“Why do you care?”
“Because I’m not about to do all of this and then have his death on my hands and have to answer to my best friend and his family.”
His lips pull up into a mocking smirk. “Is that all? It has nothing to do with the fact that you’re not over him, no matter how much you tell yourself you are?”
I’m not doing this with him. I get to my feet, Hades moving quickly to my side. “Get me the things I want, and get them fast. The sooner we get this done, the faster we never have to see each other again.”
“Didn’t you want to go over our plans to get this done? Or do you plan on just going in, guns blazing? Or aren’t you afraid of the animals like everyone else that will take you out the moment you set foot on the estate?”
“You really think that I haven’t thought of all of that?” In reality, it is a worry, but not impossible. “Fine, if you want to go over everything, we will, but bring in everyone that you want involved in this planning. I’m not explaining shit multiple times.”
Knowing that includes Alonzo sets me on edge again, but I push that aside.
Before long, Simeon, Alonzo, Zakhar, Oleg, Ivano, and Titus are all in the room with us, though I notice the tension as soon as Alonzo’s men are included. Outright hostility spreads across the massive space. Especially from Simeon, who looks like he wants to spew shit about it, but he wisely holds his tongue.
I roll my eyes and sit at the conference table, pulling all the blueprints and sheets Zakhar dumped on it. I’ve seen most of them before, and the memories filter back quickly as I take them in.
Alonzo moves to sit beside me, his chair as close as it can be so that his body brushes mine. I glare at him, which he ignores, watching me. “Are you alright, orsetta?” he murmurs.
“Stop calling me that. I’m not your anything, Alonzo.” I don’t know how many times I’m going to have to say it to get it through his thick head.
The scent of his aftershave wraps around my senses as he leans closer. To anyone watching, they’d think he was looking at the blueprints. Damn him. My entire body stands at attention, not understanding why my brain won’t cooperate in jumping him again. My vagina clearly didn’t get the message that we’re never giving him admission again.
“You’re my everything, Rori. And we both know that you love it when I call you that. It makes you melt, and makes you think of what it was like to hear me tell it to you when I was deep inside you.”
His words are barely above a whisper, but to my head, he’s using a fucking megaphone. There’s no unhearing what he said. I barely manage to suppress the shiver of arousal at his reminder.
Damn him.
I want to scream at him to get the hell away, that he’s lying to make himself feel better. He doesn’t want me. He doesn’t even trust me. Whatever ideas he’s built up in his head are never going to happen. I won’t allow them to.
“Flirt with her later,” Ilya snaps, sitting down on the other side of me and glaring at Alonzo. “We have shit to see to.”
“You can always come and sit by me,krasotka,” Zakhar offers, sitting directly across from me and patting the chair next to me. “I’m much better looking anyway.”
“Or you could all stop and remember that she’s supposed to be marrying me,” Simeon snipes, sitting down beside Ilya and shooting me a disgruntled look. “Look, I know that you hate me, but we have a role to play.”
“I already told you, asshole, she’s not marrying you,” Alonzo snaps, the jealousy burning on his face.
“Jesus Christ, all of you shut the hell up,” I bark, glaring. “I’m not marrying anyone. Now, we have shit to plan, and if you want this to work, you will put aside whatever bullshit you have with each other. There is no Russians versus Italians at this table. There is only the mission to get this fucking done. And if any of you try to tell me that I can’t do something because I don’t have a dick between my legs, I’ll make sure Hades sees to it that you join the club.” To demonstrate, I give a quick command, and Alonzo lets out an angry yelp, jumping back from the table, sending the chair and himself toppling backward to the ground.
There’s silence, only the low sounds of Hades’ growls filling the space, until Zakhar starts laughing, which makes Oleg, Titus, and Ivano do it too. Ilya and Simeon stare at me, but with differing expressions. Ilya’s a warning, while Simeon’s face has gone pale. Guess the thought of his balls turning into a chew toy isn’t one he wants to see become reality.
“Hades, enough,” I say mildly, giving Hades a quick pat when he emerges from the table, and adds insult to injury by moving to the prone Alonzo, steps on his junk, and licks him in the face.
Alonzo curses, shoving him off and getting to his feet. He shoots me a look that promises retribution. I smirk. Well, doesn’t this feel familiar?
“I really want to keep her,” Zakhar snickers, finally getting himself under control. “Just don’t send him after my goods,krasotka. There would be riots.”
“Or parades.” Ilya scoffs. “Keep your dick in your pants. We have shit to do.”
As everyone starts talking, Alonzo rights his chair, placing it squarely beside mine again, and if possible, he’s managed to get himself closer than before. I glare at him, but still when I see the look in his eyes.
He’s pissed, but there’s no missing the hunger. My stomach flips, and I look away, keeping my expression neutral. It’s goingto be a long fucking night. Especially when he suddenly leans forward and whispers, “I think we need to start figuring out if what you said the first time we met is true, orsetta. After that, I’ll need a little TLC, don’t you think?”
At first, I’m unsure what the hell he means, then I remember and manage not to shiver, but can feel the heat building.
Do you even need a woman to get on her knees for a blowjob with you being this tall? Most women probably just need to bend over.
