“Comin’ right up, bad boy.”

  A momentary thought about my apartment entered my mind.

  And the attacks in Cuba.

  If Antonio was behind them, he wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted.

  At least I better understood why he’d been so angry the day he’d stormed into my parents’ house. His twisted obsession had created a family of his own. Why did I know that? Because he resented what had been formed with Luis marrying my mother. Yet even when he’d stood on the outskirts much like I’d done, the memories of what I’d shared with my real father had reminded me there were beautiful relationships.

  He’d had no such good memories, his mother dying when he was a baby and his father barely paying any attention to him.

  “What’s wrong?” Vissarian asked from behind me.

  I hadn’t realized I’d just stopped only a couple of feet away from the chair by the edge of the pool lost in thought.

  “Antonio thinks I belong to him.”

  “I know, but you don’t and you won’t. Ever.”

  “What if you can’t stop him?”

  His laugh was so full of confidence. “I assure you that he will be stopped.”

  In my mind, the thought of Antonio facing harsh punishment for what he’d done to me felt right. And wrong. Did I want him to endure exactly what my mother had? Yes. But that wasn’t who I was as a person. “Don’t kill him, Vissarian. Promise me you won’t.”

  “You mean Antonio?”

  “Yes. Do this for me.”

  His hesitation was followed by a very long, intense exhale. “What you’re asking is to ignore all I believe in.”

  “I know.”

  “Fine. I promise you he won’t die by my hands.”

  Relieved, I turned to face him, softening almost immediately. “You really are very wet.”

  “Mmm… So I am. I’d prefer to be wet for another reason.” He took me into his arms and I threw mine around his shoulders.

  Meanwhile, the little trickster had taken her place on the lounge, her front paws hanging over the bottom edge with her tail thumping on the armrest as she stared at us.

  “You have a meeting. Remember?”

  He slid his hand down to my bottom and with a quick snap of his wrist, he swatted me.

  “Ouch!”

  “And you, mischievous girl, are in need of a spanking.”

  “I saved your life. Remember?” I gave him a pouty look, thankful that we had a little time just to be together. Without the fear of danger.

  Or maybe that would always be in the equation. There were guards posted outside, although Vissarian had said nothing and certainly hadn’t pointed them out when we’d driven in. But I’d seen them outside the windows trying to blend in.

  As if big guys in black fatigues could actually blend in with the stark scenery.

  “While we’re not counting, I believe I saved your life three times.” His eyes were lit up like firecrackers.

  “Tit for tat.”

  He swatted me again. “Uh-huh. We both know better.”

  His playfulness faded, replaced with a look of concern and also determination. “Antonio isn’t the issue. He will learn that he’s nothing but a cog in a wheel. My concern is how your grandfather will handle learning that you belong to me and not as a bargaining chip.”

  “So definitive. You’ve made up your mind I belong to you. Is that right?”

  “Let me ask you a question, Miss Bossy Butt. Is that something you mind?”

  For a man who’d been nothing but serious in the beginning, being able to see both sides of him kept my legs quivering and my pulse racing. “No.” Four days and both of us had lost our minds yet our relationship seemed steeped in the past, a dose of karma and a dash of magic tossed in. “But I’m not willing to jump into anything.”

  “Good girl.” Was there just a hint of disappointment in his eyes? Perhaps. “Don’t worry, Fallon. You will be a part of future discussions. This is simply something I need to handle with my father by myself.”

  “Because of Megan.”

  “Yes. I owe it to her.”

  I brushed the back of my fingers across his cheek. “I understand completely.” I backed away, immediately hearing Bella’s tail thumping with more excitement than before. I gave her a sweet look and I could swear the pup knew what I was thinking. “By the way, you look very warm. Why a suit?”

  “Because it’s protocol and I never know who I’ll run into.”

  “Well, I don’t think it’s going to do.”

  “Meaning what?” He leaned back slightly, narrowing his eyes.

  “Meaning.” When I shot my fur ball another look, I learned Bella could read minds.

  She jumped off the lounge chair so forcefully that when her front paws hit him in the back of his knees, he was toppled forward.

  Toward the pool.

  Maybe my wicked mind hadn’t thought my plan through entirely since the two of us were pushed into the pool.

  Immediately thrashing, my mouth filled with water. The moment I surfaced, I coughed to the point tears filled my eyes. Not from sadness or worry, fear or anger, but from the silly joy that I was able to have around Vissarian.

  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so alive and so free.

  The brutal Russian came swimming up from the deep while the little minx dog stood on the side of the pool barking her pretty little head off.

  “You are so going to get it for this,” he growled.

  “I didn’t do anything. Your daughter did.”

  He was momentarily shocked at what I’d said.

  And so was I.

  What in God’s name had possessed me?

  Vissarian glanced over his shoulder as he ripped at his tie, grumbling under his breath in Russian no less. “Then you should pay for the sins of our daughter since you taught her that trick.”

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” I wagged my finger at him, immediately fighting the water while moving backward.

