Page 123 of Monstrous Urges
What Vadik’s men don’t take, because the component parts are being smuggled into the house inside boot heels and hidden pockets, are the wireless hacking tools that my men will be using to crack Vadik’s home network and glean everything they can.
“With your permission, I’ve prepared a side room for your men while we dine,” Vadik says with a wide smile. “With some of the finest vodka from St. Petersburg for them to enjoy,” he chuckles good-naturedly. “If that is all right with your boss, boys!”
I smile in amusement, nodding to my men. “Of course! Enjoy our host’s gracious hospitality, please.”
My men grin and elbow each other excitedly.
It’s all an act.
Vadik leads Taylor and I into a sumptuous sitting room with walls of bookshelves and elegantly masculine leather furniture. A blonde girl who barely looks legal smiles awkwardly at us as we enter. I remember her as Vadik’s “date” from the gala.
She looks just as happy to be here now as she did then.
“You remember Polina, yes?” Vadik chuckles lecherously as he grabs the girl’s ass and brings her closer.
“Of course,” Taylor says warmly, smiling at the poor girl. “So good to see you again. I love your dress.”
Polina smiles shyly back. “Thank you. And your bracelet is beautiful.”
Taylor grins genuinely as she glances back at me. “Thank you. It was…a gift.”
Vadik chuckles. “Oh, this one knows all about gifts,” he snickers, rubbing Polina’s ass again as her face pales. “A necklace here, an apartment in Paris there, fancy clothes…” He grins salaciously, turning to wink at me. “And in return, she gifts me that tight little body and any hole I want, whenever I want it.”
Fucking pig.
Polina looks mortified as she drops her gaze to the ground.
“A toast, perhaps?” Vadik says, clapping his hands together as he walks over to the bar cart. He picks up a bottle of—holy shit, 2003 Petrus. He turns to grin at me. “You’re a wine man, I hear?”
“I have moments.”
“Then please, I insist. You open and pour for us. I don’t know how to pour fine wine. I’m but a poor Russian who grew up swilling bathtub vodka,” he chuckles.
“It would appear you can afford some impressive bottles now,” I smile tightly.
He grins back. “Indeed, Drazan. Fortune has favored both our families.”
I resist the urge to break his face against the nearest flat surface.
Fortune didn’t favor my family. This piece of shit’s betrayal and greed destroyed my family.
But I push the impulse away, turning to focus on Taylor. On her eyes as they meet mine. On the soft curve of her lips, and the feel of her hand as it slips into mine and squeezes.
She knows what I’m thinking and feeling.
I take the bottle from Vadik and open it, letting it breathe. Vadik hands out glasses to the three of us and himself, smiling as I pour the wine.
“To new friendships, and more fortune for us all,” Vadik grunts, lifting his glass. I wait with mine halfway to my lips, watching as Vadik and Polina drink first.
Poisoning us ten minutes after entering his home with eight of my men just down the hall would be bold and reckless even for this fuck. But you never know.
Taylor and I glance at each other and drink our wine as well, savoring the insanely smooth and bold flavors.
“Now, I was hoping you and I could…” Vadik shrugs. “Discuss some business before dinner that is maybe best talked about without the company of our dates.”
I glance at Taylor.
“Oh, Polina and I would love some girl time, right?” She beams as she turns to Polina. “Without the men,” she laughs plastically. Fuck, she’s good at this.