Page 99 of The Mistake

“Merry Christmas, Charlotte.”

Hearing my name from his lips in the early days had been so very weird, but now, it felt right. It felt good. My name wasn’t Lottie. It was Charlotte. Charlotte Yahontov.

“Are you enjoying your morning?”

“I got to unwrap and fuck you,so it’s been a very good morning.”

“Ive, there’s no way we can share this with the kids, or anyone with you saying nasty things like that.”

He laughed. “Fine, you can edit that part out just for your enjoyment. Hello, future kids, we’re being nice and playing nice. Your aunty Cassie is coming over later, and I have no intention of embarrassing your mother so I can fuck her wherever I want.”

“Ive!” But I was too busy laughing. I just couldn’t help it.

I saw the button that said“photo” and I pressed it, taking one of my husband. He gave me a wink and I chuckled as I closed it up and put it to one side. Ive had gotten me a photo album for me to print my pictures and to start making memories. I loved this.

Any images my father had of me, or if anyone ever had them,were torn up and burned. Even the ones Cassie took. He didn’t want any memory of me at all.

I wasnot going to cry. I was going to keep my shit together today. For Ive, he was a hard man to pick presents for, so I had gotten him some socks, a new wallet, and a new jacket. I’d also gotten him a couple of picture frames and a locket. Inside the locket, there was a picture of me and him on our wedding day. The photographs from that day had arrived. I’d been surprised to see a couple where I’d actually smiled.

“I love this,” he said, sliding the locket around his neck and putting it on.

With presents done, Michael was waiting for breakfast. As it was Christmas morning, we got pancakes, and I loaded mine up with syrup. Dinner was not turkey for today, but roast beef. I’d asked Ive what he wanted for Christmas lunch, and he’d chosen beef, so that’s exactly what he’d gotten.

I didn’t mind as I’d eat pretty much anything on offer.

Cassie arrived with Vlad at around lunchtime.Michael came out of the kitchen with a couple of mimosas, and Ive refused to allow me to have one. In fact, since he took me out on Halloween night, I’d been banned from all kinds of drink. I couldn’t blame him as I clearly couldn’t handle alcohol as I’d ended up vomiting everywhere and that hadn’t been a pretty picture. Far from it.

Ivan surprised us by arriving just before dinner. Hecame alone this time, but it was nice to have him there. Around our table was me and Ive, Cassie, Hubert, Michael, Vlad, and Ivan. Most of the staff refused to sit with us, and I was happy with that, providing they were as well. I didn’t argue with anyone.

After dinner, we had some Christmas cake,which Michael had made a few months ago, and it was so good. I loved it.

I loved Christmas just as much as I’d loved Thanksgiving and Halloween.

With Ive. Always with him. There was nothing I wanted more than to spend time with him every single chance I got.

I didn’t even mind going and staying at the penthouse suite anymore. I found ways to occupy my mind. Mainly I explored with Hubert as I didn’t have to stay at the penthouse suite. I knew it wasn’t just Hubert that followed me. There were other men in Ive’s employ who watched over me, making sure nothing bad happened. I’d never felt safer than I did right now.

Chapter Twenty-One

Ive

Valentine’s Day

“Shouldn’t you be taking your wife out?” Ivan asked.

I slammed my fist against my prisoner’s face and stepped back. I’d not had to interrogate someone in nearly three weeks, but this man had been caught sneaking around one of my nightclubs.

He had the ink that declared him one of the cartel’s but the fucker wasn’t talking. Yes, I was supposed to be taking my woman out to dinner tonight, and afterward, I planned to take her back to our penthouse suite and spend the night between her thighs. All I wanted to do was fuck her.

She’djust finished her menstrual cycle so for the past week, I’d gone without, just holding her in my arms and rubbing her stomach. I’d heard women experienced pain, but Charlotte never complained about pain.

“I am.”

Ivan had come and gone out of my territory over the past few months. He didn’t have any new information for me. After he crashed my Christmas, I’d not seen him until the first week of January. Then he’d gone again, only to arrive today as I was intent on dealing with this man.

Charlotte adored him. My wife and Ivan had become quite good friends. I saw it every time they were in the same room together and I had to wonder what it was about Charlotte that Ivan liked.

“I wouldn’t bust up your knuckles too much,” Ivan said.

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