Captive of the Hitman: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance Novel (29 page)

“Dimitri,” I whimper, and his arms tighten around me as if he instinctively knows what I need. That I want to feel his protection, that I want to know his strength.

“I got you,” he murmurs against my ear before biting it hard. “I was afraid I’d never see you again.”

I gulp, and he kisses down to the hollow of my neck, water pouring over his hair.

“I was so scared you’d come home tonight and see it was too late. Why were you home so early?”

“I’d just gotten back from the meeting with the lawyer and wanted to let you know how it went. When I saw the security guard knocked out, I worried it’d be you so I waited to see.”

“I’m so glad you did. I was so scared you wouldn’t find out until tonight...”

He suckled my clean skin in response, his hand running over my hips and ass, gentle so as not to hurt my bruised flesh.

How can he be so considerate and kind while still being so cold? There’s not a hint of regret on his face, or in his actions. He’s justified, vindicated, and just having me in his hands is enough.

“I’d never let them hurt you,” he murmurs into my flesh before he moves me, settling me onto the floor of the tub. The water pours over us like a warm rainfall, absolving us of our sins as his stiff erection prods my belly.

It’s cramped, but neither of us minds as he presses into me, making us one once more.

“Oh God,” I gasp, and he takes no time before thrusting into me harder, faster. There’s no teasing, no games, only our bodies meeting in a frenzy of need and desire. My legs wrap around him, slippery from the water, and I’m already so turned on that he meets no resistance.

It scares me how horny I am, how much I need this intimacy in the face of danger. Maybe that’s all it is. I nearly died, and now I need to feel alive. But deep down, I know it’s something more than that. Something I can’t bring myself to dwell on.

“I thought I almost lost you,” he growls, and I feel him swell within me. “I won’t let anyone take you from me, not ever!”

My head rests against the rim of the tub as he presses me forward, his grunts and groans echoing off the walls of the shower. The erotic sounds fill my ears, my senses overcome with arousal.

“Dimitri!” I whimper as his hand goes to my breast, rubbing my nipple until it's stiff before pinching and tugging it.

The pain excites me, and I scream louder, the sound reverberating through me.

And when we’re finally left in a writhing, pleasured mess, and cold water is pounding down on us, I finally feel that clarity I’ve been seeking. That I can accept him, for who he is. For the risks it brings me, for the anxiety and fear.

I belong with him.

Grinning, he helps me up, his skin covered in goosebumps from the chilly water, and he wraps his large arms around me.

The knock at the door startles us out of our pleasant afterglow.

“Sarah, you almost done in there? I gotta pee.” Joanna’s voice sounds strained, on the brink of a giggle fit, and I blush brilliantly.

“Y-yea! Just a second.”

I glance at Dimitri as I step out of the tub, and his dark eyes twinkle with devious delight. I toss him a towel before wrapping myself in one as well, picking up our blood stained clothes.

“Sorry,” I mutter as I open the door, my face still burning with embarrassment. “Figured you were at work.”

“Yea, but I come home for lunch, remember?” She pushes past me, though not before looking Dimitri up and down, the towel slung around his hips not leaving much to the imagination. He bows his head before he follows after me, back into the privacy of my bedroom.

“Well, that was embarrassing...”

“Why?” Dimitri asks, shutting the door behind us.

“She probably heard everything.”

He shrugs his heavy shoulders.

“Not the worst thing we could have been caught doing today.”

“Yea... Fuck, you warned me. I can’t say you didn’t.”

“No, you can’t.”

“I knew I should have just walked away, like, a million times. But after I saw you at the cafe, and realized you were involved with Slava again...”

For some reason, that makes him pause.

“The cafe... That day you followed me, in the rain?”

“Yea. I mean, I saw that Slava was calling you again, and I had a bad feeling. When I saw him go into the cafe after you left, I figured out that the owner must be an intermediary and I just got really worried about what you two are into. I guess for good reason,” I say with a sigh, grabbing a simple t-shirt from my dresser. “I don’t have a change of clothes for y—.”

I can’t finish my sentence as his heavy hand bears down on my shoulder and he spins me to look at him.

“Sarah, you’re telling me you saw Slava go into that building?”

His tone makes my blood run cold.

