Taken by the Boss

by Brook Wilder

  “I’m ready,” I say as I open it and slip on my heels.

  Danya’s wearing a perfectly tailored tux. His eyes widen at the sight of me, slipping down to take in my exposed cleavage and how form-fitting this gown is. I bought it a while back, but my father said it was inappropriate. I don’t have to care about what he thinks, not anymore.

  Danya clears his throat, then the same angry look appears in his eyes.

  “I had a gown picked out for you.”

  “And? I’m not a child. I can pick out my own clothes.” I storm past him and down the steps. “You coming or what?” I call back when I don’t hear him follow.

  I wait at the front door until he joins me. He glances down at my dress again, looking like he’d rather we not go to the charity ball so he can throw me over his shoulder and take me right back upstairs. Not to change, but to rip this dress off me and have his way with me for the rest of the night.

  “We don’t have to go, you know,” I say quietly. “We can stay home. One of us could be sick.”

  His eyes darken and then he opens the door. “After you, Stella.”

  “Danya—”

  “Don’t,” he cuts me off, but he’s not mean about it. He won’t meet my gaze, though. “We don’t have that option, not tonight. Probably not for a long while. You’re not the only one they have eyes on. Just tonight, be on your best behavior.”

  I square my shoulders and raise my brow. “Best behavior? What do you think I’m going to do? Go streaking through the ballroom?” I stomp out to the waiting jeep and climb into the front without any help from Danya. He walks around to the driver’s side, climbing in behind the wheel. His face is set now, and I can’t tell what he’s thinking. He starts the engine, and we’re off to the ball.

  The whole night is going to be one big show put on by Danya and I. I expected to have to put on a show of compliance for Mikhail and Joseph’s sake, but not like this. Danya’s been acting off all day. The old rebellious streak is starting to rear its head. Behave myself. Oh I’ll behave, all right, exactly as I would if I was alone with Danya. This is certainly going to be a night to remember.

  Chapter 17

  Danya

  The tension rises every passing second I’m in the jeep with Stella. I want to keep being angry with her, but it’s hard when she’s wearing that sexy red number making my blood boil. My fingers tighten on the steering wheel as we come to a stop at a red light.

  I chance a glance toward Stella again, but she’s glaring pointedly out the window. All day long, I waited for her to text me back or call me. When she didn’t, my imagination took off. I kept seeing her being kidnapped by another family, or by her own damn father. Shit, or by the twins. Lukas lost her halfway through the day when a large crowd of students got in between them. Then she was just gone. He walked all over that damn campus, and he swore to me three times just before I left the mansion tonight that he checked over every inch of the library.

  Stella has no idea the danger she’s in. I should tell her, but I can’t stand to see the reckless fire in those green eyes be replaced by fear. I have no answers to give her yet, anyway. None.

  Tonight is going to be far from easy. Not only do I have to keep an eye on Stella the entire night to ensure she doesn’t do anything stupid, but I have to assist in the assassination of the head of the De Luca family. At the charity ball. With potentially two hundred witnesses. I curse quietly and sense Stella looking at me.

  “What?” I say without turning as the light changes to green.

  “Nothing. Just wondering which Danya is the real one,” she muses sarcastically. I’m not in the mood to deal with anyone else’s attitude, especially hers when I’m doing all this shit to keep her alive. “Is it the man I’ve fallen into bed with every night, or is it the asshole with the stick shoved up his ass who asks his wife to behave like all the other assholes do in this business?”

  “Why don’t you tell me?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” she snaps.

  “Nothing, just never mind, all right? I would like us to get through tonight in one piece.”

  “And you’re saying I’m the one that’s going to make it impossible, is that it?”

  I shrug as I turn off onto the road leading to the grand hotel where the ball is being held. “You tell me, sunshine. You’re the one not answering your phone all day long and acting like a stuck-up brat right now.”

  “Yep, that’s me. Stella the stuck-up brat,” she says mockingly. “Because I haven’t endured enough shit, just pile on some more. Go on, I can take it.”

  I pull into the drive leading to the hotel and slam on the brakes. We don’t get out yet, and the valet stands close by, looking uncertain. I take Stella’s hand and pull her close. “You look into my eyes right now and tell me what you see. Do it.”

  She tries to pull away, but I don’t let her. She studies my face intently, then her lips part. Her angry frown softens, and she squeezes my hand back. “Just talk to me,” she whispers. “Please. What is going on? Are we in danger?”

  “We’re always going to be in danger and that’s what’s killing me right now,” I admit. “Just please, for the love of God, swear to me you’ll do as I say tonight? No matter what it is?”

  I can tell she doesn’t like my request. “Danya,” she starts, but I bury my hand in her long locks of dark hair and bring her in for a heated kiss. It doesn’t last nearly as long as I’d like, but it’s the best I can do for now. “All right, promise,” she whispers when she draws back. “You’ll tell me what this is all about later?”

