Russian Enforcer's Reluctant Bride (13 page)

The monster they’d known as Yury Abraskamov was dead.

Next to her, Tatyana burst out into sobs, the tension of the last few minutes finally getting to her, and she broke down into Ruslan’s arms, the latter appearing more than grateful to come to the young woman’s aid.

Yana, stone-faced, didn’t shed a tear as she gazed down at the corpse of the man she’d always believed was her father. She’d loved Spartak, Joanna now realized, and nothing could bring that good man back from the dead, not even the demise of his vile executioner.

Vitaly’s hand squeezed her own, and she silently said a few words in prayer for Yury’s black soul. Even though she wondered if the gangster had had a soul, she nevertheless hoped he would finally repent and perhaps even find absolution in the afterlife, or wherever the hell he was.

She leaned in against Vitaly’s chest and let out a stertorous breath. Only now did she notice she’d stiffened every muscle in her body, and was grateful for Vitaly’s arm around her shoulder and the warmth of his embrace.

He tenderly kissed the top of her head. “It’s over,” he murmured. “It’s finally over.”

CHAPTER 28

“So. If there’s a God, he’ll kick the beast straight back to hell. And if there’s a devil, he will welcome Yury with open arms.”

Vitaly raised his glass and touched it to Bogdan’s. “I’ll drink to that.”

“And if there’s justice in this country, he will clean Lincoln of all dope pushers, human traffickers and racketeers in one fell swoop,” Joanna added thoughtfully, casually petting Ram, who was resting on her lap.

Bogdan’s eyes narrowed. As he fell into the category she’d just described, he didn’t seem keen on the image her wish conjured up. Being the good sport he was, though, he still lifted his glass and this time clinked it against Joanna’s.

They were seated in Bogdan’s opulent and colorfully prettified living room. After saying goodbye to their neighbors—and new owners—Tatyana and Yana, they’d returned indoors. While Bogdan said he had some business to attend to, Vitaly and Joanna had discussed the suspenseful events of the night.

Joanna still seemed pretty shaken up, Vitaly had determined, and when Bogdan had returned, he’d quickly prescribed her a healthy dose of vodka to steady her frayed nerves, and had supplied himself and Vitaly with the same panacea.

“I don’t think eradicating crime will ever be a
fait accompli
,” Bogdan posited after downing his third medicinal dram. “As long as there are vices, there will be people accommodating those vices.” He gestured at himself. “Take me, for instance. I was an honorable businessman when I first came to this country. I even joined the chamber of commerce, filed all the right documents, aligned myself with the mores and habits of the local business community. And did I make a single cent of profit? No, sir.” He shook his head disgustedly. “None of the other business leaders allowed me to muscle in on their territory. That’s why Yury and I finally decided to take a walk on the wild side, as the saying goes.”

Joanna wasn’t really interested in Bogdan’s reminiscences of his criminal past. All she wanted now was to withdraw upstairs and fall asleep in Vitaly’s arms, safe in the knowledge that when she woke up to welcome a new day, he would still be there, and she would find that the world had turned a little brighter and a little safer, her future now linked firmly with Vitaly’s.

As she eyed him across the table, he darted a longing glance in her direction, and she knew he felt equally eager to rid himself of Bogdan’s company and excuse himself for the night.

But then Bogdan made a remark that jerked her attention back to the present.

“So it only stands to reason that I would ask of you to do me this one favor, old friend,” Bogdan was saying, his eyes drooping a little and his words slurring but his mind still as sharp as a tack.

Vitaly frowned. “What favor?”

“Well, seeing as I will be obliged to take over Yury’s business now that my former frenemy has found it in his heart to move on, I will need someone to captain my newly acquired troops.”

“What troops? What are you talking about?”

Bogdan smiled and placed his hand on Vitaly’s shoulder in an amiable gesture. “Come, come, Vitaly. You know the expression. One man’s demise is another man’s fortune. Already Yury’s men have applied for a position on my team. At the last count, I now have practically all of those lost souls on my payroll. All I need now is someone to lead them into battle, and there’s only one man fit for the job, and that’s you.”

Vitaly was shaking his head, and Joanna’s heart constricted. Oh, God, no. Bogdan couldn’t possibly consider hiring Vitaly as his enforcer?

