Relentless Sinner

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

Jaxon

I’m enroute to San Francisco in my private jet.

I must be at least seven miles above ground and all I can think of is Gabriella De Costa’s beautiful body and the sweet taste of her pussy.

That taste of desire and temptation is still in my mouth.

Fuck. I wish I’d gone down on her and eaten her out to get a better taste.

I only stopped myself because I knew I’d still be there now. And I would have been doing so much more than just tasting her.

My damn cock is aching to be inside her. That’s not because I haven’t had a woman in months.

I’ve been busy and bored with my usual types but I’ve had plenty of opportunities all around me. Now I seem to have developed a craving for sweet and difficult.

I’ve also fucked my mind over for this trip. Any hopes of heading out with a clear mind went out the door the moment my wife-to-be walked out of the shower wrapped in that little towel.

My sole intention in seeing her was to give her a gentle warning so she wouldn’t try to escape. Instead it was her who worked some kind of magic on me to make me lose my head.

She and her smart little mouth nearly got me in trouble. I wanted her so badly I nearly canceled the trip. Doing so would have been the worst thing ever because everyone who’s anyone is going to be there.

I’d already delayed my flight and interrupted my travel so that I could run a few errands at the office. And see her. Not turning up for the whole event would have been frowned upon.

This trip is the company’s quarterly review, where we meet with the four other branches of Bortsov Tech and go over everything for the next quarter. This meeting is more important than ever because they’ve all been informed that I will be taking over from my father in the weeks to come.

I can’t be absent because all I can think of is fucking Gabriella De Costa.

I smile to myself when I remember how jealous of Estelle she looked. I didn’t tell her that Estelle is like a sister to me and there was nothing to be jealous of because I was being a bastard. I liked her jealousy and watching an emotion other than fear play out on her beautiful face.

As I kissed her I realized that my fascination with her wasn’t just about her wild determination. It was all about her. Everything about her.

Her beauty, her scent, her hopes, her dreams, her fears. She’s still scared of me. Still keeping those walls up between us that I now want to smash in with a sledgehammer.

Every time I get close to her I learn something more. Tonight it was that she wants me, too. She doesn’t want to want me, but she does.

You can’t help who you have feelings for. That phenomenon would certainly explain why a sweet girl like her, who wants to become a doctor to save people’s lives, would want a despicable devil like me. A man who takes lives.

The Beast .

Gabriella saw her cousin today. I’m aware that Cora is more used to men like me so I have no doubts she’s the one who clued Gabriella in on me. It definitely wasn’t her father.

I don’t know what she was told but I know it was all very frightening. And whatever it is, it’s all true.

I had to become a monster to be my father’s son. So the beauty has him to thank. He made the Beast.

Jesus, I’m not gonna be able to get this girl out of my head anytime soon.

I rest my head on the back of the leather seat and stare out at the dark clouds. I already know this trip is going to be harder than usual, because I can’t wait to get back home to see her.

I arrive at the lake house my family owns in Bodega Bay at ten the next morning. This is the gathering spot for us when we have meetings in San Francisco.

My two uncles and cousins are staying here along with Eric. They got here last night.

Last year my father was able to join us but it became evident at the last meeting for the year that it would be his final trip. He hasn’t gone anywhere since.

It’s odd knowing that. He’s a man who was used to traveling several times a month, back and forth between Russia and the States.

I took my sweet time getting here. Our first meeting starts in a few hours, so I have some time to kill.

I had breakfast on the way because I didn’t want to eat with the others. With the way things are I can’t guarantee that no one would try to poison me. Better to eliminate every possible threat than leave myself open to attack.

I park my Bugatti on the drive next to Eric’s Porsche and make my way into the house.

I hear voices from the sitting room so I head in there. I don’t particularly want to socialize with anyone but these little things are part of the job I’m about to acquire.

The Pakhan must always set aside his differences with his subordinates. Refusing to do so would only encourage contention in the ranks.

The four of them—Levka, Yuri, Magnus, and Damian—are having a hearty conversation which dies down the moment I approach the door.

Levka and Yuri are standing by the pool table and my uncles are on the sofa by the sliding doors smoking Cuban cigars.

“Nephew, you’ve arrived.” Magnus tries for a smile but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Hello, uncle.” I dip my head then look at Damian. “Damian.”

“ Pakhan .” Damian says the word with an edge I don’t like. He also shouldn’t be calling me that when my father remains the Bratva’s current leader. It’s like a mockery.

“We had a bet going, cousin,” Levka states, drawing my attention to him and Yuri, who gives me a menacing smirk. His smile has always reminded me of the clown’s from the movie It .

“What kind of bet?” I ask.

“We thought you might cancel the trip to spend time with your bride-to-be,” Levka replies.

Motherfuckers. All of them. And I hate that they were nearly right.

