A Love of Vengeance

by Nancy Haviland

  A server came between the two, placing plates of fresh salmon with dill sauce, steamed veggies, and a colorful rice pilaf on the table.

  “In the market for some new real estate, V?” Maks taunted as he picked up his fork and began eating.

  Speaking in English, Gabriel addressed the supposed property. “Nika, you met Alek yesterday.” He motioned across the table with his fork. “The comedy team over there is Maksim Kirov and Vincente Romani.”

  Nika returned Maks’s appreciative, glint-eyed nod. But when her gaze shifted to V, her smile waved bye-bye as it flew the coop. “We met outside already,” she said shortly, looking down and picking up her fork.

  The table went silent. Since he was the host, Gabriel felt he had to ask, “Where?”

  Nika glanced up, and she and Vincente shared a look just long enough to make it clear the meeting hadn’t been a good one. “Out front,” Vincente answered before scowling at Paynne. “Next time you insist on accompanying her. Stefano needs but one opportunity. Just one.”

  “Aside from the fact that she refused—”

  The biker’s defense was cut off with a barked, “That’s what I meant when I said insist. You don’t take no for an answer. In fact, you shouldn’t even have given her a choice,” V added as he unrolled his cutlery.

  “Uh, excuse me,” Nika interrupted tightly. “She is in the room.”

  Vincente stilled and raised his dark eyes from his plate to pin the girl to her chair. “Yeah. I know.”

  Gabriel sat back and noticed Maks’s gaze moving from Vincente to Nika and then back again, as though he were waiting for them to hop on the table and get down to business in front of everyone. Couldn’t blame him. Damn. Had those three words been any more loaded, every occupant in the room would be run through with shrapnel by now.

  Time to change the subject.

  “So, boys,” he said, looking from Alek to Maks and finally Vincente. “Let’s talk.”

  Vincente spoke first. “Stefano knows who has my loyalty. Oh, and he’s coming. Probably here already.”

  They’d run out of time.

  “What’s his plan?” He forced himself to eat as they talked.

  V picked up his fork and did the same. “I called one of the boys earlier, and he said they were heading to a hunting cabin near . . .” He looked to Maksim.

  “Enumclaw. Little place east of Tacoma,” Mr. IT supplied, naturally having been given research duty.

  “Isn’t that where you used to go deer hunting, Caleb?” Eva asked as she pushed her food around on her plate.

  The biker nodded. “Fitting. According to the Salish Native Americans, Enumclaw translated is ‘place of evil spirits.’ There’s a lot of forest around there, tons of secluded hunting cabins.”

  “You know offhand how far away it is?” Gabriel ground out, not liking the imagery Paynne’s words conjured.

  “About forty-five miles. An hour, maybe,” Maks supplied, his thumb tapping at the screen on his phone as he ate with his free hand.

  Paynne nodded his agreement just as Gabriel’s cell went off. He picked it up from where it sat next to his empty water glass. Private number. “Go.”

  “He’s there. Landed this morning at a small airport in a place called Enumclaw.”

  A bolt of alarm hit Gabriel at the confirmation, accompanied by surprise that it was Lucian Fane’s voice delivering it. Food forgotten, he immediately got to his feet and moved to the corner of the room, ignoring the hardening faces of his boys. “You’re starting to make me wonder, Lucian,” he said tersely. How was the guy so well-informed?

  “I was in LA on business and we’ve just wrapped up, so I’m on my way to you. Your brother brought a full carton with him. Goddamn Brownsville recruits, no less,” the powerful Romanian said with heavy disgust. “Clearly he knows he’s going to be a few short if he makes it home, hence the newbies. Or that’s what I’m hoping he’s thinking. There are eyes on the hotel as we speak, so I would suggest—even though I’m sure you’re already doing so regularly—a thorough sweep of the area. Furio is also circling, hoping to find her on her own. Don’t let it happen.” Gabriel’s skin tightened on his body until he thought it would split open. “I hear Romani came clean and am assuming he’s back where he belongs?”

