by Vi Carter
“This isn’t a joke.”
Her smile slips. “I’m sorry. I’ve heard of The Handler, but to think I’m going to meet him is exciting.”
“Girls don’t normally get excited over our titles.” In fact, they run the other way.
“I grew up with Eric, and he never shut up about all the high hitters, so it rubbed off.” She shrugs. “I suppose.”
Eric. That boy’s name again. I didn’t like it.
“Just let me do the talking and remember, you're my girlfriend.”
Her cheeks pinken and she tucks a strand of blond hair behind her ear.
“We better swap.” I get out and walk to the driver side as she climbs into the passenger. I pull up closer to the gates and hit the bell. I know there are cameras everywhere. The Handler is Bratva's personal hit man. He needs to be protected at all times. It’s been years since we saw each other.
The gates pull open and I glance at Mila. “Don't say who you are.” I tell her before driving up the drive.
“Who my father is?” She says staring out the window.
“Yeah.” I don’t think anyone knows what Victor’s daughter looks like. I hadn’t known, and right now I hang onto that as we pull up outside Lucca’s house. The front door opens and two large men step aside as Lucca jogs down the steps. His arms are wide and he is wearing a grin.
“Oh my God.” Mila whispers and I’m tempted to look at her, but instead I climb out.
“Nic.” Lucca embraces me, and I pat his back heavily.
“Lucca.”
He pushes the sunglasses onto the top of his head. Silver eyes take in my car. “What the fuck happened?” His eyes skip across all the damage and to Mila, who steps out of the car. My stomach tightens and I try not to flinch as she moves around the car.
“Lucca, this is my girlfriend Mila.”
Lucca turns to me. “Girlfriend?” I get the question. In our line of work, you don’t get attached. He nods his head and his sunglasses fall back down on his face.
“Hi.” Mila speaks softly and I hate the awe I see in her eyes as she looks up at Lucca. He towers over her at six feet seven inches, he’s a big guy. In prison, no one fucked with him, and anyone that did, was found hanging in their cells the next day.
The silk blue shirt billows out as he jogs up the steps of his house. His security moves back and lets us in.
“So great to see you.” He takes off the glasses once we enter. His dark hair is slicked back, I remembered it being longer when we did time together.
“I need a place to hunker.”
Lucca moves up to me. “My home is your home.”
I grip his forearm. “Thanks brother.”
This is what we did. We had each other’s back when we needed it. I never thought I would need anyone, but I never thought someone would need me. Turning to Mila, she’s watching us.
“You want a drink, sweetheart?” Lucca talks loudly to Mila, like she can’t hear him. Women flocked around him, but if they weren’t on top of him, he didn't have much time for them.
“No, thank you.” Mila frowns before glancing at me.
“She can hear you, Lucca.” I sneer.
He slaps my forearm.
“Let’s have a drink.” His gaze flickers to Mila, it’s like he’s trying to tell me to lose the tail.
Lucca claps his hands loudly and a tall brunette wearing a leopard print dress appears in the doorway.
“I’m not a dog, Luc.” The brunette slams a hand on her hips. She has no fear of Lucca. Had he settled down too?
“Anita, this is Mila. Can you show her to a room and give her some clothes? You know, make her feel welcome.”
Anita’s silver eyes roam my frame before she turns to Mila.
“Let me show you around, Kitten.”
Mila’s gaze jumps to me and I nod at her. She forces a smile at Anita and they leave.
“She’s my sister.” Lucca fills in the blank as I follow him out of the hallway. Now he’ll want to know why I’m here. I’m not sure how much I want to tell him.
MILA
“Size six?” Anita’s gaze scans me from the top of my head to the tip of my toes.
“Yeah.” Her long legs go on forever. I didn’t like how she looked at Nicholai.
She’s sizing me up, so I don’t shy away, and I do the same to her. Is this who is dating The Handler?
We both have questions, but I remember what Nicholai told me about him doing most of the talking. These people might be helping us, but I had to remember that they were still dangerous people.
