Page 132 of Ruthless Creatures

“Thank you. Anything.”

“I discovered an unsanctioned online gaming operation based in Lake Tahoe. They’re one of ours, but haven’t been tithing.”

“What do you need me to do?”

I wave Stavros forward from where he’s been standing, waiting, near the door. He comes hesitantly, wringing his hands.

“Get an accounting of total revenue going as far back as they’ve been operational. They owe half to Maxim. Have them send it to me no later than Monday next week. Then put them on a monthly schedule of twenty percent going forward.”

“And if they can’t come up with the money?”

I hesitate. This would be so much easier if Stavros weren’t involved with Natalie’s friend.

If that were the case and he couldn’t produce the money, I’d cut off one of his fingers and toes for each day of delay until he did.

And if it went past ten days, I’d start cutting off other stuff.

“Don’t worry about that now. Just make sure he understands what the consequences will be if he fucks up again.”

It’s not like he doesn’t already know, but it never hurts to underline these things.

I send Mikhail off to meet Stavros. Then I head out of the warehouse to the car waiting for me outside. As soon as I’m inside the Bentley, I reach for my cell phone.

Miss you already. XOXO

My wish was granted: the text is from Natalie.

An image of her smiling face flashes through my mind. Then another image surfaces, a memory of her naked and flushed underneath me with her eyes closed and her lips parted, a bruise from my greedy mouth darkening a spot on her slender neck.

A steel band winches itself around my heart. Exhaling a heavy breath, I murmur, “Miss you too, baby.”

As my driver steers the car out of the deserted parking lot and onto the main street, I dial her number, waiting impatiently for her to pick up.

On the third ring, she does.

“Hi!”

She sounds happy to hear from me. The winch tightens.

“I heard you miss me.”

“It’s strangely dull around here without a bossy Russian barking orders at me. Go figure.”

“You like it when I bark orders at you.”

“Only when we’re in bed.”

I picture her blindfolded and restrained, sucking my dick and rocking her hips as I slide the vibrator in and out of her soaked pussy, and almost groan out loud with want.

My voice drops. “I’m ready to give you a few orders right now. Get into bed.”

She laughs breathlessly. “I would, but Sloane’s here. That could be awkward.”

“She’s back from her trip.”

“Yeah. She broke it off with Stavros… but you probably already know that.”

I didn’t, but I’m glad I do now. Makes things less complicated if he doesn’t come up with the money for Max. “You’re having a girls’ night?”