Sweet Collateral

He pulls away and once again, reality filters back in.

“Call him.” I step back and glance down at my white tank top now covered in faded red and brown smudges. “And put a shirt on.”

He grins. “Why would you want that?”

“I’m just thinking of Samuel. You’ll make him jealous.”

I turn around and step over the now fully conscious beaten man. “Please.” He makes a grab for my ankle until Rafael steps on his wrist, pulling the gun from the back of his waist. I hurry to the door, slipping outside before I hear the bang.

I like that Rafael doesn’t hide what he is from me, but I equally, my mind still grapples with the basic morality of coldly shooting a man. Not because it bothers me, but because it doesn’t.

What does that make me?

Lucas and I are side-by-side, jogging on the treadmills. He’s so much better, although sometimes he has weakness in his left leg. When I spot Rafael’s large form propped against the doorframe, I press the stop button. His arms are folded over his chest again, making them look even thicker and him even more imposing. At least he’s wearing a shirt this time.

“You okay?” I ask as I approach him.

“I called Nero.”

“And?”

He jerks his head toward the door. “I’m about to have a meeting with Carlos and Samuel. Come on.”

I glance down at myself. “Can I grab a shower first?”

“No. I like you sweaty.”

“You have a problem.”

Taking my hand, he leads me into the hallway. “I do, she’s about five foot two, blonde, hot.” He suddenly slams me up against the wall. My breath leaves my lungs in a rush, and my heart skips in anticipation. I used to hate the want I saw in his eyes, now I crave it because I know he wants me, he loves me, and he’ll protect me against everything and anything. It’s a heady feeling, that depth of loyalty, of love. And I know all of this from just a look.

His hands grip my thighs, and then he lifts me, imprisoning me with his hips and caging me with his arms either side of my head.

His lips slam over mine, stealing not just my breath, but everything. It doesn’t matter how many times he kisses me, it always feels earth-shattering, as though he’s realigning the stars just for me. Sparks ignite between us like static electricity powering up before a storm. That’s what he always feels like to me, being thrown into a storm. He’s wild and fierce and utterly chaotic. His lips skim down my throat and he swipes his tongue over my skin. “You always taste so good, avecita.” He always gets like this if I’m sweaty. I should probably find it gross, but there’s something fundamentally primal about it, which makes it so very Rafael.

Teeth pinch my jaw, and I tilt my head to the side, still struggling to catch a full breath. He chuckles, the deep rumbling sound reverberating through me.

“So responsive, avecita.”

I place my lips against his and kiss him slowly, teasing my tongue over his bottom lip. He groans and rolls his hips against me. “I thought you had a meeting.”

“I do. But you and I will finish this later.” He kisses me once more before allowing me to slide to the ground.

As soon as we’re in the office, he rushes behind his desk and sits down. I drop my chin to hide a smile.

“I spoke to Nero earlier,” Rafael starts. Samuel shifts uneasily. “He and Una have a plan to take down Nicholai Ivanov.”

I narrow my eyes. “Why would Una take down her beloved Nicholai?”

His gaze swings to me, cold and hard, every inch the cartel boss. Gone is my playful man. “It would seem Una is playing both sides. She’s trying to take him down from the inside.”

“Don’t trust her.”

“I’m with Anna,” Carlos pipes up from beneath the shadow of his hood.

Rafael leans back in his chair and takes a cigar from his inside jacket pocket, lighting it. Smoke billows around him, making him look almost demonic.

“The Russians are a problem. And they are virtually untouchable. It’s possible that the only way to take them down is from the inside.”

“What’s their plan?” Samuel asks.

“Nicholai wants their child. It seems he sent Una to New York to retrieve him as a test of loyalty. She wants to go back to Nicholai and tell him that Nero sent the child here, to Anna, for protection.”

Samuel swipes a hand over his face. “That would bring half of his Elite army here.”

“Yes, but Una believes that Nicholai doesn’t fully trust her. She thinks he will insist on coming.” His gaze locks with mine. “She is his weakness, and so she blinds him to the risk. With him away from Russia, he’ll be at his weakest. It’s our best shot.”