Owned by the Boss Read online

  Right now, as much as I don’t want to admit it, Stella has become that weakness.

  The viewing drags on, but no one comes to speak to me, not anymore. Stella seems to catch on, and her cheeks redden with anger. I start to pull my hand free of hers after a while, when her grip tightens, and she flinches.

  “Danya.”

  I follow her stare across the room to where Lev stands. “Fucking bastards.”

  “Please tell me that’s not what I think it is,” she whispers.

  I want to tell her it’s not, but the proof is right in front of our faces. Andrei and Aleksandr, the twins, have finally arrived at Father’s viewing, but they’re not alone. If I had no suspicions about my brothers yet, I do now. They each stand with a woman on their arm, but it’s not their choice of guests that bothers me, not entirely. The women are Camilla and Elena De Luca, both daughters to Francesco De Luca, the man we attempted to kill. What the fuck are they thinking bringing them here?

  What’s worse are the flashes of gold on their hands. Married.

  “They married De Lucas?” Stella whispers hotly beside me. “Are they serious?”

  I don’t have an answer for her. The twins turn as one, as if finally sensing my anger. They grin and pull their new wives closer. It would appear Stella and I don’t have as much time as I thought to ensure our safety. I tell Stella I need some air and rush from the room. She says my name harshly, but she ignored me all morning. I can do the same to her right now. No one will make a move on her during the viewing.

  The second I’m outside, I grab for the railing around the stone patio and spew curses. The twins know exactly what they’re doing. They just joined the oldest Mafia family in the city to the most powerful one. Someone tipped off Francesco that we were going to kill him. I knew the twins were involved somehow, but marriages? This changes everything.

  “Sir,” Lukas says as he joins me a few minutes later.

  “Someone have eyes on Stella?”

  “Yes, she’s well looked after. What do you want us to do about this new complication?”

  “We stick to the plan. Track down who ordered the hit on Mikhail. Find the traitors within our family, all of them, and weed them out.”

  “And if the evidence leads to the twins?”

  My hands curl around the stone railing as I leer. “I’ll finally have an excuse to kill them.”

  His shoes scuff against the stones as he comes closer. “About today with your wife. I believe she went into a bookstore to meet someone.”

  I hang my head. “’Course she did. You see who?”

  “No, but when we met her back at the car, she was holding a business card. Tried to play it off like it was nothing.” He lets out a sigh then says quietly, “You don’t think she’s still trying to bring down the families, do you?”

  After the reading of Mikhail’s will, my relationship with Stella has become strained. I agreed with her before that we wouldn’t have kids. Then the will came out and our stability in the family grew less so. There were grumblings from others about finding who was responsible for the making of the documentary. Mikhail’s death only put the hunt for the responsible party on hold. Sooner or later, someone will come poking around again. I talked to Stella about it or tried to. Each time it turned into a fight that left one of us storming away and slamming doors. I told her time and again there’s no easy way to walk away from the families, not without dire consequences. That recklessness appeared in her eyes, and I warned her not to do anything stupid.

  Now, we hardly speak to each other during the daylight hours, at least. But every night we find our way back to each other, holding on tight as the passion builds until neither one of us can take it.

  I hoped my point had gotten through to her of how much danger she’s in from just being a Russo. After today, I guess not.

  “I’ll talk to her again.”

  “Danya, as much as you don’t want to hear it, until this shit blows over, you might want to restrict her to the mansion.”

  I laugh bitterly. “Yes, because that’ll work so well.”

  “It might be the only way to keep her alive. Keep you both alive,” he adds.

  “It won’t come to that.”

  The second I tell Stella she’s under house arrest, she’ll lose whatever trust she has in me. Our relationship that is barely hanging on some days will shatter into bitterness and loathing. I can’t stand to see her looking at me like she did her father.

  I take another minute to collect myself, then turn around and walk back inside. Just before we enter the sitting room, I pull Lukas aside. “Check in with all our men. I want a report by midnight, understand? They should do whatever they have to do, but figure out what the hell is going on in my family.”

  Lukas nods, then backs away. I rejoin Stella but don’t look at her. If I do, she’ll see the anger in my eyes and that’ll just start a fight. Once we’re home and away from prying eyes, then we can get into it. And maybe this time, she’ll listen to me.

  Chapter 4

  Stella

  I kick out of my heels as soon as we’re back home. As I start for the stairs, Danya keeps walking and heads for the hall leading to his study. He hasn’t spoken to me since he came back inside at the viewing. I tap my fingers on the banister, telling myself to give him space. He’s burying his father tomorrow.

  My parents didn’t even get a funeral, not like this, at least. They were buried in a private ceremony no one knew about except Danya and me. Joseph Russo was ceremoniously dumped in a hole. Hannah was given a bit more care, thanks to my husband. That was two nights ago. I miss Mom, but at the same time, it’s comforting to know she’s finally away from my abusive dad. She can be at peace, while my life gets to continue in this hell.

