“No,” she said, teeth chattering.
“I’ve got you, baby. You aren’t going to fight the protection we are going to provide for you. You aren’t. Your uncle can go fuck himself.” He kissed her forehead and held her tight as more people entered the room, including the police.
“He’s dead,” she heard someone say.
“Who shot him? Who was carrying in here?” someone asked.
“He was. Retired military, Special Forces. He saved her life, or they would both be dead right now.”
She looked up and saw the multiple men from Club X that did security and were close to Dominic, Giuseppe, and Andreas. He wasn’t kidding. She was under their protection. Puento sent someone to kill her because Rayanna was now under the protection of Dmitri Sanclare, Russian mob boss. She gripped Andreas tighter as he started to get up with her in his arms and keep her away from seeing the body on the floor. She hugged him tight, unable to resist the feel of his protective embrace and the power he emitted toward everyone as he gave orders and took her out of the room. She blinked and saw the few nursing staff as well as Andreas’s men. She was surrounded. She was under their protection until this situation was resolved. Now how was she going to resist falling deeper?
* * * *
Dmitri kissed the back of Rayanna’s neck, his arms snugly around her waist and a hand cupping her breast. They’d made love several times throughout the night. Her stomach rumbled and he chuckled. “I suppose we should get some food.” He rolled her to her back, then pressed a thick, hard thigh between her legs. She stared up at him. The man was perfection.
“I can’t move. I doubt I could walk.”
He squinted at her and stroked her jaw. “Did I hurt you?”
She shook her head.
“I haven’t had sex in two years, Dmitri. I lost count last night.”
He didn’t smile—the man just didn’t seem to do that at all—but the scowl disappeared.
“Take a hot bath. I’ll get Grisha to order food, although knowing him they probably have a feast out there waiting for us.”
Her eyes widened.
“Grisha? Oh God, Carlos and Turbo, are they there, too?” She felt her cheeks warm, and he squinted again as if the mention of them bothered him.
“I dismissed them last night upon my arrival. My men, my personal guards, are now your security.”
“But Carlos—”
“Failed you multiple times. No more. There are rules you will need to learn and follow.”
He tapped her jaw and then pressed his lips to hers. She reached for him, unable to resist, but he pulled back.
“Hot bath while I shower, and then we eat and talk.” He slid from the bed, and his words, his easy dismissal of the many times they made love was instantly minimized. He had released Carlos and Turbo and had taken over her security, and now that they had made love he was putting a wall up. Her gut clenched. Had she made a mistake? It was too good to regret, and something inside of her, an instinct, a sensation, told her that it was okay. That this was Dmitri’s way, and she needed to be realistic. He wasn’t the marrying type. Nor was she. He wasn’t going to wake her and claim an undying love for her for the rest of their lives. She chuckled and began to ease from the bed, and oh boy, she was sore. Pleasantly sore. In fact, her pussy felt swollen. Hmm, that was interesting and a first.
She made her way to the bathroom, and Dmitri was already in the separate shower. She could see his sexy body through the glass—muscular thighs like a stallion, dips and ridges of muscles, and of course those scars and tattoos. As he turned, she looked away and prepared the tub. By the time she got into the sudsy water, he was getting out, giving her another glimpse of his sexy body of stone and war injuries. He dried off with the towel and tossed it into the hamper. He walked over to her in all his glory, and she had to resist licking her lips.
“Twenty minutes, no less. That should help. Be sure to dress appropriately. My men are outside,” he said and walked from the bathroom.
He was back to being cold, distant, and commanding. What did he mean by “twenty minutes, no less”? Was that from his sexual experiences with fucking women all night? Twenty-minute soak and then you’re good—see ya?
She felt angry, insulted, frustrated.
And what was with the “be sure to dress appropriately”? Did he think she would come out of her bedroom in her thong and panties or some sexy teddy she didn’t even own? She exhaled.
What have I gotten myself into?
“Made men. This is not going to work out at all.”
* * * *
“When, and is she alive?” Dmitri asked the moment Grisha informed him of the failed attempt on Giada’s life.
He looked back toward the bedroom and then around the room at his men. Bodashka was in the kitchen cooking and placing food onto the counter. Hadeon was on the laptop and phone organizing things, Paulo was watching Bodashka, and Andriy was standing there next to Grisha.
“Andreas Coglonie was there and had a guard at the door. She’s alive. The guy is dead.”
“Who was he? Where are we at with this?”
“A little closer to figuring things out. The guy was part of the Cruz gang in Chicago,” Grisha told him.
Dmitri narrowed his eyes and adjusted the holster and gun on his side. Grisha had even brought in a new suit, shirt, and everything he would need this morning. Yanna remained sound asleep and never heard a sound. Dmitri was a light sleeper and never really slept much at all. Too many demons in his dreams.
“We’re making some connections. In fact, Hadeon put out some feelers underground to see if the goods showed up there, and sure enough they did.”
“The black market? Assholes. These people are amateurs. Don’t they know the connections?” he asked.
