Secret Bratva Daddy

Chapter 10Avros

10

Avros

T he warehouse air stinks heavily of motor oil and stale cigarettes, pale sunlight dancing on dust motes and landing on stains on the concrete floor. I wrinkle my nose at my filthy surroundings as I stride towards my informant, Nikolai. His wiry frame tenses as I approach, eyes darting nervously around the dimly lit space.

The sooner this is over with, the better—so I can get out of here and back to her. My Sydney, who I crave like an addict looking for the next fix. But first, I have to take care of things for my family.

"You have what I asked for?" I keep my voice low, authoritative. Little weasels like Nikolai have to be handled with a deft, confident hand.

Nikolai nods jerkily, producing a thick manila envelope from inside his coat. "Everything on Lance Halloway, boss. Location, workplace, daily routines—it's all there."

I take the envelope, its weight significant in my hands. The fate of my brother, of everything I've built, rests within these pages. But I resist the urge to open it here. Some decisions are best made in private.

"You weren't followed?" I ask, fixing Nikolai with a hard stare.

"No, sir. I made sure of it." He shifts uncomfortably. "But... there's something else. Word on the street is that O’Malley’s crew is getting bold. They're sniffing around your territory."

A muscle ticks in my jaw. Brian O’Malley—that opportunistic bastard has been a thorn in my side for years. If he's making moves now, with Miron's trial looming... it could spell disaster.

"Keep your ears open," I instruct. "I want to know every whisper of O’Malley’s plans. Understood?"

"Yes, boss. You can count on me."

As I turn to leave, I pause. "Oh, and Nikolai?" I glance back, letting a dangerous edge creep into my tone. "If I find out you've breathed a word of this to anyone..."

I don't finish the threat. The fear in his eyes tells me he understands perfectly. He’ll keep it to himself.

The drive home gives me time to strategize. The file on Lance weighs heavy in my briefcase, a constant reminder of the choice ahead. Part of me wants to pull over and devour every scrap of information. But I force myself to wait. This isn't a decision to be made lightly.

As I pull up to my estate, my thoughts drift to Sydney. Her fiery hair, those captivating green eyes that seem to see right through me. The way her soft curves fit so perfectly against my hard planes when I hold her. How I want nothing more than to possess her, to take her and have her, where the world can see that she’s mine so no one else can have her.

I growl low in my throat, gripping the steering wheel tighter. This... infatuation ... with Sydney is becoming a liability. I can't afford distractions, not with everything at stake for me, my business, and my family. And yet, the thought of letting her go, of never seeing that defiant spark in her eyes again or hearing her breathy moans… it's unthinkable.

The house is quiet as I enter, heading straight for my study. A stiff drink and a thorough examination of Lance's file—that's what I need to focus on now.

But as I approach the heavy oak door of my sanctuary, I hear a soft sound from within. My hand instinctively goes to the gun holstered at my hip as I ease the door open, prepared to put an invader down.

The sight that greets me stops me in my tracks.

Sydney stands in the center of the room, her back to me as she frantically pushes at my bookcase. Even from here, I can see the panic in her movements, the tremble in her hands as she tries to close the secret door to my weapons room.

For a moment, all I can do is stare. She's a vision in the soft lamplight, the emerald green dress I chose for her clinging to every lush curve. Her hair has come loose from its usual neat bun, fiery tendrils cascading down her back in a way that makes my fingers itch to bury themselves in those silken strands. The dress has ridden up slightly, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of creamy thigh that makes my mouth go dry.

But as the initial shock wears off, anger rises hot and fast in my chest, mingling with a surge of raw desire. This little minx, this seemingly innocent creature I've welcomed into my home... she's been snooping. Violating my trust. Uncovering secrets that could destroy everything.

I should be furious. I should grab her by the arm and throw her out, consequences be damned.

Instead, I find myself achingly aroused.

The fire in my veins isn't just rage—it's lust, burning white-hot. Sydney's defiance, her curiosity, her sheer audacity in exploring my most closely guarded spaces... it awakens something primal in me. A need to dominate, to possess, to mark her as mine in every way possible.

I clear my throat, enjoying the way she startles and whirls to face me. Her eyes are wide, pupils dilated with fear and... unmistakable excitement. Her chest heaves with rapid breaths, drawing my gaze to the swell of her breasts barely contained by the low neckline of her dress.

"Curious little cat," I murmur, letting a dangerous edge creep into my voice. "Did you find anything interesting?"

