Page 27 of Alexei (Belles & Mobsters 4)

It fucking sucked to learn so early on we were no better than animals. We were all monsters. Our survival instinct kicked in and the need to live just as strong as it was for animals. Ivan counted on it. He used it against you, until you had to shut down every emotion or risk losing your mind with the consequences of your actions.

“What are you doing?” Sasha snuck up behind me. I was so out of it I didn’t even hear him approach. Not good.

“Nothing.”

“Looks like you are doing something,” he added nonchalantly. Was he chewing gum? He really liked to fuck with me using those taunting words. “Stalking, by the looks of it. Looks like you have a thing for the FBI agent.”

My jaw clenched. I loved Sasha but he was annoying as fuck. Loved to just talk out of his ass. Maybe I could pull his tongue out, so he’d be quiet for a year or two. Then I’d have it sewn back in. I knew how to preserve body parts. A sardonic breath left me.

Yes, I was a cruel motherfucker.

Fucking Ivan left more of a mark than he realized.

“Better get in her pants before she arrests you,” he continued smirking like the asshole he was. “Otherwise, I’ll bang her. Her girlfriends can join in too.”

My molars grounded. “Why are you here?”

“Looking for you.” He popped the gum in his mouth. I had to fight the urge to dig it out of his mouth and throw it off the building. Right along with him. “Bella wants you over for dinner. For some goddamn reason, she thought I had to deliver a verbal invitation.”

“Delivered,” I told him. “Now get lost.”

He chuckled like I uttered a joke. “I bet you’d like me to get lost so you can stalk that pretty little thing all by yourself.” God, I’d have to talk to Bella and warn her never to send Sasha to me. A fucking text would suffice.

When Sasha didn’t move, I narrowed my eyes on him.

He just shrugged and continued, “Bianca and her obsessive, crazy jealous husband are in New Orleans with their caravan of kiddos.” He popped another bubble with his gum and my fist tightened. “I kind of want to see if Bianca wants me to kill him. Or maybe if she wants a change of scenery so I could bang her.” I almost wished Sasha would try it so Morrelli would have him shot. He probably wouldn’t kill him, but he’d wound him so he could torture him for a long time for daring to touch his wife. And then there were Luca and Cassio - those two would kill him, revive him back to life, then kill him again. And repeat the process until the fucker would have to be saved by Vasili and I. “Anyhow, at least we know the food will be good. Bianca is cooking and that woman can cook. Bella can save lives, but her cooking puts people in the hospital.”

My lips twitched, as they always did when it came to my sister. I regularly didn’t smile. The scar on my lip made it look like a grimace, and it stung each time I moved my lips. But she was worth it. Since she entered my life, I felt the need to smile more. It scared me as much as it did Vasili to think of anyone in our world getting their hands on her. She was too soft.

Unlike Luciano’s wife or Cassio’s wife, Bella was too meek, too kind. Kind of like Nico’s wife, except I saw firsthand that Bianca Morrelli was capable of pulling the trigger.

But Sasha had a point about our sister. Bella’s cooking was mediocre. At best.

“So are you coming?” Sasha popped the gum again.

“If I say yes, will you get lost?” If not, I’d have to knock him out. I couldn’t handle his mouth today. Or ever, for that matter.

“Maybe.” He popped another bubble. I rose up to my full length. “Fine, fine. I’m getting lost,” he grumbled. “So yes for dinner?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, leaving you to your maniac stalking,” he muttered. “You are just as psycho as that fucking Morrelli.”

He was wrong. I was worse, but there was no sense in debating that shit with my brother. Sasha disappeared and my eyes returned to the dark-haired agent. Her brother said something and she threw her head back laughing so loud the sound traveled all the way to me.

I should find another woman for my plan. Going into the sex club with someone that made my blood run hotter than a volcano could harm us both if I lost my head. But my mind zeroed in on Aurora Ashford, and I knew it wouldn’t ease up.

She deserved to be part of ending Ivan’s life as much as I did.

I wouldn’t take that away from her.

ChapterEight

ALEXEI

Iwas the last one to arrive at Vasili's manor on the outskirts of New Orleans. He owned a hundred acres around it, affording him and his family privacy and protection. After the near death experience Isabella went through at Tatiana’s place a few years back, he bought extra land around his manor and padded the security with extra layers. Once Isabella told him she was pregnant, his protective instinct kicked into overdrive. Not that I could blame him.

I parked my Aston Martin, exited the car, and strode towards the back of the house. Hearing the tunes of Iggy Azalea travel through the air, I knew immediately Vasili let Isabella and Tatiana pick the music for the night. The fact I even knew it was Iggy Azalea was disturbing. I loved my sisters, but their taste in music fucking sucked.

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