  I sit on the steps for a long while, listening to the subtle shifting of the mansion, the rustling of papers echoing out from Danya’s study. The deep timber of his voice reaches me every now and then, telling me he’s on the phone again. It’s what he’s been doing nearly every night until one or two in the morning. Talking to his men to try and understand what went down the night of the charity ball. Any other night I would’ve gone to bed knowing he’d find his way there eventually.

  Tonight, though, I can’t leave him alone. I’m not sure why, but I just can’t stand the thought of him being in that damn study all by himself, brooding over the death of Mikhail. It doesn’t help that the twins secretly got married. I puff out my cheeks and throw my head back, hoping whatever conversation is about to take place will not turn into a fight. Fat chance of that.

  Leaving my heels on the stairs, I traipse into the kitchen first for a bottle of whiskey. I grab two glasses then make my way to the study. The door is open, and Danya’s setting his phone down when I enter. He doesn’t even look up as I pour him a glass and set it by his hand. I pour a second for myself, leave the bottle on the desk, and pace slowly around the room.

  “Did you need something?”

  The coldness to his voice only rankles me instead of making me leave him alone if that’s what he wants. “Thought I’d keep you company.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “No, actually, you’re not. Neither of us is, but that’s beside the point.” I shoot back half my glass as I run my fingers along the wooden bookshelves lining the room.

  “I’m trying to track down traitors. How do you expect me to be?”

  “I don’t know, but you talking to me would be nice. Let me know what’s going through your head. Let me know what the hell’s going on.” I didn’t intend to let my anger show, but that’s what we’ve been doing to each other lately. Bringing out the worst. I slam back the rest of the whiskey and set the glass down hard on a random shelf. “Guess it’s too much to ask you to keep me in the loop. I’m just your wife, after all. Your fucking property.”

  “Don’t,” he snaps, and when I turn, he’s standing, clutching the glass in his hand. “Don’t stand there and compare me to those fucking men. I’ve proved mys
elf to you time and again.”

  “Have you?” I challenge. “Have you really? I saw how they all acted around me today, saw how you did. You’re slipping into that same mold and you don’t even realize it.”

  He chucks the glass into the hearth behind him as he shouts in Russian. Most of it’s curses. He takes a deep breath then rants in English, “Dammit, woman, do you not understand anything? Of course, they’re going to treat you like that. Your father betrayed my family. They don’t trust you, and you running around being reckless again is not helping our situation.”

  “How am I being reckless? I’m playing the part.”

  “Not well enough,” he seethes as he stalks around the desk for me. “Lev wants me to remind you of your place, to teach you a lesson. You understand what he means, right? Answer me!”

  “Shut up,” I whisper, shaking with fury, then scream in his face. “Don’t you dare yell at me like that!”

  “I will because it’s the only thing that seems to get through your thick skull. You promised me that you would do as I asked to keep us safe. You swore you would convince them all you’re an obedient, submissive wife.”

  “What have I done that isn’t doing just that, huh? What?” I demand.

  “Your demeanor for starters.” He crosses his arms, his muscles making the fabric of his black dress shirt strain. “I know you can hide your emotions, but for some reason, you refuse to do that when your life depends on it.”

  “My life, huh?” I repeat and back away from him.

  “Yes, your life. We agreed to all of this because of your life. Because I would like to keep you alive and breathing. Is that too much to ask? That you make a sacrifice, a small one just so you can keep living?”

  My bitter laughter cuts over his words. I’m a bit lightheaded, but I can’t decide if it’s from the whiskey or the raw anger I’ve kept at bay since our first discussion about my life and how it was going to go. I turn my back to him as I realize suddenly, I probably shouldn’t be drinking until I know for certain if I am … no. No, I’m not even going to go there, not right now.

  “Sacrifice,” I manage to say through my mad cackling.

  “Yes, what I’ve been doing this whole time to keep you alive.”

  “Right, because I haven’t given up everything for you and this goddamn family!” I shout furiously as I whirl back around, ready to deck him. “Do you even know what you’re asking me to do? What I’ve already done for you? I gave up my life for you!” I yell louder as I charge him and shove him. “I flunked my last semester because you didn’t want me on campus. I dropped out of school when I was so fucking close to accomplishing the only thing in this world that was for me. I gave up my freedom because of the twisted, backward rules of this life, and you have the balls to tell me that I need to make a sacrifice? Fuck you, Danya.”

  I storm around him toward the door when he says, “It’s just school. It’ll be there when this is over.”

  I freeze. “Yeah? And when will this be over? Can you tell me that? When will I finally have a moment of peace, knowing my life isn’t in danger?”

  “I’m working on it. It’s all I’ve been doing.”