“Yes. Just after you left. I figured it was a drop site.”

His jaw tenses.

“You took pictures of this?”

“Yea...”

“And you’re absolutely positive it was him? It couldn’t have been anyone else?”

“No. I mean, I don’t think so. I remember him really well, Dimitri. He was always over at the house.”

He sucks air through his teeth, his face reddening.

“What’s wrong?”

“Slava isn’t supposed to have anything to do with that cafe. That is my contact for doing what I do. He’s not even supposed to know it exists.”

“But... what does that mean?”

“No one is to have contact with the
Kassir
but for the
Avtoritet
, hm? But he was a family friend. My father and mother go way back with him, and he always took care of us. So I take care of him, on top of what I give to the
Avtoritet
. Slava isn’t even to know he exists.”

“What would Slava want with him?”

“He handles all the money. If Slava was going to him and I didn’t hear about it...”

“Dimitri... that was right before we found out Rebecca was killed. Only an hour or two had passed before we got the call.”

Dimitri’s face hardens into stone, his body rippling with muscles, hidden only by the towel still at his waist.

“It was Slava’s guys that had you. I thought maybe Slava was tailing me again, and that’s how they knew you were there that night. That capturing you was revenge for you spying. But if he’s going behind my back...”

“We need to find him and stop him, Dimitri! If he killed Rebecca and tried to have me killed...”

He nods, grabbing for his phone.

“We need to get back to my place. Now.”

H
is condo looks even worse
than I anticipated. Apparently I’d done some real damage when I was captured. Worse still is the now stale smell of breakfast that reminds me how I still haven’t eaten.

Dimitri’s talking on his phone in Russian, and getting angrier by the second as he starts throwing clothes into a suitcase.

I grab a bag to start packing my own stuff, but he puts a hand on it and shakes his head no before motioning me out of the room. I’m too exhausted and hungry to put up a fight, so I grab something from the fridge, eating quickly to calm my gnawing hunger.

I don’t know how long it is before he comes out of the room, but he looks angry as hell, and I can’t help but cringe a little from his rage.

“Slava’s gone. He knows he fucked up, and he’s on the run.”

“Well that’s good, isn’t it? I mean, if he’s not here to cause us more trouble...”

“He won’t stop. Once he’s set his sight on something, that’s it, Sarah. I have to go after him.”

I knew it was coming but it still stings.

“Dimitri, you can’t.”

“Yes, Sarah, I can, and I will. I don’t have time to argue with you. I have to head to the airport.”

“Let me come with you.”

His hands ball into fists and he stares at me.

“If you’re there, I’m just going to be worried about you the entire time.”

“And if I’m here, alone, surrounded by the mob? We don’t know who’s on his side, Dimitri!”

That makes him stop for a second, so I keep going.

“I know he’s not going to stop. I saw you, that night. After dad died, and you and Slava went to punish Anton. You took the truck for some reason, and I was in the back, sleeping. I know what he’s capable of. I know what
you’re
capable of. But I’m still here.”

“
Bozhe moi
,” he curses that now familiar saying, and he takes a few steps towards me. For a second, I’m afraid of what he’s going to do now that he knows my secret, but instead he simply nods.

“Fine. Go. Pack. I’m not leaving you here unprotected, and I don’t know who Slava’s polluted with his corruption.”

I move quickly to the bedroom and he barks orders behind me.

“Dress light, but bring some black with you. Your camera too, with the biggest lens you have. We’re going to have to play this careful. He’s being unpredictable. I’ve never known him to run from a fight before.”

I nod, tossing everything I can into a bag.

“So where’s he going?”

“Cyprus. He has friends there. Friends that will hide him.”

R
ebecca had
a vacation home in Cyprus, though to call it a vacation home is an understatement. The modern villa has a beach lounge, a spa, and a Presidential Suite to die for. I’ve only been here once before on a family vacation, but now it all seems so different.

When I was a kid, it was just another place, and I complained about the morning sun waking me up. Now I’m taken aback by the luxury and the ostentatious interior.

But this is not a vacation, and the tension in the air infects even the most beautiful and lavish of rooms. Dimitri has been pacing since we arrived, calling his local contacts and trying to find Slava without Slava knowing. It’s harder than I anticipated, and way more boring.

