“Peterson’s men were spotted near the docks last night,” Demyan said, his voice calm and collected. “It’s the third time this week. Coincidence? I think not.”
We were in my office, and he was seated in the chair across my desk, his dark chestnut hair simmering under the soft light. The air was thick with the sharp smell of vodka, a half-empty bottle sitting on the table between us with two glasses beside it.
“Peterson is all bark and no bite,” I answered, reclining in my chair, the thin thread of smoke from my cigarette curling around my face. “He’s just trying to get my attention.”
“Maybe,” he replied, “but don’t underestimate him or the length he’ll go to get your attention.”
I lifted the cigar to my lips, dragged on it, and let out a puff of smoke. “Trust me, brother. He’s not one I consider an enemy.”
He reached for his glass and took a sip. “We can’t be too careful, now, can we?”
My lips curled into a faint grin as I drummed my fingers on the surface of the table. I sat there in silence, struggling with the images of Scarlett’s face in my mind.
It had been almost three days since the last time we were together, and even until now, I could still taste her nectar on my tongue. The sound of her sweet moans echoed in my head, reminding me of the way her body responded to my touch.
Scarlett had shocked me when she surrendered completely and even confessed how much she loved it when I caressed her. Although I didn’t penetrate her that night, I was glad to have explored every inch of her body, claiming ownership of what was mine.
She’d smelled really good down there and tasted even better. I took my time with her, dedicated to making her feel more like a woman than she’d ever felt her whole life. The plan was to show her that I could be anything she wanted in bed.
I could be rough—a man who treated her body like a property he owned. I could also be gentle—a man who worshipped and adored her like the queen that she was. I wanted to leave an impression on her, give her something to remember, something to hold on to like a treasure.
With the memory of how I touched her and made her feel, she could easily play with herself in my absence. The fact that I caught her doing that that night was the confirmation I needed to finally realize that she was as attracted to me as I was to her.
The feeling was mutual. At least we’d established that now.
“Roman,” Demyon’s voice sliced through my thoughts.
I lifted my eyes and met his gaze, frowning slightly at how he interrupted my reminiscence.
“Are you with me?” he asked, his brows knitting together as a suspicious look etched itself on his face.
It was then that I realized I’d zoned out at some point during our conversation. I wasn’t sure exactly when I stopped listening, and it was clear he’d called my name multiple times before I snapped back to reality.
He stared at me for a while as if he was trying to read me like a book. “It’s her, isn’t it?” he asked. “She’s in your head.”
I didn’t respond, just dragged on my cigarette and stroked my jaw.
He rubbed his eyes, a quiet sigh escaping his lips. “I can’t tell you how to live your life, brother,” he began, his eyes never leaving mine. “But people are starting to talk about your obsession with this girl.”
“She’s my wife,” I stated, my low voice sounding more like a warning than a correction. “Do well to remember that next time.”
He hesitated for a second. “Apologies.”
Silence.
He continued, “I’m just telling you to tread carefully. Rumors are already circling that your wife is your…weakness.”
“People will always talk, Demyon,” I said, releasing a puff of smoke. “No matter what you do.”
“It’s not enough reason to act recklessly and draw unwanted attention to yourself.”
My brows furrowed, accentuating the displeasure on my face.
He leaned in, elbows on the table. “Roman, you killed a man and his entire crew because they mentioned your wife’s name in a conversation.”
My blood boiled at his words, fingers curling into a fist. “They threatened her, Demyon,” I said through gritted teeth. “They threatened my wife!” I snapped, my voice rising higher than I intended. “I wasn’t going to sit back and partake in such a conversation.”
“And so you killed them?” he questioned, his tone flat and devoid of emotion.
