At the first brush of his calloused thumbs against her skin, Vladimira shuddered and closed her eyes for a long moment. When she opened them, her gaze took in the sharp, severe contours of his face and the corded muscles of his neck before coming to rest on his hands. They were the weathered, strong hands of a working man, the fingers long and thick with formidable knuckles and blunt, squared nails. Those massive hands, which had leveled countless Bratva enemies, had left no part of her body unexplored while taking her to the heights of sheet-clawing passion.
Yafon admired how they looked together within the frame of the antique, gilded mirror; her inky black mane and sleek curves in stark contrast to his bulky, muscular build and gleaming bald scalp. It occurred to him to ask the Pakhan’s wife if she still dabbled in photography. Yes, an engagement portrait would do nicely. But there would be ample time for such formalities later. For now, he had other, more important matters to attend to.
Vladimira cleared her throat and summoned what bravado she could. “My flight leaves first thing in the morning, Yafon,” she stated imperiously. “Did my brother send you to escort me?”
He didn’t reply, merely grasped the ribbons of first one bow and then the other between the thumb and forefinger of each hand. She could barely breathe, could only stare, transfixed, as he slowly, deliberately, tugged on the ribbons.
“You know why I’m here,” he repeated softly, as the delicate bows connecting the front and back of her shift loosened and came undone. The sheer fabric gave way, fluttering down her torso like rippling water to reveal delicate, alabaster breasts; high and round, with just the slightest womanly pout and pretty pink tips that tilted upward, begging for his attention.
His eyes locked with hers as his warm, rough hands returned to rest on her shoulders, then moved lower and caressed the soft, velvety mounds. “I’m here to claim you, printsessa.”
Chapter Nine
Kathleen frowned, her face taut with grim concentration. With her chin tilted up slightly, she peered through her reading glasses at the columns of numbers on her laptop screen. She was perched at the edge of Glazov’s ornate desk chair, her work spread out on the L-shaped desk in his private study. She preferred to work at the smaller, side panel of the desk, keeping his primary work space clear just in case he needed it while she was there.
Glazov leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb and settled in to enjoy the view while his wife compared the numbers on the screen to the printed report she held in her hand. He liked the whole ‘sexy librarian’ thing she had going on. Maybe he’d have her leave the glasses on tonight...
She was one of the few people he allowed in his private study, where he focused on matters of a more personal nature. He trusted her more than anyone but he was no fool. She was nosey as hell and had a penchant for digging around in his files for the sake of her own curiosity. Ironically, that’s what made her so damn good at auditing the financial accounts.
Glazov’s former bodyguard, Lukyan, had kept an eye on the books for many years, with Kathleen helping him on occasion. When Lukyan decided to retire, Kathleen had been the obvious choice to replace him.
“Ptichka.” His voice rumbled across the space between them, the sacred word spoken in the deep timbre that usually had a nearly hypnotic effect on his beloved wife. But not this time. He scowled, wanting to know what was holding her attention to the exclusion of all else. His needs were simple in this life, but his wife’s undivided attention was not negotiable.
“Ptichka!” This time, just a curt demand for her to look up from her work. She straightened with a jolt, her eyes widening with surprise at the interruption. He crossed the room to her side, his expression grim as he looked over her shoulder. “What is it?”
“These numbers…something’s not right.” She shook her head and shot him a troubled look.
Any worries about sharing his private office space was quickly replaced with gratitude for her inquisitive nature. With the right tools, Kathleen could find out anything about anybody. “I wonder sometimes if you were a private detective in a previous life.”
“As flattered as I am, I need to tell you what’s going on.”
“Perhaps I’ll show you how very pleased I am by fucking you senseless right here on my desk.”
“Glazov, I’m serious, listen. Okay, we both know Russians create the best manufactured diamonds, so good that it’s nearly impossible to distinguish the manufactured ones from the natural ones. We, of course, create the best of those for our ‘Jaded Jewels’ line. Then there are the natural diamonds for our ‘Firebird’ brand.”