Anita opens a door into a large room with a four-poster bed. My gaze immediately moves to the ceiling. No mirror. The room is beautifully decorated with high quality and dark furnishings.
“You can stay in this room.” She pushes open a door that leads into a bathroom. “Bathroom,” she tells me and smiles.
“I’ll get you some clothes, Kitten.”
I don’t like the endearment, but I force a smile. “Thank you.”
Once she leaves, I enter the bathroom. A large bath that could hold a few people dominates the room.
Anita returns and I enter the bedroom. She places the clothes on a trunk at the base of the bed.
“Anything else I can get you, Kitten?” She’s smiling sweetly, but all my senses are telling me this woman is dangerous.
“No thanks. I might just get some rest. “
She doesn’t leave immediately and I force a smile. “Thanks once again.”
She finally leaves me alone and I lie down on the bed. My mind decides to conjure the image of the man’s hand clad in a silver band. Two bullet holes in his forehead have me tighten my eyes. Is someone waiting for him at home? I sit up and rub my eyes, trying to push the image away. A shiver assaults my body and I have no idea if it’s the cold or the idea of being surrounded by unfamiliar things. I wanted Nicholai here with me. I wanted to lie in his arms and fall asleep. My stomach twists when I picture him. I miss him. Frowning, I get up off the bed. Missing a man like The Collector isn’t wise. I think I have gone beyond pretending that I don't have feelings for Nicholai. I am falling for him hard and fast.
My cheeks burn. What kind of person did that make me? To fall for someone who just kills on a whim? Who takes husbands from wives? I had grown up in the middle of the Bratva, but I didn’t see the violence. I heard the stories from Eric, but to me, it was just that, stories. It wasn’t until I had entered the mill that the horror of what we were—really came true.
I leave the bedroom and try to push my dark thoughts away as I run the shower and strip off, but they don’t leave me. I’m back in that cell. Liddi’s screams pierce me all the way down to my soul. I should have stopped Oleg. I should have saved her. I was such a coward.
I escape the shower and towel myself off. I can’t think. I don’t want to. The clothes that Anita left out for me are all tight. I sigh, but pull on the black leggings and a red string top. They didn’t leave anything to the imagination, but the clothes were clean. I run my fingers through my hair before climbing into bed. I know I need sleep. My eyes burn with tiredness, but it’s hard in a foreign place. I tell myself that Nicholai won’t let any harm come to me. So far he has kept me safe; he was running because of me. Or maybe that’s what I’ve told myself, that Nicholai is running because of me. He could be running because of that woman Gail. What had he done to her? Taken someone she loved?
I sit up in the bed. Sleep won’t come and I don’t want to be alone with my thoughts. Leaving the bedroom, my footsteps are silenced from the carpet that cushions my bare feet. I catch myself in a full-length mirror at the end of the hall. I tug the top away from me, but once I release the red fabric, it clings right back to my skin. Grabbing all my blond hair, I pull it over my shoulder. My bruises were fading fast. I look away from the mirror as I continue down the stairs. My gaze collides with Anita’s.
“Thought I heard you moving, Kitten.”
“Where’s Nicholai?” Calling him The Collector was on the tip
of my tongue.
“My clothes look good on you.”
I pull the top again. “They are a little tight.”
Anita flashes me smile. “They are this way.” She flicks long curly locks behind her shoulder. I feel small and childlike compared to Anita. She has curves and any man would stop to look at her.
She opens a set of glass doors, and the steam from the pool room instantly touches my skin. A full-size pool runs the full length of the room. Lucca is in it, and I can’t stop staring at his body that is just as heavily coated in tattoos as Nicholai’s.
Nicholai sits on a chair close to the pool. He has removed his jacket and tie and opened the top two buttons of his shirt. His dark eyes zoom up to mine and I pause in my stride as his gaze roams across my body. I continue to follow Anita and Lucca watches me as closely as Nicholai does. Each step is nervous until I reach them. Now I have no idea what to say.
“I couldn’t sleep,” I blurt out to Nicholai and just focus on him and no one else.
