Page 6 of Sapphire

I lifted one shoulder in a shrug, wincing as the motion pulled at my still-healing wounds. "I'm sure the rumors don't do me justice. I'm much more of a bitch in person."

Cara's lips twitched, before a laugh broke free. "That’s what I was hoping you would say because I have a proposition for you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. You want me to swear fealty to the Irish, to bend the knee and kiss your ring like a good little soldier?"

She laughed, low and throaty. "Hardly. I don't want your obedience, Kamilla. I know how you feel about the Irish, but I’m hoping that being here will let you see that we are the same, you and I.” Cara stopped and stared at me before she dropped the bombshell. “I want you to take back what's yours, to claim your rightful place as the head of the Bratva."

I stared at her. "You want me to become the Pakhan? The queen of the Russian mafia?"

Cara leaned forward, her eyes glittering with a feral, predatory light. "I want you to burn the Bratva to the ground, Kamilla. I want you to build something new. Something better. A Bratva that isn't rooted in blood and the brutal subjugation of women."

I shook my head, a bitter, incredulous laugh bubbling up my throat. "I want that as well, but it’s insane. Piotr's men would rather die than follow a woman.”

Cara's smile turned dark. This is the side of the Emerald Queen I had heard about. "Then we'll fucking kill them. Every last one of them, until there's no one left to challenge you. The Irish are with you, Kamilla. My men, my resources, my fucking army - they're yours to command, until the deed is done and you sit on that bloody throne."

I stared at her, my head spinning with the implications of what she was offering. A chance to take back what was mine, to claim the power and respect that had been denied me my entire life. A chance to make Piotr pay for every hurt, every humiliation, every scar. If I did this, if I sided with the Irish and challenged Piotr for control of the Bratva, there would be no going back. No second chances, no mercy given. It would be war. Bloody, brutal, and unforgiving.

But, I’d waited my entire life for a chance to fight back. And now here it is.

I thought of Natasha, of the way she'd looked at me with such trust in her eyes when I'd sent into the arms of the very people I'd been taught to hate and fear. I thought of Seamus, of the way he'd fought for me, bled for me; and I thought of myself. Of the woman I'd never had the chance to become and the queen I could be, if only I had the courage to reach out and take the crown.

Slowly I lifted my chin and met Cara's gaze head-on. "I'll do it," I said, "I'll take back the Bratva, but I'll owe you a debt, Cara. I don’t intend to just let you help me. It will be a debt I intend to repay.”

“I'll hold you to that, Kamilla. But for now, let's focus on making you a fucking queen."

We talked for hours after that, hashing out plans and strategies and discussions of troop movements and supply lines and which of Piotr's lieutenants were most likely to turn on him if given the right incentive. And I thought of Seamus. He was always there in the background.

I hadn't been with a man since my husband. Hadn't wanted to be, after the nightmare of our marriage. The thought of letting another man touch me, use me, take what he wanted from my body without a thought for my pleasure or consent was not going to happen.

There was something about Seamus though. He looked at me and saw not a thing to be owned or to be conquered, but as a woman. He made me feel seen. Understood, in a way I had never been before. And God help me, but I wanted him. Wanted him with a need that scared me, because I knew that if I gave him even an inch of ground, he would take it all. He wouldn’t mean to, but darkness knows darkness, so I knew his need would meet mine. Maybe exceed it. He would consume me, body and soul and everything in between, but for some reason that sounded perfect to me.

I wanted to feel the weight of him on top of me, inside me, filling me up until I couldn't tell where I ended and he began. I wanted to taste his sweat, his blood, the salt and steel of him on my tongue. I wanted him to worship me. To peel away my layers until there was nothing left but the raw, aching core of me. Then I wanted him to sink to his knees and show me how a real man loves a woman.

First, I wanted to win this war I was about to start. I knew how the Irish fought and they were unforgiving, but the Russians were cruel bastards also.

Cara had hesitated before asking if I wanted to wanted me to stand on the sidelines as the Irish took my crown for me.

“Is that what you did?” I replied Cara when she first asked.

Cara snorted, “hell no. But the option is there for you if you want it.”

“I don’t. If this is to be my crown, then I am the one killing Piotr to get it. I won’t be a queen in name only Cara. I will earn it so my men will respect and follow me.”

Cara nodded and I could see that was the answer she was hoping for.

“In that case, you will need training in case you are in a situation that we can’t help with.”

I nodded. That made sense but I knew we didn’t have the time to wait until I was able to do that. Cara agreed as I mentioned this but then called out for her partner Finn to come into the room.

Finn was a large, powerful man who only had eyes for Cara as he walked over to her.

“My queen,” he murmured to her as he placed a caressing hand on her shoulder. Cara whispered something to him and he left, as I waited to see what was going on. Moments later, Finn entered the room with Seamus as they both stood in front of Cara and myself.

I knew Seamus was a tall, solid man, but seeing him stand next to Finn, he looked powerful. His designer dark navy pants were fitted to his strong thighs, and his white shirt was snug against his biceps, and I knew from sitting next to him in hospital, that the shirt was hiding muscled abs and a deep vee that I wished I could see and feel right now.

“Kamilla?” Cara said as her lips twitched as I was lost in my day dream.

“Yes.” I said, dragging my eyes from Seamus back to Cara.

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