Page 10

Slider

The thick walls of the bunker kept out all sounds from above.

Even if someone were to walk directly over the ceiling, we’d never hear them.

It was both a blessing and a curse.

On the one hand, it meant no one could hear us either.

On the other, we didn’t know when someone was coming until they’d already arrived.

If we had, then those Russian fuckers wouldn’t have even made it down the damn stairs.

I didn’t know how they’d found Vasha, much less the bunker entrance, but they weren’t taking her.

If any survived, we could question them later.

I didn’t know how they’d gotten past the Hades Abyss members aboveground, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

While not all the members were near the bunker, I didn’t doubt that Titan had left at least a few nearby in case they were needed.

If everyone up there was dead, then we were pretty much without hope.

Either way, I’d go down fighting and do my best to protect my woman.

As long as Vasha survived, as long as she remained free from them, that’s all that mattered.

I’d die a happy man if I knew she was safe.

“Vasha, go to our room and lock the door,” I said as I stared down the Russians entering the bunker.

She tightened her grip on my hand a moment before releasing me and running.

I heard the door slam and the lock click into place.

It let me breathe a little easier.

I knew that door wouldn’t hold them out for long, but it gave me a chance to focus on ripping them to shreds without worrying over her getting hurt.

“I don’t recognize you boys. Grigori can’t do his own dirty work?” I asked.

One of them sneered at me.

“He is too important to lower himself to the task of killing you.”

“Too bad because I won’t have a single problem ending his life, or yours for that matter. You signed your death sentence when you decided to come after my wife.”

Another of them smiled, but it was a dark grin that promised pain.

“You mean Vladimir’s whore. She’ll be spreading her legs for all of us soon enough. He promised we each get a taste, as often as we want. I can’t wait to hear her screams as we tear her apart.”

My gut clenched, but I forced myself not to react.

I knew that’s what they wanted.

Letting my emotions rule me right now could be a deadly mistake.

Vasha was counting on me to keep her safe, and that meant I needed to focus.

Lynch gave me a subtle chin tilt and I knew that he was ready to go.

Stone and Fangs also gave a signal, as did Kraken.

We didn’t have the numbers I’d have liked, not with six Russians brandishing weapons, but none of us were exactly choir boys.

I knew Rocket had faced worse odds when he’d gone on his killing spree to get vengeance for Violeta.

He’d been running on pure rage, and while I had plenty of that flowing through my veins, I knew it wasn’t going to help me right now.

“Just so we’ll know, do you want to be shipped home to Russia when you die, or are you okay with being scattered in shallow graves throughout the state? Because we’re fine with either,” I said.

The one who seemed to be the leader stepped forward and aimed his gun at my head.

Before he could pull the trigger, Kraken got off a shot.

Thank fuck for the furniture scattered around and the various rooms that gave my brothers places to hide.

Otherwise, we’d all be sitting ducks.

The man’s body lurched as the bullet slammed into his back.

Two more shots were fired and he fell to the floor, his eyes already glazing over.

His cohorts didn’t seem to understand what they were seeing, almost as if they didn’t believe we’d shot one of them, and moved slowly enough we were able to get the upper hand.

Or so I’d thought.

It didn’t stop the Russians from firing back.

I could only hope that I didn’t lose any brothers today, but I knew that anytime someone was shooting at us, the odds weren’t necessarily in our favor.

This life was hard, and often cruel.

I knowingly took my life in my hands every time I left the clubhouse on business, but this was different.

These fuckers wanted my wife.

Bullets slammed into walls, and I heard men shout from both sides.

Lynch and Stone took out two more, but it wasn’t enough.

As I aimed for another, I heard what sounded like an army descending the stairs.

It was apparent they no longer cared about the element of surprise.

They had us cornered like rats.

I heard Stone shout out in pain and knew he’d been hit.

I only hoped it wasn’t critical.

Grigori was easy to spot in the center of the group that was coming for us.

Six more men flanked him, with a few more bringing up the rear, and I had to wonder if we had enough bullets to take them all down.