Here’s where I have to pretend my ass off, because I never told them that Gabriella had been kidnapped and they’re not supposed to know that I know it was one of them who set it up.

The beast in me wants to eliminate the problem by killing all of them.

“You should have known I’d never cancel such an important meeting,” I state.

They glance at each other then back at me.

“Heard she was pretty. Prettier than anyone who’s come along in a while.” Levka grins, leaning against the pool table. “Are the rumors true?”

“She is beautiful.”

“Then I guess you’re a lucky man,” Yuri chimes in. “When do we get to see her? Surely, you’d want to show off such a beauty.”

“You’ll meet her at our engagement party like everyone else.” I don’t try to mask the annoyance in my voice. I don’t want to talk about Gabriella with them.

“Testy, testy. Though I think if I had a beautiful bride I’d be protective of her, too. I guess you’re not going to share her then. Or let us break her in for you.”

I lurch toward him so fast I barely register that I’ve moved. Usually when they throw their comments my way I let them slide because I know my strength exceeds theirs. It would also be worse for me if I retaliated. Today is different.

“Say that again.” I get up in Levka’s face. “You want me to share my girl?”

“Jesus. What the fuck? I was joking.”

He wasn’t. He and Damian share women all the time. They learned that from their fathers. “Don’t joke with me. Ever. Not about her.”

He squares off with me, lifting his chin so it’s higher than mine. We’re the same height but I have more muscle. I’d wipe the floor with him if we were to ever fight but he’s acting like he could take me because everyone fills his head with shit, making him think he’s a god.

“You’re not Pakhan yet, cousin.”

“I don’t have to be to kick the crap out of you.”

“Boys, stop it,” Magnus growls then starts cursing us in Russian for acting like children.

I step away from Levka and look at him and Yuri. “If both of you want to keep your positions I suggest you don’t fuck with me.”

I don’t bother waiting for a response. I turn and walk out then head up the stairs to Eric’s room.

They’re lucky all I did was put them in their places when what I suspect of them is worthy of the death sentence.

Damn it. I need to cool off. If I don’t I’ll lose my head before the end of the trip.

When I reach Eric’s room I knock on the door.

“Come in,” he calls out.

I open the door and walk into the studio room. All the rooms in the house are like this with contemporary décor and the bedroom separate from the lounge and kitchenette area.

Eric is standing by the coffee machine making himself coffee. He smiles and holds up a cappuccino cup. “Want a cup?”

“Absolutely. You know me too well.” I grin and make my way to the large leather sofa by the French windows.

Eric joins me with our drinks moments later. “Did I hear you shouting downstairs?”

He hands me a cup and I take it.

“Yeah, that was me. Levka pissed me off.”

“Already?” He sits and takes a sip of his coffee.

“Already.”

“What did he say?”

“He wanted to know if I was going to share my wife with him and Yuri.”

The humor drops from his face and his lips press into a line of displeasure. “Well, I can’t say I blame you for putting him in his place.”

Eric is old school enough to respect certain things. “How is everything?”

I have to think about that question because, honestly, things aren’t good. There are too many secrets going around and I have to keep tabs on who knows what. “Things are reasonably okay.”

Eric is another person I feel bad about hiding the truth from but, unlike with Cillian, I should maintain my silence.

Eric is like the father I wish I had but his allegiance is still to my father. Not me. Yet .

If he ever knew what Salvatore had done he’d go straight to my father and they’d both want him dead, then I’d lose my leverage. That’s why I told Eric the same thing I told everyone else. That Salvatore and I had struck a deal for me to marry Gabriella because he wanted in on my stock trading business.

“You don’t sound too certain.”

“I’m fine, just tired.”

“I hope there’s no trouble in paradise already. Although if you’re tired that could be a good sign.” A mischievous smile lights up his face.

“There’s no trouble in paradise. Things are fine. Gabriella and I are just getting used to each other.” What an understatement.

“That’s good to hear. It will be great to meet her.”

“Yeah.”

“It will also be good seeing you with someone you can settle down with. Someone different from the loose women you often hang around.” He inclines his head.

“Eric, please.”

“I’m serious and I do hope you don’t plan to have anyone on the side.”

“No. I don’t.” I mean that.

“That’s one good thing about your father. He was never like your uncles who cheated and continue to cheat on their wives.”

I agree. To my knowledge my father never cheated on my mother and if she were still alive I know he never would. He’s still in love with her. “I guess I got one good moral from him.”

Eric takes another sip of his coffee and nods. “It’s something. How are you feeling about everything else that’s happening? Things seem to be moving faster than we thought they would.”

“I’m trying to keep up.” I grin, drinking my cappuccino, too. Within seconds the much-needed buzz from the caffeine hits and I feel more awake.