  Again with the knowledge. “You have some impressive little worker bees,” Gabriel muttered, his brain processing as he looked over his shoulder to see Eva watching him anxiously. “Did you say you’re on your way to me?” He faced the wall again. “And, yes, Vincente’s here.” As if Lucian didn’t already know.

  “I’m glad. It’ll make things easier when all the other pieces start falling into place. I’ll be in Seattle shortly. I figured if it comes down to it, you might appreciate someone else flicking the off switch on your blood. No need for you or one of your boys to have to live with it. And you know I couldn’t give a shit.”

  Somehow Gabriel didn’t believe the glib words about not feeling when taking a life, but now wasn’t the time to call Lucian on it. Or on what pieces the guy saw falling into what places.

  “Spend what’s left of the day with your woman, Gabriel, and try not to worry too much. We’ll take care of this when I get there.”

  “Lucian?”

  “Yes?”

  “Thanks, brother. I appreciate being forewarned, more than you know.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. I’m only doing what’s right.” Click.

  He pocketed his phone, feeling a stronger connection with the Romanian than he had before. He returned to the group, and sat, interrupting the small talk that had sprung up while he was on the phone.

  Forcing himself to ignore Eva’s impatient scowl, he proceeded to relay his conversation with Lucian—once again leaving the girls and Paynne clueless by speaking Russian. When he was finished, he fired off a text to Jak and Quan to let them know what he’d said, and to tell them to prepare for the worst. Funnily, he got replies, even though they were sitting across from him.

  Jak: Bring it. Let’s finish this

  Quan: I heard you the first time, but thanks for the recap. Btw, you owe me vacay time

  Arrogant ass. Along with Chinese, German, and French, it seemed the sponge was also soaking up Russian. Which was good, because he was going to be around long enough to make it worth his while.

  “Anyone wanna share?” Paynne grumbled as he buttered a roll. He twirled the knife between his fingers as if he were going for the gold in baton before he placed it beside his plate.

  “I’ll fill you in later,” Vincente offered when no one else did. He also looked to Jak and made a circle in the air motion with his finger, telling him to do a sweep, as if he’d heard Lucian’s recommendation directly. Or was just as on the ball as the Romanian. Jak left immediately.

  As his wheels started turning, Gabriel picked up a lock of Eva’s hair that had fallen from its binding and played with it, wrapping it around his finger and letting it unravel. Then doing it again. Wrapping it around . . . letting it unravel . . . wrapping it . . . unraveling . . . wrap . . . unravel . . .

  “Okay.”

  Eva started so violently that he jumped, and he was the one who’d spoken, for chrissakes. Nerves were shot all around. He kissed her temple and then gave Maks a pointed look that told him to play along. “Not that I think we’ll need it”—because he knew they would—“but I want you to find out what you can about access to Enum—”

  “Population is a little over ten thousand,” Maksim interrupted, rattling off the information he hadn’t even known would be asked for. “Has an airport, but just barely, a miniscule police department, tiny hospital.” He looked up and went mother tongue. “And, like the gearhead wanted to say, it’s a perfect area to go if you want a lot of privacy. Stefano could disappear into that forest with her and no one would see or hear a goddamn thing.”

  “Would you guys please stop doing that,” Eva complained tiredly. “It just makes me think you’re sayi
ng something worse than what you probably are. Speak English. Or Spanish. Maybe even a little French. Those I know.”

  Maksim shrugged. “Sorry, sweetness, it’s habit. And I was only saying that I agree with him. We’re probably not going to need the information, because we’ll take care of it from here.”

  Gabriel released his breath slowly, the wheels in his head in overdrive. “The jet on standby?” he asked Alek.

  “Of course.”

  “Good. Then we’re all heading home tonight. We’ll leave a crew to deal with Stefano and be in New York by morning.”

  Eva looked shocked at the change in plans. Nika looked alarmed and a little panicky. Paynne looked suspicious.

  And everyone else didn’t.

  Because Maksim, Vincente, Alek, and Quan knew better than to believe such bullshit. Which did have some truth to it.

