Page 20 of Andrei's Solnyshko

“They may go after the girl to get back at you.”

“I’ll kill them.”

“And I’ll gladly help. Small time or not, you need to be ready for anything.”

“I’m always ready, Brother.”

I pull a black gift box out of my desk drawer while Serg dismisses Lev and pours some vodka into a glass. “Is Summer that important to you?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve never seen you like this over a woman.”

“Well, get used to it.”

“I understand coming to her rescue. Men who abuse women should die a horrible death. And it’s a personal subject for us. But bringing her into your home? You don’t even know her. What happens when you grow tired of her? I’ve never known you to fuck a piece of ass twice.”

He’s lucky he’s my brother because no one else would be allowed to talk to me like that. I pour myself a drink and look out the window to the city lights below us.

“I won’t grow tired of her.”

“How well do you know her?”

“I’ve been watching her for months. I know she’s mine.”

“Andrei…”

I interrupt him, “I love her.”

“Whoa. I wasn’t expecting that.”

I sip my drink and smile. “I didn’t realize until I just said it, but I do. I love her.”

“Does she love you?”

“That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?”

He chuckles. “Twelve million.”

???

I find her in one of the living rooms. Her back is to me and she’s dressed in black yoga pants and matching sports bra. She’s leaning over one of the many bouquets of flowers, breathing them in. I clear my throat and she jumps, but when she turns around she smiles. She isn’t scared, and for once there’s only pure happiness on her beautiful face.

I find myself smiling back.

Her voice is breathless, “Andrei.”

My Christian name falling from her lips expands my chest.

I cross the room to her and bring her into my arms. “Say it again.”

“Andrei.”

My dick grows hard and I kiss her neck where I left bite marks earlier.

“I have a gift for you.” I hand her the black jewelry box and she opens it to find a twenty-four karat gold Russian Orthodox cross necklace with a large diamond in the center. She turns for me to clasp it around her neck and when she faces me she fingers it. “It’s really beautiful.”

“My first gift to you of many.”