I leave them recovering under a pile of blankets while I clean up the room. And then, since they’re both out of it, I go looking for the bathroom, but instead I find Aleksei’s room. It’s easy to tell it’s his; the strong agarwood scent is everywhere. Honestly, it’s like someone left a diffuser running constantly. On top of that, there are photos of the dogs on the wall, along with photos of him with two women who are obviously his mother and grandmother.
After taking my time and looking at every photo, I use his bathroom to have a long, hot shower. Afterward, I raid his wardrobe, finding a scent-soaked hoodie that is so big it feels like an Oodie, along with a pair of athletic shorts with a drawstring and a long pair of socks. And then I lay out another set of clothes for Kade to change into later.
But I need comfort tonight, so without any regret, I fold up Aleksei’s thick bedding, steal his pillow, then drag it back to the utility room, making a bed in the middle of Kade and Nalla.
While switching the lights off in the main house, I try to call Santiago and Aleksei, but I get a message in Russian. Using the translator, it’s like I suggested to Kade in the car—they’re out of range or their phones are switched off.
I shoot off a message to each of them, letting them know everyone here is fine.
Returning to the patients, I check Nalla first. She’s awake and uncomfortable, but together, we manage to get her up, and she goes to the bathroom in the corner of the room on a puppy pad. Once she’s had a drink, I help her get resettled, piling on blankets to keep her warm. By the time I’m sliding into bed next to Kade, I’m beat. Happy but exhausted.
Checking the time, I’m relieved to see a few hours have passed since we split up. Hopefully, Aleksei and Santiago will be back sooner rather than later. Wiggling as close as I can to Kade without waking him up, I snuggle right into his space. His warmth is better than any blanket, and his scent is the balm I was looking for.
I’m so sleepy, I’m almost ready to pass out for days, but before I do, I reach out for the tether I share with Aleksei while thinking of Santiago, hoping they can feel how eager I am for them to finish what they’re doing and come here.
Chapter Forty-One
SANTIAGO
“Idon’t understand what you are saying,” I say quietly as I squat in front of Aleksei’s prisoner. “But it sounds like you’re full of fucking excuses,gallina.”
Behind me, the sound of Aleksei’s chair legs hitting the concrete echoes. He’s been rocking in the old dining chair, taking a break from our interrogation, letting me see if I can get him anything more out of our prisoner. Which is pretty funny, considering I can’t speak Russian, though I am fluent in torture.
“Gallinais new.” Aleksei stands next to me. “What is that?”
“Chicken, you know, like a coward.”
He hums, nodding, before reaching over and twisting Dmitri’s ear so hard, the sound of his screaming nearly shatters my fucking eardrum. I move away, shaking my head, trying to get the ringing to stop.
Aleksei freezes and makes a weird sound.
“What is it?” I ask, palming my gun, facing him.
He’s as still as a statue, and his head tips to the side like he’s hearing something I can’t. Moments later, he makes another odd sound before he starts chuckling. Walking past me, he picks up his phone and switches it back on.
“I guess we’re not worried about tracing your phone anymore?” I shake my head, annoyed. I’ve been wanting to call Quinn for hours, but he’s been adamant we stay offline.
He waves me quiet. “Nyet, nyet. My wife is awake.”
A handful of words, and my blood is back to boiling. I tip my head in question, talking carefully so he gets what I’m saying. “Your wife?”
“Da.” The biggest, cheesiest grin appears on his face as he nods like a fucking bobblehead. “Everything that was Sergey’s is now mine, including his beautiful wife. It’s how he set it up in his final will. Lucky me, hey? Though, you and I know she was never his, and she was never going to be his either. Melted period, right?”
“Moot point,” I correct him before diverting him back to the more important part of his little speech. “Okay, so how do you know Quinn is awake?”
He chuckles again, walking back towards me. Once he’s so close I’m choking on his ego and agarwood scent, he switches his phone to handsfree, letting me hear it ringing.
Kade answers. “Now is not a good time, Aleksei!” he growls out.
But under Kade’s abrupt greeting, other sounds are more obvious, deep pleasure-dipped groans, shallow, hurried breathing, and soft feminine moans.
Aleksei looks at me before talking to Kade. “So, your cock still works good, huh?”
“Shhh,” Kade insists.
And then there’s a shuffle of movement as Kade repositions the phone so we can hear for ourselves what’s going on. It’s a fucking symphony of sound.
Quinn is one of those people who enjoys sex, and she enjoys all the noise associated with sex. And right now, I’m so fucking jealous she’s going down on Kade and clearly enjoying his dick way too much.
