Alexandr's Reluctant Submissive (22 page)

With an internal pang of regret, he turned his phone off and focused on the room. His uncle had arranged for him to meet with an interesting mix of people this morning, friends from his past and people he knew by reputation. There was only one woman in the room, but she had such a presence about her that his gaze had automatically gravitated her way when he’d arrived. Mimi Anderson, aka Mimi Stefano, aka Lady Death, who was still a classic Italian beauty, smiled at him, and the big salt-and-pepper-haired man she was with followed her gaze with an unhappy expression.

“Well, well, well,” she said with laughter in her voice. “Congratulations, Alexandr Dubinski. I am very pleased with Petrov’s decision.”

“Mrs. Anderson,” he said in difference to the man now glaring daggers at them. Rumor had it Mike Anderson wasn’t exactly stable, and Alex believed it. “Is always a pleasure to have you in my city. And I assume this is Mr. Anderson?”

“Yes.” She placed her hand gently on the glowering man’s chest and his gaze instantly softened, eased by his wife’s touch. Alex knew how that felt. “This is my husband, Mike. He’s heard a lot about you over the years.”

“Like the fact you tried to seduce my wife,” Mike growled out.

Alex laughed at the man’s pissed-off glare. “Who told you that?”

“Are you calling my wife a liar?”

Ignoring the way Mike’s body went still, much the same way he would ignore a tiger about to pounce, he shrugged. “No, no is true, I tried my hardest to win her heart. But did she mention that I was twelve at the time? My seduction skills were…not so good.”

Mike’s mouth twitched and he relaxed enough to hold out his hand. “Call me Mike—and no, my wife didn’t mention your tender age.”

With a sigh, Mimi smoothed the sleeve of her husband’s black suit, her red nails a stark contrast against the dark fabric. “Details, details. Either way, we were glad to come when Petrov invited us.”

“By invited she means summoned,” Mike muttered. “We were gonna have our granddaughter for the weekend, instead we gotta fly halfway around the damn world without knowing why Petrov needs us.”

“Why is it,” came Petrov’s smooth voice from Alex’s left, “that whenever we meet, you are always complaining?”

Mike lifted his chin in Petrov’s direction with a wry smile. “Why is it every time you’re around I end up getn’, shot, stabbed, or thrown out of a helicopter?”

Walking past Mike, Petrov gently grasped Mimi’s hand and placed a kiss on the back of it. His uncle still had a way with women and he wasn’t surprised to see Mimi, feared assassin and knife expert, blushing like a teenage girl. She shook her head, then pulled him into a quick hug.

“Thank you for your help with my daughter’s situation. Did you or Jorg ever find out what that shiny stuff the Israelis wanted so badly was?”

Puzzled, Alex glanced at Petrov, but he found his uncle giving Mimi an unexpectedly grave look. “Is not a discussion for now, but we are beginning to have our suspicions. I will talk to you about it later. Alex is missing his wife and I do not want to keep him any longer than necessary.”

“Of course he is. And on a side note, Alex, we are so happy that your wife and daughter have returned. Jessica is a wonderful woman and I look forward to seeing her again and meeting your daughter.” Mimi tossed her deep black hair over her shoulder. “Now, let’s get down to business. We have much to discuss.”

The meeting ended up being about places the Andersons would recommend around the world for building survivalist colonies. Petrov claimed he was getting into the business because he expected people to become more and more interested in luxurious, yet self-sustaining fortress compounds, but Alex knew it was more than that. The other people at the meeting had been geologists, meteorologists, as well as an astronomer, sociologist, and an expert in energy sources.

It had been an interesting conversation, and Alex had learned a great deal, but his mind kept returning to the luscious image of his wife kissing Catrin. He wondered if they were naked by now, if Nico was having his cock sucked by them. Alex waited to see if any feelings of jealousy stirred at the thought, but it was only hot arousal that warmed his blood. While he would much rather do nothing except daydream about different kinky scenarios with his wife, he forced himself to listen to the meteorologist drone on and on about shifting wind patterns, the rapidly thawing tundra, melting icebergs around the world along with sea level rises and global temperature increases over the next century.