Even if we did, were there more upstairs?

I was thankful that Vasha was hiding and out of sight.

The last thing I wanted was for her to be an easy target.

“You have something of mine,” Grigori said.

“Return Vasha and we’ll leave without killing any more of your men.”

Any more.

Which meant that some of the men aboveground had lost their lives to protect my woman.

I wouldn’t let their sacrifice be for nothing.

I didn’t lower my gun and kept my finger over the trigger, just ready to end it all.

Even if Grigori’s men took me out right after, as long as that fucker was dead, that’s what mattered the most.

After everything he’d done to Vasha, she deserved the peace his death would bring.

“Vasha isn’t yours. She’s mine,” I said.

“My wife. I don’t know how you found her, but she’s not leaving with you.”

He smiled, but it wasn’t pleasant.

“Anatoly was most forthcoming before he died. When my men didn’t find the little whore with the other Hades Abyss men, a little digging told us where this place was located.”

His eyes were dark, a total absence of light.

He reminded me of a shark, just waiting for the moment to strike.

I wasn’t going to give him the opportunity.

Instead, I shot the fucker right between the eyes.

The look of complete surprise on his face was rather comical.

Had he thought I was holding a gun for decoration?

Did he think the others who came before him had just died on their own?

It was stupid on his part, and his arrogance had worked in my favor.

“Who’s next?” I asked.

I’d barely uttered the words before the six Russians opened fire on all of us, with the others getting into better position.

There were more coming down into the bunker, and I knew I had to keep myself between them and Vasha.

No matter how many fell more took their place.

I was starting to worry that Grigori had brought an entire army with him.

When Vladimir descended the steps, a fire lit inside me.

He was the reason Vasha had undergone those lessons.

If he hadn’t paid for her, demanded that she be trained a certain way, then she wouldn’t have suffered and been degraded.

Logically, I knew someone else would have just taken his place and purchased her, but right now he was the only one alive that I could blame.

“Leave him alive,” I said before reloading and taking out more Russians.

No matter how many we killed, it seemed they were just replaced with another set of guards.

Pain seared me as a bullet grazed me.

I swung my gun in that direction, ready to fire back, but another Russian shot off three rounds in my direction, and I felt two of them slam into my body.

I didn’t falter, didn’t go down.

I couldn’t.

Vasha needed me, and I refused to let them anywhere near her.

As long as I was breathing, I’d keep her safe.

When the gunfire stopped, only Vladimir was standing.

He looked around, seemingly unconcerned, but I noticed the tremor in his hands as he shoved them into his pockets.

Yeah, the fucker was scared and he damn well should be.

A thought occurred to me.

The things he’d done to Vasha had humiliated her.

He deserved the same treatment before he breathed his last.

“Hey, Lynch. Is that brothel still near here? The one that flies under the radar.”

He nodded.

“Yep.”

“They still have that special clientele you were telling me about?”

He grinned and I saw blood smeared across his teeth.

It seemed he’d been injured as well.

“I’ll make the call.”

My gaze landed on Stone, who was standing, but holding onto his side.

Blood had spread across his shirt, but I was hoping it was just a flesh wound.

The fact he was standing and coherent was a good sign.

“Stone, tie this fucker up. And make sure we get some money for his sorry ass. I’ll put it into an account for Vasha. She can do whatever she likes with it. I’m sure someone will pay decent money to fuck him. Then get checked out by the doc.”

While they got busy securing Vladimir’s fate, I went to knock on the bedroom door, but I froze when I saw the bullet holes.

My heart slammed against my ribs as I busted the lock on the door and shoved it open.

Vasha lay across the bed, but she lifted her tear-streaked face and ran for me.

I breathed a little easier, seeing that she was all right.

Not so much as a scratch on her.

I didn’t know she’d managed to stay alive and uninjured.

The level of the holes in the door would have put them at her chest level, unless she’d hidden on the floor during the gunfire.

“You’re okay.” I hugged her to me with my good arm.

The other had a bullet through my bicep.

The second bullet had been a through and through in the shoulder.

