Page 30 of Twisted Obsession
Immersed in my thoughts, I was abruptly brought back to the present by the sound of footsteps echoing through the tunnel. No one outside the inner circle was aware of the Red Knights, so it had to be one of us. As I turned toward the entrance, a figure emerged, standing about six feet tall with broad shoulders and long hair cascading over them in loose waves. It was unmistakably Isaak.
“Isaak. Good to see you, old friend,” I greeted him warmly as I moved forward, embracing him in a firm half-hug.
“Dmitri. You haven’t changed a bit,” he responded, his voice filled with familiarity and warmth as he returned the gesture.
“Hey, you two, you’re starting to make me jealous,” a voice chimed in from behind, causing us to break our embrace and turn around.
“Nazar,” Isaak and I said in unison, our voices echoing in the silent room as we each gave him a welcoming half-hug.
Soon after, Alexei and Maxim arrived, their presence completing our gathering as they greeted each of us with heartfelt embraces. Once we settled into our respective seats, we spent a few moments reconnecting, sharing stories and laughter, but the weight of our purpose hung heavily in the air. It was time to address the matter that had brought us all back together after such a long hiatus.
“I know you guys are wondering why I called this meeting after all this time,” I began, my voice steady as each of the Knights focused intently on my words. “Yesterday, a group of men stormed my mansion. They killed six of my men. I have every reason to believe it was the Cosa Nostra, and I suspect the Balestrinis were behind it.”
“That’s impossible,” Alexei replied, his voice laced with disbelief. “All of the Balestrini heirs are buried behind the ancient stone church, their legacy interred with them.”
“There is something else,” I interjected, my voice heavy with the weight of the secret I had been keeping. I hadn’t planned on revealing anything about Larissa, but the gravity of the situation demanded it. “Three years ago, Andrei Zhukov murdered my father in cold blood. He had a daughter, her secret whereabouts I unearthed only recently. I found her and have since made her my wife.”
Maxim’s lips curled into a mocking smirk. “I guess congratulations are in order,” he snickered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “But what does your marriage have to do with any of this?”
“We uncovered documents that revealed Larissa Zhukov isn’t the daughter of Andrei Zhukov, but rather the daughter of Giovanni Balestrini,” I explained, pausing to let the revelationseep into their understanding. The silence hung heavily in the room before I continued. “I suspect Giovanni somehow discovered that I have her and is now attempting to reclaim her.”
“But the Balestrini legacy is dead and buried. There is no one left,” Nazar argued, his voice steady. “Giovanni Balestrini vanished into the shadows shortly after we eliminated Carmine. His reputation was shattered—his power stripped away. Rumor has it he killed himself. We aren’t even sure he is still alive.”
“Are you certain it wasn’t someone else who invaded your mansion?” Alexei probed, his skepticism palpable. “You have no shortage of enemies, Dmitri.” I turned to face him, my gaze icy and resolute.
“I’m certain,” I retorted sharply. “One of the men we killed bore the unmistakable Cosa Nostra insignia tattooed on his neck,” I lashed out, my voice edged with frustration. It might not have been the Balestrinis directly, but it was undoubtedly someone conspiring with them.
“What do you want from us?” Isaak inquired, his voice cautious but willing.
“I need to uncover the identities of these people, and I require your expertise,” I implored, my voice earnest. “No one can know about this.”
If those who stormed my mansion had connections to the Balestrinis, I had to shield Stepan and the brotherhood from discovering anything about the Red Knights. If it surfaced that I played any role in targeting the Balestrini heirs, it would ignite a devastating war between the Bratva and the Cosa Nostra, a conflict that would extend far beyond the Eastern territories.
~***~
When I returned to the sprawling mansion and entered the dimly lit bedroom, I found Lara fast asleep on the bed. She was curled up on the very edge, as far away as she could get from the other side. That arrangement was certainly going to change.
I tossed my clothes into the hamper with a careless flick and slid under the plush covers. Shuffling to the center of the bed, I wrapped an arm around Lara’s slender waist, pulling her gently yet firmly toward me. In her drowsy state, she didn’t resist. Her body molded perfectly against mine, a warmth that was both soothing and electrifying. The intoxicating blend of jasmine and roses filled my senses as I inhaled deeply, indulging in her scent. Despite knowing she would be sore from the way I had brutally claimed her earlier, the desire to have her again burned fiercely within me. Perhaps drawing her close wasn’t the wisest choice, for just the thought of losing myself in her again stirred an undeniable response within me. Her body was astonishingly perfect, tailor-made to embrace my cock with a snugness that was beyond belief. Each thrust had been a tantalizing battle to maintain control and not surrender to the overwhelming pleasure too soon. It was sheer bliss.
She let out a soft moan against my arm and then, unexpectedly, rolled over to place a tender kiss on my cheek before nestling her head against my chest. “I’m sorry for doubting you,” she murmured.
Gently, I adjusted my position, lowering my lips to meet hers. This kiss was not a fierce, possessive display of ownership, but rather a tender expression of how much I cherished her.Now, more than ever, the urge to worship her surged through me. I traced my lips down the graceful line of her neck, my fingers lightly hooking beneath the delicate straps of her silk nightgown and easing them off her shoulders.
Soft whimpers and cries escaped her lips as I captured one of her nipples, nibbling it gently between my teeth while my other hand tenderly caressed its twin.
“Dmitri,” she breathed.
A smile spread across my face like a slow sunrise as my name dripped from her mouth like honey.
Inching lower down her body, I bunched the soft fabric of her nightgown between my calloused fingers, lifting it up and over her head. It was like unveiling a masterpiece with each inch of her creamy white skin revealed. Perfect.
I trailed my hand down her taut stomach, feeling her muscles tense under my touch, before twisting the thin, damp fabric of her lace panties in my fingers. I tugged gently, drawing them down her long legs, and tossed them aside.
My teeth grazed and nipped at her upper thigh, leaving faint indentations in her tender flesh. She yelped, then moaned, a symphony of surprise and pleasure echoing through the room. I moved lower, delving between her legs where the scent of her arousal was heady and intoxicating.
“Oh, fuck… Dmitri…”
Her voice was a breathless whisper, a plea for more.
