Chapter Twelve
Knox flicked away a flake of ash that landed on his suit. He continued watching the warehouse burn with some satisfaction. This one wasn’t one of his. It belonged to the Bratva and it housed a shitload of heroin.
“You look pleased with yourself, boss,” Patrick remarked next to him.
“There was never any choice. They thought they could get away with stealing from us. We’re just sending back a message,” Knox reminded him.
Patrick blew out a breath. “You’re right, of course.”
Knox looked Patrick up and down, noted the dark shadows under his eyes. He’d also lost some weight, Knox noticed. “You look like you could use a break. Go home, Pat. Book a flight somewhere and take it easy for a couple of days.”
“And miss out on all the fun?”
They watched the building burn, not speaking.
Six months had passed since he’d taken Leah. Every day felt like a damn adventure. Knox thought his obsession with her would fade over time, but it was the exact opposite. He wanted her more than ever.
“I might just take you up on your advice, boss. I’ll take a holiday somewhere warm and exotic. Get a tan,” Patrick said. He retreated to his car.
Knox could hear police sirens in the distance, but they wouldn’t interfere with his on-going war with the Bratva. They were warned to stay out of their squabbles.
Knox returned to his car.
“Where to, Mr. Carter?” Craig asked.
“Leah.”
Knox didn’t need to elaborate. Craig drove him to the pastry school Leah was currently attending. School kept her occupied, busy and he’d never seen her happier. Knox had gained a few more pounds since he always volunteered to be her food tester, but he didn’t mind.
Knox didn’t mention it to Leah, but he had one of his men pose as a janitor to keep a close eye on her at all times. He was possessive of his woman, although he knew Leah could handle herself. Apart from her baking classes, Knox had also convinced her to take self-defense and shooting lessons as well.
She didn’t put up any resistance. Leah understood that being with a man like Knox also put her in constant danger. Knox was fucking proud of having a goddess like her on his arm. He didn’t hide her from the public’s eye or his enemies. They knew if they messed with Leah, they had hell to pay.
Knox caught sight of his girl, streaming out of the school’s doors. Leah was smiling, talking to a group of her friends, and holding a container filled with cookies. She waved goodbye to them then headed right for the car.
Once she slid in the backseat with Knox, she flashed him a wide smile that was almost blinding. Radiant. That was the perfect word to describe her at this very instant. Leah didn’t belong to his world, he always understood that, but she made room in her heart for him.
Knox pressed the button that raised the divider between them and the driver. He patted his lap. “Come here, kitten.”
Leah smiled shyly at him. She set her container of cookies on the seat and straddled Knox’s lap. The moment she gripped his shoulders, Knox clasped his hand over the back of her neck, pushing their faces close. He took her mouth and devoured her. Knox thrust his tongue down her throat, loving the feel of her heavy breasts against his chest.
Knox’s need for her was always insatiable. He wanted to rip that flimsy dress off her and have her right here in the backseat. His windows were tinted, bulletproof. Knox always paid Craig handsomely to be discreet. No one would see or hear them.
“I fucking missed you,” Knox murmured.
“You saw me off to school just this morning.”
“Tell me you didn’t miss me one bit.” Knox ran his fingers down the buttons of her dress and gave her left tit a squeeze. She shifted on his lap and let out a full-throated moan that got Knox’s cock hard in seconds.
“Then I’d be lying, and we never lie to each other,” she murmured. Leah leaned in close. Knox thought she was going to kiss him, but she only sniffed at his suit. She frowned. “Knox, why do you smell like ash?”
“Do you really want to know?” he asked.
She bit her lower lip. Knox didn’t keep secrets from his woman. Ever.
“We burned down a Bratva-owned warehouse. They’re responsible for half of the city’s drug trade,” Knox told her.
Leah knew the Bratva had been responsible for a lost shipment. She had an inkling of his business dealings but not the intimate details. His woman didn’t want to be kept in the dark entirely, but she wanted to make sure Knox was safe at all times. As if a man like Knox needed any protection, but he liked it when she fussed and worried over him. Knox never had before.