Page 35 of Cruel Existence

“It’s not that simple.” She yanked a coverup from the hook behind my head and wrapped it around her. I immediately wanted to pull it off her.

I cupped the side of her face with my palm. “Shh,” I quieted her dropping my mouth over hers. She moaned, reaching up on her toes. “That’s it,” I coaxed her to relax. My hands began to roam her body again beneath the robe, exploring her skin with the ease of the suntan oil. I rubbed deep patterns and circles into her muscles.

“We can’t…” she moaned.

“But you want to?”

She nodded, biting her lip. I wanted to get us both out of here. There had to be a way.

My length was quickly doubling. She was right. I was close to losing it with her all over again. I couldn’t get enough of her. It was driving me insane. Keeping me awake at night. She was going to be the death of me.

I took her chin between my thumb and forefinger. “Don’t you know I can give you anything you want?” I held her gaze. “Let me teach you. Trust me, Amara. Won’t you?”

Before I could steal another kiss, she ducked under my arm and out into the sun.

“You aren’t going to answer?” I followed, brushing the heavy canvas of the cabana out of my way. It felt as if she was getting away. I couldn’t let that happen.

I waited for a response when I heard the sharp footsteps behind me. I turned to see a man not much taller than Amara with Ciro with hate in his eyes.

“Amara, what’s going on here?” he barked.

It was her father.

Fourteen

LUKA

“Papa, this is Luka Novikov. He stopped by to say hello. That’s all.” I saw how quickly she walked past me to join her father as if there were an imaginary line, and she had to choose the appropriate side.

I hurried around the pool to extend my hand. “Mr. Novikov, nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you. Welcome to New Orleans.” I had to keep the ruse up at every angle. I would never subject myself to such an ordinary meeting with a mafia boss, but I was all over his daughter only seconds ago so the dynamics were shifting quickly.

The older man returned the handshake. “Thank you. Why don’t you join me in my study?” He glared at his daughter.

“Actually, sir, I came to see Amara. Thought she might like a drive out to the beach. It’s a good day for it. I’m sure you’re an outdoorsy man. You’ve noticed how beautiful Louisiana is, haven’t you?”

He stared at my button-up shirt. “You’re going to the beach like that? Are you anoutdoorsyman, Mr. Novikov?”

“I have a bag in the car,” I lied.

“I think we should have that drink,” he answered. “Amara, get dressed,” he snapped. “Luka and I are going to catch up.”

There was fire in her eyes, but I didn’t know which one of us fueled it. Me, or her father. I wanted to pull her to me. To tell her I could still fix this. There was a way to sort through the family politics and find a way to get her out of here. But those weren’t words I could say in front of her warden. I had to find another way.

I left her in the courtyard with Ciro and followed her father inside the house. He led me to his office. A maid closed the doors behind me as soon as we crossed the threshold. He poured two glasses of bourbon and handed one to me. His study looked like my father’s. Old. Dark. Classic décor. The similarities were eerie. A reminder that Amara believed there weren’t so many differences between our ways of life and family.

“Thank you.” I nodded. “Sir.”

He sat behind his desk, taking a position of authority. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to make our meeting last week. Amara tells me you’re interested in my boutique hotel acquisition. The Vieux Carre.”

I wondered if she had told him everything we discussed. “Yes. That’s true. The hotel is an important part of our organization. It’s in the Novikov territory. I’m sure you understand.” I didn’t want to insult the man with a back history of the city and the generations that had dominated the streets and corridors he had recently invaded.

I studied the man, trying to discern if any of Amara’ss features were in his face. Thank God I didn’t detect a single one. She must look like her mother. Although, I knew little about the woman who had given birth to her. She kept her own set of secrets.

“I understand that Dmitry isn’t happy I want it. That’s what I understand.” He rocked slightly in the leather chair. He had a Cheshire cat smile on his face. He was pleased that he had struck a nerve with the Novikovs. It was a mistake to do so.

“New Orleans has options for you, sir. You aren’t limited, but that particular piece of property. Well… you should know that if my father wants it, he’s going to get it. There are lots of ways he can make that happen. You should back away before there’s any more bad blood between you two.”

“Is that a threat?” His voice remained even. “You know where I come from, we speak plainly. Not in other languages.”

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