Page 144 of Possess Me

Even the Pakhan, who adored teasing me and his cousin.

I’d chosen to keep the name I’d been born with, although news had leaked I was a now infamous Italianprincessa. As if I cared. They were bantering while drinking champagne, telling stories and letting their hair down.

I marveled at just how comfortable I felt being around them.

I’d yet to return to my duties at American Airlines, but I would.

Eventually.

I had a good reason for waiting a while longer.

A few months.

A year.

I tried to hide a grin as Vissarian caught my eye. As soon as he did, nothing else mattered around us. He placed his drink on the table, said something to his brother Sasha, and was on his feet sashaying toward me.

He could do the best sashay I’d ever seen.

When he wrapped his arms around me, I pushed one hand against his chest. “What are you doing?”

“Loving on my woman.”

“Your woman, huh?”

Vissarian grinned and lowered his head, nuzzling my neck. The scent of his aftershave was delicious, the musky fragrance creating very naughty thoughts in my mind.

The last few months had been a complete whirlwind, but as they said, karma would always find you. Antonio had suddenly disappeared. There’d been rumors his body had suddenly appeared in the Great Lakes, but I hadn’t paid any attention.

Although I will admit, when my… grandfather had left, I’d had a feeling Antonio would be dealt with. True to his word so far, he hadn’t made any additional overtures or sent anyone to kidnap me.

And while I wasn’t completely embroiled in Dmitriyev politics, I knew everyone was keeping a watchful eye on the other Russian brother and Pakhan in Moscow.

As Vissarian had told me, it was only a matter of time before the feral cat struck again.

But they would be ready. So would I.

Nothing would stop us from protecting the little family we’d developed.

Right on cue, Bella jumped up on Vissarian and given how much she’d grown in two and a half months, she managed to push him away from me so she could hog all the attention.

“Oh, no, you don’t, sweet girl,” Vissarian cooed.

Another thing I’d learned he could do. Coo.

“I get to love on your mama. Plus, we have a few surprises on this trip. Don’t we, girl?”

Woof.

Bella’s tail whapped back and forth.

“Surprises, huh? I don’t like surprises.” A lie, but I used it when necessary.

“Get used to them.” He brushed his lips across mine.

“Go back to your seat, big, bad boy. I’m about ready to land.”

He pouted, his soft lips pressing together and every part of me tingled.