“You’re not the only one. Just the one the changes affect the most.”

“I thought I’d have some more time before I took over the leadership but I’m more eager to have it than I am nervous.” I hardly use that word— nervous . I’m always on guard and never show any vulnerabilities. But I can around Eric.

“You will be fine. It’s the others I’m worried about.”

“Join the club.”

“I was already there, my boy.” He smirks and leans back against the chair. “Your uncles and cousins are lying low at the moment but I know they’re still working on something to overthrow you. They’re not happy that your father wants to move the timeline up. They thought they’d have more time, too.”

I sigh and set my cup down. “I’m not sure what to do about them. Honestly, I don’t want them to be my subordinates. I want to choose new people. I would have preferred it if you were there.”

A light chuckle falls from his lips. “You and I both know that is not for me.”

“Why not? Your family is next in line to take the leadership if the Bortsovs fall.”

That’s how it works according to the old laws because Eric’s family are second cousins to my mother’s. The leadership actually came from her. Her father was the Pakhan. When he died my father became the new leader.

The leadership passes from father to son unless changed by the current leader. Usually it goes down the line vertically before it goes horizontal. Then the rules change. My uncles would never get it but their sons would be entitled.

However, if something were to happen to all of us, Eric would get the leadership and form a new council.

The last time a leadership like that was formed my grandfather became the Pakhan. That was sixty years ago.

“Some men are meant to serve and make their leaders better people.” Eric stares at me with the intense eyes of a wise man. “That is what I will be for you. Although you are not the Pakhan yet, my first counsel to you is to be firm with your cousins. Demand respect and try not to use your fists.”

I chew on my bottom lip and nod. “I hear you.”

“They have their followers who believe they should be in power, but you have yours, too. There are also others who will honor tradition and the rules because they have to. They are the people who will frown on you if you act in a way that they don’t see fit. It’s important to never show weakness. Anger can sometimes portray that.”

“What the hell do I do if someone pisses me off then?”

“Get rid of them in whatever way you see fit. Regardless of who they are.” The coldness and lack of emotion in his words surprise me.

This is the side of him I don’t usually get to see. This is how he has to be when he and my father talk business. This side of him is probably the reason why my father was such a formidable leader.

“Death.”

“Death. That is the old way of the Vory.” When he starts referencing the traditions from the origins of the Bratva I always pay attention. “Fear keeps men in line and earns a different sort of respect. You give your family chances because they are your family. You cannot do that when you’re Pakhan. When you hold that title you do not allow any man to live if they disrespect you. Should you want to show compassion, then you confine them to the island for the rest of their life.”

That also means death. The island he’s talking about is somewhere in the Mediterranean where the Bratva alliance sends prisoners or anyone they think should be there. They are never heard from or seen again.

“Okay. That’s what I’ll do.” From the look of things my family may yet dig themselves into an early grave.

“As for your father, I think he’s deteriorating faster than he’s allowed anyone to know. I don’t think he’ll have as long as the doctors have said.” Eric swallows hard and the warmth I’m used to seeing returns to his eyes.

“He looked frailer at the last meeting.”

“He looked even worse yesterday.” He leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees. “I spoke to him about you. I urged him to make peace with you.”

I give him a narrowed stare, unsure what purpose peace would achieve after so much tension and hatred over the years. “Why?”

“For you. So if he tries, my counsel is that you find it in your heart to meet him halfway.”

I bite down hard on my back teeth and consider the request. It’s a tough one for me. “That man beat the shit out of me for most of my childhood then he tried to kill me.”

Eric is the only person who knows about the bad brew of drugs my father fixed up for me. There was no point telling anyone else because they wouldn’t have cared.

“I know. But if he dies having tried and failed to make peace with you you’ll regret it.”

“What makes you so sure?” He sounds certain and I’d like to know why.

“You’re not the same kind of monster he is. And she would want you to.”

She…

He means my mother. He knows that even though I never knew her, I didn’t need to, to love her.

Eric’s words cut deep, right to the place in my soul where there’s light and understanding. So I nod and agree to meet my father halfway if he tries to make peace. But I will do it for her—my mother.

“Okay.”

“Wonderful. That’s it from me today.” Eric smiles and picks up his coffee again. “The next few days are going to be intense. I won’t add any more to your plate just yet.”

I smirk. “You’ve given me enough to think about.”

“I think so, too.”

No one is happier than me to see nightfall so I can return to the lake house.

It was a long day but a good one.

The meetings were a success and there is excitement for my ascension to the leadership. I feel more confident now.

The moment I step in my room Gabriella returns to my mind. She never really left. I just didn’t acknowledge her throughout the day so I could focus on everything else.

Eve and Andrieu, the head of security, both reported to me about Gabriella during the day.