  As he’d just now decided, Eva and Nika would be heading east, with their own personal guard of bikers to watch over them. But Gabriel and the boys would remain behind to finish this once and for all.

  Gabriel shut the suite’s door behind him, bemused by Eva’s apparent need to touch him. A clasp and squeeze of his fingers as they’d left the meeting room. A distracted trapping of his hand as she’d spoken to Nika. Her fingertips drumming gently on his knuckles as they’d waited for the elevator. Her intertwining their fingers as they’d come down the corridor, keeping them locked together even when she’d hugged Nika before the nervous redhead had disappeared into the suite next to theirs with her brother and Vincente.

  It was a complete one-eighty from the fury she’d unleashed on him a few nights ago, and he was thrilled, despite knowing deep down they couldn’t last. He’d seen the toll this whole situation with Stefano was taking on her. But then he’d also seen how she was making her way through it. How she was adapting. Strengthening right before his eyes.

  Regardless, there was no way she’d agree to live a life like this if given the choice.

  And even if she considered it, could he let her? Yesterday he’d have said no. But now? He wasn’t so sure. Because shit was changing. His jealousy over her relationship with the biker had opened his eyes to the fact that he was no longer seeing Eva as just a perfect face and body. His feelings—gag—were engaged here. He was seeing the whole package. Seeing who she was on the inside. And he liked what he saw.

  He tossed his card key and untangled his hand from hers to walk ahead of her into the main room. Was she even aware of what she was doing? “Why is Nika so bent on not traveling to New York tonight?”

  When they’d been in the elevator and had confirmed moving the girls to the New York ODMC clubhouse, Nika had balked like there was no tomorrow. They’d had to work even harder to convince her to stay at the hotel tonight.

  Eva made a nervous sound behind him. “Probably because Kevin’s going to go postal. He doesn’t like her going to the grocery store, much less across the country.”

  They both fell silent.

  He watched her with a yearning he didn’t think was possible. Her father was going to arrive soon, and who knew where that would leave them? His time with her, whether he liked it or not, was limited. And there would be hell to pay when this was all over.

  God, he didn’t want to let her go.

  She tilted her head as if she could sense the turmoil within him. But that was impossible. He himself hadn’t even realized the extent of emotion he’d feel at the thought of losing her. And yet it was inevitable.

  He crossed the room and, without a word, swept her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

  “Gabriel?”

  “I need you. Right now.” He kicked the door shut behind them and stalked to the bed. But he didn’t put her down, just looked at her, willing her to feel what he was feeling.

  Hot desperation flared in her eyes, but her fingers were whisper soft where they skimmed down his cheek and across his jaw. “Yes,” she breathed, cupping his face to bring him to her so she could plunder his mouth. “Right now,” she said against his lips.

  He put her on her feet and they undressed each other, gazes lingering, lips clinging, hands caressing everywhere at once it seemed. He paused at one point and just stood there stunned, taking in the staggering beauty of this woman before him, in all her nude glory, trembling with need. Her hair was spread around her shoulders in a wild tangle, falling down to disappear behind her back. Her firm, tawny limbs, those gorgeous breasts, delicately curved navel. And those sapphire eyes filled with a longing that did indeed match his own.

  And, holy hell, all he wanted to do right then was claim her. Take what he wanted from her. In every damn way there was. He finished unwrapping her and with an arm behind her back, laid her down, following to cover her as he devoured her mouth, swiping at her tongue. He pressed into her, reveling in the feel of her entire body against his. “Can’t feel you enough,” he growled.

  “I know,” she panted, moving against him, her fingers tracing his neck and face and then burying themselves in his hair.

  His hips pressed into her again, his erection hitting right at the heat of her with a mind of its own. The effect? She cried out at the sensation the friction caused.

  “I want to be inside you, sweetheart,” he whispered harshly as he kissed his way down her silky throat and over to sink his teeth into the soft muscle between her neck and shoulder, grinding again.

  “Oh, God, Gabriel.”

  He kept going down, palming one breast as he sucked the other into his mouth, using his tongue and teeth on her nipple in order to hear that sound he loved so much come from her throat. She didn’t disappoint, her moan coming out hoarse.

