“I will go with,” she breathes as she braces her hands on the table and tilts her head back.
With my free hand, I grab hold of her hair as I begin to rub her harder, only skimming over her opening.
“Damien,” she gasps as she begins to ride my hand. “Please take me with.” Her hips move in sync with my hand. “Please. Please. Please.”
My lips curve up into a satisfied smirk as I make her orgasm, and then I murmur in her ear, “You don’t leave my side during a run.”
“I won’t,” she breathlessly agrees.
I pull my hand free from her pants and bring my middle finger to her mouth. “Suck, Princess.”
Her lips open for me, and then her tongue swirls around my finger as she tastes herself.
“Feed Dana and Cillian and get food in your stomach so I can take you to bed,” I order as I take a seat at the island again.
Winter gives me an alluring smile as she continues to plate the food.
God, this woman. I wonder if she knows what power she holds over me?
Chapter 26
WINTER
Going in search of Damien, I find him in my father’s office. A frown darkens his face as he stares at something on the laptop.
“What are you doing?” I ask as I move around the desk to see what he’s looking at.
“Checking the designated airport and surrounding areas of Sierra Leone for the next run,” he murmurs deep in thought.
I glance over the map, then ask, “When are we going?”
Damien glances at me, and I can see he’s still not happy with me going on the run. “Three days from now. I’ve made contact with the rebels this morning.”
“Your father always said there was something special about the diamonds in Sierra Leone,” Cillian suddenly says as he comes in. “They have a special light and coloring.” Cillian takes a seat, a flash of pain on his face from the movement. “We’re leaving in three days?”
“We?” I ask as I straighten up. “You’re in no shape to travel.”
“I’m fine,” he grumbles. “There’s no way I’m letting you face the RUF without me there.”
“RUF?” I ask.
“Radical Unified Front,” Damien mutters. “It’s what the rebels call themselves.”
“Cillian, you’re still recovering,” I state. “Sit this one out. I’ll have Damien, and we’re taking five men with us.”
“Sierra Leone is not like any country you’ve been to, poppet,” Cillian says. “It’s ravaged by war. “Issa Gbao, the leader of the RUF, will kill first, then ask questions. You can’t argue with him the way you argue with us. I’m going with. I can handle a weapon, and someone needs to keep you on a leash.”
Damien lets out a chuckle, and it has me narrowing my eyes at him before leveling Cillian with a scowl. “Don’t treat me like I’m a child,” I bite out. “I’ve bled for this business. I’m the Blood Princess. This is my legacy, and I will not let you and Damien keep me from taking my rightful place.”
Losing my temper, I stalk out of the office, knowing I’ll say something I’ll regret. I’m tired of being treated as a lessor.
I walk out of the house and keep going until I find myself nearing the family cemetery. My pace slows down until I stop in front of my father’s grave.
The anger keeps simmering in my chest as my gaze drifts over my loved ones' final resting place.
“They think I’m weak.” I fist my hands at my sides as I try to slow my breathing down.
“I don’t think you’re weak,” Damien suddenly says behind me.
I swing around, directing a glare at him. “You make me feel weak. Cillian as well. Neither of you trust me.”
Damien shakes his head as he closes the distance between us. When he reaches for my neck, I pull away. His eyes snap to mine, and then his hand shoots out, and before I can move, his fingers wrap around my throat, and he yanks me to him.
His dark eyes penetrate mine as he growls, “I don’t think you’re weak, Princess. I just don’t want you anywhere near danger. It fucking puts the fear of God in me, and it’s an emotion I’m not comfortable with at all.”
“I can take care of myself. How many times must I prove myself to you?” I snap as I grab hold of his wrist. Damien’s eyes narrow on me. “You’ll never see me as an equal, will you?”
The thought stabs through my heart.
His expression turns to granite as his fingers flex around my throat. “I’m fucking trying, Winter. I agreed to you going with me. What more do you want?”
My breaths explode over my lips as I cry, “Your respect! Not just your love. Not only your controlling possessiveness. I just want you to respect me as the Blood Princess.” It feels like this fight’s been coming since we got married, and now I can’t stop the words from spilling from me. “I’m not just your wife. I’m a Mafia princess… a queen, and I demand to be treated as one. I killed Antonio Blanco. I fought for the Hemsley legacy. My family lies behind me.”