Ravaged Throne: A Russian Mafia Romance (Solovev Bratva #2)(18)

“Do you really think that a man like Belov cares?” Gaiman asks. “He’s not Bratva, not truly. He didn’t feel the human cost of his mistake.”

“And you think that makes him dangerous?” I ask.

“It makes him reckless. And willing to do anything,” Gaiman points out. “We don’t know what he’s planning.”

“We never did. I’ve got as far as I have because my guesses have been right.”

“And you have a spy on the inside,” Jax points out.

“That helps.”

“Does the ball and chain know?” Jax asks.

“She doesn’t need to know,” I say. “I’ll keep my secrets so long as she insists on keeping hers.”

“Is that what tonight is all about?” He turns and peers through the window into the dining room, where a small contingent of staff is preparing the room for our dinner.

“No. Tonight is about reminding Willow of the way things work in this world.”

“How romantic. No candles?” Jax asks with a teasing smile.

“I’ll save that for my dinner with you,” I drawl. I push out of my seat and wave them off. “Now get out, the both of you.”

“Off to the servants’ quarters we go,” Jax groans.

“Shut up and walk,” retorts Gaiman, shoving the larger man in the back.

Before they disappear down the path that will take them to the staff cabins ringing the main house, Jax stops and gives me a wink. “Don’t break any of the furniture, boss man.”

I ignore him and head inside.

I remove my coat and hang it behind the door. It’s much warmer inside than out, but it’s hard to completely keep out the chill when you’re situated this high up. It sits in your bones in a way I can’t shake.

The maids finish in a hurry and disappear. I settle into my seat at the table, thoughts churning.

Moments later, I hear Willow’s door open.

I notice her bare feet descending the staircase first, but I think nothing of it. At least not until I realize that her legs seem to be going on forever. I didn’t give her a dress that short.

Then the juicy curve of her ass appears, and shock radiates through me.

At the base of the spiral staircase, she swings around to face me. Her dark hair hangs loose, but given that it rests just past her shoulders these days, it doesn’t offer much in the way of coverage. Her breasts are bared, her nipples pointing right at me. Along with the V between her legs.

“Eight o’clock,” she says lightly, stepping off the last step. “I’m right on time.”

I bite back a smirk. She’s a bold one. Always has been, really. But now she has the fire inside of her to let it all burn.

“The waiters will be out in a minute,” I say casually.

She cocks her head to the side and smiles. “Great, I’m starving.”

She walks over to the table and places her hand on the chair, but she makes no move to sit down. She stares at me, her self-satisfied smirk a challenge.

“Sir, can we serve—”

The waiter, whose name has already slipped my mind, comes to an abrupt stop the moment he enters the room and catches sight of Willow.

He’s carrying a bottle of sparkling water that nearly topples from his hands. Willow lets out a little giggle that’s entirely unlike her.

“Oops,” she says. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“I… I… you… you didn’t… ma’am.”

His cheeks are flushed with color. Even though he’s trying not to look at her, his eyes can’t help drinking her in.

And all I can think is, Stop looking at what is fucking mine.

“Get out,” I growl in a low voice that echoes across the room. “And stay out until I call for you. Tell the others.”

The waiter trips in his haste to get out of the room and disappears into the kitchen. I get to my feet slowly and glare at Willow.

“What?” she asks, with a shrug of her shoulders. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”

“I offered you clothes.”

“And I said I’d rather go naked than wear what you’d picked for me. You gave me your blessing. Thus, here we are.”

“Is that what I gave you?” I ask, rounding the table so that I’m standing right in front of her. “My blessing?”

“That’s what I took it to mean.”

“Then you were mistaken.”

She smiles and I can see her confidence grow by the second. “Well, I’m here now. And like I said, I’m hungry. Are you going to feed me?”

“Not like that.”

My eyes rake down her body, but she seems unconcerned. She gives a deep sigh and sits down. “Well, don’t make me wait too long. Whatever that is smells delicious. You can tell the cute waiter to bring out dinner.”

I clench my fists. She’s really going for it.

“Go get your robe,” I tell her.

She looks up at me with a sweet smile. “I’d rather not. I kind of like walking around naked. It’s very… freeing.”

She’s feeling triumphant, but the night has only just begun. Snarling, I spin away and leave her sitting there at the dining table by herself.