Page 10

"We took good care of it, Koslov."

I nodded, sitting at the long dining room table, "And you send proof?" I clarified, wanting Sevan to receive the special package.

I didn't kill the girl she fucked in that video.

I only had my men take a few fingers after they traced the video's IP address from where it had been sent from.

I also had them send the dismembered fingers to Sevan.

"Yes, we sent proof much earlier this morning," he assured me, causing me to glance over to the clock.

It's past the afternoon now.

Still no reaction from Sevan.

I let out a long tight sigh, "You leave now," I said, glancing over to the doorway when Nikolai and Ivan walked into the room together.

The man in front of me nodded once, backing away as my two right-hand men approached.

"Firms are in check," Nikolai told me, sitting down at the table with Ivan as the servers began bringing out food for a late lunch.

Pirozhki to be specific—which is fried buns filled with cabbage and meat.

Yury mentioned he loved these, but he's sleeping now as needed.

And Arina is also off at school luckily.

"Revenue doubled too," Nikolai added as the server beside me poured a glass of vodka for me.

I lazily raised my brows at Nikolai's statement, not even slightly entertained by his new information.

Not with a certain woman who has been too quiet for my liking.

I enjoy screamers in and out of bed.

"You are... bored?" Nikolai asked in observance.

I took a long sip of my vodka, "Hungry," I corrected him, refusing to talk about Sevan.

She's unimportant and clearly out of ideas to get me back.

Which is disappointing...

There was potential.

I glanced over to the prepared plate the server sat in front of me, grabbing my fork to begin eating.

"We eat and go tie up loose ends," Nikolai offered as he handed Ivan a glass plate and started scooping the different foods onto it, "Threats and killing make you very happy."

I nodded once at the idea, determining that I would enjoy tying up some loose ends.

Although my patience is very low, so a lot of people will be dying today rather than threatened.

"Koslov," one of my men's voices echoed throughout the dining room as I finished chewing my food.

I raised a brow, watching as he entered the room with a small black glossy box.

"For you," he said, sitting it down in front of me.

I hummed, my light eyes tracing every edge of the small box—which I picked up to test the weight of.

It's oddly... light?

"You receive gift?" Nikolai asked curiously as Ivan's dark eyes eyed the small box in my hand.

"Not a gift," I corrected his observation, "A challenge," I said, already knowing who could be behind this.

I stood sharply from my chair, taking another quick bite of my food before backing away from the table entirely.

"I see you both later," I called over my shoulder, deciding to open this privately.

Nikolai called out a brief word of acknowledgment as I exited the dining room, heading up to my room where my dogs followed me to.

Misha and Varya sat on my bed—while I stood stiffly with anticipation, staring down at the box cradled in my hand.

Until I slowly opened it, undoing the black ribbon tied precisely around it.

I tilted my head at the lace material—grabbing the small white card on top.

Plenty to go around.

-S

My light eyes drifted back over to the box, realizing what the lace material was.

Another woman's underwear.

I flung the box and random thong aside—ripping the notecard in half as I walked over to my closet.

The feeling of anger didn't consume me.

Neither did irritation.

It was certainty instead.

I was already ten steps ahead—planning my next move before Sevan took hers.

I don't send notes.

I handle business in person instead.

My text to the unmarked number was simple, mentioning business that we needed to discuss in person.

I didn't bother to wait for Sevan's response as I got dressed.

Or undressed.

I wore lacy black underwear and a matching push-up bra.

Even if my breasts already spilled out of a normal bra.

But I decided to go the extra mile.

I also wore a different set of stockings.

These stopped above my knee with black bows, matching the set I wore.

Lastly, I pulled on a long black trench coat that fell to my ankles and a pair of five-inch heels—purposely wanting to meet Sevan at her tall height.

I tucked my light brown hair behind my ears, carefully descending the stairs with my dogs following beside me.

Nikolai and Ivan were long gone tying up loose ends, leaving me to only tell my dogs goodbye.

The air was stiff and cold, nipping at my face as the wind whipped past me.

