Page 33 of Den of Thieves

“Not all of us have the reach you do,” another added.

“But none of you are broke, either. Send them someplace safe and tell no one. Anyone wanting their wives to stay in Russia, hang back after the meeting. The only thing we can do for Luka now is to kill every motherfucker that dared to mess with the fucking Bratva.” Vladimir scrubbed a hand over his face in frustration as most of the men shuffled out.

“Dimitri, take whoever you need, but find out who the fuck this Osvo is so I can rid this earth of his filth once and for all.”

**

Vladimir returned home, exhausted, and mentally drained from today. Watching a man, he’d known since childhood die was hard. It wasn’t the first time someone he loved died before him and it wouldn’t be the last. That didn’t mean it got any easier.

All he wanted to do was curl up in bed with his wife and let her essence calm his stressed mind. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t happen without a round or two of angry sex. Maybe not even then.

“No. I’m not fucking leaving Vladimir!”

Definitely not getting a cuddle tonight. He winced, regretting the ‘rip the band aid off’ method of delivering bad news. He should have known telling her to pack a bag was going to lead to anything but quiet submission.

“This is not up for discussion!” he yelled back. Fuck, he wanted to remain calm and even keeled. Could she not see that he was doing this to protect her?

Karina looked at him which such fire in her brown eyes he didn’t know if she wanted to punch him or fuck him. He knew which one he preferred and tried a softer approach.

“Did you honestly think I would send the children away and not you?”

She gasped and some of that fire dissipated. “You need me Vladimir. I can help. Who better to have by your side when shit hits the fan?”

Vladimir loved her protectiveness, but with Sophi and Luka’s death still so fresh in his mind, there was no way in hell he was letting anything happen to her. Vladimir stood to his full height and spoke with an authority that left no room for negotiation.

“You either stay with the women at the safe house or you go to a private resort in Switzerland. Those are your only two options.”

“For how long?” Karina pressed on his shoulders until he sat back down and climbed onto his lap. He sighed as she pushed those wonderful gloves of flesh against him and wound her hips against his hardening shaft.

“As long as it takes!” He barked, quelling her movements.

He refused to be seduced at a time like this. Little Vladimir did not listen. His big head ignored the rush of blood to his lower one. There was a time and a place.

Granted, so far, his marriage operated on anytime, anyplace when it came to pleasing his wife. This time Karina’s magic pussy would not sway him on this matter.

“Fine. Since you seem so deadest on getting rid of me, I go where AK goes,” she huffed, climbing off of him.

Vladimir watched as she walked to the bathroom and slammed the door shut. He walked over to it and found it locked. He would not spend their last night together angry and with blue balls.

He found a letter opener and paper clip from a drawer on his side table. It didn’t take much fiddling until the door opened. Karina was already in the shower, and he wasted no time joining her.

“The lock meant I didn’t want to see you,” she said, turning away from him.

“Then close your eyes.”

Karina ignored him, pouring soap on her sponge and squeezing it until suds formed. Vladimir gently took it from her hands and signaled for her to hold her arms out.

“An old friend died today.”

She looked up at him, a thousand questions in her eyes, but said nothing.

“He died saving his wife.” The loofah slid over her breasts that bounced at her intake of breath.

“He would not listen to reason or wait for help to arrive.” He let the sponge dip over her stomach and trail lower.

“I wanted to yell and curse. Berate Luka for his stupidness. Then I saw the way he held his wife in his arms one last time. I knew I would eagerly lose more than this war if something happened to you.”

“Vlad.” Karina moaned when he pulled back and let the water wash the suds away.

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