All things considered, I’d been lucky.

“You’re bleeding,” she said, her eyes wide as she reached for my shoulder, then stopped.

“You need a doctor, Slider.”

“Right now, I need to get you out of here, and I need to see the damage up above. I don’t know if anyone made it up there.”

A sadness entered her eyes as she glanced up at the ceiling.

I could almost see her starting to retreat into herself.

I had no doubt she’d try to shoulder the blame for this one, but it wasn’t on her.

It was entirely on Grigori and Vladimir.

No one else was to blame.

Maybe if we hadn’t come here, then the others upstairs would be alive, but I’d have lost Vasha.

I had no doubt that being in this bunker had helped keep her alive.

“You’re going to see some things you won’t like,” I cautioned as I led her from the room.

Her gasp made my gut clench and I wished I could shield her from the carnage in the room.

Blood covered most of the floor and sprayed across the walls.

Stone had Vladimir kneeling, hands cuffed behind his back.

The Russian sneered at Vasha, but my sweet wife surprised me.

She straightened her shoulders, held her head high, and walked right up to Vladimir.

Vasha not only spat in his face, but she rattled off a bunch of Russian that I only caught bits and pieces of, enough to know that she’d cursed him to rot in hell, among other things.

Stone dragged Vladimir up the stairs ahead of us, and I held onto Vasha as I went to check on the others.

Titan was bleeding, but alive, as were the other officers.

A few members I hadn’t known well were dead, and I knew every Hades Abyss member, regardless of their location, would mourn their loss.

Philly limped toward us, a bullet through his thigh and another above his hip.

He was almost as pale as Vasha and sweat coated his face.

“I worried they’d kill her if they made it downstairs, but we couldn’t stop them all. It’s our fault they even saw the bunker entrance. One of the men they killed gave it away unintentionally.”

I looked around and noticed a lot of dead men in suits and knew they’d come with the Russians we’d taken out downstairs.

I gave Philly a nod of appreciation.

Even if one of our own had given away her location, my wife was still safe, and that’s what mattered.

I led Vasha outside.

It was daylight and the sun beat down on us.

Vasha hid her face against me, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the brightness of the day, or because of the bodies on the ground.

Despite everything Grigori had done to her, she’d probably not been around many dead men.

I hoped she never had to see a sight like this ever again, but I knew with my way of life there was a good chance she’d be in danger again in the future.

I saw two men patching up those who were still breathing and Vasha insisted I go over.

It seemed two of the newer members had medical training.

After a brief introduction to Smoke and Poison, I let them clean my wounds and stitch me up.

Thankfully, the bullets weren’t still in my body.

Vasha remained at my side the entire time, holding my hand.

She was handling everything better than I’d thought she would, which was a little concerning.

I could see the tension in her body, and feel the tremor in her hand.

But she kept quiet and didn’t shed so much as a single tear.

“All done,” said Smoke as he cut the thread on the last of my stitches.

“Try not to get them wet.”

“I’ll take care of him,” Vasha said.

Smoke winked at her and Poison tipped his head in the direction of their clubhouse.

“Head that way. Someone will find you a place to rest. I’ll have a Prospect gather your things from down below and deliver them shortly.”

Amazingly enough, the SUV didn’t have a mark on it.

I’d expected bullet holes, scratches, maybe a dent.

It was a little eerie that the vehicle was just as pristine as when I’d parked it.

I helped Vasha into the passenger’s seat before getting behind the wheel.

Pulling onto the road that would take us back to the front, I glanced in her direction a few times.

Most women would have fallen apart by now.

Cried.

Screamed.

Something.

Anything.

Not Vasha.

She seemed cool and collected.

Or she would to someone who didn’t know her.

“ Zolatka , it’s okay. You don’t have to be brave and strong.”

Her gaze met mine and I saw the sheen of tears.

“Those men. They lost their lives because of me. If I had never come here, they would be alive and you wouldn’t have been shot.”

I pulled to the side of the road and put the SUV into park, then turned to face her.

She hastily wiped away a tear, as if she were ashamed for crying.

