It was going to be a long night. Kole glanced at his watch and found it to be a little after one in the morning. He opened the kitchen door to allow Denis, Andre, and Vova to enter. According to Denis, they had found out some information.

Vova Ustinov was the Belotov Brigadier. He was in charge of a small group of men in the Belotov organization. These men were deep in the streets, and when hot information was floating around, they were usually the ones that would report it to Vova.

“Boss,” Vova greeted him with a nod as he entered the kitchen.

“Vova.” Kole nodded to him before shutting the door. “Let’s go in the breakfast nook.”

“Fresh coffee? Perfect,” Denis exclaimed as he grabbed a mug and poured himself some.

“It’s going to be a long night. Grab some coffee.” He motioned Andre and Vova over to the coffee pot. He grabbed his and Mila’s mugs before heading toward the breakfast nook.

His thoughts turned to their lovemaking and he couldn’t wait to send his men on so that they could continue what they’d started. He hadn’t even begun to get his fill of her. The taste of her still lingered on his lips and the sound of her screaming his name had his cock stirring. He willed it to settle down as he entered into the room.

“Here you go.” He handed her a mug and took a seat at the table next to her.

“Thank you,” she murmured in her native language.

“You’re welcome,” he replied in the same language.

“So, you speak Russian?” she asked with her eyebrow raised. It didn’t matter if she spoke English or Russian, her voice just did something for him. She could pick up a dictionary and read from it and his cock would get hard.

Since he never brought anyone to his home who wasn’t close to him, meant that he didn’t have random women’s clothes around. He had found her a pair of his old sweatpants that she had to roll up, and one of his old college T-shirts.

The little minx knew that she was sexy. The sight of her across from him with her dark hair flowing around her shoulders, had him wanting to snatch her off and carry her to his bedroom.

“But, of course. I may have been raised here in the States, but my parents stressed that I learn the language.”

He turned his attention to his men as they entered the room, and motioned for them to take a seat at the table.

“I’m sure you all know Mila Petrovna,” he announced. “Mila, you’ve already met Andre and Denis. This here is Vova, my brigadier.”

“Hello, boys.” She nodded before taking a sip of her coffee. The men returned the greeting before turning to him.

“What have you found out?” he demanded. All thoughts of sliding in between Mila’s legs again disappeared. If he couldn’t keep her safe, someone would kill her. Even though they were in rival organizations, tonight, everything had changed. Now that he’d gotten a taste of Mila Petrovna, she would be his, and no one touched what belonged to him.

“We found out, all right,” Vova announced. “According to word on the street, there was an attempt on Vladen Jaksch’s life tonight.”

“What the hell does that have to do with me?” Mila snapped. Kole held up his hand to calm her down. She had the reputation of being a hot head, and right now, the Tokhan brigadier was pissed.

“They’re saying that it was you,” Vova announced, his eyes meeting Mila’s. Kole’s eyes flew to her.

“If I had went after Vladen, it sure as hell wouldn’t have been an attempt,” she growled, slamming her fist down on the table. Kole’s cock jumped at her fierce nature. Down boy, he thought to himself. Nothing like having a raging erection while they discussed organization business. “He would be dead.”

“Well, be that as it may, you’re a wanted woman by the authorities and the Slokavich Bratva. Everyone is looking for you,” Denis said.

“There’s no way you can show your face right now,” Andre announced as he leaned back in his chair. “You’ll need to lay low until your brother and father can take care of this.”

“Was it the Slokavich that attacked at the hotel?” Kole asked.

Denis shook his head. “No. Apparently, Jaksch has put out a price on her head. They’re offering up two million dollars to bring her to them alive, and one if she’s dead, so lower gangs and thugs are making their play to capture her.”

“I need a phone.” Mila stood abruptly from the table. If looks could kill, they would all be dead. The men in the room eyed her wearily, knowing how dangerous she was. Kole nodded to Denis.

“You can use mine. It’s clean.” Denis handed her his cell phone.

“Thank you.” She paced near the window as she made her phone call. She broke off into rapid Russian with whoever she was speaking.

“Did anyone see her leave with me?” he asked, looking around.

“Not that we know of. One of my contacts with the police said that on the security video, once the smoke filled the room, she disappeared. Once the smoke cleared the room, she was nowhere to be seen,” Denis informed. Kole nodded, pleased. This would make it very easy for him to move her. No one would expect that she was with him.

“What evidence do they have?” he asked his men.

This was serious shit. The Slokavich and the Tokhan organizations were already known enemies. Anyone in the crime world would know that these were two of the largest rivals. An attempt on the boss would be a declaration of war between the two bratvas.

“From what they’re saying, hard evidence. Witness testimonies, fingerprints, and video proof,” Denis announced. Curses echoed around the room.

