I put a hand over my mouth as I heard the table give way. I’d never been so scared in my life. I closed my eyes and listened to all of the noises. I prayed I’d soon hear Russian. My mind was stuck on one mantra, “Nik is coming. He’s coming. Nik is coming.”

I continued to play dead, hoping that Igor was enough to hide me, as I heard the first steps in my home. It took several long moments to register the sounds of renewed shooting. The horrible sounds got closer and closer until with a loud pop, one of the intruders fell to the ground steps away from me. His eyes were open and lifeless as a hole in his forehead slowly trickled out blood.

I closed my eyes and concentrated all of my panic on my mantra. “Nik is coming. He’s coming. Nik is coming.”

My eyes stayed closed and I screamed in terror when suddenly Igor’s body was pulled off of me. I curled into a tight ball, shaking in fear. I screamed even louder as I felt arms wrap around me and pick me up off the floor.

“Moy tsvetok! It’s me, your Nikandr. Leilani, I have you.”

Slowly his voice penetrated the panic I was in. He continued to hold me close and talk to me until finally I realized it was Nik holding me and not someone who wanted me dead. With that knowledge, the dam burst open and I sobbed as I wrapped mybody around his and held him in a death grip. He came and he saved me. He was holding me and I was safe.

~~~*~~~

Nikandr

I held Lielani in my arms and as I caressed her I checked for bullet wounds and injuries. When I found none I was so relieved. I looked over at Viktor’s body and sighed sadly. He’d given his life to protect my flower. He’d receive the burial of a loyal of the highest order and his family would be greatly compensated

In between sniffles Lei said into my neck, “I-I think… I think Igor… is dead.”

“Igor?”

I watched as her finger pointed to Viktor’s body. “He is, but he died protecting you. Everything will be taken care of and his family greatly compensated. Moy tsvetok, I’m so sorry for all of this. The Italians found out about you and attacked.”

“I thought there was an alliance.”

“There is with the Zima family. These men were from the Linetti Family. But no more thinking about them. You are coming home with me now, where you will be safe.” I felt her nod as she held tighter onto me. “I’ll make sure everything that is salvageable is brought to you.”

“My photos, they are all I have left of my family.”

I looked all around as I heard her. The photos littered the floor but looked relatively unharmed. “They will be a priority, my flower. Let’s get out of here.” I carried her to our vehicle and buckled her into the back seat. Before joining her I turned to themen and gave them instructions in Russian. They would recover everything they could and then the place to be burned to destroy all evidence. Now it was time to take my woman and child home with me.

Chapter 5

Leilani

A little while later, we pulled into Nik’s home. He picked me up and carried me in his arms as I took in the large mansion. “What do you think?” he asked me.

“It’s so big.”

“Kostya and Gianna have the top floor. Daniil and I have the second floor. The rest of the men have bunkhouses on the property for the single ones. The married ones have a choice to have a house at the back of the property or a house away from here.” Nuzzling his cheek to mine I closed my eyes and ran my fingers through the stubble on his face, “I love you, moy tsvetok. I will love you forever and always.”

We walked into the house and immediately climbed the floor to where he stayed. Closing the door behind us, he sat me down on the bed. I looked up at him, tears in my eyes. “I was so scared, Nik. I love you and I was so afraid we’d never get to meet the peanut.”

Crouching down before me, and taking my hands in his, he looked into my eyes and I was stunned to see tears of his own there. “When one of the men called me to tell me they were under attack, I’ve never been so afraid in my life. But know that I will always fight to get to you. You are mine and I love you and our peanut. You are my everything. My world.”

When he leaned towards me I closed my eyes and sighed in relief as the remaining bits of terror left my body. I stood up, never breaking the kiss, and slowly undressed.

“Leilani, if I am rushing you, we don't have to...” he began. The worry in his voice was also in his eyes as he looked at me.

Standing up on my tiptoes, I captured his lips once more and kissed him passionately. “I want this more than anything. I need to feel alive with you. Besides, I still can’t remember that first night. I want to enjoy everything you’re offering me, including your love.”

Nikandr smiled as he helped me remove my clothing before also removing his. For a moment he held my hands and just looked at me as I stood bare before him. “Do you know how exquisite you are? Every inch of you reflects the goddess that you are. I’m humbled that you feel anything for me, much less love.”

“Words like that will get you everything,” I smiled at him. Holding onto his cheeks with my hands before kissing him again.

Nik’s smile grew dark with lust as he wrapped his arms around me and picked me up. He held me close as he laid me down on the bed. “I have never before felt the level of pleasure that having you finally in my arms brings to my heart. My heart and my love are forever yours, moy tsvetok.”

He claimed my lips and kissed me deeply. He left me breathless before his kisses traveled down my jaw and my neck while he tasted and pleasured me with a mixture of nips and kisses. Moving ever lower, his lips encircled one of my nipples causing me to gasp in pleasure as I arched my back, encouraging him to take even more into his mouth. As he suckled and nipped at one breast his hand pinched and pleasured the other nipple until he switched.