His smile is soft and he drags a chair over beside him. Relief swims through me at the invitation to sit beside him. I take it up quickly and drag my legs up into the chair. Lucca’s gaze is heavy on me, but I keep my focus on Nicholai.
Nicholai startles me when he reaches across and wraps his hand around mine.
“Are you staying with us long?” Anita asks Nicholai, dragging everyone’s attention to her.
“He can stay as long as he wants.” It’s the first time I’ve heard a serious undertone to Lucca’s voice. I watch him as he stares at Anita.
“I’m only asking,” Anita retorts and Lucca’s gaze swings around to us, catching my eye.
“You can stay as long as you want.” He’s speaking to me and I can feel my cheeks heat.
“Thank you, Lucca.”
His smile lights up his silver eyes. “You’re welcome, Mila.” He grins at Nicholai before diving under the water and disappearing. He reappears at the end of the pool before pulling himself out of the water and leaving the pool room.
My attention returns to Anita, who smiles at me before she turns and walks slowly along the pool. She sways her hips more now and I glance at Nicholai, expecting him to be watching Anita. My heart beats fast as my gaze clashes with his dark eyes.
“Are you okay?” His concern has me smiling.
“I am now,” I answer honestly and he tightens his hand on mine.
CHAPTER TWELVE
NICHOLAI
I want Mila out of the clothes she is wearing for more reasons than one. They left nothing to the imagination. I don’t want Lucca looking at her. I still haven’t released her hand and she’s staring at our joined fingers.
“What are we doing here?” Her gaze jumps up to me. I hear the underlying question in her words. What are we doing?
“We’ll stay awhile until I can figure a few things out.”
Her blue eyes jump to my lips before rising back up to meet my eyes. “Am I one of those things?”
“Yes.” I don't want to discuss her situation. I don’t have a solution, but I know I’m not giving her up. I have no idea how I can hold on to her, but I will try.
Her gaze bores into mine and I release her hand and stand up.
She watches me as I pull off my shirt. I love how her eyes widen and drag down my chest. I open the belt of my trousers and she’s waiting.
“What are you doing?”
“Going for a swim.” I kick off my trousers and pull down my boxers, I don’t hide my erection that’s been growing harder the longer I’m around her.
She sucks in her bottom lip as I jump into the pool. The surface cracks open and the lukewarm water encircles me as I swim the full length of the pool.
My ear picks up the disruption in the water and I break the surface. My gaze dances to the seats Mila and I had occupied. On hers, her clothes are piled. My gaze searches for her and when her blond head breaks the surface, I swim slowly to her as she brushes water from her face. She’s naked, her body shimmers under the water and my erection grows harder.
“I thought a swim sounded nice.” She smiles as I swim closer and I mirror her smile.
“I’ll admit, it is far nicer with you in it.” I reach her. “Naked.” I add.
She exhales loudly through her nose as I drag her body against mine. Her hands instantly wrap around my neck and my cock brushes her stomach.
“I like you naked, too,” She speaks without smiling. She leans out before pressing her lips against mine. I move both of us to the side of the pool, to help support me as I greedily take the kiss from her. She’s perfect against my body, and I love that she’s trapped as I slip my hand down and touch her clit. She breathes heavily against my lips and I move my fingers until they touch her opening. I push one in, and all I want to do is fuck her hard against the side of the pool. I keep moving my finger in and out, dragging it up to her clit. She squirms and whimpers between kisses as I keep my lips pressed against hers. Her hands tighten on my neck and she pushes her body against mine, moving her legs up my thigh. I remove my hand from her pussy and easily lift her so her legs wrap around me. I break the kiss and her eyes swim as she stares up at me. Placing my cock at her opening, I push it in. I exhale as her tight pussy wraps around my cock and I start to fuck her. Water slushes up on the tiles the faster I move, but it’s not fast enough, not deep enough. I want more of Mila. Her hands tighten around my neck as I continue to fuck her as fast and as hard as I can.