“Don’t say no now, Vitaly,” rejoined Bogdan. “Consider my offer carefully. I’m offering you the chance of a lifetime. You won’t be merely an employee to me, you would become my partner. Share in the exploits. Fifty fifty. Is that a good deal or what?”

He gleefully swallowed the remainder of his drink, and Joanna saw she had misjudged the man. He wasn’t that jolly guy, after all. Like Yury, he was a crook. A more humane crook, perhaps, but a crook nonetheless. She just hoped Vitaly would see through him the way she now had. Vitaly’s next words gave her hope.

“Why don’t you just leave well enough alone, Bogdan? Yury’s gone.”

“But his business hasn’t. And if I don’t take over, somebody else will. Already Zharykhin has been muscling in, eager to become Lincoln’s biggest supplier. Yury’s gambling houses, his dope operation, his prostitution racket. They’re all ripe for the taking with the big man gone.” He spread his arms, his smile wide and his bearded face beaming. “It’s Christmas, buddy, and I’m keeping all the goodies for myself. No charity!”

“What about the girls? You need to do right by them.”

“Oh, I will. Of course I will. They are, after all, Yury’s heirs and nominally in charge of the whole empire he left behind. I already talked to them, and they have no interest in running it, however. Glad to leave it all to Uncle Bogdan.” He chuckled. “Some day they may call me father yet, but for now I’ll gladly accept the endearment.” He clapped Vitaly on the shoulder again, but the latter remained stoic, then finally shook his head curtly and rose to his feet.

“I’ll pass, Bogdan, if you don’t mind. I’ve been in this business too long already. Time to move on and get a life. A real life this time.” At these words, his eyes flicked to Joanna, and he added, “With a real family.”

Joanna’s spirits soared as he spoke those words, and though Bogdan’s face clouded, indicating his disappointment, he accepted defeat with admirable equanimity.

“All right, Vitaly. If that’s what you want, I wish you nothing but the best. Just know that there will always be a place for you on my team.”

Considering Bogdan’s team was a gang of cutthroats and other murderous scum, Joanna shivered. Then Bogdan’s phone chimed, and he excused himself before disappearing into his study once again. Never a dull moment in the life of a newly appointed crime boss, she thought, and watched him leave with an odd mixture of resentment and affection.

But then Vitaly reached out a hand, and asked, “Will you join me upstairs, my love?”

With a tremor of anticipation, she took it and inclined her head in acquiescence. “Lead on, my liege,” she murmured, and joined the man of her dreams as they both swept from the room, Ram trotting in their wake.

CHAPTER 29

“There’s nothing more to be said. Nothing more to do—nothing more to think about. From here on out, it’s just you and me. That is…” he hesitated, his voice suddenly revealing a vulnerability she hadn’t known was there. “If you’ll have me.” He flicked his eyes up and met hers in a look that crashed into her consciousness like a wrecking ball, tearing through whatever defenses remained.

She’d asked him if he still considered Bogdan’s offer, and his answer took away the last lingering doubts.

“I will never go back to the business of causing pain for a living, Joanna. I could not—not now that you are in my life.”

“Never again?”

“Never,” he promised, and she believed him.

They’d been leaning against the balustrade of the balcony that led out of their shared bedroom. The night air was cool and refreshing, soothing what nervousness she still harbored after the terrifying events of the evening. He now covered the hand that was poised on the parapet and entwined his fingers against hers. The gesture was reassuring yet intimate, and when his lips gently caressed the side of her neck, she cocked her head, and he brushed away the strands falling down her shoulders, nuzzling the tender skin beneath her ear, then briefly nibbling her earlobe, sending shivers of anticipation through her body.

It had been so long since she’d had him, since they’d had each other, that she wondered if their brief union in Yury’s garden had been a dream, a fantasy, or reality after all? She couldn’t imagine being with another man, and yet couldn’t imagine being with Vitaly either. Not after all that had happened.

But then he slipped his hands around her waist and trailed them down her hips, and an involuntary shudder had her roll her head back so that it rested on his shoulder, and then she felt the deep fear that still lodged in her chest relaxing bit by bit, swayed by the comfort of his touch.