Warmth greeted me inside the Range Rover, relaxing in the backseat as I prepared a cigar to smoke.

The drive out of Moscow was just as long as last time—over an hour of me sitting in my own comfortable silence after I had finished smoking the cigar.

Snow covered every inch of the roaming lands and the tiny glass house looked just as it did before.

Except the daylight allowed me to get a better look at it.

And it looked even smaller under the cloudy skies.

My heels clicked precisely against the pavement, stepping out of the car as I informed my driver this could take a moment.

The sterile interior of the glass house looked just the same—instead, there were black-out curtains pulled down over the glass, keeping it blandly dark and emphasizing the dim lights.

Dario stood by the elevators, wearing all black as I had previously seen him in.

He grew to be my height as I approached him, my five-inch heels already giving me so much advantage.

"Koslov," Dario said as I stopped in front of him, "Sev mentioned you have business to discuss."

I nodded once, "Urgently," I mumbled, even if my tone was far from urgent or rushed.

Dario nodded, "I'll take you down to level one," he said, clicking one of the elevator buttons.

Which almost immediately made one ding open.

I remained silent as we stepped on together, watching as Dario tapped his key card against the sensor and clicked level one.

A level that only reminded me of the excruciating pain I endured while I was here.

I enjoy pain though.

I glanced up at the digital screen, watching the floors slowly decrease.

Until eventually the elevator slowly stopped on level one.

Everything was exactly how it looked last time I was here—the marble floors, dim lights, monochrome furniture.

And then there were the usual double doors at the end of the hallway.

Which Dario opened for me—allowing me to walk into the large office before he backed out and shut the door behind him.

Sevan was over by the bar, pouring herself a glass of the dark cognac.

I didn't speak a word—I simply approached the bar she stood at.

"Zinovia," Sevan said, her lowered voice coating the still air between us, "Tell me what was urgent—I have shit to do."

I still remained silent against her demands, snatching the glass of cognac she had previously poured.

Her dark eyes snapped to me as I leaned back against the bar in front of her, watching as I drank the drink she poured herself.

"Come here," Sevan said, motioning me closer to her.

I tilted my head in challenge, "You come to me," I said, finally speaking to her.

"Come here," Sevan repeated herself with more firmness, "Or you leave."

I narrowed my eyes at her, remaining silent for a moment.

Until I harshly set the glass down with a loud clatter, reluctantly taking a few steps closer to her.

And the fact that we are the same height with my heels only fueled my ego even more.

"You wanted my drink that fucking badly," Sevan said, grabbing the bottle of Hennessy, "Take a shot for me."

I spared her a response, tilting my head back with parted lips.

Which meant I wanted her to pour it into my mouth for me.

I grunted when Sevan roughly grabbed the front of my throat—holding me in place as she poured the dark liquid into my mouth.

Which her dark eyes openly stared at, continuing to pour the liquid that I constantly swallowed.

But she didn't stop.

She only continued pouring it into my mouth and down my throat, watching as I struggled under her tightened hold around my neck.

I harshly pushed her away from me, attempting to close my mouth and let the dark liquid spill all over me.

But Sevan grabbed my chin—holding me in place as I coughed and jerked under her, forced to swallow the dark alcohol.

I grunted, tugging against her hold—until she finally let me go and took a step back.

"Want any more?" Sevan asked me, holding up the bottle as I coughed roughly.

"Nyet," I gritted, wiping my mouth as I coughed even more.

"Then what the fuck do you want, Zinovia," Sevan said distastefully, setting the bottle of cognac down with a clatter.

I cleared my throat, wiping the edges of my jawline as I grew closer to her—standing directly in front of her.

"This is about the gift I sent you earlier," Sevan said, her dark eyes trailing down my body and stopping at my feet, "New heels?"

I narrowed my eyes at her, not bothering to give her a response as I openly eyed her.

From her sharp jawline to her dark hair that remained precisely gelled back.

"One time," I suddenly said, my voice lowered and barely audible.

Sevan glanced up from my heels, meeting my light eyes as I leaned past her face and into her ear.

