Page 63 of Captured Solace

He ran his fingers over my ass, pressing it back against him. “You were perfect. The way you took me in your throat is going to replay in my head for the rest of my life, baby girl.”

“Well,” I said, shaking back my hair. “It doesn’t just have to replay.”

He growled against my neck. “Don’t tempt me to miss our reservation.”

I put on my new dress and Iris dropped by briefly to give me a beautiful jade necklace to go with it. Viktor behaved himself while I spoke with her in the doorway, but as soon as she was gone, he had his hands on me again. This time, he managed to restrain himself to kissing me deeply because it was getting late.

Viktor drove his sports car, which was apparently a custom build that he’d helped design, into the city. The restaurant sat at the top of a high-rise building and the walls and ceiling were made entirely of glass. Our table sat in a private corner where we had a spectacular view of the city on both sides.

I ordered three different wines to start and Viktor had a row of expensive vodka laid out before him. We drank until we were both warm and loose and the room was hazy. At some point the food came and we ate, although I only remembered that it was delicious. And I had a distinct memory of looking over at my husband, his pale eyes glittering above his glass, and feeling a sharp, hot longing in me that went beyond just the physical.

It was near midnight when we left the restaurant. I had my coat in my hand and the cold air bit my skin, sobering me a little. My husband took my hand as we waited on the curb for his bodyguard to arrive and drive the sports car home. His profile was a perfect shadow beneath the street lamp, as regal as if carved from stone.

“What is it?” I asked.

He looked down. “What?”

“You look serious.”

He shook his head, his eyes still hazy from drink. “I was just thinking about you.”

I leaned into him. “What about me?”

“That you look good. That I’d like to fuck you as soon as we’re home.”

Even in my drunken state, I could tell he was lying. His bodyguard appeared and took the keys and Viktor helped me into the back seat. Then he took my jaw and bent into the car and kissed my mouth. Slow and deep. He tasted of vodka and olives and something else I couldn’t place. I snaked my tongue out and flicked it across his lips, wanting more of him.

“Are you trying to get your pussy fucked on the side of the road?” he whispered.

I laughed, curling up in the seat. “Maybe.”

At that moment, his phone rang. He looked down at it and frowned. “Let me take this.”

Viktor said something to his bodyguard under his breath and the man nodded and stepped up onto the curb. He lit a cigarette and began pacing absently. Viktor put his phone to his ear and shut the doors, cutting off anything else he said.

I settled against the seat, pulling my coat over my knees. The car was warming, but there was still an icy chill to it. Leaning forward, I adjusted the heat and then froze as my eyes fell on the screen on the dashboard.

The car was still connected to Viktor’s phone and it was transcribing his conversation on the screen. It was a function I’d seen him use briefly on the drive up, but both times he’d quickly disconnected it. But he’d clearly not realized that his phone had automatically linked with the car and I could see his entire conversation.

I could tell which number was Viktor’s, but the other number was redacted. But it didn’t matter because as soon as I started reading, I already knew too much and I wished I could go back to blissful ignorance.

Viktor: We can’t do that, it’ll bring too much heat. I tested the waters, brought it up last night, and Lucien still doesn’t want a war with the Irish. At all. So we have to be incredibly careful with this.

Unknown number: Our man is willing to spend however long it takes to get in on their good side.

Viktor: We don’t have forever. I need those ports this summer, otherwise we’ve wasted an entire year.

Unknown: Better to waste a year than get in a war with the Irish and have Lucien refuse to honor his alliance.

Viktor: Lucien won’t refuse. We just have to make sure that our initial attack is untraceable to the Italians, but enough to antagonize the Irish into hitting us. If Lucien thinks they attacked us unprovoked, he’ll back us up.

Unknown: And your plan for that is?

Viktor: Let me call you tomorrow. I’m fucking drunk right now. Tell our man to sit tight for right now. No stupid moves, in fact no moves at all until I get back to South Carolina. Understood?

Unknown: Yes, sir. Hope these fucking ports are worth all this.

Viktor: They will be.

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