  “Right in here.” He rubbed against her, the head of his cock separating her slippery folds. “Where only I have ever been.” A purely masculine thrill lit him up when her hips circled against him, her fingernails scoring his back as she tried to pull him closer.

  “Yes,” she hissed, squirming, her gaze eating him up in much the same way he’d done her.

  And it would have been flattering as fuck if fear wasn’t lurking behind the covetous look.

  “Now. Please.”

  He pulled back quickly and grabbed a condom from the drawer by his bed. He’d promised her he’d be responsible, and he was damn well going to do it. Although she made keeping any semblance of sanity damn near impossible. Once he was sheathed, he returned to her, pressing into her again.

  Her hips thrust up in welcome. Her legs slid out from under the weight of his and wrapped around his hips, and, unable to hold off, he gripped himself at the base, found the entrance to her core, and slid home, sinking slowly into her tight heat.

  They both made their own sounds of oh-fuck-finally as he began thrusting, but he was still not satisfied. Gabriel gripped Eva’s arms and turned them, bringing her up on top so that he had a clear, unimpeded view of what was happening here. He needed the visual as well as the corporeal.

  A powerful fascination consumed him as he watched this woman astride him, taking to the new position with only the slightest of pauses, but then riding him so spectacularly it made his throat thicken. Her hands were scorching where they lay on his stomach, her nails sharp, stinging so good when her fingers flexed each time she seated herself to the hilt, taking him into the heart of her body. So hot and slippery and tight. His eyes narrowed. Every time she rose up, her sleek thigh muscles tensed, and the sight of his glistening cock, drenched from her, disappearing into the heated cocoon of her body . . . Entrancing.

  His mind spun as her firm breasts caught his eye next, those beaded nipples begging for attention. He gave it to them, loving the little mewls that reached his ears when he touched her there.

  Her movements became quicker, shorter, and then her inner muscles were clamping down, sucking his shaft deep, her back arching in a beautiful line, her soft unbroken groan of pure pleasure almost more than he could bear. The sound of her completion shot down his spine like an arrow, urging h
is hips into a rhythm she matched without a problem as she rode the waves of her orgasm.

  “So fucking beautiful,” he rasped.

  Barely aware of what he was doing, lost to the erotic haze clouding his brain, he spun them, needing her under him. Her legs widened, opening herself up for him as he drove into her. He looked down, torn between watching their mating and watching her—dark head thrown back to expose the vulnerable curve of her throat, her lightly muscled arms thrown to the sides, her fingers grasping the blanket tightly, her flawless face tense as she was swept away again.

  Then she lifted her head and her eyes met his, the connection between them stronger than anything Gabriel had ever felt in his life.

  The sight of her, the sounds she made, coupled with the scent of the sex and the feel of her tightness gripping him had that familiar zip of lightning ripping down his lower back. He held off as long as he could but finally had to give in. His control shattered and he blew apart, swallowed whole by the most intense orgasm of his life.

  Coming back into his own head took some time, and he used it to apologize in a soft murmur in case he’d hurt her.

  “You were perfect, silly,” she assured, her voice weak. Her hands smoothed over his shoulders and down his back, as she kissed his jaw.

  Coming up on his elbows, he bit the inside of his cheek when the movement caused him to slide out of her body. She bit her bottom lip, her eyes drowsy as they met his.

  His cell phone sounded, the noise dentist-drill grating from where it came from the floor.

  “Such a busy bee,” she murmured, kissing his lips before she slid out from underneath him. She gathered her clothes, her movements loose. He reached for the distraction and glanced at the number—Markus—as she disappeared into the en suite bathroom.

  Gabriel had a hard time scrounging up any interest in business. He finally told Markus he’d have to get back to him. After donning his clothes, he’d just entered the main room, dropping his phone in his pocket, when a hard rap hit the suite’s door.

  He went for the foyer, feeling edgy as shit despite the orgasm he’d just had, and looked through the peephole, no longer willing to take any chances.