“Apparently not. Word is another big shot here in New York was assisting someone with this process and screwing over the deliveries. It’s making sense. We just need time to weed out the scumbags,” Grisha told him.
“Keep on it.”
“What are you going to tell Yanna about her friend?” Grisha asked him.
“The truth. She’s alive, so there isn’t anything to be worried about. I’m assuming the Coglonie men are taking over Giada’s full security?”
“Yes, and she is resistant.”
“Big surprise there,” Bodashka said from the kitchen.
* * * *
Rayanna waited the twenty minutes and then got out. She did her hair and makeup and went ’round and ’round about what to wear in her own damn apartment. She was looking for her cell phone to call and check on Giada and to text Solencio that she wouldn’t be in until later or, at latest, tomorrow. She wanted to also text and call the other people she had in charge to be sure things were going accordingly. Where had she put her phone last night? She knew she stared at the text from Puento several times. Then Turbo took it from her and held her in the back seat of the car on the ride back to her place. She was in such a funk she never took it back.
She looked at herself in the mirror after making the bed and fixing up the room. She couldn’t believe she had sex all night with Dmitri. The bath had helped, but now she needed to face whoever was out there and know that they knew what went on in her bedroom.
She took a deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror. She wore a pair of slim-fitting black pants, low-heeled boots, and a black sweater that reached her waist but dipped low in the front. It was tight fitting and showed off her figure, but it was casual. She decided that she needed to be nonchalant and not freak out as she entered the room.
When she opened the door, she smelled the bacon, saw men in her kitchen and in her living room, and noticed Dmitri was on the phone.
The men were huge, badass-looking men. She gulped, and Dmitri got off the phone.
“Feeling better?” he asked her.
She nodded as he approached. He placed his arm around her waist and brought her into the room.
“Introductions first.”
“These six men are my main security and guards. My right-hand men, my friends, and they are your protection now, too. This is Grisha.”
He introduced the very big guy who was taller than Dmitri. He had thick blond hair to his shoulders, some facial hair, and dark blue eyes. He was built like an ox—wide shoulders, muscles galore, and his dress shirt looked ready to pop. He had a large gun on his hip and looked fierce. When he reached out to shake her hand, hers was lost in his.
“Nice to meet you, Grisha.”
“You, as well, Miss Fiorre.”
“Please, call me Rayanna.”
He nodded.
“These are Olek, Hadeon, Paulo, and Andriy. Over in the kitchen, cooking, is Bodashka.”
She shook each man’s hand and was impressed with their sizes and the guns they had on them, the fierce expressions and accents, even thicker than Dmitri’s.
“Hope you don’t mind me cooking in your kitchen,” Bodashka said to her.
“Not at all. Thank you so much. I could have cooked for you guys.”
“Don’t be silly. You needed rest,” Bodashka said and then continued to cook.
She was relieved no one hinted about what was really going on in the bedroom all night. Dmitri walked away, and she started to look for her cell phone.
“What are you doing?” he asked her.
“I can’t seem to find my cell phone. I think Turbo had it last.”
“What do you need it for?” he asked her as if she were up to something.
She pushed her hair back over her shoulder and then stared at him. He stood a few feet away, and the others were making themselves plates of food.
“I need to check on Giada, then call Solencio and let him know I might not get there until later or tomorrow. I want to see if Giada is being released today or tomorrow.” She started looking into the drawers at her desk. Things were moved around as if someone had been looking at the drawings and designs she did on the side.
“I have your phone, Yanna,” Dmitri said.
She hesitated a moment. “Okay, then can I have it please?” She put her hand out.
He squinted at her in that way that put her on edge and made her instantly know something was wrong, or maybe he was angry or going to demand something. He stepped closer and put a hand on her hip.
“First, something happened this morning.”
“What?”
“At the hospital.”
She widened her eyes and went to step back but he pulled her close, keeping her in place with one large, strong hand.
“Giada is okay. Andreas Coglonie was with her when someone attempted to enter the room and kill her.”
“What? Why? Who was it?” A tear rolled down her cheek.
“We’re on top of it. The bottom line is she is alive and under their protection now.” He stepped to the side.
“Have something to eat. You need food to stay strong,” he said, sounding and acting so desensitized to the situation.
Someone had shot at her friend in the hospital room. Andreas was there and what? Killed the person, protected her? What?
“Details? I want details. I want to know who it was and if the police can prove they were working for Puento.”
“You don’t need to know the details, just that she is fine,” he snapped at her.
She saw the other men pretending to not listen, but how could they not? They were all right here.
“Give me my phone,” she demanded. He didn’t even look at her.
“Dmitri, I know you heard me. Give me my phone. You don’t want to give me details for whatever reason, fine. Then I will find out from my family, from people I trust and who will tell me what I want to know.”
She could tell the trust thing pissed him off.
“I’m in charge here. I decide who you speak to, where you go, when you go, and what you are made aware of. That is the bottom line.”
