Page 52 of Hateful Vows

FORTY

ALEKSEI

“ F uck yeah!” Lucie exclaims as she signs the divorce paper I served her this morning, at the table of our weekly family lunch.

“It’s not final, yet, babe.” Irina rolls her eyes at her friend’s antics. The first time I heard my step-sister use the endearment, I almost choked on my own spit. But Lucie and Irina have a soul-bond that doesn’t need explanation.

We moved the plastic table and chairs for the winter inside the wide, white-tiled kitchen at the back of the mansion, and all the people I care about are gathered, smiling and drinking the expensive champagne Lucie’s adoptive dad sent her for the occasion.

I never met the man but he’s threatened me with bodily harm via text many times over.

The glass-house looking space lets in natural light. Despite the heavy clouds, threatening to let rain fall anytime soon, the atmosphere is light in the room.

We all cheer, clinking our glasses together. Mariella seems a little out of it, spacing out often as we all chat, but Dante keeps checking in with her. He’s taken a back seat since his abduction, letting Irina rule in his stead to focus on his mother. She was made for it.

As it is, she silently observes everyone from her place at the head of the table, red lipstick staining the side of her champagne glass, and red nails tapping the table.

Her assessing gaze takes in every detail, but when it lands on me, it softens.

I love that I have that effect on her. And that I can gloat about it. Especially with our inner circle.

Being with her is as easy as breathing.

“So, what are you going to do with your new found freedom, bella ?” Lorenzo asks.

I don’t miss the not-so-subtle glance she throws in Toma’s direction, who’s hunched over the stove with Magda—whom he’s managed to charm, God knows how— and the other cooks, preparing the meal for us.

Dan winks at me, having caught it, too, but Ilia, Ian, Mikhail, and Boris are too distracted by Perceval’s duel with Francisco’s plate.

The kid is the only one who lets the cat eat out of his plate, completely terrorised by the animal.

“I think I’m going to travel to Scotland for a while. I’ve always wanted to go,” Lucie finally answers.

“You shouldn’t go alone,” Dante admonishes.

Dan catches my eyes, then mouths, “three, two, one.”

“I’ll go with her,” Toma exclaims.

So predictable.

Only Dante doesn’t notice how smitten the Croatian is with his cousin. I don’t want blood at the table today so I remain silent, but Irina and I exchange a glance, then smile. His protective instincts will rear their heads soon enough.

But today, we drink and eat to our heart’s content. We fill our minds with core memories, Lucie taking way too many photos, as she usually does.

When the table has been cleared and the staff dismissed, only Irina, Dante and I are left at the sink to finish the dishes and clean up.

The triviality of taking care of the house and our people has become a ritual the three of us took up religiously.

Every Sunday, like clockwork, we end the day with our hands in soapy water.

Hands snake around my middle to wrap around my body, Irina’s soft body moulding to mine for an embrace.

That also has become natural to us. Touching each other, hugging, kissing without trying to get into each other’s clothes or under each other’s skin.

I desire her with every fibre of my being but I don’t feel so threatened she’ll be taken away from me anymore. The relief has been healing.

“I’ll never get over how good you two look, together,” Dante says, a dreamy smile on his handsome face.

It’s been months since his ordeal and he’s filled out again, his frame just as massive as he once was, his strength an aphrodisiac.

We train together every day. I’ve taught him combat techniques he only skimmed with his previous trainers, and I’ll be lying if I don’t get hard just thinking about how he pinned me to the ground in the gym this morning, using moves I showed him.

Every time his hands end up around my throat, I become putty and let him take me however he wants.

“One look and you get hard, Lyosha ?” he taunts. “I’m beating some new record, I’m sure.”

“Oh shut up, you two know exactly what you’re doing.”

Irina hands glide down to my cock. I can feel her smile against my back and I groan. I’ll never get enough of Irina Ventura’s smug smiles.

Dante prowls to me, then snatches Irina from her position at my back to kiss her.

He bends down and she snakes her arms around his neck, coming onto the tips of her toes to get more of him.

I steady her with hands on her hips and Dante advances, locking her right in between us, her back to my front.

“We need to celebrate your divorce, Lyosha ,” Dante says, voice heavy with arousal.

My smile grows at the wicked look on his face.

“Celebrate away, malysh . I’ve been waiting for both of you to worship me like I worship you.”

They exchange a devious look then drop to their knees.

And proceed to show me how much they love me and each other for the rest of the day.

THE END