“Why do you tell me what I already know?” he asked, puzzled.
“Because the financial discrepancies I’m seeing are falling under those two brands, not the gold or silver we’re bringing in from Russia. In a nutshell—”
“A nutshell?”
“—yeah, it means the bottom line. You know, long story short.”
“It is indeed proving to be a very long story,” he drawled as he swatted her bottom. “Continue.”
“Anyway, in a, um, nutshell, the only explanation I can come up with is that someone is taking our manufactured diamonds and trying to pass them off as naturally mined diamonds. Then…”
“They’re pocketing the money.” At her solemn nod, he asked, “Okay, so who is it?”
“It isn’t your manufacturer, Roman. His internal audit processes all check out. It’s Joseph, your bookkeeper.”
“You’re certain.”
“Yes, there’s no question. His login credentials are attached to accounts that he shouldn’t even have access to, and the erroneous transaction times coincide with records that I pulled from the archives. You can have Yafon check behind me if you like, although I haven’t seen him today. I can call him if you--”
“There is no need.” He clasped the side of her face, gently stroking the pad of his thumb over her cheek. “You never cease to amaze me with how you watch over me and what’s mine…what’s ours. Who could have known when you walked into my gambling house that you would become such an asset to Bratva…and to me.
“But back to the matter at hand. Yafon is otherwise occupied for the moment anyway. I will inform Vladimira of the situation, and Joseph will learn that all the oceans in the world cannot protect him.”
He clenched his jaw against the onslaught of emotion that seared his blood: passion for this inquisitive, devoted woman, and rage at being betrayed by one of his own.
He fisted her hair and yanked her head back. Her gasp of breathless anticipation sent a blast of heat straight to his cock. “You know that whenever I get pissed off I need you to appease the beast inside me.” He ran his thumb over her plump bottom lip before asking, “Are you ready for me?”
A knowing smile curved her lips just before she made a show of jerking away from him. His eyes lit up with dark anticipation as he yanked her out of the chair and pulled her to him as he pressed her hand against his hard-on. As she languidly ran her palm up and down his already stiffened cock, he tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and growled low with pleasure.
“Oh, my darling Russian love,” she purred. “I believe I should be rewarded with that big cock of yours, not punished.”
He swept his arm across the main section of the desk, scattering its contents across the floor. He picked her up and set her down on the desktop. “And rewarded you shall be, my little Ptichka, although I think you know by now that rewards and punishments from me are often one and the same.”
He did away with her skirt in short order and smacked her hands away when she started unbuttoning her shirt. Instead, he ripped it open from top to bottom, sending buttons flying across the floor. Then he unhooked her bra and tossed it aside before getting to work on his own shirt. She taunted him, squeezing her breasts together as she watched his garments drop to the floor. As his cock jutted straight out toward her, a drop of pre-cum slid down the broad hood, prompting her to lick her lips before giving him a seductive smile.
“Greedy girl. Let’s see if you’re smiling in a minute.” He laid her back on the desk and gripped her thighs, pulling her hips to the edge as he smoothly impaled her on his cock. After all these years, she still gasped as her pussy stretched for him, struggling to accommodate him. He was just so damn big. A whimper escaped her lips and he could feel himself swell and throb inside of her. She was everything he needed to clear his mind from the craziness that was his life.
“That’s it,” he gritted out, nostrils flaring. “Take it.” He pumped into her, spurring on her primal need for him to finish what he’d started. His fingers between her legs sent her into a dizzy spiral of lust and she thrust against him even harder. His wrapped his lips around her peaked nipple, only adding to the pleasure that threatened to overwhelm her.
“You’re fucking perfect. A man couldn’t ask for more.” His lips covered hers, taking her mouth in a moment of pure sexual need as he felt her walls clamp down on his rigidly engorged shaft. She ran her hands over his back, her fingertips tracing his muscles as they clenched and rippled beneath her touch. When she dug her nails into his skin and threw her head back with abandon, her look of complete surrender as she rode out her orgasm was all he needed to know all was right in his world, or would be soon.
