we have to figure out where he’s taking her.”
“Out of the country?” Border asked and looked sick with fear.
The American Soldier Collection 15: Their Battle for Love (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 14
