Page 119 of Alexei (Belles & Mobsters 4)

“I can call the guards,” Royce chimed in. The three of them were already her guards, she didn’t need more.

“Yes, I’m fine,” she assured both of them. “Brothers, you remember the Nikolaev family, right?”

Byron’s hands slid into his pockets, though I could tell he was clenching his fists in his expensive suit. Vasili told me her brother hacked all the surveillance from the castle in Russia. I’d imagine he probably detested every Nikolaev man.

“I remember them,” Byron gritted, barely keeping his composure. “It’s hard to forget men that almost cost my sister her life.”

“Byron-”

He didn’t even bother to listen to what his sister had to say. “I’m going to tell you this, Nikolaev.” I wondered if he was talking to Vasili or me, because his eyes darted between the two of us. “Fuck with my sister again,” he glared at me and I got my answer. The threat was mainly aimed at me. “... I’ll tear your family apart. And I don’t make empty fucking threats.”

Yes, the Ashfords were just as savage as the men in our world. They just hid it better.

“I’ll drink to that,” Winston chimed in, his smile vicious and matching the expression in his eyes. Of course, he’d never match the Nikolaev brutality. Though I suspected he’d come close.

Byron turned to his sister and his eyes instantly softened.

“I want you to meet Kristoff Baldwin,” he continued, ignoring us. Not that I could blame him. It was probably impossible for him to see us and not think of the brother we cost him. Or the brother thatIcost him. I was certain by now Aurora had filled in her brothers about her findings. “I told you about him.”

My teeth clenched. I’d lose my shit and that would be bad for everyone in this room.Mine. Nobody touches what’s mine.The words buzzed in my head, and I wanted to smash her brother’s face into the marble floor.

“No.” A single word slashed through the air, like a whip. Her brother’s eyes snapped my way, a dark challenge lurking in them. He wanted a fight and I was more than happy to give him one. “Aurora is mine and nobody touches what’s mine,” I growled. “I even fucking hate it when people look at what’s mine. Touch her, and I’ll murder you.”

The threat was clear, rough, and untamed.

Except I tasted my own panic underneath it all.

ChapterForty

AURORA

Ashot of adrenaline rushed through me at Alexei’s open claim. It wasn’t smart, but then I never claimed to be. Not when it came to him. An uncomfortable silence followed, Alexei’s possessive darkness surrounding us all.

It was twisted. Yet something about him set me aflame. For the past two months, I felt like a zombie. I wasn’t living, but simply existing. Ever since I met him, he somehow became as important as my limbs or my heart.

And of course, there was the discovery of Kingston who had told me what Alexei had done for him. The two became as close as brothers over the last decade. I recognized how much Alexei helped Kingston heal. My Kingston wasn’t a sweet little boy anymore. He was hard, ruthless, but also good. And most importantly, he was alive.

He wasn’t ready to come out and make himself known. He promised we’d tell our brothers. Together. I got back from Portugal yesterday, barely tearing myself away from him. Scared that I wouldn't see him for another twenty years. There was nothing more I wanted than to tell my brothers about Kingston. But Kingston and I agreed, we’d tell them together. In a week.

Kingston deserved to come back any way he saw fit or that he could handle. He wasn’t able to open completely. But the torture he suffered. The abuse. The little he told me tore at my heart. Abuse. Rape. Torture. Kingston admitted that to this day he couldn’t handle basements because he’d been chained and tied in them. It reminded me of Alexei and Russia. His reaction while we were locked in the basement.

It was no wonder Alexei and Kingston bonded. They both shared traumatic experiences.

My eyes sought out that arctic gaze. The familiar cold sensation rushed down my spine. I felt it the moment Alexei stepped into the room. It was a welcomed feeling. Like a shadow you missed.

The scent of his cologne lingered in the air. I could feel his heat from here. My heart drummed in my throat and against my ribs. Was it wrong that his threat turned me on? Yes, on so many levels. Somehow over the few days we spent in Russia, I fell for him, hard. Or maybe it happened in the weeks leading to our trip to Russia. I no longer knew.

All I knew was that I loved him. All his broken pieces. All his psychotic pieces. And most of all, his heart. Yes, he was rough and nothing about him fit the mold, but it was exactly that which made him perfect. He kept his word to a little girl. He saved my brother. And he saved me.

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. I wanted to go home with him. I wanted to thank him for saving Kingston. I wanted to apologize for those cruel words I uttered to him. And most of all, Ineededto tell him that I loved him.

My eyes roamed his body. His dark blue Armani suit made his eyes appear even lighter. Like the brightest summer day. It hurt to look at him. He filled the suit, his broad shoulders enough to make any woman’s mouth water. The tattoos on every visible inch of his skin set him apart from the rest of the men in this room - in the best way possible. Since I met him, it was the only form of art I found fascinating. I didn’t care about paintings, ballet, anything. Just tattoos - his tattoos.

“Aurora, let’s go,” Byron gritted.

My eyes darted back and forth between Alexei and my eldest brother, holding my breath. I knew if my father joined in, all hell would break loose here. He’d have a heart attack. Alexei was the type of man he’d warn me off. And Vasili Nikolaev wouldn’t stand back and watch. The man was lethal, though my brothers were no less so.

Byron and Alexei stared at each other, both of their expressions dark and volatile.

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