“All of that can be altered,” Kole announced. He held back a growl and knew that Mila was correct. Her reputation as that of a deadly woman who went after the pakhan of the Slokavich Bratva would have them planning a funeral.

“It sure as hell can be.” Mila walked back to the table, tossing Denis his phone. “I just spoke to my brother, and the Slokavich have officially declared war on us. There will be no going home for me now.”

“Denis, press on your contact and find out everything you can. I want to know what the police know,” Kole barked.

“Yes, boss,” Denis promised.

“Vova, I want your men to keep their ears to the streets. When Mila’s name is mentioned, I want to know about it,” he demanded, tapping his knuckles on the table. Her family may be handling clearing her name and dealing with the Slokavich, but Kole had been charged with keeping her safe, and that he would.

“We need to get you out of New York,” Kole announced. Her eyes flew to him. He knew that would be the best thing. Right now, things would be too hot. If law enforcement was involved, he was sure as hell that included the Feds. “I’ll do as your father asked of me, and we’ll leave tomorrow.”

* * *

Mila paced Kole’s bedroom. He could see that she was heated. He was surprised that steam wasn’t coming out of her ears.

“Attempt to kill someone? I’ve never missed a target, and I’m insulted that they would put it out there that I didn’t succeed on hitting a mark,” she muttered aloud, not knowing that he was standing in the doorway.

“Fuckers,” she muttered. He could see that her anger was building the longer she thought about it. “I have half a mind to leave now.”

“There’s nothing we can do now,” Kole announced from his position.

“Yes the fuck there is. I can go track down whoever started this shit and kill them with my bare hands. Slash them across the throat—”

“And that’s exactly what they would want you to do. We must keep our calm.” She turned and watched as he marched into the room. He came to stand in front of her and rubbed his hands along her arms.

“I’m good, Kole. The best. They would never see me coming,” she growled.

“That growl of yours is sexy as hell, and I know you’re the best. Your father entrusted you to me, and I will keep you safe. Even if I have to handcuff you to my bed.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” She glared at him with a look that he was sure would cause a regular man to tremble in his boots. Lucky for Kole, he was a man who was not easily intimidated.

“Oh, I would. I’m the best at what I do. Getting things moved undetected is my specialty. And yes, I would. I just happen to have a pair of handcuffs in my nightstand and I’m not afraid to use them. Matter of fact, I believe they’re brand new.”

“Handcuffs at the bedside? So, do all of your women like that kind of foreplay?” The glint in her eyes turned playful as she backed away from him.

He grinned on the inside, knowing that he had succeeded in changing her train of thought. He would have to keep her occupied for the rest of the night. There was nothing that they could do until tomorrow, when he could get to the shipping yard and make plans for moving her.

“Well, I’ll be the first to admit that when I have a beautiful woman in my company that I’m about to take to my bed, previous women are not the topic of discussion,” he murmured.

“That sounds fair,” she agreed. “Same here. The topic of my previous men is off-limits.”

“See, now that’s where we differ. Give me a list of the previous men who have had the pleasure of what you have between your thighs and I’ll go out and personally kill them myself,” he growled. Just the thought of someone else tasting her and taking pleasure in her was almost enough to throw him into a murderous rage.

“Oh no.” She shook her head, causing her dark curls to rest across her shoulders. “If I can’t go out and kill people tonight, you can’t either.”

“Is that so?” he murmured, pulling her back into his arms. Just the feel of her pressed up against him had him feeling things he didn’t know he could feel. Usually, once he had his fill of a woman he pursued, he would be done with her, no longer interested.

Not with Mila.

With her, he wanted forever. To claim her. Let everyone know that she belonged to him. He didn’t care that she was a member of a rival brotherhood. They could overcome that. After he carried out this favor for her father, it would get them off his back. The Tokhans and Belotov’s could become allies. He’d never bow down to another organization, but would be willing to work with the stronger organization as an equal.

“Well, if we can’t go out and murder each other’s past lovers, then what would you suggest we do for the rest of the evening?” Kole glanced at the clock on the bedside table. Four in the morning. They had a few hours before they would need to be at the shipping yard.

“I can think of quite a few things we could do that would include those handcuffs, but—” Her words were cut off by a massive yawn. It had been a long night, and with all the events that had transpired, he wasn’t surprised that she was crashing.

“No need to say anything else. Let’s get some sleep. We’ll have plenty of time to play with the handcuffs.”

He chuckled as he took her by the arm and led her to the bed. He pulled back the thick covers and patted the mattress. She shucked off the oversized sweatpants before climbing inside. He pulled the covers over her shoulders as her sleepy eyes locked on his.

“Kole,” she murmured, snuggling down in the pillows.

“Yeah?” he asked, turning out the light. They would have no worries on this night. His men would make sure that they could rest peacefully, and that the house would remain undisturbed.

“Thank you.”