Page 27 of The Pakhan’s Forced Bride (West Coast Bratva Pakhans #3)

The plane lands in Las Vegas, bumping along the private stretch of runway as it slows to a stop. It was a peaceful flight without any issues, but I’m relieved it’s over, and I get to stretch my legs.

Belle is curled up in my arms, asleep for the last portion of the flight. My arm is dead, and I desperately needed to move, but didn’t dare wake her.

Her eyes flutter open as the plane slows.

“We’re here?” she mumbles, rubbing her face.

“We’re here,” I confirm, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.

It’s been three months since we were last in Las Vegas, the day we left her brother’s house, my wounds healed, and my heart swollen with love as we flew back to LA to start our relationship properly this time.

In those three months since Belle moved in with me, my home has become entirely her home. My life and her life have become one.

We make decisions together, and every day with her has brought more happiness to my life than I could ever have imagined.

I can’t even remember what it was like before her. It seems like a lifetime ago—one I never want to go back to.

“I’m excited to see my brother and Ulyana.” She wiggles in her seat, eager to get off the plane, stretching her beautiful legs out in front of her.

I pull my phone from my pocket and flick it out of airplane mode so that I can double-check that our car is here, but within a few seconds, the phone is ringing.

I scrunch my nose, grinning at her.

Belle rolls her eyes. “Work never stops,” she complains.

“It’s okay, Drake has everything handled while I’m gone. This will be a proper holiday weekend, I promise.”

“You'd better make that call quick, then.” She throws me a cheeky smile.

I slide the green button to answer Drake’s call.

“Hey man, we just landed, what’s up?” I ask.

“Shit, I know you told me not to bother you unless it was an emergency, but I locked myself out of the store room.” He chuckles nervously.

“The receptionist at warehouse five has a spare set of keys.”

“Tessa, oh my word. Dammit, I forgot about that,” he huffs.

“Mm. You spend so much time eyeing her whenever you’re around her that you don’t pay attention to these important things.”

He chuckles. “Bullshit,” he says defensively, but I know they’ve been dating for a few months already. I’ve been dropping hints that I don’t have a problem with it, but he’ll only admit it when he’s ready.

“While I’ve got you on the line, and seeing as this is the only work call my wife is going to let me take this weekend—" I wink at Belle, and she nods seriously. “Can you just give me a quick update on the status of those attacks, San Diego included?”

“It’s completely quiet. I chatted with Emmanuil an hour ago. Nothing is happening. We still have no idea who’s behind the attacks, but for now it’s quiet.”

“Nestor said the same thing. I’ll talk to Ben now, too. So weird that they just up and vanished.”

“I’ve got a feeling they’re just lying low. They’ll be back.”

I let out a heavy sigh. “I know. I hate the fact we don’t have any leads.”

“Stop worrying about it and enjoy your weekend with your wife in Vegas.”

“You’re right. I’ll talk to you when I get back. Have a good day, man, later.”

I hang up the phone, and Belle takes my hand, pulling me off the plane.

We walk towards the waiting car and climb into the back seat together.

“I’ve booked a really good hotel,” I say, pulling her close to my side.

“Good. Benedikt offered for us to stay there, but I get shy doing naughty things there; it doesn’t feel right,” she giggles, her cheeks flushing, and I know she’s thinking about what happened in the sunroom the last time we were at her brother’s place.

“He’ll never find out about it,” I laugh.

“Still. I want our own space—I’d like to have you bend me over a balcony naked with views of Vegas below us.”

“Fuck, let’s skip dinner and go straight to the hotel.”

Her bright blue eyes shine with mischief. “You have to wait.”

“Mm. You’re such a tease,” I complain, slipping my hand between her thighs and pushing it up between her legs.

She bites her lip and spreads her legs to grant me access.

By the time we arrive at her brother’s place, we’ve worked each other up, and I don’t know how we’re going to get through dinner without sneaking off to a back room.

Walking into the house feels different now. There is no tension between Ben and me. In fact, we’ve been getting on great. It turns out we have a lot in common, and he’s a brilliant businessman. We’ve started a number of joint ventures together, and our alliance has become stronger than ever.

It is definitely going to make it easier to take down our common enemy when they show their faces again.

“Hello, Barbara,” I say, leaning down to kiss Belle’s mother’s cheek and hug her hello. She gushes over me, grabbing my bicep in her hand and squeezing.

“My daughter is a lucky girl,” she says, winking at me.

“Mom,” Belle gasps in horror. “Stop that.” She chases her mother away from me, laughing.

At least everyone seems to have benefited from our relationship. Her family isn’t holding any grudges against me for kidnapping her in the first place, thank goodness.

Her mother is happy her daughter found a rich man. Her brother has a new ally, and her sister-in-law has a place to stay when she comes to visit Los Angeles on shopping trips.

Benedikt comes to greet us, handing me a beer right away. “How was the flight?”

“Easy. How are things on this side?”

“I have a few pieces of information to discuss with you after dinner.”

“ No business, ” Ulyana and Belle say at the same time.

The men chuckle.

“Alright, we’ll leave it for Monday.”

“My sisters should be arriving soon,” I say. “They’re looking forward to meeting everyone.”

“Why didn’t they fly in with you?” Ulyana asks.

Belle laughs. “They both wanted to come a few days early to explore Vegas. I gave them a must-see list of all the good places.”

***

When Kira and Alya arrive, they only bring more energy to an already great evening.

We’re sitting at the table outside in the cool evening air, watching the sun set over the horizon, turning the sky red and purple as it sinks lower. Dinner is over, but Benedikt and I are still chatting quietly about business so the girls can’t hear us.

Ulyana, Aly, and Kira are on the sun loungers around the pool, in a deep discussion with Belle. All of the girls are laughing, enjoying cocktails, and time together.

I love watching her with my family and with hers.

I didn’t realize when I fell in love with her that I would get more than a wife, but a whole new life filled with good people.

In a quiet moment, I stand up and make my way to Belle. She stands up and wraps her arms around me. “Do you want to help me bring dessert out?” she asks.

“Of course, what are we having?”

“Salted caramel tart with ice cream and strawberries. Ulyana made it. She’s really good.”

“Can’t wait to taste it.”

I let her take my hand and lead me to the kitchen.

Before she has a chance to start organizing dessert, I lift her onto the kitchen counter and stand between her legs.

“Ardalion,” she scolds me, a beautiful smile on her face.

“I’ve been missing my wife all evening. I don’t like to share you this much,” I grin, tilting her chin up to my face and leaning down to kiss her.

My lips move over hers, and she threads her arms around my waist, pulling me closer against her.

My heart beats in time with hers as we kiss. My body belongs to her. My soul belongs to her.

She is my everything.

“I love you, little bunny,” I whisper against her mouth.

“I love you too, more than words can ever describe,” she whispers back.

“I can’t wait to get you back to our hotel.”

“Mm. I don’t know. I’m very tired,” she teases, faking a yawn.

“It’s fine. You can sleep. I’ll carry on without you.”

She punches me playfully in the arm, laughing loudly. “You are insatiable, Ardalion,” she scolds.

“Only for you, my love. I can never get enough of your perfection.”

*****

THE END