Submitting To The Devil - The Devil's Snare - Book 2

Chapter Thirty Four

Niko

Despite knowing Dimitri has cameras following my every move, I still decide to fuck Bianca on the kitchen counter for breakfast. Call it a sign of 'fuck you' to his need to control my every fucking move, or call it stupidity because I've quickly become a lovesick man. Either way, I did it, and I didn't fucking warn Bianca, which goes directly against my new need to keep her firmly my equal, even in the stupidity that is my side job with Dimitri. We need to talk; I need to explain my role in all of this. But right now, it is not the right time or place in his earshot.

Of course, after I had her for breakfast, I took her upstairs to clean up because, despite the evidence to the contrary, I wanted to be the perfect gentleman for her. I want to be the husband my father never was, that any man around me never is. I want to break that curse, to give her comfort in me, and to find comfort in her.

Could I see us having a perfect family, a little slice of heaven outside of the tragedy that is my work?

Yes, I could, but having a family—a wife and kids—will present as my biggest weakness, and I need to navigate that risk with the utmost care.

That's why I care for her in the shower, carefully avoiding riding myself from inside her, and then I demand she rest in bed before attempting to make her brunch. I want her to stay here; I need to convince her that it is safer for her to be no part of this.

I know that'll be an uphill battle. Hence, food is my buffer.

Unfortunately, when I enter the kitchen, Sven is sitting pretty, twirling the phone I failed to check a short while ago.

"He's waiting for your reply," he tells me gruffly.

"You belong outside, away from my wife. Give me that," I fume, holding my hand out for the phone. It's my phone, the one supplied by Dimitri, for his sole use when contacting me when these jobs arise. It's not my personal phone, which is still missing.

I wonder if Luca has needed me, whether he's pissed I've cut all contact, though he has access to this place, and I'm sure he could access the CCTV Dimitri hinted at.

My eyes roam the room, trying to find a camera that is obviously hidden well, but I have no success.

Looking down at the phone in annoyance, I note I have three messages. The first contains the address for the mainland hotel where the girl currently resides with the Ivarnis.

The second has a time, the time I need to intercept her: six hours from now at six p.m. As always, a reservation has been made in my sudo name. It seems we'll be having dinner at the Hilton tonight.

The third is a picture of the girl I need to intersect. She's not just any girl, she's Alexandra fucking Debois.

Fuck, things just got completely and utterly complicated.

"Out," I seethe to Sven because he's the nearest thing I can take my frustration out on.

He smirks, looking over my shoulder before clicking his tongue in a half chuckle.

"Got to be a reason they've taken the princess. She won't come easily if Mitchel's life is at risk," are his parting words. I watch him go, a pep in his step. He obviously feels my failure already.

He's one hundred percent right.

Why the fuck do they have Mitchel's wife?

More importantly, what do the Densels want with Alexandra?

I mull this over, overthinking every possible avenue today's mission might take me on. Each one gets worse than the last, but something that stays with me is the fact that Alexandra knows her life hangs in the balance, but equally, her husband does, too.

She's not been trained like a typical Italian woman heiress would be; she's common—Italian but common.

Can she even take the impending abuse obviously headed her way?

She knows things, especially being married to one of the highest-ranking men within the Cartel. She must know something that the Densels want, and I don't doubt they will use whatever means possible to extract whatever they need from her before exposing her in a way that has the Cartel and lowly gang members talking.

I hate that Bianca is dragged into this mess, especially considering the current bad blood between Franko and me.

Is that it?

Do they know of Bianca's true identity?

It feels as if the world is against this relationship from more than one avenue.

Shit.

As I take heavy steps to take brunch to Bianca, I'm internally battling to keep her out of this. Every possible tagline that might help runs through my mind.

I find her standing at the window again. She's wrapped in her robe, looking down at the beach I wish we could be relaxing on right now. The bliss from yesterday is still thick in our minds.

It's obvious Dimitri orchestrated this honeymoon alongside his very important job; I just wish we had one more day.

Funny, this morning, I was wishing for no more days. I needed a sense of security to feel safe, for I knew danger was lurking. How irresponsible of me to wish away our time.

Wiping my fingers over my mouth, I watch Bianca silently. She's safe here; that's all I can wish for. However, it also reinforces the need to have her hang back and wait for me to complete the job alone.

"You gonna study me for much longer, or can we eat?"

"Eat," I smile unsurely. She should eat before I demand she stay here alone on this island. Shit, am I thinking this through?

Will Dimitri come for her if the inevitable happens and my life ends?

"What is it?" Bianca asks, guiding herself back to the bed where I meet her. She takes her plate, and I sit on the edge of the mattress facing away from her.

"Eat," I suggest, picking my own omelette up to devour.

I watch her fork a piece and bring it to her mouth, her eyes closing for a moment before she moans.

"I want you to stay here, where it's safe," I admit.

"Safe?" she looks to me in the window. "Safe is where you are; without you, I'll be open to anyone coming here to take me. Besides, Dimitri won't be pleased if we go against him."

"Bee," I warn.

"You'll get a mouthful, won't you? It's best if I go. Anyway, I don't particularly want to be left with Seven for company."

"Sven?"

"Don't tell me you haven't realised he seems to be to be our gatekeeper?"

Her question throws me through the loop.

Jesus, is she right?

Okay, new plan. She comes, and you keep her fucking safe