Page 16 of Tangled Souls

He takes her mouth in a brutal kiss. It’s all need and desperation, desire and want. They’re both breathless when he pulls back, a soft smile on his face. Even though Kirill is struggling with the idea of Oaklynn being out in the city, he wants to make our woman happy.

I stride closer to the pair and grip our woman’s hips to turn her toward me. The kiss I give her is softer, gentler, but no less fierce. I want her to feel the love I have for her.

“Love you, Little Bee,” I murmur against her lips.

Then Maxim and Huck pull her between them. They take her mouth one after the other, claiming her again just like Kirill and I have.

My gut is screaming at me as a feeling of deep dread settles there. The idea of our woman being out there makes me sick, but she needs this. I’m not going to be the one to take it away from her.

I’ll just have to make sure our woman is safe. Always.

CHAPTER 6

OAKLYNN

I’m sitting in the conference room of Heart and Home, which has been working diligently to get people into the houses they need. Housing costs are steep in Seattle, but people still need places to live. Heart and Home is all about making the process easier to navigate and supplementing monetarily when needed.

It’s a charity that has done a lot of great work. Since they contacted me a few days ago, I’ve done my homework on them. The worst part about being involved now is that I wish I had found this charity sooner.

My men don’t know it, but I have plans to get the realty arm of Volkov Enterprises involved. I think managing a property built with this charity in mind would really help some people who need it. I want that.

Even though there were a lot of things I wish would have been different while growing up, I’m more than aware of how much I was given and the privilege I was afforded. While I wasn’t without worry, having a roof over my head was never a concern. Neither was food.

The simplest of things can be taken for granted when you’ve never had them plague your mind and weigh on your heart.

The meeting has been going on for a while now and it’s been fun to be able to bring the contacts I’ve made in the past into the mix when looking toward the gala being put together. It’s going to be a fancy night, but that’s what these kinds of events are all about. You spend some money while other goods and services are donated for the night, and you get a lot in return.

As long as Heart and Home gets the money they need to help people, I’ll feel like I accomplished something.

Being able to add to this meeting and strengthening the upcoming event has pride warming me from the inside out. I’ve missed this over the last few months.

Having a purpose is invaluable and it feels like I’m getting back to that. But I also know there is a lot more for me to do, a lot more that I can do. This is a great first step to finding out what comes next.

This meeting would be perfect if the man next to me, who barely slid into his seat as the meeting began, would stop giving me a side eye. Either he’s interested in me or he’s creepy as fuck. I’m not sure which one and I really don’t care to find out.

He leans closer to me without warning, “I didn’t get the chance to meet you earlier. I’m Adam Peterson.”

“Oaklynn,” I tell him quietly.

I don’t blow sunshine up his ass and tell him it’s nice to meet him. I don’t think it is.

“Thank you for coming in. I’ll have an email sent out that goes over what was discussed and all the final decisions along with tasks people will be taking care of. We’ll have one more meeting before the gala. I’m looking forward to seeing this cometo fruition to keep Heart and Home helping the people who need us.”

I give the Director of Development, Angela, a small smile, and a nod. We were able to chat before the meeting started. I came early because I wanted to meet her and learn about the charity from someone who is passionate about it. The moment I met Angela, I knew how much what they do here means to her. The way she spoke about Heart and Home made me feel inspired and I sat down looking forward to finding out how I could help.

I’ve had some thoughts about how Kirill’s business can get involved, but I’m not going to bring it up before I speak to the guys. What I did offer up was the contacts I’ve made and the experience I’ve built in putting events like this together. And it’s not Angela’s first rodeo either.

My plan was to talk to Angela after the meeting, but that was before this Adam twit sat down next to me. Now all I want to do is get home. I’m sure my men are pacing the living room like caged lions just waiting to pounce the moment I walk through the door.

How I got out of the house for the meeting without one of them with me is a mystery. I thought for sure one of them would insist, if not all four of them. But they let me leave and Maxim told me he’d have dinner ready for me when I get home.

I have no doubt the bodyguard in the room with me, who isn’t the only man guarding me on my little adventure, has already let my men know things are wrapping up here.

“I’m not the kind of man to let an opportunity go,” Adam leans even closer to me.

If he’s trying to intimidate me, it’s not going to work. Even though I want to, I don’t lean away from him. It sure as fuck isnot an invitation, but my gut is screaming at me that this guy is trouble.

“And what opportunity is that?” My voice is too nice, but he doesn’t catch on if the smile on his face is anything to go by. I tilt my head to the side slightly and widen my eyes while reaching up and brushing my hair off my shoulder. And do I use the hand with my giant rock on it? You better fucking believe it. “The opportunity to help a lot of people with the event?”

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