The War: Bratva Blood Two : (A dark mafia romance)

by SR Jones

  Andrius pulls on the cigar, the red light under his ghostly eyes making him look otherworldly for a moment, and then he blows out and carries on speaking.

  “Okay, you’re aware what Liam does. Can you guess how many millionaire and billionaires there are in Northern Corfu at any one time?”

  I shake my head.

  “A fuck-ton, my friend. And they all need security. Right now, they don’t have it, or not to the degree one could argue they should. In London? They’re covered. In New York? They’re fine. If they’re Russian, they’re probably surrounded by armed to the hilt men in Moscow, but what about when they holiday in Spain or Italy or Greece?”

  “They’ll take some of their men. I’m sure.”

  “Yes, they will, but those men won’t know the area, or how the land lies. They won’t be as highly trained as us.”

  I’m starting to see where he’s going with this, and I’m incredulous. “You want me to become a bodyguard to rich people? Andrius, I am the rich people.”

  He chuckles. “Yes, you are. And no, I don’t think we should become bodyguards. I think we should build a private army.”

  I lean forward, more interested now. “Go on.”

  “I’ve been talking to Liam. He guards people personally, but he also trains up rich people’s own security. You know what it’s like. Some A-lister hires a guy who is seven foot tall and nearly as wide thinking that’s impressive, but the guy has no real skills. We train up an army of people with real skills. We base the training center on Corfu. We charge a fucking fortune for anyone who wants to hire one of our guys after, on top of what they have to pay the man they hire, of course. A finders’ and trainers’ fee, if you will, that’s all ours. We only take on the very best, and we train them to be even better, to our standards.”

  “Yes?” I’m interested, but I’m not biting, not quite yet.

  “Liam, his guys, and you and me build the world’s premier security firm. We have a private army that we rent out to those who can afford it, which let me tell you, will be few and far between. A few things happened, all dovetailing to making this a go.” He takes another drag of his cigar and blows out a perfect smoke ring. It wobbles up to the ceiling before dispersing. “There’s a massive plot of land five minutes from my home on Corfu. It was riding stables, so it’s got a lot of out buildings. We convert it into a barracks. We bring on the best of the best. Mercenaries, retired military, hell, guys from our world, if they want out. Who cares so long as they are good at their shit? We train them, and we rent them out to the richest people in the world for an exorbitant fee.”

  “Let me guess. You need my money?”

  He smiles. “Actually, as it happens, no. If Liam, his three men, and I put in, we can afford it. We want you. I don’t want to run it on my own. Liam wants to stay in Yorkshire, as does Ethan, but Reece and Pamela, they’re happy to move. I wanted to speak to you before I discussed it with them any further. The plan is this. Reece, me, and you, if you’re in, build the barracks and training arena. We recruit the first tranche of men and then we supply them very strategically.”

  “Strategically how?”

  “The first people we supply are in our world. We give men to Allyov. He’s shitting himself that the Armenians or someone else are going to end him and his family. He’s got Alexei and his own men, but he doesn't have enough that he feels safe. And you know, most of them came up from the streets. They aren’t scared of a fight, but they aren’t technically much good. Half of them couldn’t shoot a stationary target on a good day. This way, Allyov gets the best security money can buy. We also hire men out to a few people Liam’s handpicked. Hugely rich and powerful. I’m talking more powerful than a small nation. You and I, of course, would cream the best off the top of the crop. Keep them with us, have them help train up the next tranche, but also be backup security.”

  He sighs. “I’m lucky that Aram didn’t come after me at my home. If he had done so I’m not sure my systems, as good as they are, would have kept him out. This place? You should see it, K. We could build a barracks, a training center, and four or five private residences and still have acres to spare. It’s easy to defend. It’s beautiful. I’d sell my place and build on there.”

  “Communal living, eh?” I smile, but I’m not sure. I like my own space.