"I get my way with you one time," I specified in a soft whisper, my warm breath falling across her ear, "Then, never again."

I clenched my jaw, feeling the smoothness of her lips against the shell of my ear.

And then her rough touch that gripped harshly at my hair.

"No," she whispered back to me, her warm breath fanning across my exposed neck.

I clenched my jaw when she firmly pulled back from me—walking down the bar to grab her glass.

And as she neared the couch, I rounded the bar to approach her.

I also reached for the tied knot holding my jacket together.

And pulled at it—immediately unraveling the knot and forcing my trench coat to come apart.

Sevan halted her motions immediately, standing by the couch as she watched me slip the black coat down and off my arms.

Her gaze zoned in at my chest, trailing down my stomach—and lingering again at the lace between my thighs.

She glanced further down, eyeing my long legs emphasized by the tall heels I wore.

"No?" I repeated the previous word she said with a level of distaste.

For once, Sevan remained silent, her jaw visibly growing tight as her stare trailed up my body.

And met my light eyes.

"On your knees," was all she said, unbuckling her belt as she motioned me over.

A wave of satisfaction ran through me.

I always get my—

"Now, Zinovia," Sevan's firm voice cut through my thoughts, the sharp command sending an unexpected shiver down my spine.

And for once, I listened to her.

I swallowed down the familiar urge to push back, to challenge her—and instead, took a few slow, deliberate steps forward.

My heart was a rhythmic drum that matched the growing heat between my legs as I neared closer and closer to her.

For a moment, I was taller—towering over her just like I wanted to.

But that didn't last.

I lowered myself onto my knees before her, the cold floor pressing into my skin and grounding me.

My fingers itched to reach for her jeans, but I paused for a moment—purposely letting the silence between us stretch.

Our eyes locked, speaking louder than any words we could exchange.

Her dark gaze held mine with precision, unreadable but demanding something I wasn't sure I wanted to give—something beyond control, beyond submission.

I clenched my jaw when her fingers threaded through the smooth strands of my hair.

The softness of her touch almost lulled me into a false sense of comfort—until she yanked hard at my silky hair, earning a low hum from me.

The sharp pain was a warning—a reminder of who she thought held the control.

I leaned in closer, my mouth brushing against the cool metal of her zipper as I tugged down her jeans and Calvin Kleins in one fluid motion.

Sevan shifted under me to angle herself closer to the edge of the couch—parting her thighs for me.

I briefly glanced to the door, unsure if it was locked.

But that was Sevan's problem, not mine.

I've been interrupted too many times to care about someone walking in on this.

I groaned as soon as I felt her warm wetness against my lips, the sound vibrating in my throat sounding low and almost primal.

Naturally, I pressed my tongue deeper against the warmth of her clit.

Which caused Sevan's fingers to tighten in my hair and guide me—but I resisted.

I like the pain of her touch too much to comply.

So I teased her by moving too slow, verging lower when she guided me higher—and going higher when she guided me lower.

I wanted to drive her insane.

And it worked.

The sounds she made—the low groans that vibrated from deep in her chest—did nothing but encourage me.

I like this.

The power.

The defiance.

The way I could drive her insane with just a flick of my tongue, a graze of my teeth against her clit.

She hated it, and I reveled in it.

"Faster, Zinovia."

I swirled my tongue deliberately around her swollen clit, dragging out her pleasure and making her work for it.

That's when I felt the hardness of her shoe slide between my legs folded underneath me.

I dug my nails into her thighs, inaudibly gasping at the sudden pressure she applied against my core covered in nothing but lace.

"Faster," Sevan repeated herself again as I arched away from her touch.

And listened to her demands for once.

My tongue moved faster and quicker—so quick that I felt my jaw aching to lock.

Sevan's moans grew deeper and louder—filling the room and drowning out the sound of my own labored breaths.

She pulled harder at my roots, tugging so harshly that I considered if she had pulled my hair out.

But I didn't care.

I was too lost in her—too lost in the intoxicating taste of power.

Her thighs trembled as I pressed her legs wider, leaning in further as her body tensed—her breath hitching as I pushed her closer to the edge.