“I’m going to cum,” she whispers in my ear and when she tenses around my cock, I relish in her release. I slow my pace down and stop fucking her. I want to empty myself in her so badly, but I’m aware we are in a pool. When I pull out of her, my cock throbs with a need. It’s almost painful, but I focus on Mila’s beautiful flushed cheeks.
“Stay in the pool. I’ll be back in a minute.” I press a kiss to her plump lips before gripping the tiles behind her and pulling myself out of the pool. I enter a small room to the left. It’s a toilet, but my cock demands relief. The moment I have the door closed, I take my shaft in my hand and start to pump. I’m picturing Mila up on all fours, her ass in the air. I’m imagining pounding my cock into her ass. I quicken my strokes but pause as the door opens.
Mila enters and closes the door softly behind her. She’s wrapped in a towel as she falls to her knees. The moment my cock is in her mouth, I throw my head back. Her mouth is small, but she takes as much of me as she can. Her warm mouth moves quickly over my cock. I know it won’t take much for me to cum. When her hands cup and squeeze my balls, my pre-cum squirts into her mouth. She tightens her lips and moves them faster over my cock until I cum in her mouth. Her movements slow and she looks up at me as she swallows my seed. Silently, she gets up and leaves the small room. I wait a moment before leaving too. She’s pulled back on her leggings and tugs the red top back on. Her gaze swings to me and she smiles sweetly. When she steps up to me and presses a kiss against my lips, I’m ready to stop her. I normally wouldn’t kiss any woman who just blew me off, but Mila’s lips just turn me on again.
“You should put on some clothes.” She smiles into the kiss.
“You don’t like what you see?” I ask her and she grins.
“I don’t want anyone else seeing you.” The moment she says the words, horror fills her blue eyes and she steps away from me.
“What’s wrong?” I step towards her.
She holds her hands up. “Nothing.” She tries to smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
I leave it and get dressed. I don't put back on my jacket or tie. “Lucca is having a few people over tonight, so we will be expected to join them. Even for a short while.”
Mila chews her lip nervously. I capture her hands in mine. “I won’t leave you alone.”
Her gaze sweeps across my face. “Okay.”
I needed Lucca’s help, so I would play nice with him.
I gather up my jacket and tie. “Did Anita show you to a room?”
Mila’s eyes narrow slightl
y before she speaks. “Yeah, she did.”
“You don't like her?” I ask while fighting a grin.
“She’s okay. She showed me to a room.”
“Why don’t you show me and we can try to sleep.” We leave the pool room.
“Try?”
I like this playful side of Mila. I let my gaze move down her top. “You don’t make it easy.”
She fires a final smile over her shoulder before she leads the way to our room.
MILA
Anita had left me a high neck red dress for the party tonight, it cut off just under my ass. I’m staring at myself far too long in the mirror when Nicholai arrives back into the room. His eyes consume me. He looks dangerous in his black slacks and shirt. My stomach flips. His hair is down. I’ve never seen it like that. As he steps closer, I want to reach up and run my hands through it.
“What is that?” His eyes darken as he reaches me.
“A dress, according to Anita.” I try to pull it down, but the material doesn’t budge. I’ve swept all my hair up and only have a light spray of brown across my eyelids.
The red heels that Anita left out are too small, but I don’t mind padding around barefoot. Nicholai’s arm circles my waist and having no footwear on makes me tiny beside him. I lean out so I can look at him. I do what I have wanted to do the moment he stepped into the room, I run my hands through his dark hair. He bends down and places a soft kiss on my lips that I feel the whole way down to my toes.
“We could skip the party.”
I smile into his kiss. “I’m good with that.” I answer.
He sighs against my lips. “I’d really love to...” He shrugs and lets me go.
I get it. “We’d better go down.”
His gaze dances to my bare feet. “The shoes are too small and I’m not cramming my feet into them for anyone.”
He raises a brow in amusement and recaptures my waist. “Not even for me?” He places another kiss against my lips.
“For you, I would make an exception.” I really think if he wanted me to, I would wear them for him.