Sydney's cheeks flush a becoming shade of pink as she stammers out excuses. But I'm not really listening to her words. I'm too focused on the way she unconsciously licks her lips as I stalk towards her, the pulse visibly racing at the base of her throat.

"I think," I say, moving closer until I have her backed against the bookshelf, "that you need to be reminded of your place here." My hand comes up to cup her cheek, thumb brushing across her lower lip. I feel her shiver at my touch, see the conflict warring in those expressive eyes—fear battling with naked desire.

"Are you going to punish me?" Sydney whispers, a hint of defiance in her tone that surprises us both.

A slow smile spreads across my face as heat pools low in my belly. "Oh yes," I purr, enjoying the way her breath catches. "I'm going to have to teach you a lesson about trust. About obedience.”

In one fluid motion, I spin her around and press her against my desk. My hand comes down on her backside. It’s not hard, but firm enough to make my point. A warning. A promise.

Sydney's gasp is not entirely from pain, and I feel my control slipping. This was meant to be a reminder, a reassertion of my dominance. But as she arches into me, all thoughts of punishment flee my mind. All I can focus on is the intoxicating scent of her perfume, the warmth of her body pressed against mine, the way she trembles beneath my touch.

"Avros," she breathes, my name a plea on her lips.

It's my undoing.

I spin her back around, claiming her mouth in a searing kiss. Sydney melts into me with a whimper, her hands fisting in my shirt as if she's afraid I'll disappear. I growl low in my throat, deepening the kiss as my hands roam her curves possessively. The heat of her skin burns through the thin fabric of her dress, igniting a fire in my blood.

This is madness. I should stop this now, before it goes too far. Sydney is a complication I can't afford, a weakness my enemies would exploit without hesitation.

But as she moans softly into my mouth, her body molding perfectly to mine, I find I don't care. In this moment, nothing exists beyond the taste of her lips, the heat of her skin, the intoxicating knowledge that she wants me as desperately as I want her.

I break the kiss, both of us panting for air. Sydney looks up at me with those big green eyes, dazed with desire but still tinged with uncertainty. Her lips are swollen from my kisses, her chest heaving with each breath. It takes every ounce of self-control not to tear that dress from her body and take her right here on my desk.

"We shouldn't," she whispers, even as her hands slide up my chest, nails scraping lightly through my shirt. "This is crazy, Avros. We barely know each other, and you're... you're..."

"A dangerous man," I finish for her, my voice rough with need. "A criminal. Someone you should run far, far away from." I cup her face in my hands, forcing her to meet my gaze. "But you're not going to run away from me, are you, krasotka ?"

Sydney bites her lower lip, indecision warring on her face. But then she shakes her head slowly, a small smile curving those kiss-swollen lips. "No," she admits softly. "God help me, but I don't want to run from you, Avros."

The admission sends a jolt of possessive pleasure through me. I lean in, nuzzling the sensitive spot behind her ear. "Good," I growl, my breath hot against her skin. "Because I'm not letting you go, Sydney. Not now, not ever."

She shivers at my words, tilting her head to give me better access to her neck. I take full advantage, trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses along the column of her throat. Sydney moans, her fingers tangling in my hair as she presses closer, the softness of her breasts crushed against my chest.

"Tell me how much you want this," I demand, nipping at her pulse point. "Tell me how much you want me."

"I want you," Sydney gasps, arching into me. Her hips rock against mine, the friction sending sparks of pleasure shooting through me. "God, Avros, I want you so much it scares me."

Her words ignite a fire in my blood. I lift her onto the desk, stepping between her parted thighs as I capture her lips once more. Sydney meets my passion with her own, her legs wrapping around my waist to pull me closer. The heat of her core presses against my straining erection, even through our clothes, and I groan at the exquisite torture of it.

My hands slide up her thighs, pushing the skirt of her dress higher. Sydney whimpers into the kiss, her hips rocking against mine in a way that threatens to shatter my control entirely. I can feel the damp heat of her arousal through the thin barrier of her panties, and it takes every ounce of willpower not to rip them off and bury myself inside her.

“Let me show you what happens to curious little kitties,” I tell her, grabbing her hips and flipping her around. “Hands on the desk. Bend forward.”

She moans, then obeys me with such submissive ease that it sends a jolt straight to my rock-hard cock. As she bends forward, her dress pushed up to her waist, her panties straining between her wetness, I know that I’m in deep.

So I raise my hand and bring it down on her backside, hard enough to feel the sting, the sound of the slap echoing through the air.

Followed immediately by a moan so aroused, so pleased, that I swear to myself right here, right now, I will make Sydney Reeves mine.

Now. And forever.