Where was the notebook now? Where would her grandfather hide it? Had the Anwar family become suspicious of Drake Donovan and Jake Bannaconni? It wasn’t as if most criminal elements knew Donovan was no one to mess around with. And Bannaconni was notorious for bringing down businesses. He’d hit a few mob-owned businesses, but the majority he took apart were legitimate. That left the question, what else was in that notebook?
Was there evidence against Fyodor? Or Mitya? Joshua? Even Elijah? All of them had banded together to take down the worst of the crime families. In a way, for Mitya, it was to try to make up for some of the horrendous crimes he’d committed working for his father. He knew it was the same for Fyodor.
Mitya was very aware he was born to be a vor. He’d been raised to be the kingpin. To rule a lair. He knew no other life, nor was he suited to any other. He had tried to be a bodyguard. He didn’t want the temptation or corruption power could bring. He saw what it had done to the leaders of the lairs in his world back home. He saw evidence of it here in his new home as well. Friends turning on friends.
“Mitya.” Ania sat up slowly, pushing back her heavy hair, the action lifting her breasts as she scooted to put her back to the headboard. “What’s wrong? What did Dymka tell you?”
“He wants to make things right with her.”
“You’re very agitated.”
It was merely an observation, not an accusation, but for some reason, his temper flared. Instantly, he realized Dymka was ashamed and didn’t want his woman to know what had been said between the two of them.
If you want her to understand and allow you close to Jewel, I have to make her understand.
Mitya continued to pace, trying not to look at Ania. The covers were pooled around her waist, but she’d lifted her hands to her hair, trying to tame the mass. He couldn’t help but stare. He liked her breasts. He liked how perfect they were. The soft mounds, the tight little buds that grew even tighter for him when his mouth was on her. Her legs shifted under the blankets, drawing his attention there. His body responded in spite of the fact that he was every bit as agitated as she’d observed.
Tell her. She will despise me.
That is your judgment on yourself, not hers on you. Mitya hoped he told the truth.
He returned to the bed, standing close to her, his hands on his belt buckle. He slowly stripped off his trousers, thankful he’d removed his shoes earlier. “He was jealous when the other leopards were surrounding you in the bakery. And furious with Jewel when she rose. He didn’t understand that she had no control over the timing. He also didn’t understand that a female—”
He broke off realizing he was getting into murky waters. His shirt floated to the floor. “A female leopard,” he corrected, “can be very flirtatious during a heat. They are vocal and very amorous. They will call a male to them and then rebuff them quite viciously. Two minutes later they will crouch down and call to the male again.”
She began to braid her hair, her eyes on first his face, but sliding down to his cock and then back up again. Biting her lip, she nodded. “I looked it up once. There isn’t anything on shifters, but there is plenty on leopards.”
“Then you know. Dymka was angry with her. He didn’t realize she was behaving naturally.”
“Like a wild, out-of-control sex maniac.” She blushed. “Like I get with you.” Once again, her gaze dropped to his cock.
His erection was thick and very prominent. He liked that she looked, and she obviously liked what she saw.
“I believe it is mutual, Ania. And I like it. I knew what to expect, so I have an advantage you, your leopard and mine don’t have. In any case, he was so angry, he threatened her with a beating. Leopards can be extremely rough with one another, so that wasn’t the worst he could have said. Jewel didn’t like it, but I expect she would have been okay had he stopped there. He threatened you with me beating you.”
Her hands stilled in her hair. He thought she went a little pale.
He reached down and caught at the blankets. “Do you think I would hit you? Ever?”
She hesitated before answering. When she drew in a breath, her breasts rose and fell. She dropped her arms. “I think Dymka drives you, and if he was raging . . .” She didn’t finish but looked a little anguished, as if she was terrified he’d be angry with her for even considering it, yet she couldn’t help herself.
“There is always that fear, but as I grew older, I became stronger. Very strong. I had to be in order to resist my father. In doing so, I found I had much more control over my leopard and his mood swings. I learned to handle him and the various negative emotions he brings to me. I know absolutely, without a doubt, I would never hit you in anger or rage. I despised my father for hitting my mother, and I would never want to be that man.”