Page 41 of The Councilor

Aleksander

The mental image of her bucking until she was able to drive my tongue deeper inside her tight pussy lingered.

The woman was the most infuriating I’d ever met. Obsessive anger swept through me like a firestorm. Every impulse I had screamed to push her down onto her knees, shoving my cock into her pert mouth. Hell, I wanted nothing more than to paint her with my cum, staining every inch of her so others would know she was mine.

Telling her to prove she wasn’t a princess was like giving her carte blanche to act like a spoiled child or worse. It was as if I was giving permission to try to become that equal I’d mentioned.

In my mind, I’d let my guard down with this woman. This girl. It continued to unnerve me that it had taken almost nothing to do so. Maybe she was a black widow in disguise.

I stood in my office, waiting for the two men assigned years before to maintain security to walk in. For all the years I’d acted as if I didn’t need bodyguards, refusing to allow a single man to tag along with me, I was well aware of what I’d told her. The danger was real.

The two sets of footsteps indicated their arrival.

I’d left the door unlocked only long enough for them to enter of their own accord. All our behaviors would need to change, security tightened. The two men had been tasked already to have additional soldiers placed around the estate. Why did this feel like a noose was tightening around my neck?

“Mr. Semenov,” Ivan said first.

The two men were Russians, born and raised in this country. They were well trained and considered dangerous and extremely loyal. When they weren’t working with the regime, they were bouncers at a club Vadim owned. They were even roommates. Russians were closer knit than people understood.

I turned in their direction, trying to plan the next few days. “It’s not public knowledge yet but I’ve agreed to take an Italian bride.”

Kristoff glanced at his buddy. “So the rumors are true.”

“The street?” I asked.

Ivan snorted. “Don’t forget information in the world of the Russian empire travels fast.”

“And the rest of the world?” I tipped my head from one man to the other.

They were uncertain where their duties with me were going. That much was easy to tell.

“We’re still checking but early word isn’t good including surrounding the Irish.” At least I could count on Ivan being frank. He was a tough man, his actions coming from a place of revenge. His entire family had been lost to a fire, and no one believed it was an accident.

Both Vadim and I knew it had been a moment of retaliation from the Irish leader for teaching the man a lesson in humility and playing fair in the sandbox.

The scars Ivan bore were a stark reminder that caring for anyone wasn’t in my best interest. Yet I cared about the girl very much, already more than I should.

I nodded and moved closer. “We’re embarking on new territory, gentlemen. I’ll be handling more business for Vadim and backing away from my law firm for the time being. Do I anticipate the alliance will cause issues? Absolutely. I don’t think even Vadim realizes how hated the Cosa Nostra is. To that end, I need you to boost security at the house. State of the art. Whatever you need.”

I had a limited security system, passable in a usual house but at this point, it would be easy for an enemy to bypass.

“We’ll take care of it, sir,” Kristoff told me.

“Before you get the project started, the two of you are going to shadow me as we head to Ms. Bernardi’s apartment to collect some of her things.”

Ivan jerked back his jacket, exposing his shoulder holster. “We’re always prepared.”

I chuckled, nodding to both. “I’ll be ready to go shortly. Incidentally, you’re both going to help bring a sculpting wheel back to the house.” I had no idea what it was called. Pottery was something I’d admired very little, preferring more colorful art.

“I think you mean a potter’s lathe,” Ivan suggested.

“You know your art.”

His face clouded over. “My sister was taking classes. It was her favorite thing to do.”

“I didn’t mean to bring up your tragedy.”

Ivan sucked in his breath. “In this business, one would be a fool not to expect everything you care about to be taken from you.”

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