Vittoria
With guilt gnawing at me, I sit down at breakfast with Ivan. I have practiced this speech in my head over and over again. I need to do this.
“Is something the matter?” he asks me as we tuck into our eggs.
I smile at him. “I miss going to the public library. I know we have so many books here, but it’s non-fiction I’m after.”
“Why don’t you go this morning, then?” Ivan asks as I hoped he would.
I nod. “I think I will go this morning and get something light to read in the non-fiction section.”
With that, we settle into our comfortable silence as we eat. Ivan doesn’t seem to sense anything else is off with me though I worry he’ll send Aleks with me. However, after breakfast, he simply gives me a soft kiss before I leave.
I ask the driver to take me to the public library, and I sit back and relax. The hard part at this point is over, convincing Ivan I wanted to go to the public library. Technically speaking, that’s exactly where I want to be, but for nefarious reasons that are building a guilty feeling within me.
The driver finds parking a block away, and I walk toward the library, trying to appear casual, just in case anyone is following me. I can’t just go in, get a book, do what I need to, and leave. I need to make out as though I am actually enjoying myself there. Whoever sees me must think I’m a regular person browsing for books.
I walk through the doors and look around. I find the non-fiction section quickly but take my time running my hands over titles. Every so often, I pull one off the shelf and browse through it as though I’m interested in its contents. I actually would like to check out some psych books while I’m here.
I move to that section and slowly browse the books, glancing around now and then to ensure no one is watching me. I move deeper into the section where it is harder to see me. I quickly skim through the books before I find the one I am looking for.
I open it to page one hundred and twenty-seven, slip a folded letter into the pages, shut it, and put it back. The letter details to Alessandro what he should be negotiating for and what he should make look appealing to Ivan. I want to do right by my family and focus on the fact that my father’s still in hospital in a coma to squash the guilt building in me. There’s a part of me that wants to do right by Ivan as well. It’s a strong feeling, one that doesn’t want to betray him. It’s the part of me that feels safe resting in his arms at night. Who enjoyed the feel of his hard dick stretching me out.
I move to the more modern section on psychology and pick three books. I checked the time; it was almost noon. I’ve been here long enough.
When my phone rings, I jump slightly and look apologetically at the librarian, who is sternly gazing at me over her glasses. I answer quietly,
“Hello?”
“It’s me,” Ivan says. “I want to meet for lunch at the restaurant if you’re done.”
“Yeah, I found some good books to read. I’ll be there soon,” I say before hanging up.
I check out the books with a different librarian, pack them into the book bag I brought, and then leave the library. I go to the driver and asked him to take me to the restaurant. We’re not far away, so when I get there, there’s no sign of Ivan.
A beautiful hostess comes to me. “Mrs. Volkov?”
“Yes, that’s me,” I say, feeling terribly awkward, everyone treats me like I’m so special here.
“This way, Mr. Volkov will be here soon. He is stuck in traffic.” She leads me to the private booth and sits me down. “Your waitress will bring you a glass of water and take your drinks order shortly.”
“Thank you,” I say and then look at her curiously. “How do you say thank you in Russian?”
“Spasibo,” she pronounces it slowly for me.
“Spasibo,” I say with a grin. She gives me a warm smile and walks off to seat other guests.
I’m just settled when Leonid, of all people, sits opposite me. I instantly tense up.
Leonid looks at me for a moment, then he laces his fingers in front of him, “You and I both know you’re going to betray Ivan, why not let me make it easier and help you.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing, I sit back nervous and can feel a blush creeping up my face as I answer him, “I’m not planning on betraying Ivan, you’re mistaken. Perhaps he should know about this conversation?”
“It was just a test,” he chuckles darkly before taking out his gun and placing on the table, “Of course, if you don’t think so and decide to run to Ivan with any misgivings, you may not find yourself breathing for much longer.”
I swallow hard, “Understood.” When he looks up sharply, I glance behind me and see Ivan walking in. Leonid gets up, puts his gun away, gives me a disgusted look, and leaves. Ivan sits down and smiles. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”
“Not at all,” I say with a genuine smile.
“So, what did you check out at the library?” he asks.
A small part of me is nervous that he knows what I did, but I shake my head. “Just some books on psychology. I’ve always been interested in how the brain works.” I take them out to show them to him then I put them back in the book bag.
“Interesting, you’ll have to teach me some new things,” he smiles.
After lunch, we head back to the apartment.
“Where’s Ana?” I ask, setting my things down.
Ivan hangs up his jacket. “She’s gone out with friends. That child is a socialite and doesn’t sit still.”
“She’s sweet and very kind,” I say without thinking. Ivan pauses and then comes over to me. “You know, we’ll be alone for the rest of the day.”
I grin. “Really? Whatever will we do with our time.”