I’d never met anyone like her before, and I knew I never would again.

Vasha was one of a kind, and she was all mine.

Yes, lives had been lost today, but she was alive and would have a happy, safe life if I had any say in the matter.

“They knew what they were doing when they offered us sanctuary. None of those men went into this blindly. Vasha, what happened here wasn’t your fault. If you want to blame someone, then lay it at the feet of Grigori and Vladimir. There was no need for them to travel all this way to come get you. I’d imagine there are plenty of women in Russia they could have taken to replace you, but they didn’t. I’m glad no one else will suffer at their hands, but even more than that, I’m happy you’re here.” I reached for her, running my fingers through her hair.

“You’re mine, kroshka . And I’m never letting you go. I love you, Vasha.”

“I love you too,” she said softly.

“No more, all right? You can’t blame yourself for this. I won’t let you.” I let my fingers graze her chin.

“It’s my job to take care of you. You’re my wife, my everything. I’d have gladly traded my life today for yours if it came down to that.”

“No!” Fire flashed in her eyes.

“Promise me you’ll never do that.”

“Can’t. I will always put myself between you and danger. That’s what love is, Vasha. It means being willing to sacrifice yourself for the person who means the entire world to you.”

“I’d never forgive myself if I caused your death.”

I leaned closer and brushed my lips against hers, trying not to let her see how much it hurt me.

I’d need some drugs soon.

Or a bottle of vodka.

“Neither of us is dying anytime soon, Vasha. Let’s get to the clubhouse and find out where we’re staying for today. I’ll probably need to rest tonight before we go home.”

She gave a slight nod and settled back into her seat.

I knew this wasn’t over, that I’d have to convince her again that none of this was her fault.

I could see in her eyes that the deaths of those men weighed heavily on her.

Then again, she wouldn’t be my sweet Vasha if she didn’t feel things deeply.

She had a big heart, and a gentle soul.

I knew I was damn lucky to be able to call her mine.

At the clubhouse, we met with Patriot and he showed us to our lodgings for the night.

As an old military property, there were quite a few duplexes and even some larger homes that had probably been occupied by officers at some point.

The duplex we would be using for the night was clean, and we’d been assured the other half was empty.

The unit was apparently only used for guests.

Even though I’d brought Fangs and Cotton with me, they were being housed elsewhere.

I was thankful both were still standing, even though Fangs had also been shot.

A Prospect showed a short while later with our belongings and Vasha put them away while I lay in bed.

One look at me and she’d asked if we could stay a few days.

I could only imagine how rough I looked right now.

She’d forced a few painkillers into me, even though I’d wanted to wait until I knew she was settled for the day.

It seemed my wife could be stubborn when she needed to be, which only made me smile.

After she’d put everything away, she curled against me on the bed, her head on my uninjured shoulder and her hand over my heart.

“We should rest,” she said.

I knew she mostly meant I should rest, and I knew she was right.

At the same time, I didn’t think I could sleep anytime soon.

I could have lost her today.

We’d been together such a short time, and already she’d slipped through my fingers once and almost been taken today.

The thought of having to live without her made my chest ache.

Things were still new between us, but sometimes a man just knew when he’d found the woman meant for him, and Vasha was definitely it for me.

I toyed with the small circle in my pocket, then pulled it out.

Without a word, I slid the ring onto her finger.

I’d bought it while she recovered after she’d run from me.

It had never seemed like the right moment to give it to her, but right now, I needed her to know what she meant to me.

I could say the words all day, but I knew that words were empty without actions.

She deserved the sun, moon, and all the stars.

Instead, she’d have to settle for a platinum band with a few small diamonds across the top.

It wasn’t overly fancy, but it had cost me a chunk of change.

“You got me a ring?” she asked.

“My wife should have a wedding ring. Should have given it to you sooner. Been carrying it around for a while.”

“I don’t need jewelry, Slider. All I need is you.”

I smiled and rubbed my beard against the top of her head.

She really was the sweetest woman, and always seemed to know what to say.