“I’ll never be an enforcer again, Joanna. I’ll never go back to my old life. There’s no need.”

“No need?” she whispered, not comprehending.

“Tatyana and Yana have decided to grant me a severance package. It is quite… substantial.”

His hands now moved up along her belly, then higher still until they were cupping her mounds, testing the weight in his large hands. She felt heat stir inside her belly at his touch.

“Suffice it to say I will never have to work again. With this money, I can take you away from here, and we can start life afresh.”

She snaked her hands back, until she could rake her fingers through his hair, then down to his stubbly face, all the hard planes and angles right there under her fingers, and then his hands slowly moved up her shirt until she was but naked skin glistening in the moonlight, and his hands covered her rising peaks.

“Where do you want to go, my love?” he whispered against her ear.

“Europe,” she murmured. “Take me to Paris—London—Rome—anywhere but here.”

“Anywhere,” he murmured. “Anywhere you like.”

He whirled her around in his arms and easily lifted her blouse over her head, his eyes feasting on her curves. She was gorgeous, he knew, but had never thought she could grow ever more lovely as time went on. As he lowered his mouth to press a hot kiss on her puckered nip, he breathed, “We’ll go to Paris for our wedding, London for the reception, and Rome for our honeymoon.”

As his lips continued their exploration of her satin skin, she shivered, and not from the cold this time. He easily slid her jeans over her hips, and then he was devouring her center, the lovely petals at the heart of her enticing and inviting, glistening in the pale light of the moon, whispering their invitation.

“Oh, Vitaly,” she gasped as his tongue entered her and sent shivers of delight racing up her spine. She held onto him for balance as she swayed, her head light and her mood giddy now. Then the words he’d spoken came home to her. “Did you say… wedding?”

Glancing up at her, his lips wet and his smile irresistible, he spoke words she’d never expected any man ever to speak to her again.

“Joanna Royale, will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”

She squealed with surprised delight, and when he reared up and swept her off her feet, she cried out, “Yes, I do!” And as he gently placed her on the bed and she watched as he pulled his shirt over his head, his torso a mass of rippling muscle and bulging hardness, she gasped once again at the wonder that was Vitaly. He made short shrift of his pants and then he was upon her once again, this time claiming her with a voracity that took her breath away.

And as he eased his hardness into her softness, invading her body with a passion that sent her shuddering against the bed, balling the quilt beneath her fingers, his mouth found hers, and they were drinking each other in once again, eager to make their reacquaintance, to take up where they had left off.

And then he was inside her, rolling deeply between her folds, splaying her soft tenderness with his thick girth, his heat melting and mending the deep urges of her flesh, and as she raked her fingernails along the hard ridges of his back, she briefly lingered on the scar he’d sustained protecting her from harm, and she knew she loved him like she’d never loved before, perhaps like no woman had ever loved any man before in the history of the world.

“My love,” she gasped as he stirred the depths of her body and her soul. “My beloved enforcer.”

He groaned as he arched his back, rearing deeper inside her with every motion of his rolling hips, her belly roiling, and then she was slammed into oblivion, her body cresting over into the highest peak and she laughed ecstatically, the joy exploding the last vestiges of doubt and fear and heartache from her mind. She was his, now. His forever.

And as he flooded her womb with the hot seed of his loins, she welcomed the life flowing into her core—their love creating new life in the heart of her sex—two bodies vibrating in unison and celebrating their love.

She clung to him, and he clung to her, and she knew he would never let go. Would never leave her—never abandon her—never cease to love her, and she felt hot tears flood her face as his hot seed flooded her womb.

As they lay together, whispering words of love, he stroked her hair from her brow, and smiled as she gazed up at him, eyes brimming with tears of joy. “Time to forget about the past, my love,” he murmured. “Time to start anew.”

“Time to start a family,” she whispered, and when he smiled and looked at her with so much affection, she knew love had finally come into her life. And all was well.

ABOUT NIC

I’ve been writing ever since I could hold a pen, though not romance in particular. That stuff came later, much later. Over the years I’ve written mystery, thriller, action-adventure, children’s books, cat sleuth books and comedy, only to finally settle on what I like best: writing steamy (and not so steamy) romance fiction.