Eve said Gabriella had confined herself to studies, but Andrieu said something slightly different. He said he heard her on the phone talking to her cousin in Italian and she looked nervous. When he reviewed the call it seemed like they were talking about something they didn’t want anyone to know about.

This is no surprise to me. The only problem is that something they were talking about could be anything. There is no trust between Gabriella and me yet.

The only real thing between us is attraction.

Despite that I’m sure she’d screw me over just as quickly as I’ve planned to use her fortune.

My orders to both Eve and Andrieu were to watch her. There’s one thing I know Gabriella wants more than anything and that’s her freedom.

I walk into the bedroom, strip down to my boxers and take out my laptop. There’s something I’ve been dying to do since I left my sexy little krasota back in New York. I couldn’t do it on the plane last night because I needed privacy.

I switch on the laptop and navigate my way to the security systems of my home. I have things set up so I can access the surveillance from anywhere in the world. But only I can see inside my bedroom. I have a separate passcode. I type it in and access the camera, then I see her— Gabriella.

It’s eleven, so I knew she would be winding down for bed. She’s just gotten out of the shower again, so she has the towel wrapped around her naked body. Just like yesterday.

Kudos to me. My little plan to watch her was perfectly timed.

She’s combing out her damp hair and applying some leave-in stuff. She runs it through from root to tip then takes the hairdryer and dries it out. When she’s done she gathers her hair and wraps it into a little bun on top of her head.

The towel comes off next, revealing the best parts of her body. All the parts I can’t wait to taste again.

She turns to pick up a camisole top, giving me a great view of her massive breasts, which look like globes. The dusty-rose nipples against her creamy flesh are the same pink color as her lips and cheeks.

Her shapely hips with the perfect curves to hold onto look better than yesterday.

She pulls on the top, covering her breasts, but grabs the bottoms and bends over, showing me her tight, round ass. All the fucking blood in my body rushes to my dick and I’m so hard I know there’s no way that’s gonna go down by itself.

I didn’t get to see much of her ass yesterday and I’ve only seen it when I’ve checked her out while she’s had her clothes on.

Fuck me. I’m digging a hole for myself just by wanting her and doing shit like this that I haven’t done since college.

We’re the classic case of rival opposites attracting each other, yet while I’m over here wanting to spread her out and dine on her like an exquisite meal, she’s probably planning some secret way of being rid of me once and for all.

“It won’t be that easy, Krasota.” I smile at her. “It’s never easy to be rid of the villain. He keeps coming back until he gets what he wants. In our case, this villain wants you.”

She switches off the main light but leaves the nightlights on, then she slides into bed and pulls the sheet up to her chest.

I watch her lying there for a while, wondering what she’s thinking about.

If I could I would peel back all the layers of her mind to reach that special place inside her head, and in her heart, she’s keeping under lock and key.

She closes her eyes and I’m about to switch off the laptop then notice the sudden jerk of her body.

I lean in closer to get a better lock. Just then her lips part and a look of sweet pleasure washes over her beautiful face.

My gaze travels down her body and I realize where her hands are. They’re nestled between her thighs, moving beneath the sheet. Stroking.

Fuck, she’s touching herself.

My little krasota isn’t so sweet and innocent after all. What filthy thing must she be imagining to give her so much pleasure so quickly?

Who is she thinking about?

It better fucking be me.

I saw no record of a boyfriend or love interest anywhere when I checked her out. Salvatore kept a tight leash on his girls. Ironically, the only man who could get close enough to impregnate his eldest was his very own bodyguard. Then, like a thief in the night, I stole his youngest daughter.

A little moan falls from her lips and my mouth waters. All thoughts of Salvatore and everything else I was thinking slip away.

My dick aches like I’m already going to blow my load, so I push my hand down my boxers and take out my length.

As Gabriella’s hand moves faster under the sheet I do the same with my dick, stroking faster and faster until my balls draw up.

Her body arches off the bed and more moans hum from her lips, then the pleasure on her face is glorious as she comes.

I imagine myself inside her and groan as I come. Hot cum pours from me and it’s only when the full release flows out of my body that the sexual haze clears from my mind.

I stare at her on the laptop screen and take in the sudden worried look on her face. Truth hits me in my gut that she looks that way because she was thinking about me as she touched herself.

That thing has got her again. Where she hates to want me and loves to hate me.

Poor girl. She should have tried harder if she truly wanted to stay under the radar. Now I know more than I did before.

This girl has fucked my mind over, and I can’t stop wanting her.

I usually take whatever I want and label it mine. I’ve already done that with her. But she won’t feel like she’s mine until she gives in to the desire that makes her want me.

How do I make her give herself to me?

Slowly.

Take things slowly. One step at a time until I break her down into what I want. Then she’ll be begging for my pleasure.

And then she’ll be mine.

So much more than just my wife.