Page 34 of Auctioned to the Bratva

He turned, grabbed me in my neck at the back, and pulled me closer. His kiss was hot and hard, filled with emotion. I didn’t pull away, I allowed him to kiss me as long as he needed to.

Breathing out hard as he let go, Sergei looked into my eyes. “Sorry, it’s the family,” he said sitting back in his seat. “Roman wants me to meet them all,” Sergei said as he stared into his glass and then swallowed the content.

“I never wanted to be a part of them either. But Roman,” he took a deep breath before continuing. “Roman iswell-established within the family and with everything that has happened.” Sergei glanced at me and squeezed my hand. “Well, now there is no other choice.”

He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “They have assisted with so much, Irina.” He breathed out. “They helped to subdue the bastard that started all this shit.” His eyes flew open as he focused his attention back on me.

“Without them, who knows what Caleb would have done to you or where you would have ended up.” Sergei huffed as he pulled my hand to his lips and kissed it softly.

He was also aching just as much as I was having to return to Bratva. At least I grew up learning what it entailed. He had no real idea. My heart ached for him.

“I know Sergei, but I also know most of the family,” I added, glancing down at my other hand with the glass in my lap. “I will be by your side through it all as we agreed.”

Placing the glass down on the food tray beside me, I turned to face him. Reaching out I placed my hand on his cheek. “Sergei, I will be with you every step of the way, I promise.”

Sergei took my face in his hands and stared intensely into my eyes. I felt a stir deep within me as he opened up to me.

“Together, always,” he whispered as a tear escaped his foggy eyes and streaked down his cheek. “I never meant to pull you into this.”

“Forever together, Sergei,” I responded as I wiped the tear from his cheek. Sergei pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly.

“You are so perfect Irina,” he whispered in my ear before placing a tender kiss on my cheek and sitting back. “Come sit with me,” he added as he lifted my hand into the air.

Glancing around I rose and shifted over onto his lap as he embraced me. Resting my head on his chest, I could hear his heart rushing. “It’s all going to be fine,” I said as I played with the top button of his shirt.

He laid a kiss on my head as his embrace tightened. “Thank you, Irina.” He said as the fastened seatbelt light came on.

Sergei tried to fasten us in his seat, but the belt was just an inch too short. Laughing, I moved back to my seat, fastening the seatbelt as I settled in. Sergei smiled at me as the plane descended.

“Aww, no,” he said. “I considered dragging you into the restroom quickly and now we are landing.”

His smile was true and warm. I felt relieved that he was calmer, as he would need to keep his head clear moving forward. The plane settled on the tarmac with only a slight bump and came to a stop.

The guards got off first and waited beside the steps as we exited the plane. Three town cars were waiting for us just like in Los Angeles. We got into the middle car and headed to our new home.

As we traveled, I noticed that the streets appeared quieter than they were a month back when all the turmoil happened. Thinking of the date, I realized that the holiday season was over, and most visitors had returned home.

I wondered if I would be able to visit Evelina now that we were back. But I would wait to see what was happening before asking such a thing.

Sergei squeezed my hand as we pulled up to large double steel gates. The gates swung open, and we drove in. The houseand garden looked magnificent. The driver parked before one of the double garage doors. Before I could open my door, I noticed four guards coming over quickly.

They opened the car doors and escorted us to the front door of the house. I noticed another couple of guards walking around the premises. Sergei opened the door and picked me up.

Surprised by his sudden move, I clung to his neck laughing. He carried me through the entrance hall into the open living area. The sun shone brightly through the large windows lighting up every corner of the room. “If you don’t like the décor, we can always change it,” Sergei said as he placed me down on a dark brown chaise.

Glancing around, the room reminded me of the penthouse he stayed in when I first met him. The windows weren’t as large, and the color scheme was different, but the setup was too similar to be a coincidence.

I watched Sergei as he moved to the built-in bar in the corner of the room. His dark hair, now touching his shoulders shone in the sun’s rays. It would need to be cut soon, I thought as he poured us each a drink.

Sergei smiled broadly as he walked back to me with the two glasses. “Welcome to our new home,” he said handing me a glass before sitting down next to me. We clinked our glasses and took a sip.

“A bit early for drinking, don’t you think?” I asked as I placed my glass on the table next to me. On the wall before us hung a giant tv and the wall opposite the bar was filled with an array of portraits.

Sergei gave a little laugh and placed his glass down. Turning to me he leaned in and kissed my cheek. His lips werewarm, and his touch gentle as always. I felt my cheeks warm up as I beamed at him.

“Somewhere out there,” he said moving his hand through the air as if indicating the world. “Somewhere it is the right time for sharing a drink, we can imagine we are there, wherever it may be.”

I placed my hands over my mouth as I laughed. He looked serious as he spoke and lifted a brow at me. “We can do what we please, plus, we have reason to celebrate,” Sergei added as he stood and drew me up by my hands.

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