“I have an idea,” he says softly, kissing me, his hands coming up to play with my breasts.
“Ivan,” I breathe, “what if a guard walks in.”
“They’ll walk right back out again,” he says teasingly.
I’m hesitant, this is all so new to me, and his smiles and soft touch catch me off guard, this man is a monster and a killer, but I like to touch his body. I think back to my college days and how girls would talk about what they did with their boyfriends. I reach down and cup his crotch, massaging it gently.
He closes his eyes. “Are we getting over our shyness?” “I just want to please you,” I say softly.
I rub his dick until I feel it get hard in his pants. “I’ve never… I want to….” I fumble over my words. “I know men like blowjobs.”
He chuckles and starts to undo his pants. “Is that what you want to do?”
I nod, looking down, but he tilts my face up. “You have to look me in the eyes while you suck my cock.”
I nod and slowly sink to my knees. I swallow hard as Ivan holds his cock out. “Lick the tip.”
I do as I’m told, swirling my tongue around it. He groans, letting me know I’m doing a good job.
I cover the head with my mouth and suck softly, and I feel his fingers grip my hair as he mutters, “Move it in and out of your mouth as you suck it.”
I do as I’m told again, trying to fit as much of his cock in my mouth as I can without gagging. He holds my head, so he’s in quite far, and holds me there. I breathe heavily through my nose and tilt my head to look up at him. His lust-filled eyes are gazing down at me, half closed in pleasure. Then he starts to rock his hips back and forth, sliding his cock in and out my mouth. I stick my tongue out, thinking it might be easier. He groans and moves his hips harder, going a bit deeper and causing me to gag. Suddenly he thrusts deep into my throat, and I choke slightly. He holds me there until I think I’m going to suffocate, then pulls out.
I won’t lie; the roughness has my panties wet in anticipation. He holds out his hand, and I take it. He pulls me up and walks me over to the dining room table. He turns me around and bends me over it. Shaking with excitement, I prop myself on the table. I feel him pull my pants down, and then he moves my thong to the side, rubbing the wet tip of his dripping cock around my entrance.
I whimper softly and try to back onto it, but he holds my hips in place. He sweeps my leg with his foot, and suddenly my legs are wider apart, and my top half is flat against the table. He puts a hand on my back, keeping me there as he pushes his cock deep inside me, this time a little faster than the last. I groan out and pant slightly, rocking my hips.
“You…” he says, “your body belongs to me. Say it.”
“I belong to you,” I whimper out. “Please…”
He pushes into me deeply, and I cry out in pleasure. He starts pumping his hips, and I slowly feel the tension building up inside me. He’s moving roughly this time, but I’m enjoying the pain and pleasure mixed. When his hand leaves me, I lift myself slightly and pull my top off. He reaches around me and cups my breasts as I pull my bra down. The angle he’s hitting inside me is so pleasurable that I’m already sweating from trying to hold back.
He pulls out slowly and then slams into me, lifting me a little each time. And when he does, the head of his cock hits my g-spot, and I cry out his name.
“Scream it louder,” he murmurs.
“Ivan,” I cry out louder. “Yes! Yes! Yes! God, yes!” I continue until I feel my walls clench around his dick like a vice.
He moves a little as though he is just pushing himself over the edge. I feel his cum fill me up inside, and the warm feeling makes me orgasm. He holds me as I do, and I know I’m falling hard for him.
Ivan
I can’t stop thinking about how amazing it is to be with Tori. It’s throwing me off slightly, I want her, but I feel like I’m betraying Mila. I need to get over this. Mila is gone, Tori is here now, and she’s making a considerable effort to help my family. That in itself is surprising, I never thought a Sorvino could be so useful. Yet she’s trying her best, to please me in every aspect of life. That’s more than what I thought I would get when I married her.
After breakfast, I kiss her goodbye and head downstairs with my car keys in hand. I have a meeting with Leonid at one of our warehouses to inspect the workers packing the drugs.
As I pull out of the parking garage, I get an uneasy feeling. I brush it off and join the rush hour traffic that I will sit in for a while.
My mind wanders to Tori as we slowly make our way through the streets, myself and the hundreds of others trying to navigate New York. I hate driving at this time, but I get frustrated with my actual driver because he always tries to make detours and gets us stuck in more traffic-a sweet old guy, one of my cousin’s uncles, but not a great navigator.
I arrive at the warehouse and see the usual cars parked in the bay. I park in the open so that I can get in and out and back on the road, back to Tori.
I climb out of my car and button my suit jacket. I realize I’ve left my phone in the car and bend down to get it. As I do, bullets whiz over my head. I keep ducking down as bullets rain down upon me, hitting my car but missing me. I crawl back into the driver’s side and try to keep my head down. I start the car and pull off at speed, leaving the industrial area while weaving through traffic like a maniac. I don’t dare stop or look to see if someone’s following me.