He didn’t need to listen to the scientist talk about what was happening in places like Siberia; he’d witnessed it firsthand. Green where there had been nothing but eternally frozen dirt, birds and animals venturing farther north than ever before. Alex hadn’t really dwelled on the changes, he had about a million other things to worry about, but he listened with a little more interest as the scientist talked about which areas of the world would theoretically have the most stable environments in the years to come.

Once the scientist took a breath, Petrov interrupted him. “Thank you, Mr. Daniels, for your input.”

“You’re most welcome, Mr. Dubinski.”

“Time for a break. Meet back here in fifteen minutes. There are refreshments set up in the salon across the hall.”

As people shuffled out of the room, Petrov drew Alex aside. “Dimitri called earlier to say that word of you leaving the Novikov
Bratva
is spreading. Many of your current staff wonder where their loyalties lie, who they should work for. Maks is having a hard time dealing with it, but Krom has already indicated that he will go with you and your family, wherever you may be. Luka is also on the fence, but that has more to do with the fact that if he leaves, there is no one he trusts to take his place. The Novikov
Bratva
depends on him as their negotiator, but he has been with you since you were boys.”

Alex had been trying to ignore the fact that he would have to cut professional ties with longtime friends in the future. They couldn’t be loyal to both the Novikov and Dubinski
Bratvas
, and he absolutely did not want his leaving to weaken the Novikov
Bratva
, and in return his brother. They would always be his people, and even as he worked to keep the employees of the Dubinskis safe and happy, he would do the same for the Novikovs. No matter what, Dimitri would always be his brother and Alex knew that, together, with the backing of two powerful criminal syndicates, they would be a formidable force.

As he always did when he was unsure, he asked his uncle for his opinion. “How would you handle this?”

Petrov thought for a moment before answering. “I would only take a few men, and leave the essential ones behind with Dimitri. You know all of my bodyguards, but you need to pick three or four from the higher-ranking men on my staff to serve on your personal escort. To do otherwise would be an insult to them.”

Recalling Jessica’s positive reaction to Zoya, he asked, “I know you have some female bodyguards on your staff. Do you have any that you think would be good with Jessica and Tatiana?”

“I do, let me think on it.”

Alex placed his hand on the older man’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you.”

“Do not forget tonight that we have a web conference with Japan tomorrow. My niece Irina and her husband Hiroto will be there representing the Nakamura
Yakuza
.”

Insulting the
Yakuza
was one of the last things he wanted to do. “I will be there.”

Petrov grasped the back of his neck, giving it a squeeze as he said, “I am proud of you. A lesser man would not be able to deal with all of these changes in your life. When you go home tonight, think about how lucky you are to have such a good woman waiting for you, and an adorable daughter. Speaking of your wife…I would offer the advice that you talk with her about how she has been raising Tatiana. Listen to her reasons for doing things the way she does. I say this not only because of the cultural differences, but because if you ever disrespect her like you did this morning at breakfast in public again, she might take a knife to you.”

Frowning, he stepped back when his uncle released him. “What are you talking about? She was a little upset about Tatiana getting her ears pierced, but I’m sure she’s forgotten it.”

“I would not count on that.” Petrov gave him a wry smile while making his way back over to his laptop. “And even if she has, she will remember it the instant you make her angry. Women are funny like that. You think you’re forgiven then BAM, out of nowhere, they’re bringing up shit from twenty years ago like it happened yesterday.”

Alex couldn’t help but laugh, having experienced that himself a time or two. “I will take your advice.”

“It wouldn’t hurt for you to show her some extra attention, maybe buy her something nice.”

“Something like that,” Alex said as a plan began to form to give his woman a gift that she would truly appreciate.

Maks met him at the entrance to his floor, standing off to the side of the elevator. His black suit was impeccable as always, but his tie was loosened and there was a hard flush high on his cheekbones. Having watched Maks fuck many, many times, he noted the look of arousal on his friend’s face, and his hard cock tenting his pants despite his efforts to hide his erection with his jacket.

“What has you in such a state?”