  “It works for Damen and the Greeks, and they’re in the same house. We wouldn’t be. Totally private residences. Hell, there’s enough land, we wouldn’t have to see one another’s houses if we didn’t want to.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Of course, you need time to think. I’m in, K, whether you are or not, but I’d prefer it if you were. Brothers in arms again. You could carry on the legit side of things here in the UK, visit whenever you had to. Your base, though, could be Corfu.” He pauses and sips at his drink before placing the heavy tumbler back on the coaster. “Cassie, though? She could stay on Corfu. She’d love it there. Violet does. It’s fucking beautiful. Hell, she could move her grandparents there, and they could have a cottage on the land. Our women would be safe. If you had children, they’d be safe.”

  I’ve taken a sip of my drink, and I choke a little on it. “Fuck me, I’ve only gotten used to the fact I love the girl; don’t throw babies into the equation.”

  “Michael is marrying into the Bianchi family, yes?”

  I sigh at the reminder. “I think so, yeah. Not sure I like it, but if he backs out now, it’ll cause a fuck-ton of trouble. My fear for him is what would happen if it went wrong in the future.”

  Andrius leans forward, smiling at me, his teeth glinting white in the dim light, and he goes in for the kill. “The Bianchis won’t be able to get to Michael if he’s on Corfu on a guarded compound that trains the hardest, baddest, most exclusive private army in the world. You do this, he’s always got an out if he needs one. It means you can stop worrying. He can marry the girl, and if in ten years time, it isn’t working, he can come to you.”

  Fuck me, but when Andrius goes for the hard sell, he does it well.

  “What about everything I’ve built? Moscow, the West Coast? I don’t know.” It’s tempting, but there’s a lot of wealth and power to walk away from.

  “Give it to Vasily and Bohdan.”

  I think about it. I could walk away officially, but leave them in charge.

  Andrius shifts in his seat and runs a finger around his collar. A tell he’s about to say or do something he’s not entirely comfortable with.

  “Thing is, K. I want out, out. This is a great chance for both of us. You get to keep your legit business, which is what earns you a fuck-ton these days, and you get to build something new. I’ve got some rough figures, and we can make a killing. But you do this? You get out of the other side of things completely. I’m not willing for that world to come back after me. I’m giving Allyov some men only so I can keep an eye on the snake. I’m also letting him know I can fucking take him on. He’ll have a fraction of the men I’ll be training. As they’ll all be military like us, or from our world, but on our side, they will be loyal to me, and you, if you decide to join me. If you do, though, no more siphoning off funds from your activity in Moscow. You are out completely. Get it? You can’t have one foot still in.”

  And there it is. An ultimatum. One he didn’t want to make, but one I understand him making.

  I tap my fingers on my thigh.

  “You can cash out.” He glances out the window and then back to me. “You don’t have to leave without taking what’s yours. You tell Bohdan and Vasily to come up with some funds, and they buy you out. What they’ve been earning and making, they can do it. It’s down to you.” He takes one more long pull on his cigar and then puts it out. He stands, downs his drink, and walks by me, pausing to put one hand on my shoulder. “I hope you come in on this. If you don’t, though, I’ll respect that. You’ll always be my brother. This world, though. I’m not going to get sucked back in ever a-fucking-gain. They come for you again, K, and you won’t have me to call
on.”

  He leaves, his footfall almost silent as I sit and think.

  I’ve been offered an out. A real out. I’ve also been given a warning. Someone I rely on to help me when shit gets too heavy won’t be there next time. Without the support of Andrius, I doubt I’d have help from Reece and his guys. I might not even have the support of Damen and Stamatis. Ilya, he’d still be onside, but I’ll need an army going forward to keep those I love safe. I either build one to protect my illegal business, or I get out and build a legit one with Andrius. Yes, one of our clients will be a criminal, if we supply Allyov with guards, but we won’t be involved in any other way than supplying him security.

  I’ve got a lot of thinking to do.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Cassie

  I spend two days in hospital, and by the time I get out the pain has eased off to a manageable level. Konstantin brings me home. The car ride is strained. I don’t understand why. He seems off somehow. In a world of his own almost.

