Page 26 of Dare To Free Us
“So what is this all about? You look grim,” he asked.
“Shura Petrov,” I growled.
“Well, shit.”
* * *
I walkedthrough my house at three o'clock in the morning with my head spinning. The plan had gone to shit. Major, complete, and utter shit.
A week had gone by and we’d done our best to make a plan that would cut the head off the snake. Knowing when and where Shura was arriving gave us an advantage. One I would have been a fool to pass up.
We came up with the idea to stop him before he could even get started. Riding three deep in our SUV motorcade under the moonlight, we waited outside the airport with the intention to intercept him and put a bullet in Shura’s head before he could step foot in Boston.
At first when I saw the single vehicle leaving the lot at the private airport— that my inside man relayed met Shura’s jet— I thought Shura had turned into more of an arrogant prick than before.
One BMW with no other escort. A bit unnerving but I wasn’t about to back out. Too much planning had gone into the night and too much was at stake not to take the risk.
Once Shura’s car made it out to the main road the shit-show began. We chased the damn thing halfway across the city. The driver was no slouch and I cringed at the possible news coverage. I’m not sure how many accidents we caused but at the same time I didn’t really care. None of them were fatal and if people didn’t have insurance then that was their fault. After several minutes of tearing our way through the city we used our SUVs to force the BMW into a part of town that was practically lawless. Where the only time the authorities showed up was when something caught on fire.
The BMW was in shambles by the time it smashed into a closed corner market as we forced it into a skid for the tenth time. It wasn’t until afterward it hit me that not a single shot had been fired back at us.
We surrounded the mangled mess with steam hissing from the hood and lights flashing as the electrical system went haywire. We’d approached the vehicle fourteen strong with guns drawn, ready to fill Shura with holes. The driver had stirred and I sent a bullet through his brain. Then we concentrated on the back seat.
Nico swung the door open and shock rendered me immobile. As I froze with my finger on the trigger, more of my men came to look over my shoulder as I stood speechless, unable to voice an order or hear a single question they asked.
Shura was not in the car, but something that changed everything was. A something that I was completely unprepared for.
As we drove away, I realized that instead of cutting the head off the snake, we had just started the war.
My feet dragged up the stairs as the night played on rerun in my head.
When I reached the bedroom Arianna was dead asleep, curled up on her side. I hoped she’d stay that way. I took a few moments just to watch her sleep. I don’t think she realized how often I did it. When dark things plagued my sleep, I’d lie awake and watch her. Her light breathing would calm my anxiety and the warmth of her pressed against me would chase away the cold breath of death always breathing down my neck.
After pressing a light kiss to her temple I moved to the bathroom, stripped my clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the hot spray run down the top of my head.Fuck.
The consequences of the night would be epic. A world of shit was coming. The weight on my shoulders grew so heavy my knees got shaky.
Then I gritted my teeth and remembered who the fuck I was as I pounded a fist into the wall.I am Matteo Russo.
Fuck Shura and fuck the consequences. I would rule my world and cut the head off anyone who tried to take it away from me.
In the next room my heir was quietly growing in the belly of my sexy wife and I’d be dammed if I allowed fear to threaten their future. All the muscles in my body strung tight, preparing for the fight to come.
I am Matteo Russo.
“Matteo, is everything ok?”
Arianna’s soft voice hit me and I spun with so much aggression pumping though my body it made her flinch.
She stared back as I glared at her. Not out of anger but simple overwhelming need. I needed somewhere to put all my energy.
“Come here,” I commanded.
She slowly stepped forward, already knowing what was going to happen. This wouldn’t be the first time I used her body to calm my aggression, and she full well admitted that she loved it.
Gripping her wrist I hauled her forward. Arianna gasped, not out of fright, but excitement. Once she was close I took hold of her silk top and tore it off, then fisted her panties and ripped them apart.
Arianna palmed my chest as our pants mingled and the water sprayed us both. The smell of her lavender shampoo became stronger as the hot water soaked her hair.