“Says who? Your Russian-Ukrainian rules when you order protection over a woman? I have a right to know. She is my friend, and this is my situation. I have a right to know what is happening.”
“Eat first,” he said as if ignoring her outburst.
She threw up her hands and walked over to the phone on the counter. When she reached for it, Grisha stopped her.
“Seriously?”
“Giada is fine and was released and on her way to her apartment with Andreas and additional security, just like all your other friends now have men assigned to them as precaution. She can’t talk now. You can call later on. The discussion is over.”
No one looked at her. The discussion sure was over because Dmitri had spoken.
She walked out of the kitchen and toward her desk. She took a seat and opened up her laptop. As she began to log on, his hands landed on her shoulders. She stopped.
“What are you doing?” Dmitri asked her.
She wanted to bark at him, tell him he was being a jerk, and how could he be so mean after last night and what they shared? Instead, she didn’t say a word. That annoyed him as he slowly turned her seat, stepped between her legs, and cupped her cheek and jaw before tilting it up toward him. He stared down into her eyes with that firm expression of his. There were sides of this man she was sure to be shocked by and to learn as they went along, but this was one hell of a morning after for her to handle.
Her nostrils flared as he stared down into her eyes and then at her breasts.
“Stand up,” he said softly.
She slowly stood, and he eased his other hand around her waist. He held her chin and neck still, and she stared up into his eyes. Even with her wearing the designer heeled boots, the man was taller by a few inches.
“There is much for us to learn. You accepted my power, my control, and my possession of you last night,” he said kind of loudly for his men to hear.
Her gaze darted behind him, and he tightened his grip, giving her ass a tap with his other hand.
“Eyes on me.”
She swallowed.
“With that decision comes many changes, and many rules for you to learn and follow. That will come, Yanna, but the number one rule to learn, and learn quickly, is to obey me. A time to resist, to discuss, to question my order will happen when we are alone and not in the presence of anyone, including my men. Understood?”
So that was why he wouldn’t expand. She was to be given orders and accept them without question like anyone else. She didn’t know if she could do that.
“You are still questioning me now. What is it?” he asked in frustration.
“It’s my friend who was hurt. My friends and family are in danger because of me. I want to know details. I don’t want to feel like I’m not doing anything.”
He didn’t say anything at first, and then he nodded.
“I will try to remember that. My concern is your safety. I’m used to giving orders, to making decisions, and you need to adjust. We’ll work it out. Now come and eat, or Bodashka won’t like you and will take you not eating the food he prepared as an insult.”
Still no smile, but she was learning what remarks and different squints of his eyes meant. He was making a joke.
“Okay.”
He lowered and kissed her lips. He pressed his tongue into her mouth and explored. She felt his hand slide over her ass and hoist her closer, and then he released her lips and grabbed her hand.
He walked her toward the kitchen, and Bodashka made her a plate of food that was way more than she could eat, but she would do her best. The man was big and scary, and she definitely wouldn’t want to be on his bad side.
Chapter 7
“And I’m just hearing of this connection now?” Adalina asked her cousin Tudoro.
“Well, I figured upon your return flight to New York that you would have heard about Rayanna’s situation and Giada being assaulted,” he said to her while she walked through the airport with Sunny and their security by her side.
She looked at him, and he could tell that she was upset.
“Sunny
and Vinny failed to mention who was getting involved with this situation with Rayanna.”
“Well, now you know. When Dmitri sees you, I doubt he will deny knowing you.”
“Of course he wouldn’t, which tells me that talking to Sunny and Vinny needs to happen immediately. What do you have on Puento?” she asked.
“Nothing, except that he has done business with your father.”
“What?” she asked, getting into the SUV with her men. She looked at Sunny and Vinny, who didn’t look happy. They were learning quickly that any meeting or phone conversation she had with Tudoro meant trouble and secrets. She’d told them that there was something about her, about her past she needed to reveal to them, but that once she did, they needed to forever hold it a secret. However, it seemed destiny had a funny way of making decisions for her. Now Rayanna was in trouble, the Russians were involved, people she had connections and relations to through family were in danger, and it was all so secretive.
“I think you need to hold off telling them.”
“I will consider that. Is Dmitri with Rayanna at her apartment now?”
“Yes.”
“I will call and check in on her, but going there now is not an option. I need to discuss some things with my men. Plus, I’ve been away for four days, and there are things to handle. Keep me posted.”
“I will. Be smart, Adalina.”
“Always.” She ended the call and looked at Sunny.
“So when was I going to be made aware of the situation with Rayanna, Giada, and, of course, some connection to this business deal you were subs with Fedarro for?” she asked them.
“That’s Costanza business and has nothing to do with your business and working with Tudoro,” Sunny said to her.
“It was an intense situation, Sunny. You and Clemenza could have been hurt or killed,” she said.
He raised one eyebrow at her.
“Well, it could have been bad. Explain to me what is going on, please. I’m worried about Rayanna and Giada, too.”
“Giada is under the protection of the Coglonie family,” Vinny told her.
Made Men 5: Dmitri's Denial (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 9