Glancing around them, Maks made a subtle hand gesture that dismissed the remaining bodyguards. The floor was completely secure at the moment and as Alex shrugged off his coat, Maks gripped his cock. A look of frustration filled his friend’s face and for a second Alex thought he saw burning envy with a touch of jealousy in the other man’s eyes, but the look was quickly gone as they approached the sleek mahogany door leading to his apartment.

“I’ve spent the past four hours watching Catrin and Jessica slowly seduce each other. Nico insisted that they wait to go any further until you came home. It’s got Catrin in a state and she is going to Dominate the hell out of Jessica if you allow it.” Maks hesitated, then laid a hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Catrin needs this, Alex, needs to feel that connection with Jessica. Tonight, for the first time in a long time, she began to talk about having children again. Teasing Nico about being a father.”

Alex let out a low breath of air as he entered his home. “Where are they?”

“In your bedroom, taking a nap.”

“They are sleeping?”

“Jessica and Catrin have been drinking.”

Smiling, Alex began to loosen his tie then took it off and handed it to Maks. “Ahhh, I see my girl still can’t hold her alcohol.”

“That, and I think she is emotionally exhausted. They talked about how much Jessica wanted to fly in subspace again with Catrin.”

He began to unbutton his shirt, taking the stairs two at a time. “Tatiana is safe and happy, yes?”

“Of course. Between Krom and Gwen, she is practically worshiped. It is very good for Krom to be around your daughter, heals a part of him. We have all noticed and believe he should go with you when you officially cut all ties with the Novikov
Bratva
.”

Alex froze, then turned and looked down at Maks standing in the middle of the foyer, a deep pang going through his chest as he clearly read the sorrow in the other man’s eyes. “Do you?”

“Yes.” He took a deep breath, sorrow showing in his regretful expression before he once again met Alex’s gaze. “I, however, will be remaining with Dimitri and the Novikov
Bratva
.”

He wanted to question his old friend, to try and get him to stay, but he had to respect Maks’ decision. “You will be missed.”

“It’s…it’s better this way.” Abruptly he stiffened. “Please tell Jessica goodbye for me.”

“You do not want to tell her yourself?”

Rubbing his face, Maks stared at the ground as he said in a shamed whisper, “Alex, the feelings I have for your wife are…not right. I have always considered you my brother, but now I am lusting after your wife in a way that disgraces me. It is best if I remove myself from the temptation. I pray you understand.”

“Thank you for being honest with me.”

Maks’ shoulders stiffened and he lifted his chin. “When I see her in the future, I shall avoid her.”

“Please, do not do that. Jessica values your friendship greatly and when you get your head on straight and find the woman you’re really meant to love, you will want that friendship again.”

“Perhaps I have to look harder then for my perfect woman.”

Such a proud man, and such a good friend. “Maks, take this advice. You will never find a perfect woman. You like to put them on pedestals so high, no mortal could ever survive the fall. I understand why you are keen to avoid marrying the wrong woman, your mother is enough to make any man question even looking at a female, but it is time for you to move on. Someday, you will make a wonderful father, and a good husband.”

“Goodbye, Alex.” A small smile curved his tension-thinned lips. “I pray that you are right.”

“Of course I am. Now, go to the club and find your relief in some sweet little submissive to take your mind off things.”

“If only it were that easy,” he murmured as he walked out the door.

The seconds ticked by as Alex remained halfway up the stairs, an unexpected pang of hurt ricocheting through his chest. Logically he knew why and approved of his friend’s reasons for staying with Dimitri and Rya. While his brother threatened Rya with letting Maks do things with her, he’d never let it happen. And while Maks flirted with Rya, it was far more innocent than the consuming looks he gave Jessica. Yes, it was better that Maks stay with the Novikov
Bratva
and keep Dimitri’s family safe than torment himself around Jessica with misplaced guilt.

By the time he reached his bedroom, his shirt was totally unbuttoned and his belt was off. He entered his bedroom, unsure what he would find, then shut the door with a smile. There, on his big bed, were three of his favorite people in the world. Catrin lay in the middle of Nico and Jessica, her hands flung over her head with her large breasts exposed by the lowered blanket.