CATALINA
We pulledup to a large apartment building. It was the best representation of New York’s skyscrapers.
Tall, ostentatious, and luxurious.
“We’re in the penthouse,” Nikolay said close to my ear.
I ignored him, pulling away, taking in everything. New York was their territory. I knew there were small gangs around here, but they were nowhere near as powerful as the Vasiliev Bratva. The second biggest gang, the Blood … something—I had forgotten the name—was still not as powerful or as large in numbers as the Bratva. I should feel safe here.
I wasn’t sure how I was feeling just yet.
Tired, mostly.
Behind me, I heard Nikolay growl before he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. I knew I couldn’t get away from him so easily. I tried to shrug off his touch. He held on. I rolled my eyes.
“What did you do?” Mikhail asked, watching our interaction with a tinge of amusement in his blue eyes.
At least Mikhail seemed lighter than he had in recent days.
Perhaps something good came out of seeing his mom for the last time.
I thought it had to do with the fact that he knew she was safe and at peace.
“Oh, lots of things,” Nikolay answered. “You’re going to have to be more specific than that.”
Mikhail laughed. “What did you do to piss off our little princess?”
Nikolay opened his mouth, and I covered it with my hand, my cheeks burning a bit. No way did I want him to say anything about why I was pissed at him.
Nikolay’s green eyes laughed at me, and I scowled up at his perfect face.
“Kotyonok?”
My eyes came up to where Leo and Kirill were sitting in the car. “Nothing,” I said softly.
“It’s like that, is it? It’s okay. I’m usually pretty good at figuring things out. I’ll be thorough once we get upstairs.”
I felt I was as red as a tomato now. I shifted around in my seat, reminding myself of the butt plug inside me.
Nikolay had put it in before we came downstairs at Gabriel’s house. He took me to the lavatory to remove it once on the plane but brought me back to the lavatory to insert it back into place before we landed, and now I was a mess of confusing emotions.
I didn’t know if I was turned on or pissed off.
Perhaps both.
Damien watched me quietly.
He hadn’t said much since we’d left Gabriel’s house, and a part of me wondered if it was because he missed New Mexico.
If we left, then I was going to assume Henry was taken care of.
I shivered, thinking about it.
“Cold?” Damien asked me, his dark eyes missing nothing.
I shook my head.
“Come on. I bet you’re tired from all the travel.”