  He came to the hospital every day and stayed for the full visiting time allowed. We talked, but the sense of him being pre-occupied was there. I try not to let it hurt, but it does. I’ve been through hell, and he’s clearly plotting and planning. He’s probably planning his revenge on those who did this to me, but I simply want him to leave it alone and walk away. I know he won’t. He’s so deep into this, he’ll never give it up.

  We arrive at the Paris house to find it a hive of activity. There are people rushing around. Maya flits by and pauses to give me a pain-inducing hug before rushing off.

  “What’s going on?” I ask Konstantin.

  “We have to get back to the UK. Tomorrow. It’s not ideal. I didn’t want you to have to travel while you’re recovering, but we need to get back. Things are being put into play.”

  “What things?”

  He looks around him. “Not now, but when we’re back home, we need to talk, Cassie.”

  Oh, boy. This might be the moment where he tells me he loves me, but this is his life and he can’t change things. I will know he means he won’t change them because I know he’s been offered an out. If that’s how it plays out, I have to walk away. I must, I tell myself. I’m already weakening on my stance. I move, and the sharp stab of pain in my side reminds me why I need to leave him if he stays wedded to this life. I’m not Maya. I wasn’t born into this. I don’t understand how to handle it.

  Reece walks into the hallway, and he’s talking on the phone. “You’ll all be there? Yeah, I think he’s in.” He shoots Konstantin a shit-eating grin. “The big A says he took some convincing, but it seems we’re a go for the new venture. Greece, here I come.”

  I glance at Konstantin, who shakes his head as Bohdan stomps into the hallway scowling.

  Konstantin leans down, brushes the hair from my neck, and whispers, “Later, sunshine. All in good time.”

  Control freak.

  “What do you want me to do?” I ask him.

  “Get packed and ready to leave tomorrow. Or rather,” he says as I start to head up the stairs, “get your girly shit together, and I’ll pack your clothes and shoes. I don’t want you straining yourself.”

  I shake my head at him, but a small grin tugs at my mouth. “I think I’ve got less girly shit than you,” I shoot back. “I’m not the one with shower gel worth sixty pounds, and shampoo that costs thirty. I’ve got a few basics from Superdrug, and that’s it. You’re the show pony in this relationship, sweet cheeks.”

  Bohdan’s laughter follows me up the stairs.

  Once in our room, I gather my girly shit, what there is of it, and then sit on the bed and stare at the wall. Something’s happening, and I want to know what. I can’t wait until we get back to England. I need Konstantin to tell me. All in good time. He’s such an ass.

  Wanting the hospital scent gone from me, I decide to wash my hair, and then my body. It’s a monumental task, and this will be the first time I’ve tried it alone. The nurse helped me yesterday. I head to the bathroom, and then decide I really can’t face doing my hair. Instead, I strip wash in the sink and spray some of my perfume over my hair in a fine cloud, hoping it will take away that pungent bleach and sickly-sweet smell from the hospital.

  I’m walking out of the bathroom into the bedroom when the door opens. I jump and ineffectually cover my nudity with my arms, then relax when I see it’s only Konstantin.

  He looks me up and down, and his brow furrows when his gaze lands on the wound at my side.

  “It’s not so bad,” I say. “Didn’t hit anything major. I was lucky.”

  “You’ll never have to be lucky again,” he growls.

  “Are you sending me away? Like into witness protection or something?” I blurt out.

  “What? No. Far from it. I should. I should walk away from you, but I can’t.”

  “So what’s going on?” I ask. “Don’t make me wait, Konstantin, I’m on pins and needles here.”

  He closes the door and comes to me. He bends down and sweeps me up into his arms. Sitting on the bed, he places me on his lap and holds me. His hand strokes through my hair, his nose in the crook of my neck. He breathes deep.

  “God, I missed you,” he says. “I didn’t think it would be possible to miss someone so much when you’ve only known them weeks, but I missed you like crazy.”

