Nikolai: Mine to Protect (Russian Mob Chronicles #4)

Several hours later, Justine enters my office on the heel of Roman. He’s slimmer than he was six months ago, which is how much time he took off to recover from the gunshot wound Vladimir inflicted upon him.

If Roman’s warning glance isn’t an indication that I’m in trouble, the fury in Justine’s eyes is a sure-fire sign. “Ten men, Nikolai! Seriously? If that isn’t already absurd, when Landon questioned their unannounced arrival, he had a gun drawn on him.”

My eyes shoot to Roman’s during the last half of Justine statement. He shrugs, aware of the heavy tactics of my men when protecting my realm, but he’s not willing to take sides in what he knows will be a mammoth battle. It’s a smart move on his behalf. Only a stupid man would place himself between a battling king and queen.

Rounding my desk, Justine brings herself close enough to me I can smell her skin, but not close enough she’s within touching distance. If it didn’t frustrate the hell out of me, I would commend her on her bravery.

Locking her eyes with mine, she huffs. “You said we were taking men with us when we traveled; you never mentioned anything about sending a crew to my home before us.”

“They need to sweep the area to ensure it is safe before you arrive. I will not have you enter an arena unprepared.”

The protectiveness in my voice halts Justine’s campaign for barely a second. “It’s not a fight arena, Nikolai. It’s my family home. I’ll be as safe there as I am here.”

When I pardon Roman from our conversation with a flick of my wrist, Justine slices her hand in the air, demanding for him to stay with as many words as I used to dismiss him. She is as clever as she is beautiful. She knows she doesn’t stand a chance against me in general, much less when we are the only two people in the room, but it doesn’t lessen my agitation in the slightest.

Roman’s almost black eyes bounce between Justine and me as he contemplates whose demand to follow. If it were any other woman but Justine standing across from me, he’d pay for his indecisiveness with his life. Luckily for him, he’s aware Justine rules this sanction alongside me, not three paces behind me.

‘I said no holds barred, Ahren,” I mutter in Russian, conscious Roman isn’t bilingual like Justine and me. “I would have never agreed if I knew it was under the guise of less security.”

Justine splays her hands across her cocked hips. “You didn’t agree because I said I’d bow to your every whim. You did it because I suck your cock better than any woman before me.”

I take note to look further into Roman’s claims of only speaking one language when he chokes on his spit. Justine didn’t say her comment in English; she replied to me in Russian.

Missing the signs of treachery flashing in Roman’s eyes, Justine takes a step closer to me. Bad move—now she’s within touching distance.

Before a protest can squeak from her lips, I seize her wrist and pull her into my lap. The slow thrusts of her chest double when I press my lips to the shell of her ear and growl, “I wanted to send thirty men; Roman suggested I knock it down to ten. I don’t compromise, Ahren, but I did for you. Don’t make me regret my decision.”

This time, when I demand for Roman to leave, Justine lets him go. The needs of her body are overruling both her heart and her head.

The instant Roman closes my office door, Justine’s lips twitch. Although confident nothing but lust is on her mind, I press my finger to my mouth just in case. This needs to be said before I too become lost in a substance more potent than any drug I’ve ever sampled.

“The man who drew a gun on your brother will pay for his stupidity. You name the punishment, and I’ll ensure it’s handed to him, but I will not remove my men from their posts. They are there for a reason. If you want to protect your family as fiercely as I’ll forever protect you, this needs to happen. We’re stepping out of my territory, Ahren, meaning we must remain vigilant.”

She breathes out noisily before dipping her chin in defeat. She’s well aware that my pledge of protection doesn’t stop at her. It includes anyone important to her. My oath to guard her is the only reason Carmichael didn’t perish by my blade the past year. He’s an insolent, foolish man, but Justine also considers him a friend—regrettably.

“Now go and pack. We leave in thirty minutes.”

My voice is more commanding than the one I generally use on her, but with my worry rising, so is my impatience. I trust my team; they are stronger and more ruthless than they’ve ever been, but that doesn’t mean I can relax. With a chunk of my crew following our expedition to Hopeton, my empire will be left open for infiltration.

Unfortunately, that isn’t my greatest worry.

My undogged reputation is notorious in my industry, but a new fool is born every hour. They’ll be quick to jump if they believe they have a chance of succeeding me, but they’ll discover just as quickly what happens when you provoke me. My skin won’t be the only thing I’ll shed if they put my ahren at risk. Bucket loads of blood will be shed along with it.

My tightened jaw slackens when Justine presses her lips to mine. Her kiss is only a peck, but it wipes the worry from my gut as quickly as it raises my cock. Only she can free me from the turmoil I’ve lived in since birth. When I am with her, nothing but her matters. Not a single fucking thing.

Justine pulls back from our embrace by standing to her feet after sensing my swift change in composure. Ignoring the growl quickening her pulse, she makes a beeline for the door. She’s halfway across the room before she abruptly stops then spins around to face me.

Although she doesn’t speak, I can hear the words her mouth is failing to produce. She doesn’t want the man responsible for scaring her brother punished, but she’s not letting him off scot-free either. She’s merely giving him a chance to prove himself, her wish to see the good in everyone awarding him mercy he’d never see from me.

I’ve executed men for less, but that’s not how queens garner respect. Justine will gain his honor, and he’ll serve her all the better for it.

“He won’t disappoint you again, Ahren. I’ll make sure of it.”

My cock hardens to the point it is painful when Justine mutters, “If he does, I’ll serve him his punishment directly.”

My chest swells with savage pride. There she is. My queen is on her throne, ready to rule our empire alongside me.

God forbid any man who dares cross her.