He moved in measured thrusts as she took her pleasure, and only then did he allow himself the same. With each pulse of his cock against her womb, he let it all go.
Later that night, in the comfort of their bed once again, Glazov considered the bookkeeper’s betrayal. Of course, this wasn’t the first time they’d been betrayed – but the subterfuge coming from one of their own? That stung. To Glazov, money had always been just a means to an end. But it seemed that money could tempt even the most loyal of followers into crossing lines that they otherwise would never have dreamt of crossing.
As he planned his response down to the last detail, the one thing Alexander Glazov knew he could count on was his family. Together, they would set things right once again. They would be true to their legacy, always. It was the Born Bratva way…
Bazarnik lit the match and held it between his fingers as he studied the flame and contemplated the absolute purity of fire. It consumed everything it touched. When allowed to run rampant, it struck fear into the hardest of hearts and made grown men weep and grovel for mercy.
Yes, he had long enjoyed an intimate relationship with fire. It continued to be the only real connection he had ever had. There were never any surprises; he and fire, they knew what to expect from each other.
He was grateful that Bratva had shown him how to harness his addiction to fire and use it for the good of the organization. As the flame nipped at his fingertips, he tossed another match into the fire.
“What’s up, guys?” He greeted Roksana and Oleg without bothering to turn around. It was too bad Roksana was already taken; he liked the idea of having a crazy woman like her. Plus, she was hot as fuck. But he knew better than to try to get a piece of that; even if she hadn’t been the Pakhan’s daughter and already married, her man was batshit crazy. Bazarnik wasn’t ashamed to admit to himself that, yeah, Oleg scared the hell out of him. He didn’t relish the idea of every bone in his hand being slowly and painfully broken.
But still, it didn’t stop him from wondering what kind of woman he might have ended up with if he’d been so inclined. She’d have to be beautiful and wild like the Pakhan’s daughter, he knew that much. But he also knew that women like Roksana were few and far between, and didn’t that just suck.
“The Pakhan has a job for you. You’ll be working with us.”
Bazarnik felt adrenalin charging wildly through his body. He could definitely see himself working with these two. Maybe what they said about the Pakhan knowing what niche to put his workers in was true. When Glazov had considered finding a role for him in the diamond business, Bazarnik had questioned it but had faith in his Pakhan’s wisdom. But now it looked like things might be turning out better than he had ever expected. “To be honest, I’d rather be working with you crazy fucks than spending all day in a jewelry store or whatever else the Pakhan had in mind at first.”
“Yeah, Glazov must feel the same way because he’s bringing in his sister Vladimira to handle that and some other shit.”
Roksana laughed. “Yeah, that, and it turns out she and Yafon hooked up at the wedding. Apparently, they’ve been making dirty eyes at each other for years and finally did the deed. Sneaky, middle-aged fuckers. Who knew, right?!”
“The Pakhan knew, I guarantee it,” Oleg assured her solemnly. Then, to Bazarnik, “He knows everything. The sooner you learn that and stop joking about it, the better off you’ll be. Glazov women just seem to have a nose for trouble. At least the Pakhan knows how to steer it in the right direction. Watch and learn, Bazarnik.”
Bazarnik listened to the back and forth banter. Yeah, he’d fit right in with these two. “I got no need to understand women,” he said, his Russian accent more noticeable than usual. “So, what’s the job?”
Oleg began filling him in. “Fuckin’ Sinaloans are out of control. The Pakhan wants to see Escondido take over now that Santiago’s gone. He’s much more business savvy. The Sinaloans are fighting amongst themselves. Killing each other off. They’ve got a pit bull fighting ring going on and Roksana wants to shut them down.”
“What’s that got to do with Bratva?”
