The orgasm crashes over me in waves, and I cry out his name, my body convulsing with pleasure. He doesn't stop, drawing it out until I'm boneless and gasping.
"Exquisite," he growls, positioning himself between my thighs. "Now I'm going to make you mine."
He enters me slowly, carefully, and there's a moment of sharp discomfort that makes me tense. But he pauses, kissing me deeply, murmuring reassurances in Russian until my body adjusts to the intrusion.
Then he starts to move, and the discomfort fades, replaced by a fullness that feels right. He sets a slow, steady rhythm, and I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him deeper.
"Alina." My name on his lips sounds like a prayer and a curse. "You feel incredible."
The pleasure builds again, different this time but just as intense. I meet his thrusts, learning the rhythm, and when he reaches between us to touch me again, I come apart for the second time.
He follows me over the edge, his body going rigid as he finds his release, and I feel the warmth of him inside me. He collapses beside me, pulling me against his chest, and we lie there breathing hard.
"Mine," he murmurs into my hair. "You're mine now, Alina."
And lying there in his arms, feeling the steady beat of his heart against my cheek, I realize I don't mind that claim as much as I thought I would.
A sharp knock at the door shatters the moment.
"Pakhan." It's Alexei's voice, urgent and apologetic. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we've found her. We've found Katya."
I bolt upright, my heart racing for an entirely different reason now. "Where? Is she okay?"
Dimitri is already moving, pulling on his pants with efficient speed. "Talk to me, Alexei."
"She's being held at a Popov safehouse on the outskirts of the city. But it's heavily guarded."
20
DIMITRI
Istep into the hallway and pull the door closed behind me, leaving Alina to dress. The warmth of her body still clings to my skin, and part of me wants nothing more than to crawl back into that bed and lose myself in her again. But that luxury will have to wait.
"Show me," I say, keeping my voice low.
Alexi pulls out his tablet and brings up a satellite image. "Here. The Popov safehouse on the eastern edge of the city. It's one of Viktor's backup locations, used for… sensitive operations."
I study the image, my tactical mind already working through the problems. The compound sits on two acres, surrounded by a twelve-foot wall topped with security cameras. The main house is a two-story structure with reinforced windows. Two guard posts flank the main gate, and I can see at least six men patrolling the perimeter in the infrared overlay.
"How many inside?" I ask.
"Best estimate? Twenty guards, maybe more. Viktor's pulled in soldiers from his other operations. He's expecting us to come for her."
Of course he is. Viktor knows his daughter well enough to predict she'd ask for Katya's safety. He's using the girl as bait, hoping to draw us into a trap.
"Weapons?" I ask.
"Automatic rifles, handguns. Possibly explosives. The compound has a panic room in the basement where they're likely keeping Katya." Alexei zooms in on the building's blueprint. "Reinforced steel door, separate ventilation system. If they lock her in there during an assault, we'd need cutting equipment to get through."
I run my hand over my jaw. A direct assault is exactly what Viktor wants. He'll have his men ready, positioned to cut us down the moment we breach the walls. And if we do manage to fight our way in, he'll either kill Katya out of spite or use her as a human shield.
"There has to be another way," I mutter.
The bedroom door opens, and Alina emerges. She's changed into jeans and a dark sweater, her red hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her face is pale, but her green eyes are sharp, focused.My wife. The word still feels strange in my mind, but not unwelcome.
She moves to my side and looks at the tablet screen. "That's where they're keeping her?"
"Yes." I watch her face as she studies the compound, seeing the fear and determination warring in her expression. "It's heavily fortified. Viktor's expecting us."