  I nod since I don’t want to lie to her. If tonight goes as planned, I won’t have to tell her anything. She’ll find out most of it when the deed is carried out. We exit the jeep and make our way into the hotel drawing the gazes of the others in attendance. A slight twinge of jealousy shoots through me, but I have too much else on my mind. All I can muster is a glare back at the men openly checking out my wife. Usually, I would quietly threaten them to avert their gazes.

  When Stella finally came home this evening from campus, I pulled Lukas aside and left him with orders to have men the safe house ready. If tonight does not go as planned, he’s to take Stella there and ensure she’s safe. He said he would take care of it and put four of our most trusted men out there who are not on tonight’s mission. If things go south, he will take Stella to the safe house and keep her there until they have a chance to get her away from here for good.

  He asked if I intend to go away with her. I didn’t answer, and Lukas hung his head with a grim look on his face. If tonight goes badly, there’s a chance I won’t make it to the safe house. If Stella runs alone, she has a chance. If I go with her, Mikhail or the twins or anyone else might keep coming after us. I spent the last week checking into the intel Vlad gave my father. So far, it checks out, but something still feels off. Yesterday, I spotted the twins meeting with Vlad after their training at the facility. They rarely get together just to visit.

  What’s worse, one of my men said he was pretty sure Joseph was spotted at the De Luca mansion two days before that. As far as my intel says, Joseph hates De Luca and hasn’t been seen there in years. Why would he suddenly show up now? I tried to convince Mikhail to change our course of action, but he and my uncles are too hell-bent on taking care of business tonight.

  The plan is simple enough. Joseph and Francesco will be invited to join Mikhail upstairs at the rooftop lounge. It’s one we commonly use for meetings. Once they’re up there, we’ll take them and their men out, then dispose of the bodies quietly. As long as nothing unexpected happens, it should go smoothly enough. Stella will never have to be a part of this mess and the chances of me making it out unscathed are fairly high.

  But anything could go wrong. If I had it my way, I’d wait. There are too many unknowns piling up. Mikhail being so close to death’s doorstep is making him careless. No matter what might happen to me, I’ve ensured Stella will be taken care of. A long time ago, I promised her a
life away from the violence of our world. If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to see she gets it.

  I wrote a letter as well for Lukas to take to the safe house. Stella will find it and probably hate me forever for it. The note tells her plainly enough that if she has to be there, then I’m not coming, and she needs to find a way to move on without me.

  We reach the ballroom where the event is taking place and are greeted by the upbeat music coming from the ten-piece band. I steel my nerves, reminding myself what’s at risk tonight, then walk inside with Stella on my arm. She’s wearing a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. I can’t fake a smile, so I don’t bother trying. The room is decked out in black tablecloths, balloons, streamers, and crystal vases filled with red and white roses. The wooden dance floor toward the front of the room is already full of dancing couples. I spot the mayor and his wife as well as several other prominent members of our beloved city. A large banner stretches over the small stage with the band. Tonight, we’re all gathering to help raise money for a new state-of-the-art homeless shelter.

  In reality, it’ll be used to recruit new members to our families as well as filter money and drugs. That’s the true heart of this city run by criminals.

  I reach into my pant pocket to ensure my cell is ready, then lead Stella toward the refreshment table. I pick up two glasses of champagne and fight the urge to drink it all down at once. I’m only holding it for appearance's sake. There’s no drinking, not tonight.

  “Danya, Stella,” Mikhail’s voice says from behind me.

  Stella’s hand tenses around my elbow as we slowly turn around to face my father and Nadia. She’s decked out in a black gown and wearing about ten pounds of diamonds between her necklace, earrings, bracelet, and rings. Her eyes are cold as they slip to Stella.

  I wait for the claws to come out, but Stella murmurs a “Good evening” to them both, then falls silent.

  Mikhail’s brow rises in approval. “I see your new situation is working out nicely.”

  “Yes, it is,” I reply, not about to elaborate. The sick bastard probably thinks I’ve already had to beat Stella to get her to comply. My hand fists inside my pocket, wanting more than anything to deck the man.

  “Stella, I’m assuming you’re fitting in well with your new lifestyle?”

  I mentally plead for her to either just nod or answer as simply as possible, too. Her nails dig into the sleeve of my jacket as she says, “Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Being part of the Ivanov family is far different from being a Russo,” Nadia says, lifting her chin into the air. “I trust you understand that. Judging by your choice of attire tonight, I would say not. This is not a sleaze-fest, my dear. You don’t need to show off your … assets as you did for your father’s sake.”

  Stella’s eyes narrow, and just as she opens her mouth to probably tell Nadia off, I clear my throat loudly. “I bought that dress specifically for tonight. I think she looks beautiful in it. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have mingling to do, unless you would like me to shirk my duties as the eldest son of the Ivanov family?”

  I don’t wait for an answer and pull Stella away. She takes a long drink of her champagne then mutters, “Do I really look that bad tonight?”