  “If you really think you can get away from me, you have another think coming.” He lunged forward and I squealed, immediately taking off swimming toward the other side. If I could manage to climb out, he wouldn’t be able to grab me.

  Alas, it didn’t work. He gripped my leg, yanking me back by several feet, even walking across the pool with me in tow.

  “What do you think you are doing?” I yelled.

  “I think you know that answer. Providing exactly what you need.”

  “Bella! Save me.”

  “Don’t you dare, Bella, or no more biscuits.”

  “You’ve been feeding her biscuits behind my back?”

  “Like you said. She is my daughter.” With a huff, he plopped down on the concrete stairs leading into the pool, immediately dragging me over his lap.

  I splashed, trying to gain some traction. He was having none of it.

  Even with my clothes soaking wet, he managed to maneuver my shorts past my hips. No amount of wiggling stopped him from getting his way.

  Damn the man.

  He was far too strong and I was still exhausted from pretending to be some drug lord if only for a day or so.

  “Don’t you dare!” I huffed.

  “You should know better than to dare me, Captain.” As soon as he wrangled my thong down to my knees, he brought his hand down.

  Nothing about the man shocked me any longer except for the light bulb he flicked on and off at a moment’s notice. From being eager and ready to break someone’s neck to this.

  Yes, as I’d said from the beginning, the yin and yang of him was… fabulous.

  The harsh sound of his palm cracking against my tender bottom caused a series of guttural groans. How could the man do this to me? Oh, yes. Because he thought he owned me.

  He was even thumping his foot on the concrete while he continued the harsh spanking. What did he need, a rhythm box to help him with the horrible spanking?

  I threw my arm back, my fisted hand accidentally catching him in the face.

  He stopped short, not moving and I wasn’t certain if he was breathing.

  “Oops,” I finally muttered.

  “Oops is right. I’ll add another twenty onto your sentence.” While the playfulness in his voice remained, I knew what we were facing weighed heavily on his mind. He didn’t like being out of control for a single second.

  His smacks were methodical, moving from one butt cheek to the other as I wiggled in his hold. All while Bella sat on her haunches, panting and I could see the smile on her face. She was a little mischief creator.

  The pain increased, his strikes becoming almost brutal. He wanted me to remember this for a long time to come.

  What, so I wouldn’t question his authority? Oh, hell, no, he didn’t know me very well.

  After taking a deep breath, he rolled his fingers along my spine, lazily trailing a line down the crack of my ass.

  “Later tonight, baby. Later tonight.” The timbre of his voice was dark and stormy, his unbridled need dripping in every syllable.

  Did he think I would object?

  The powerful man resumed the spanking, enjoying every minute of what he was doing. My stamping feet and frustrated moans only seemed to drive him further.

  When he was finished, he pulled me into his lap. Beads of water trickled down both sides of his face. His suit was ruined, his tie a mess and in my mind, he’d never looked more handsome than he did at that moment.

  The same beat we’d shared before occurred, his eyes dancing across mine. “You’re safe here with me, Fallon.”

  “I know.”

  “And I want you here. With me. If that’s something you’d like.”

  I cupped his face, enjoying the private moment. They were precious to me. So many terrible things had occurred, yet I did feel safe when by his side. “We are quite the team.”

  “Yes, we are. Only you’ll need to relinquish your title.”

  “My title?”

  “Yes. I will be the captain.” He lowered his face and I stretched my neck until our lips were just touching.

  “Not a chance.”

  He captured my mouth and sparks of light floated in front of my line of sight.

  There were so many reasons I should slam on the brakes. I didn’t know him. He was a criminal. He had a background in violence. He lived a dangerous lifestyle. He was the epitome of a bad boy. He’d been my sister’s fiancé. Yet none of the reasons meant anything to me.

  Because I knew that he would make me happy for the rest of my life.

  CHAPTER 32

  Vissarian

  My father was expecting me.

  He’d either anticipated the meeting or had heard through the grapevine I was pissed and would have my say. Either way, I’d been summoned to his house at precisely two in the afternoon.

  He’d been kind enough to give me a few hours of rest. Not that I’d taken any. I’d remained on the computer, learning everything I could about Giovanni Bruni and his organization.

  As Carlos had stated, they were not well organized or that well-funded even with their foray into arms deals as recent as four years before. In my experience, syndicates with solid hierarchy including members of the immediate family were usually more highly respected and therefore more affluent and successful.

  From what I’d learned and knew from my vendetta against them was that they’d floundered over the years.

  Until recently.

  It was very apparent they’d had an influx of cash and if I had to make an educated guess, I’d say it was all because of their proposed alliance with the Russian Bratva. The Costa family had provided more details as to just how much Marcos Bruni’s treachery in leaving his family had hurt them.

  Don Bruni had been lucky his entire organization hadn’t been annihilated.

  But he’d come out swinging and rumor on the streets of Chicago was that they were interested in taking over other areas of the country.

  Las Vegas had been mentioned.

  Perhaps by the Russians back home.

  But which Russian faction were we dealing with? There were a half dozen that could be the problem. Russia was a huge country, for fuck’s sake, and violence was necessary just to survive. I was hoping either my father or uncle could shed some light on who’d taken a step above the others.