My tongue flicked faster and much more precisely against her clit, each stroke pushing her further until—

"Fuck, Zinovia," she groaned, her voice rough with the force of her release.

Her body spasmed under me, her legs shaking as she fell into her orgasm.

But I didn't stop.

I couldn't.

The taste of her, the power of her unraveling under me was a high I wasn't ready to let go of.

I buried my tongue deep inside her, groaning at the sticky wetness that coated my tongue.

Sevan's hands guided my head with each thrust, pushing me in and pulling me out until her body finally went limp.

I pulled away slowly as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand—smirking as I watched her chest rise and fall, a mess of pleasure that I had created.

"Much better," I determined, pulling away from her core.

I didn't bother to pull her pants her boxer briefs back up—I let her handle that as I stood to my feet, licking my lips with a content hum.

At least until Sevan joined me at my height as she pulled her pants back up, running her hand past my waist.

But I sharply leaned back before she got a chance to do anything.

"We're finished here," I said with a narrowed look.

"Only one of us is finished," Sevan said, forcing me to stumble slightly when she nudged my legs apart with her own.

"You don't touch me," I emphasized, staring into her dark eyes, "No one touches me."

Sevan only tilted her head, "Are you shy Zinovia?" she murmured, running her hand up my exposed back and leaving goosebumps in her wake.

"Nyet," I said, shooting her assumption down.

If I was shy, I wouldn't have been on my knees half naked eating her out.

"My body is only for me—you aren't allowed in," I clarified, never once breaking away from her stare as she held my lower body so close to hers.

My upper body was leaned as far away as possible.

"I see," Sevan murmured, letting go of my waist.

But for some reason, I didn't take a step back.

Because the smallest part of me was open to the idea of actually letting someone touch me.

"I think of you while finishing off," I purposely said, hoping to frustrate her.

But Sevan only lazily raised her brows, "It won't compare to me but go for it," she said, taking a step away from me when I failed to take one back.

I raised a challenging brow, "It will be everything and more than you," I emphasized, watching as Sevan walked over to the bar—buckling her belt in the process.

"If that's what helps you finish," Sevan determined, pouring herself a drink of the cognac she had forced down my throat just minutes ago, "I hear one word of this out in public Zinovia—"

"You think I want bragging rights?" I cut her short in amusement, leaning down to grab my coat, "I got my way, Sevan—I need nothing more."

Sevan lazily raised her brows, "Good," she said as she swallowed the long sip of alcohol she had previously taken, "We're in agreement then."

I nodded once, tugging my coat on, "Shipment trade-off is Saturday," I confirmed with her.

Sevan shook her head, "We'll do tomorrow," she corrected me, moving our trade-off to Friday instead.

But that was an automatic no considering the usual event I'm hosting.

I'm the Russian mafia's princess so I have to be present.

"My Friday is full," I said as I tied my coat closed—watching as Sevan's eyes wandered down to my exposed skin that I covered up.

"Not for me," Sevan said, setting her glass down with a clatter.

I gave her a narrowed look, "I host event so I—"

"I'll come to the event then," Sevan cut me short, adjusting the leather jacket she wore.

I bit down on the inside of my cheek, hating the idea of her being there.

It was my night to rule—and everyone naturally bowed down to Sevan over me.

I hated it.

"You keep low profile—come to the after party," I said, which easily made Sevan tilt her head.

Until she inevitably nodded once, "The after party—I'll get the details myself," she said, clearly not needing me to spare her the details.

She can irritatingly know anything she wants.

I suddenly backed away toward the door, deciding to take my leave without a formal goodbye.

And Sevan let me, continuing to sip on her drink as I walked out through the double doors.

The hallway was completely empty with no one to be found.

I headed towards the elevators, pressing the button that immediately made one of the elevators ding open.

The ride up to the highest level was silent.

But I felt entirely content.

I got my way.

A long controlled sigh fell from my lips, clenching my legs together to control the ache between my thighs.

There's only one thing I didn't get.

But that's something I'll take care of myself.