Calm but annoyed, I grab my phone and call Aleks.
“Yes, boss?”
“Someone just tried to kill me,” I roar. “Get Evgeni and Leonid to my apartment immediately.”
I hang up and concentrate on my driving. Sirens sound behind me, and I sigh, pulling off to the side and waiting.
The cop touches the back of my car and then comes to the driver’s window. I roll it down and look up at him.
He looks at me, and I see he knows who I am. “Um, just your license and registration, sir.”
I get him both, and he checks them, nods, and gives them back to me. “You’re free to go. Thank you, and sorry for the bother.”
“No problem,” I say before pulling away and driving toward the apartment.
My guards are waiting for me in the parking garage, and I’m surrounded when I climb out of my car. I give Aleks the keys. “Take it to be repaired and bulletproofed, and tell them to send the bill to the restaurant.”
Aleks leaves, and I take the elevator with my guards to my apartment. I don’t want to freak Tori or Anastasia out, but I need to ensure they’re safe. I pause at Anastasia’s room, I can hear her talking to her friend on the phone, so I go to the office.
Tori is hunched over the reports marking through them in red pen. I clear my throat, and she glances at me. “Hey, you’re back early?”
“I was nearly killed.” I instantly see the worry in her eyes and I’m taken by surprise again. Could she actually have feelings for me? She gets up and comes to me.
“What do you mean? Are you hurt?” I can see the concern in her eyes and brush a stray lock of hair back from her face. “I’m okay, they missed, but we need to….”
“Ivan?” Evgeni calls, rushing in. “Thank God. Where did they attack you? Were you injured? Should I call the doctor?”
I hold my hand up. “They missed,” I say as Leonid hurries in. “But they knew I’d be there, and if I hadn’t forgotten my phone in the car, I’d probably be dead.”
“Thank God you’re not,” Leonid says, then he turns to eye out Tori.
“Is this your cousins doing?”
Tori frowns, but I involuntarily snap at Leonid before she can say anything. “Give it a damn rest. Not everything is the fucking Italians.”
“There was an attempt on your life, Ivan, and the Italians will gain a lot from your death,” Leonid says, looking sorry for himself.
I turn to Evgeni. “Find out who ordered the hit. I want to return the favor as soon as possible.”
Evgeni leaves immediately, and Leonid perks up. “It could be the
Italians. It is a possibility.”
I turn to Tori. “Speak to Don Sorvino. Find out if he ordered the hit?”
Tori nods. “I can, but they won’t tell me anything with your men there.”
“Phone your brother to collect you, and tell him to bring guards. I don’t want you getting hurt,” I say, then watch her leave.
“It’s a bad idea to trust her, Ivan. This could all be part of their plan to get revenge. Don’t you see that? You’re assuming she will be honest if the Italians did put a hit out for you.” Leonid is frustrated. I can see that. I pull my gun out, grab his shirt and slam his back into the wall, placing my gun under his chin as I growl, “I trust her, Leonid. That is the end of this goddam discussion. Now piss off and make yourself useful, and find out who the fuck put a hit on me! The Sorvinos are not the only fucking enemies I have.”
Leonid looks livid, but he won’t talk back to me. I’ve effectively chosen Tori over him. We both know that, but Leonid leaves without a word after I release him. I feel fuck all. Does he think I’m an idiot? That I don’t know who to trust.
Until Tori proves she can’t be trusted, I will trust her. I’ve given her no reason to lie to me.
I sit at my office and shoot a text to Anastasia to come to see me. I pour myself a glass of bourbon while I wait for her, sitting back and sipping on it. I go over and over in my head who could possibly have it out for me. That list is long. I’ve fucked with many people in my life as a career criminal. There’s no shortage of people who would be happy to see me dead.
I still don’t think it was the Sorvinos, though. If I die, Leonid takes over. They don’t want me out of the way until they gain some of my territories.
There’s a soft knock at the door, and I look up at my daughter. “Ana, we need to talk. Sit down.”
She knows when I’m serious and hurries to sit in the armchair in front of my desk. “What’s wrong, father?”
“There was an attempt on my life today,” I won’t sugarcoat it for her. She knows what kind of life I lead. “And I don’t know if they’ll try to get to me through you or Tori, so I don’t want you going anywhere without your security details. Do you understand me? This is serious. Don’t evade them or leave them outside. Have them with you at all times.”
Anastasia looks sad and asks, “Are you okay, though?”
“I’m fine, honey. They were lousy shots, to begin with.”
Ana gets up and comes around to hug me. “I promise I’ll take security everywhere.”
“Good girl. For now, though, stay in the apartment for the day, okay?”
She nods and leaves quietly.
I sip on my bourbon, going over my list of enemies in my head.