I’ve done a few stakeouts on my own, but it doesn’t feel right, being in such a beautiful place and not being able to enjoy it.

Dimitri comes out of the room, giving me a half-hearted smile before he joins me on the couch.

“This is going to take some time. He’s likely deep in hiding now.”

I nod. “Sure, Dimitri. So what do we do now?”

“I have some money in the bank here. I’d like to give it to you to tide you over before your trust kicks in. It’s untraceable.”

“Dimitri, you don’t have to...”

“I know. But no one knows of these accounts, and if something happens to me, I don’t want the money to disappear into banker’s pockets.”

My lip quivers, but I nod. It’s a distraction, and that’s what we need. We landed hours ago and have gotten nothing accomplished. All we know is that Slava landed at Nicosia Airport just ahead of us, and he’s likely in Limassol. Apparently that’s where most of the Russian Mafia has property.

“Fine, but can we grab dinner out?”

His expression softens and he nods.

“Of course, Sarah. I’d give you everything if I could. Anything that you want. And once Slava is taken care of, then we will be free, and mother will be vindicated.”

“You’re sure it was Slava that killed her?”

“
Da
. I had a feeling things had gotten strange between them, but had no idea why. The accountant, he had said some things that raised my suspicions, but I had no proof until you told me what you’d seen.”

“I’m really sorry. I know you two were close.”

“We were. But no one lays a hand on what’s mine without paying for it,” he says, reaching across and caressing my cheek with the back of his hand. “He will pay with his life for scaring you.”

I bite in on my lower lip and Dimitri’s head tilts, his gaze trailing over my face before he stands.

“We will talk more about this tonight,” he says before helping me up from the couch. “For now, go get changed, and we’ll go to dinner as if this the romantic date I owe you.”

His mouth presses against mine, briefly, and though there’s still so much to say, I go and get changed.

* * *

T
he sky is
a brilliant navy blue, the moon peeking up from the horizon, and the coolness of evening meets the heat of the day. The restaurant Dimitri takes me to is gorgeous, and we’re sat outside, fragrant flowers illuminated under sparkling lights.

The last twenty four hours has been terrifying, and there’s been a knot of tension in my stomach ever since, but as I let the warm, Cyprus air caress me, I start to feel like a human again.

Dimitri’s dressed in a white button-down shirt, and he looks almost as good in clothes as he does naked. Almost. The shirt still strains against his muscles, and his smile twinkles to his eyes.

“I was expecting we’d do this back in the city, but this is even nicer,” he says, relaxing back in his chair. “I will have to thank Slava for that one thing.”

The fact that he’s speaking so casually about a man he’s planning on killing disarms me, but I’m not repulsed by it. I should be, but I’m not.

It feels so wrong that it doesn’t feel wrong.

I cross my legs and Dimitri leans in, his eyes sparkling. Our dishes are cleared away and we’re just waiting on our dessert. Everything is so terrible and perfect all at once.

Sure, if you can ignore Dimitri’s involvement in the Russian Mafia, and pretend you’re both on vacation rather than planning to kill someone, life’s wonderful
, my brain sarcastically muses.

But when Dimitri reaches into his pocket, and takes out a small, black, velvet box, my thoughts go silent. It feels like the world has stopped, the conversations at the nearby tables fading into the background. Everything has grown quiet and slow.

When he opens the box and reveals the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen, my heart stops.

“I know this is sudden, but the second you walked back into my life, I knew that was it for me. I wanted to do this last night, but I can’t think of a more perfect place to ask. Sarah, will you be mine?”

Tears flood my cheeks, all of the tension and stress washed away with the tenderness of his words. The beautiful stone catches the light, little diamonds surrounding the blue sapphire. I reach out, my fingertips grazing over it, and never have I wanted something — someone — so bad.

“Dimitri, of course!” I cry out, nearly knocking the table over as I lunge towards him, my arms wrapping around his neck.

He laughs, picking me up and holding me to his chest as his mouth moves against mine. The restaurant bursts into applause, and I don’t even care that they’re all watching as we make out. I’m going to get married! To Dimitri!

He lifts me up, spinning me around, and I’ve never seen him look so damn happy in my life. We’re reduced to giggling, giddy messes, and when the waiter returns, it’s with a bottle of wine and the most delectable pastries.

