Chapter 89

Marek walked with me in his arm up the stairs and opened the door. The that guys were standing in the hallway all jumped to attention. They looked from him to me and started to move away.

“Keenan.”

Keenan stepped forward, looking worried as he eyed the two of us. “Yes sir.”

“Bring the car around back.”

Nodding, Keenan disappeared from our sight and Marek nodded to room. “Dispose of the body. Clean up in there as well.”

“Yes sir!”

All the guys moved around Marek as he walked down the hall, the opposite of where we came. Turning around, he opened the back door with a push and stepped out into the night. Looking up, I tried to see if there was any light in the sky but we were still surrounded by tall buildings.

“What time is it?”

“Four. It will start getting light soon.”

Nodding, I rested my head on his shoulder. “I’m tired.”

“We can go home and sleep.”

I wrinkled my nose. “I need a shower. You do too after carrying me.”

“Well, I guess we will just have to save water and take one together.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “You’re silly. We take way longer when we shower together.”

Marek chortled and shook his head. “Don’t deny me my pleasures, zhena.”

Keenan pulled the car around and Marek opened the back door, placing me into the seat. The leather felt gross against my skin since I was covered in blood. He didn’t have me scoot over, but shut the door and went around the other side. Once he got in, he ordered Keenan to head back to the penthouse. Leaning against the back of the seat, I wrapped my arms around myself to not touch too much of the car.

“What happens now? I mean…how does Anastasia even get ahold of a group like that? She didn’t take me for someone who knew that side of the business.”

Marek cross his arms over his chest. “You’re right. She doesn’t. But she may have an advisor within the company that would know. I don’t think her father would have sanctioned it though. He’s great a business but he’s a bit of a pushover. When we started working together, my dad was still alive. They had a good working relationship which continued when I took over. If he lost our support though…”

“He would lose too much to put that in jeopardy?”

He nodded and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I think it’s time to have a chat with Santiagos. I’ll set up a meeting. This will not continue. Even if I have to kill Anastasia myself.” Marek growled out the last sentence.

“And the mercenary group?” I looked out the window, frowning.

They were probably following us as we spoke. I’m sure they knew their guy was as good as dead the moment we hauled him in. They’d also see us depositing the body. At least if they were doing their jobs correctly. My hand made a fist as I dug my fingernails into my hand. Jerard was mine. I’d watching is slowly die. I’d burn his skin. Break his ribs. Cave in his chest. Knick his lungs so he could feel what Aleksei felt.

“Rosaria.”

I jumped, my head looking back at Marek. His worry as his hand held mine made my heart hurt. He’d caught me slipping again.

“I’m okay. I’m still…a bit worked up. Sorry.”

Nodding, he brushed his thumb over the top of my hand. “Don’t leave. I’m right here with you. We will handle this together. I promise.”

I flashed him a soft smile. “I know. Vmeste.” [Together.]

“Though, I am open to ideas on this mercenary group. For how small they are, they seem spread out. Waiting for a moment to strike.”

Looking back out the window, the sky finally was visible and the light of the incoming sunrise started to make itself known. They were waiting for a perfect moment. Somehow they had access to at least a little of Marek’s schedule. I didn’t have one but they would follow us at least if we went out together.

“Then we give them the perfect moment. We give it to them and we turn around to strike. Make them think they are ambushing us. They bring the whole crew together for us. Then we kill them all.”

Marek hummed. “That’s risky. We wouldn’t be able to have more people follow us. It could only be one car.”

I chuckled, squeezing his hand. “Do we need anyone else? It could be just the two of us. You and I could take on a group like that.”

“Don’t even think about it.” Keenan interrupted us.

My eyes widened as I looked at the drivers seat. Even Marek looked surprised at his outburst.

“I want to be there. I’m sure Lec does too. Don’t deny us being able to get revenge too. For Aleksei and for hurting Boris. They both meant something to us too.”

Marek chuckled. “Yes, but if we were adding people who Aleksei meant a lot too, we wouldn’t even have a ship big enough to fit all the whores.”

I snorted and laughed. “I’d trust them to fight better than most guys. A horde of whores can do some real damage if you piss them off.”

“You would know this…how?” Marek had an eyebrow raised.

“Let’s just say…my dad wasn’t honest with a few of them after his last wife died. They all found out.” I wrinkled my nose. “The amount of damage they did…it took three years to fix.”

This time, Marek burst out laughing. I smiled and after getting a mental picture of it, I shut my eyes to listen. The sound alone felt like it was lifting the darkness from me. Like pieces of my soul were slowly lighting back up, my heart coming back together.

“Alright, Keenan. I’ll work with Lec. See if we can’t get a good time and place. One that will be too tempting for them to pass up.”

I looked out over New York. The home that never really felt like a home to me. The place where the shadows were all too deep. Where the darkness was too close to the surface.

“The Lincoln Tunnel.”

Keenan looked at me through the rearview mirror and Marek narrowed his eyes.

“Going through the Lincoln bridge, they could easily cut off our exit, both ways. If they have the connections. Which it seems like they do. Especially for ex-cops or ex-military.”

The sky disappeared as we entered the underground parking of the penthouse. Keenan parked and we all got out. Marek draped his jacket over my shoulders, engulfing me in it. I grabbed the edges and pulled it around me tighter.

“Thanks.”

“Vsegda, lyubov' moya.” [Always, my love.]

We stepped into the elevator and I leaned against Marek, who in turn, put an arm around me. My eyes shut but opened when the doors dinged.

“Get some rest, Keenan. I’ll have you start in the afternoon.”

“Yes sir. Goodnight…or…” He chuckled. “Good morning.”

I smiled. “Good morning, Keenan.”

The doors shut behind him and Marek turned to me, lifting my chin and kissing me. I reveled in the softness in his lips as I kissed him back. Mine felt dry but his tongue swept across them until they felt almost normal.

“Come on. Let’s get you cleaned off and into bed.”

I walked after him and rolled my eyes. “You better not be thinking of going to work after this.”

He smirked as he opened the vault door for me. “Well, depends on how distracted I get. I could turn around and go now.” He closed it behind me and then headed to the stairs.

“Oh really?”

Stopping, I brushed his jacket off my shoulders. Unbuttoning my pants, I pulled them down and kicked them off. My shirt joined the pile and I unclasped my bra. Dropping it on the floor, I was about to pull down my underwear when a hand caught my wrist.

“Ria…”

Looking up at Marek, his eyes were wild as he stared at me. “Yes, Marek?”

“Why…are you undressing in the middle of the room?”

“I could get blood on the carpet. No one wants that. We’d have to clean the whole room.” I tried tugging my underwear down but Marek refused to budge.

He was staring at me but through me. “Your underwear isn’t dirty.”

Leaning into him, I took the opportunity to gently bite his ear. His whole body shivered as I licked the spot my teeth sank into.

“Yes. But it is distracting.”

Marek sucked in a breath because my body jerked forward. In the process, my underwear disintegrated off of me. Picking me up and allowing me to wrap my legs as best I could around his middle, Marek shook his head.

“You…are too much, búsinka.” His teeth sunk into shoulder and I moaned.

“Luchshe net. Ty budesh' zhit' radi menya. Kazhdyy den'. Tochno tak zhe, kak ya budu zhit' dlya tebya.” [Better not. You will live for me. Every day. Just like I will live for you.]

Marek hummed against my skin and it sent goose bumps over me. “Kak pozhelayesh', moya boginya. Kazhdoye vashe zhelaniye — moy prikaz.” [As you wish, my goddess. Your every wish is my command.]