Page 24 of Cruel Bet

We all know better than to argue with her. Kimiko is one of the toughest people I know, man or woman. It’s how she roseso high in the ranks, she may be like a sister to me, but she earned it. She’s as well trained in martial arts as Endo, highly skilled with weapons, and an incredible businesswoman with a great mind for strategy. It’s why she’s the head of our foreign operations. I trust her implicitly.

“Okay,” I confirm, nodding my approval, neither Endo nor Dimitri will go against this now I’ve agreed. “So, what’s next?”

“The wedding will take place on the Garcia ranch in Mexico in a month. But first, there will be an engagement party in New York next week. All of the families will attend to celebrate the alliance and success of the trials. We’ll be hosting it, of course.”

“Great,” I say dryly.

They know how much I hate these kinds of parties, being paraded around desperate women desperate to snag Nikolai Kuzmin as their husband. I’m trying not to think about the fact that I might actually have to marry someone at this party. Nor the fact that the only woman I can think of right now is sleeping upstairs. I’d always known I would have to eventually, but right now the thought fills me with dread.

“So, now you know my news. How about you tell me your news?” Kimiko asks sweetly.

Her tone immediately has me on edge, Kimiko isn’t sweet, if she’s asking this it’s because Endo and Dimitri have already spilled the beans.

“Nothing we can’t handle,” I grunt.

“Oh, well that’s a relief. Here’s me thinking you’d kidnapped a Mafia princess and murdered Lorenzo Lucchese,starting a war that we don’t need or want to have to deal with on the cusp of one of our most important endeavors in the history of our family,” she says sarcastically.

“They were forming a powerful alliance against our turf, it was necessary to do something,” Dimitri chips in, loyal as ever.

“And in fairness to Nikolai, Lucchese was the one who made a move, not us,” Endo also rushes to my aid.

“And the girl?” she asks.

“She has information we need, she’s leverage,” I lie. We all know she’s more than that now.

“Oh yes, it sure sounds like it,” she says rolling her eyes, “I’m sure you’re having lots of fun with the girl. But we need to get serious now. If your… methods… aren’t working, then perhaps I could try to…”

“No,” I growl, jumping up like a coiled spring ready to protect her. “No one hurts her.”

Kimiko’s eyes open wide in surprise, Dimitri looks misty eyes and fondly, and Endo looks like he’s ready to laugh.

“Told ya, sis, he’s touchy about this one,” he says with a grin.

“Yeah, you weren’t kidding. Chill, boss, I didn’t mean I’d hurt her. You know I prefer more… subtle methods. I mean that, have you just tried you know, talking to her? From what I hear, you’ve been acting like a caveman and Endo has been, well, Endo. Dimitri sounds like the only one who’s bothered asking her anything about herself,” she points out.

“She’s told me some stuff. Like about her sister,” I protest.

“And how did that go? Did you offer any sympathy?” she asks knowingly.

“Yes,” I reply abruptly, choosing to omit the fact that I moved straight onto pressuring her to tell me more and the fact it was mid-argument.

Kimiko’s expression makes it perfectly clear she’s seen through me.

“Fine. You can talk to her,” I agree reluctantly.

Not that it’s going to stop me from trying my way too. If I was hoping that fucking Arianna would get her out of my head, I was sorely mistaken. Already I crave more. Need more.

Chapter 15

Arianna

If I’d known sex was going to be that mind-blowingly, toe-curlingly, incredible, I’d have escaped from my father sooner. After falling into a deep, dreamless sleep I wake feeling more refreshed than I have in a long time. The soreness between my legs is a welcome sensation, one that reminds me of how amazing last night was and that it really happened. Nikolai and I had sex. Several times.

I wonder if other men have stamina like Nikolai, if all sex is as incredible, I doubt it. Just thinking about last night has me getting wet and hungry for more.

Rolling over in bed, I flick the remote to open the blinds, wincing slightly as the bright sunshine floods the room. I notice the time with a start, it’s almost eleven o’clock. I haven’t slept in that late in a long time either, though I suppose we were up late wearing ourselves out. With a big grin on my face, I get up, shower, and get ready.

Downstairs, I bump into Kimiko sitting at the kitchen island drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. I hover in the doorway, feeling a little awkward and embarrassed after our initial meeting. What must she think of me, assuming she’s with Nikolai, jealously storming off, and then loudly having sex with him all night?

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