Dimitri settles me back on the ground, putting the ring on my finger, and for the rest of the meal, all I can think of is getting him back to the villa and really celebrating.

* * *

“
I
called in a favor
,” Dimitri explains to me as a tired looking banker unlocks the building.

It’s already after ten, and even with the jetlag, I’m buzzed. Excitement courses through my veins along with the wine, and I can’t stand still.

Dimitri laughs, putting his hand on my hip before kissing me.

“Calm down. We’ll be home soon,” he says with a smile. But when he stands up and looks over my shoulder, his entire demeanor changes. What he sees literally sobers him, and before I know what’s happening, he sets off running.

Just like that our moment of peace, our brief little fantasy of being a normal couple, vanishes.

“Dimitri!” I cry out in surprise. When I spin around I see Dimitri in fast pursuit of Slava. The dark, narrow streets don’t give either of them much leeway.

“Where’s he going?” asks the banker.

“Wait here!” I shout as I take off my high heels and sprint in their direction.

Dimitri reaches for the back of his pants, grasping his gun.

I’m behind them though, and I can barely catch a glimpse of the two sprinting men. Dimitri’s almost as fast as he is strong, after all, but Slava is fueled with terror.

Dimitri’s gun is out as his legs pump, but he can’t get a clear shot. Every time he’s lining it up, Slava darts down another turn. It’s frustrating for me just to watch, but I know it’s too dangerous to risk a shot. We’re in another country, and we don’t know the place, what if a stray bullet hits someone?

Slava runs out of the alleyway and into the streets, and though the hour was late the night crowd was out. Dimitri has to lower his gun, hide it in his jacket as he pushes past the people. One woman on a bike nearly crashes into Dimitri, but he dodges out of the way in time, while Slava is hit by her riding companion who goes toppling into the road.

It isn’t enough to stop Slava though, and he scrambles up and across the street onto the sidewalk.

The chase carries on, and I have to make my way across the street to horns honking angrily at me. Luckily the two men created enough commotion that it’s stalled traffic so I can get by safely.

Slava shoves a man down so that Dimitri has to leap over him, and Dimitri is clearly losing his patience as he hauls his gun back out. Slava dashes down into an alleyway again before he can use it.

It takes me a few moments more before I can get there, but once I do I arrive in time to see Slava encounter two people in the alleyway. It’s a cop and some criminal he’s arresting, but instead of calling for help, Slava grabs the officer, slams his face to the wall, seeming to knock him out as he pulls the gun from the cop’s holster.

Dimitri acts fast though and fires. Screams fill the night as people hear the gunshot, and then Slava cries out in pain.

Slava’s gun clatters to the ground and he turns to run again. Dimitri fires once more, but Slava’s gait is uneven and the shot misses, instead hitting the cement wall.

Dimitri’s closing in on him, running past the cowering crook and the battered officer and back out into the streets after Slava. It’s no longer safe to shoot but he’s nearly got him as Slava’s pace slows while cradling his wounded, bleeding arm.

He’s just a few paces away, but then as Slava rushes into the streets a bus barrels past, kicking up dirt and dust.

Dimitri comes to an abrupt halt, narrowly avoiding crashing into the vehicle. But it’s not the last; two more busses pouring out of the shopping center all at once come by, and Dimitri is fuming. His gun is tucked into his coat, hand still grasping it, but even as I get beside him, neither of us can see any sign of Slava in the brief glimpses between the busses.

When finally they’re gone, we’re left standing, facing an empty side of the street. I can barely catch my breath, my hand going to Dimitri’s arm.

“Wait,” I say, “the blood trail!” It’s dark, with only the street lights to guide us, but with some effort I can see the dark blood in the moonlight.

Dimitri’s beside me, vigilant as I look at the inky-black droplets of blood on the pavement and then sidewalk. We follow it across the road until…

It just stops.

“Dammit!” Dimitri curses as we trace the blood off the sidewalk, where it just ends in the road, as if he’d climbed aboard a car and disappeared.

I slump, defeated, before looking up at Dimitri.

“He knows we’re here now,” he says with a sneer. “We need to find out where he’s staying.”

A lightbulb goes off in my head. Joanna might be just the woman to help.