  “And? Are you close to getting answers? Do you know who the traitor is?”

  His lips thin and his neck reddens. “If I say I’m working on it, then I am.”

  I nod slowly. “Right, that’s all you can tell me. You’re working on it. Can’t give me any details because I’m just your fucking property.” I try to leave again, but he grabs my arm and pulls me back.

  “Stop saying that,” he says and wraps both arms around me, pinning me to his chest. “You are not just my property. You know how I feel for you, what I will do for you. I am not those men.”

  “Then tell me the truth,” I say. “Tell me what’s really going on out there.”

  “Right back at you, doll face.”

  I stand taller and glare right back at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Really? Who did you meet up with in the bookstore today? You weren’t even supposed to go anywhere, but you did. You keep going back on your word that you’re not up to something.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Oh no? Look me in the eye and tell me you’re not still going through with your plan to bring down the families. Tell me,” he whispers the last, his arms a cage holding me to him.

  I let my face fall back into my old expressionless look and say, “I’m not plotting against the families.”

  “Why don’t I believe you?”

  “I met up with an old friend, that’s it. She’d been messaging me, saying she was worried since I up and disappeared,” I lie. “That’s it. Happy?” I can’t tell if he believes me or not, but his arms loosen a hint.

  “No, I won’t be happy until the traitor is caught and this damn issue with the will is resolved. I won’t be happy until I can close my eyes at night knowing someone is not going to come in the middle of the night to try and take you from me.”

  “Why would anyone come after me now?”

  He lets me go and reaches for the bottle of whiskey on the desk. He takes a long swig then says, “Because getting to you is how they get to me. It’s how they take over the business.”

  “You mean your brothers?”

  “Them getting married to De Lucas tells me one thing. They’re out for blood, and they won’t stop until they have Mikhail’s empire.”

  I shrug, and Danya’s brow furrows. “What? Why not just let them have it?”

  “Do you have any idea what that would mean for us?” he shouts so loud it makes me jump.

  “I do!” I yell right back. “Dammit, this could be our way out. Let them have it. They want it so bad they’re willing to get in bed with the enemy, then just back off. We can run then, Danya. We can take what money we have and run.”

  He runs a hand through his hair and offers me the bottle. “It’s not that simple.”

  In a fit of rage, I grab the bottle and throw it against the bookshelves. Glass and whiskey go everywhere. “Then make it simple! Please, Danya, please,” I beg as a rush of panic bubbles up inside me, replacing the rage. “I can’t do this forever. I don’t want to be stuck in this life forever.”

  He doesn’t move from the desk, but his hazel eyes give everything away. His anger, his pain, his love for me. Then it all settles into resolve. “We can’t. Mikhail made enemies, Francesco De Luca being the worst one. If we try to leave, they’ll follow us. If we run, that’s what we’ll be doing for the rest of our lives. Running until one of them gets lucky and kills us. I will not have you die in my arms, Stella. I won’t. You know the only way to solidify our position and ensure our safety.”

  My hands close around my stomach as I shake my head. “No, we can’t,” I whisper. “We said we wouldn’t. I can’t bring a child into this world, not now. Please, Danya, please. I want to leave.” Tears are streaming down my face now, and I can’t stop them. I nearly tell him right then that I think I might already be pregnant but swallow the words back just in time.

  I start to falter, but Danya’s right there to catch me. He holds me close as I cry against his chest, soaking his shirt. He calms me down, his soft words against my ear reining in my fears. “I will not let anything happen to you, understand me? I won’t. You are my heart, Stella. No matter how hard you fight me, I will always be here to protect you. But you have to help me out. Please. Don’t make me watch you die.”

  I cling to him as I shake my head. “I won’t, swear it.”

  He cups my face in his hands and then his lips are on mine. Every touch is desperate as he spins me around and reaches for the zipper on my dress. I’m tearing at the buttons on his shirt, needing to see and feel every inch of him to know that we’re still together and alive. The enemy hasn’t gotten us yet. I shove his shirt over his toned shoulders and grab for the undershirt beneath. Once it’s gone, I drag my nails down his chest, watching his muscles tense at my touch. He nips my lip and I gasp when
his tongue thrusts inside, a preview of what’s to come.

  The zipper glides down and I pull my arms free of the sleeves, letting the dress pool at my waist. Danya’s already reaching for the hooks of my bra. Once it’s freed, the lace is tossed aside, and those hands knead and massage the heavy mounds. He teases the pert, pink nipples hardening into points from his tongue exploring every inch of my mouth. I suck on it hard and he grunts with want, his hardened cock grinding against my stomach. The notion that I might be carrying his child sends a new level of hunger through me and I grab for his pants, wanting to feel his hot shaft in my grip. I just get my hand down his slacks, his manhood filling my hand easily, when he shifts out of reach. I try for him again, but he picks me up and sets me on his desk.