  I also needed to know what the fuck the Hoffman Group had to do with any of this. Why such a huge charade, if that’s what the talk of joining forces had been?

  Now that everything had settled in, I was angrier than I’d been before.

  When I pulled up to the gate of my father’s house, I was more irritated than anything. My father liked to talk in riddles.

  Not today.

  Today he would answer direct questions.

  Or else.

  I smirked as the guard waved me through. No matter his age or my position within the Bratva, my father was clearly a man of authority. As soon as I drove up to the house, I realized he already had company.

  Including my Pakhan. Why Mikhail hadn’t warned me was something I couldn’t question. Even my uncle’s vehicle was parked in the driveway alongside another car that seemed to be a rental.

  However, whoever the guest was had brought security with him. There were soldiers in suits standing outside.

  This should be fascinating.

  While they didn’t question me when I climbed out, I could tell they were on guard, weapons positioned in holsters and easy to see given their open jackets.

  If they thought they could intimidate me, they were dead wrong.

  What the fuck was going on?

  Before I had a chance to knock, the housekeeper who’d been with the family for decades opened the door, nodding as she always did.

  “They’re waiting for you in the den.”

  “Who is they, Marta?”

  “Your uncle and the Pakhan and three men I don’t know.”

  That told me everything I needed. If my instincts were correct, Ludolf, Pierre, and Emilio had made a trip overseas.

  This should prove interesting.

  “You’re late,” my father said by way of a greeting. He was dressed as if this was a traditional business meeting in a tailored suit that I would guess he’d gotten from Italy.

  Just like Fallon had accused me of.

  Mikhail appeared weary while Uncle Boris was clearly angry. But at whom, the interruption of the three men from the Hoffman Group or something else altogether?

  “Unexpected wardrobe change.” Given every man had a drink in their hand, I headed to the bar to pour a chilled vodka. I had a feeling I’d need something cold and smooth to handle whatever bullshit would be tossed out.

  The game was beginning to smell.

  “This is important,” my father spit out, clearly annoyed I was ten minutes late. I certainly wouldn’t share why. While he adored my mother, business had always come first and always would.

  Meanwhile, I was of the opinion that life was about more than bank accounts and casinos.

  All because of one feisty woman.

  “Yes, I believe you are correct. I’m certain our Pakhan shared that I was almost gunned down while attending to… business. Business that should have been benign and nonviolent. Imagine my surprise when a bunch of Italians tried to shorten my lifespan.” They said nothing as I poured. It took me turning around to face them to realize that I was the odd man out. They were all in sync about whatever the forthcoming discussion was. “I’m surprised to see you here, gentlemen.” I used the term loosely.

  “We knew after the way things were left between us and given the fact you were almost killed while accepting our hospitality that our presence was mandatory.” Ludolf studied me like a specimen under glass.

  “Why don’t we cut to the chase. The last few days have been notably difficult. Who are you really and what the hell do you want with this family?” My question was pointed as they all would be.

  Ludolf shot both my uncle and father a look. I instantly noted my family members weren’t concerned in the least about their sudden appearance.

  Because they’d been invited to the party.

  “Before we continue with the game of charades, I need to know something, Pops. Did you know about Megan’s true identity? Did you know she was an Italian princess?” For the first time in years, I witnessed my father being highly uncomfortable. “You did.”

  Mikhail gave me a cautionary look since my tone changed dramatically with the last two words.

  “Not at first, son, but when you became serious, I had her checked out.”

  “That would have taken DNA.” When he said nothing but stared at me blankly, I laughed. “You did. Why the fuck didn’t you tell me? At least that would have answered questions as to why the fuck my life had been destroyed!”

  “Do not raise your voice to me! I am your father.” He pounded his hand on the credenza that he was standing beside for emphasis.

  “Take it easy, Viss,” Mikhail cautioned again.

  “How can I take it easy when the past came back to bite me and another woman who had no fucking clue who she was or her importance in this twisted world?”

  Uncle Boris cleared his throat. “There are some things you need to know, Vissarian.”

  “Then by all means tell me. I’m all ears. I was hunted down like some dog only to discover that Fallon was a valuable commodity. Did you arrange having her as my pilot?” I threw the accusation at Ludolf.

  At least he had the decency to look uncomfortable.

  “With our blessing,” my father said, indicating the former Pakhan and my uncle.

  I scratched my head, uncertain what to make of the entire shit storm I’d been shoved into. “That cost my friend his life. Did you know that? Did you even care? Or was he just another pawn in some sick game?”

  “Calm the fuck down,” Mikhail said under his breath.

  After throwing him a harsh look, I swallowed half the liquid in my glass.

  Emilio sighed. “We are sorry to hear that.”

  “Oh, yeah? Is this just a game to the five of you? And you, my own cousin. Why didn’t you say something to me?”

  “He didn’t know,” Uncle Boris said with full authority in his voice.

  “Why keep it from the Pakhan of this Bratva?”