  “Trust me, you look magnificent.” I lean over so I can whisper the next part in her ear. “And if it weren’t for this crowd of people, I’d have you out of that dress in five seconds flat, moaning in ten, and begging me for more in fifteen. I’d have you soaking wet and crying out my name all night long. That’s how you look in that dress.”

  When I draw back, she’s grinning, and there’s a mischievous glint in her eyes. “This place has bathrooms, right?”

  I grunt quietly as I take a quick glance down to ensure I’m not going to draw a few stares of my own. “They do, but we can’t. Not here, not tonight.”

  “Fine, party pooper.”

  The lightness of our bantering helps ease some of the tension along my shoulders. I check the time on my cell. Nearly two hours until go time. I’m not sure I can wait that long to carry out the mission, but it’s all been arranged. The plan has to stay on schedule. There’s no room for improvisation. I spot the twins through the crowd. Both of them are staring at Stella as if she’s their next meal. I immediately block her from their view then pull her to the dance floor. We set our glasses on a table as we pass, and then we’re lost in the swirling dresses of the crowd.

  For a little while, at least, we’re able to pretend it’s just the two of us. I shove aside any thoughts about my future mission and focus only on the woman in my arms. I pull her in close several times, stealing brief kisses and not caring who sees that she’s happy. We both are. My parents can go screw themselves.

  Over Stella’s head, I spot Nadia’s furious glare at our behavior. Mikhail is absent from her side. I spot him on our next pass, talking to my uncles and the mayor. When I catch sight of Francesco De Luca, I nearly come to a halt in the middle of the dance floor. So the bastard showed his face after all.

  “Danya?” Stella’s looking at me worriedly.

  “It’s nothing.”

  “You saw something or someone.” She presses her chest to mine as she whispers, “Are you sure we can’t just leave?”

  “If we could, we would, and never come back.”

  She tilts her head as her eyes turn curious. “You mean that?”

  I want to say I do, but it’s not realistic. I say nothing and when the next song ends, I lead her from the dance floor. I need to check in with my men and ensure we’re staying on point. Really, it’s more or less so I can remind myself I’m here for a reason tonight.

  “I have to go speak with someone,” I tell Stella.

  “I’ll be all right. Just going to stand to the side and people watch.” She smiles, but it’s hesitant. The way she watches the crowd makes me regret bringing her at all. I should’ve come up with an excuse to keep her home.

  “Nothing is going to happen to you,” I whisper, then kiss her cheek. “I’ll come find you soon.”

  I hold onto her hand as long as I can, then force myself to walk away. I glance back to see her slip through the crowd, heading toward the refreshments. One of my trusted men falls in step right behind her. He nods to me, and I tell myself to stick to the plan. The night will be over soon enough. Then I can take her home. The moment she hears about her father’s death, though, I’m not sure what she’ll do.

  Chapter 18

  Danya

  I didn’t mean to be gone for almost an hour, but we had to make several adjustments to our plan against De Luca. He brought far more men than we anticipated. I had assumed he would bring more due to his paranoia, but the number of his men currently at the ball is problematic. I had to call in more of my own to help compensate. The twins insisted on being present for the kill even though I told them they had no reason to be in the lounge. According to them, Mikhail specifically said they are to be there.

  I have no worries about them killing Joseph. They’re both bloodthirsty enough to kill everyone in this hotel if they could get away with it. What I didn’t like was the way they both looked throughout the meeting. I sense they’re not only going to kill Joseph with their bare hands, but Francesco as well and take the credit for it.

  After they finally left, I contacted Lukas and passed along an order for our men to be on high alert. Whatever shit the twins are going to pull tonight, I will not have my men in the line of fire. Their orders are clear: get in, kill Francesco, then get out with any bodies left. Joseph is on the twins. If shit goes sideways, I’m going to ensure it falls on their heads and not mine. The time for the meeting is soon, and I am anxious to simply get it over with.

  I exit the elevator and make my way back to the ballroom, my pistol tucked at my lower back, silencer in place. It should be a quick execution. One shot to the head and my mission will be complete.

  The twins are probably going to kill Joseph slowly. That’s how they work. As Mikhail said, it’s o
n them to deal out his death. I usually would oppose dragging out a man’s execution, but for Joseph Russo, I’m willing to let my opinion slide.

  As I enter the ballroom, I spot a crowd near the back of the room. Raised voices make me frown until I realize one of them is Stella.

  “Get your hands off me,” she yells, and I shove my way through the people to get to her.

  “You are acting ridiculous. Get control of yourself.”

  “And I’m not yours to control anymore. I said back the fuck off,” she shouts loud enough for everyone to hear. There are quiet murmurings around me as people watch the spectacle. I break through the last line of onlookers to find Joseph with his hand wrapped around Stella’s bicep. He’s squeezing hard and glaring at his daughter even as he smiles at the crowd, trying to pass it off as nothing. She’s close to the door that leads to the main lobby of the hotel as if she was trying to leave. “Let me go, you bastard!”