  He tips my chin up and kisses me. It’s soft and gentle and achingly sweet. I want more, though, despite everything; I always want more with this man. Taking over the kiss, I lick along his mouth, asking for entry, and he gives it with a groan. He doesn’t leave me in charge for long. His hands come up to my hair, tangling in it, and angling my head as he deepens our kiss.

  All it takes from him is a kiss, and I’m ready for him.

  “I want you,” I say to him.

  He pulls back, his lips wet, but his eyes serious. “You’re hurt. I don’t want to risk hurting you more. You need to heal.”

  “But I’m so horny,” I moan. “I’ve been in hospital, and I didn’t get any relief.” I pout, making a joke of it, but also meaning it. I do want him. Badly.

  His frown deepens and then clears, like storm clouds parting, and he grins. It’s dirty as hell and goes right to my core. Gently, oh-so-gently, he picks me up and places me at the edge of the bed. He kisses each of my feet before he kneels and kisses his way up my legs. Taking an ankle in each hand, he throws my legs over his shoulder and kisses farther up to my inner thighs. He pauses and stares at me right there. I’m squirming under his scrutiny. A little embarrassed and a whole lot turned on.

  He dives in, going right where I need him. Konstantin could get a PhD in oral sex; he’s that good at it. His tongue is magical, and he drives me crazy as he licks and sucks and licks again. He does this thing where he flicks his tongue side to side rapidly, and it drives me nuts. Before long, my legs shake, and my heart thunders.

  I stiffen, and then I’m falling, falling, falling. Waves of pleasure crash over me as I cry out his name while he guides me through it.

  The French call an orgasm the little death, but I don’t understand why. I never feel more alive than in these moments with Konstantin. It’s like a thrill ride, but one where I feel both exhilarated and safe at the same time.

  I sit up with a wince and beckon him to come to me. He does, kissing my breasts and neck.

  Reaching for him, I start to undo his zipper.

  “Uh-uh.” He shakes his head.

  “What? Why? Don’t you … don’t you want to?”

  He laughs. “Jesus, Cassie, I want to crawl inside you and never leave. You’re injured. You bust those stitches and you’re back in the hospital. You risk infection and God knows what else.”

  “You must be horny, though.”

  “I’m a big boy; I can handle it.”

  I blush as I think how much I’d like to see him handle it again. This time with him knowing about it. I ought to tell him about what I saw him do, but I’m scared to. He might hate me for it. I violated his privacy in the wors
t way. Then again, if I don’t tell him, it will keep being something I’m keeping from him. A secret.

  “What are you thinking about?” He smiles. “You’re all red and embarrassed.”

  “I’ve got something to confess, and you might be angry.”

  “Oh?” His face turns serious as he watches me. “Go on.”

  Go on. The way he says it is a command, and I second guess myself, but then I woman up and face him.

  “Back in the start, when you first made me go with you to your house, I saw something. I went to have a swim, and you and Liza were in the steam room. I hid behind a plant. I know I shouldn’t have, and I don’t understand why I did. I tried to leave, but she propositioned you and stormed out, and you locked the door. I saw you … erm … what you did.”

  I can’t read his expression. “Oh, you did, did you?”

  I bite my lip. “Yes.”

  “Did you like it?”

  “God yes,” I breathe.

  “Want to see again?” His voice is rough, throaty.

  “Yes, please.”

  He kneels over me and undoes his zip, taking himself out but not taking his trousers off. There’s a stark power differential. Me naked, on my back under him. Konstantin above me, fully clothed except for his amazing cock, which he has taken in one hand.

  “I’m going to come all over your pussy,” he says.

  I flush at his words. I’m so terrible at the dirty talk stuff myself, but it turns me on.

  “Then I’ll rub it in all over your pretty pink skin.”

  I watch as he moves his fist, his eyes are on me, and mine flicker between his face and his hand on his cock. I want to see it all. I’m so greedy for him.

  He’s wearing a t-shirt, and the sleeves are cut high and tight around his thick biceps. With each stroke they bulge, and I want to bite him there. Then I want to lick and suck his cock, but instead I watch as he puts on a one-man porn show just for me.