Well, other than that awkward moment she’d informed me we were married.

That had infuriated me, but not for the reasons she’d believed.

I was glad that she was back in my arms, that I’d found her and convinced her to stay with me.

I’d nearly let her get away, and I knew now that I’d have spent the rest of my life looking for her.

Just one taste and she’d gotten under my skin, and wormed her way into my heart shortly after that.

“We’ll go home in a day or two. Need to make sure Fangs and Cotton are okay to ride their bikes, and my shoulder might need a good two days before I’m ready to drive all the way home. The other two wounds aren’t that bad. Lived through worse.”

She snuggled closer.

“I don’t care as long as we’re together. They said we could stay as long as we needed.”

I hoped she still felt that way twenty years from now.

I knew that I’d never grow tired of her, always want her with me.

What I didn’t know was whether or not this life would get to be too much for her.

It wasn’t the first time I’d been shot, and I doubted it would be the last.

Could she handle being the wife of someone like me?

I took risks, and sometime in the future the price could be my life.

The last thing I wanted to do was leave her, but I owed my allegiance to my club.

Whatever Spider asked of me, I’d do without hesitation.

“You aren’t sleeping,” she said, lifting her head to glare at me.

“Sorry, kroshka . Too much on my mind I guess, and my adrenaline is still pumping. Might take me a while to unwind.”

She rubbed her hand up and down my abdomen, each slide of her palm taking her closer to my belt.

I might be banged up, but my cock was working just fine.

Her light touch was enough to make me hard as granite.

I didn’t know what she was up to, but it she wasn’t careful, I’d bend her over and fuck her good and proper.

It would be worth whatever pain it caused me.

Vasha shifted to her knees, then worked her way between my thighs.

I watched her, curious just what she was up to.

I had an idea, but surely I was mistaken.

She wouldn’t really…

The clink of my belt was loud in the otherwise quiet room as she unfastened it, then reached for the button and zipper on my jeans.

My dick practically jumped out of my pants, eager to greet her.

When she wrapped her slender fingers around my shaft, I couldn’t contain my groan.

“Don’t move,” she said, holding my gaze as she leaned down and lapped at the head of my cock.

My hips jerked and it took every bit of control I had to lie still.

I’d had my dick sucked plenty of times, but I’d never been this turned on by it.

She lapped at the head some more, licking up the pre-cum already beading there, before sliding her lips down my shaft.

I didn’t think she could take me, but she let go and placed her hand on my hip.

Bobbing her head, she worked my cock into her mouth, then I hit the back of her throat and sucked in a breath.

My eyes nearly rolled into the back of my head when she kept going, taking all of me, then swallowing.

Holy shit !

My wife could give porn star worthy blowjobs!

She worked me, sucking and licking, wrapping her tongue around my shaft on the downstroke.

I knew I wouldn’t last much longer.

I placed my hand on her head, holding her still as I thrust up into her mouth.

It only took another few seconds before I was coming, filling her mouth.

Vasha swallowed it all.

When she pulled off, her lips were swollen and she licked off the rest of my cum.

So.

Fucking.

Hot.

“Come here,” I said.

She shook her head.

I arched an eyebrow and stared at her.

“Vasha.”

“No, Upton. I didn’t do that so you’d reciprocate. I only hoped it might help you relax enough to fall asleep.”

I wanted to argue with her, but she tilted her chin at a stubborn angle and I knew it wasn’t a fight I’d easily win.

She was trying to take care of me, so I might as well let her.

This time.

Once the holes in my body were healing, I’d make sure she screamed my name all night long.

“Just come lie next to me.” I glanced down at my open pants.

“Maybe after I get my boots and jeans off.”

She smiled a little as she helped me get more comfortable.

I left my underwear on so that maybe I wouldn’t be quite so tempted to slip inside my hot wife.

Vasha took a hot shower, changed into her pajamas, then joined me in bed.

It wasn’t long before I felt sleep pulling me under.

For the first time I could remember, I felt content.

Happy.

My woman was safe, and now I could really focus on what I wanted to do…

knock her up!