“The group that runs this particular dogfighting ring doesn’t support Escondido’s rise to power. There is no clear leader among them yet. Several are trying to go for it but they’re all hotheads. The Pakhan has authorized intervention on behalf of Escondido to clear a path to a peace treaty with the Sinaloans. The Pakhan doesn’t like to be at war if it’s avoidable; it fucks with our cashflow. Things get messy. Also, they’re brutalizing animals and it’s pissing Roksana off. Word is there’s a dogfight scheduled for tomorrow night. We’re working on confirming the location now. They rarely use the same venue twice so it’s tricky. The plan is to wait until the final fight of the evening, a more exclusive event attended by the cartel’s other prospective power players who are vying for the crown.”
“The ones Glazov doesn’t want.”
“Correct. Once they’re in place, we’ll secure the building and take care of business. Your job is to set the fire to end all fires, but make it believable. An unfortunate accident. It’s critical that no one notices the Pakhan’s interest in the Sinaloans’ internal squabbles.”
“Got it. So…the Pakhan wants Escondido to take over the Sinaloan cartel. Isn’t he some kind of ‘man of mystery’?”
“The Pakhan is one of the few people who knows who Escondido is. He’s known him for years.”
“Hence the name Escondido—hidden.”
“You got it.”
“I guess you’re right. Nothing is hidden from the Pakhan.”
“That son of a bitch!” Vladimira groused as she re-read the text.
Yafon awoke with a start, shielding his eyes from the early morning sunlight coming through Vladimira’s bedroom window. He had come to her as soon as the jet had touched down the night before, and between the jetlag and relentlessly fucking his woman through the night, he was anything but rested. Sated, yes; rested, no.
“What is it, printsessa?” he quietly groaned, squinting up at her through half-opened eyes.
“A text from my brother. Unbelievable. That fucker, Joseph. I knew I didn’t trust him. I don’t even think he’s fucking Russian! From the first day I laid eyes on him, I didn’t like him. Lucky me, now I get to kill him.”
Yafon was glad he wasn’t the one on the receiving end of her wrath. Vladimira’s temper was as bad if not worse than her brother’s. She could smile and flirt with a guest all through dinner, then moments later watch dispassionately as they shuddered and seized at her feet after being poisoned.
“The bookkeepers, you always have to watch them,” Yafon yawned, slowly stroking her arm as he looked up at her from his pillow. “That’s why you hire a bookkee
per and a lawyer, then another bookkeeper and lawyer to watch over them.”
“It wasn’t an extra bookkeeper or lawyer that caught the discrepancy, it was Kathleen. I’ve said it for years, she is the best thing that has ever happened to this family.”
“Agreed. All the better, then. When your woman, your true soulmate, is watching over you, then you know your ass is covered. We both know how she watches over her husband and the whole family.” He smirked and continued, “Are you going to watch over me like that, Vladimira?”
“I’m not sure what good it would do, you stubborn man. That’s why I didn’t want you to say anything to Glazov or anyone else about us. I don’t want him to kill you. But the big Question of the Day is…are you going to help me kill this traitor?”
“You know I will. And I didn’t say a word to Glazov. He confronted me about it as a good brother should, then he gave us his blessing. I have no idea how he found out, other than you shamelessly giving me ‘come fuck me’ eyes during the wedding weekend.”
“And fuck me you did, too,” she said with a sigh. “Well, good. This ring may come in handy after all because it looks like we have a job to do before we leave.”
“So, Joseph’s out. What about Roman?”
“Roman is going back to the States with us. My brother wants the Jaded Jewels line to be manufactured in the U.S. so he can keep a closer eye on things.”
“Makes sense.”
“It’s a sad day when you have to worry about deceptions coming from your inner circle.”
“Joseph was never part of Bratva’s inner circle. Anyone who truly was would never betray the organization.”
“I guess this delays our flight,” she said, rolling over to slide her body against his. “We have some extra time before the day gets busy. Enough about business, love,” she purred, draping a shapely leg over his nude body and sliding her hand down to his cock, which was very much awake and ready for another round.
Jaded Jewels (Born Bratva Book 7) Page 4
