Throne of Power: An Arranged Marriage Mafia Romance (Throne Duet Book 1)

A few days later, Sergei holds a gathering to celebrate the good news.

No joke.

I don’t know why I’ve allowed it to go this far or how I let Kyle’s manipulations lead me to this point of no return, but that single moment of speechlessness during the meeting was enough to have everyone ganging up on me with well wishes and congratulations.

Then Ana came downstairs, and she kept herself as busy as a bee in the kitchen, preparing me nutritious food and making me sit down.

Sergei won’t stop smiling whenever he sees me. He may never meet his own grandchildren in this lifetime, so he’s apparently living that dream through me.

No matter how much I wanted to put my foot down and scream that it wasn’t true, I couldn’t just wipe the doting expression off Sergei’s face. He seems so happy lately, serene, almost like he’s finally fulfilling the last role in his life. He doesn’t even have bad coughs anymore.

I’m not cruel enough to hurt him, no matter how much I’ve been plotting to murder Kyle.

We’re currently sitting around the dining table for the grand dinner Sergei prepared. This time, everyone else is present, including each brigade’s highest-ranking guards and the ‘killers’, who are sitting at the far end of the table.

The Pakhan doesn’t always invite the entire brotherhood for supper, so this means it’s a very special occasion. The kitchen staff have prepared all sorts of traditional Russian dishes, ranging from sorrel soup to special types of dumplings and meaty main courses. Needless to say, the table is overflowing. However, no one touches their plates, waiting for Sergei to give permission.

He stands slowly, and I know it’s so he doesn’t trigger his cough. It’s been getting better lately, but when he does have a fit, it can get bad. Sergei holds a glass of premium vodka in his hand. “We’re gathered here to celebrate the new member that will join the Sokolov family. Our Rai and Kyle work fast.”

I try not to blush, bunching my fists into my dress, but I can feel my cheeks heating. Kyle grins as he holds my hand under the table. When I attempt to push him away, he intertwines our fingers together and lifts it to his face so he can kiss my knuckles.

If my face were heating earlier, it’s burning now.

Sergei exchanges a look with Igor, then laughs. “Please. Everyone, enjoy your meal.”

All people present at the table raise their glasses for the toast, then dig into the food with renewed energy. It’s not entirely gluttony, but rather a show of gratitude since it’s disrespectful not to eat when the boss offers.

I yank my hand away from Kyle, who smirks. God, why haven’t I killed this bastard in his sleep?

Well, it may have something to do with how he exhausts me every night. I pushed him away at first because of what he did, but I can’t resist his touch. I tell myself that I’m using his body as much as he’s using mine. It’s only sex.

Just meaningless sex.

Kyle, though, makes sure to come inside me every time, as if he’s really planning to impregnate me.

The joke’s on him, though. Not only did I take the morning-after pill, but I also got myself a birth control prescription. My body reacted badly to the shot in my teens, so I had to resort to taking the pills.

At the end of the day, this celebration is null and void. In a week or so, I’ll pretend I lost the child or that Kyle spoke too soon before we could make sure. Sergei will be sad, but he’ll understand the loss.

Because there’s no way in hell I’d let Kyle put a baby inside me.

There’s an easy conversation at the table about mundane things. Since the wives are also here, there’ll be no business talk until after dinner. A meeting that I’m invited to, per Sergei’s orders. It has to do with how I’ve been financing the brigades over the last couple of weeks. I might not be invited to outside meetings with other organized crime leaders, but I can finally have a permanent place in the brotherhood.

Igor and Mikhail are exchanging pleasantries with Sergei. I exchange a look with Ruslan who’s standing behind me. He pretends to excuse himself, and on his way, he trips and hits Igor’s chair. He quickly apologizes as the older man spills droplets of his wine on the tablecloth. Igor’s senior guard grabs Ruslan by the collar, but his boss discreetly motions at him to let my guard go—probably not to cause a ruckus.

One of the kitchen staff hurries to exchange Igor’s glass of wine and bows in her retreat. Ruslan returns to stand behind me as the small incident is drowned out by general chatter. A few minutes later, I make eye contact with Katia who’s standing across from me, near the exit, and she subtly follows the kitchen staff. We came up with this plan to have that DNA test done. I barely get direct contact with Igor or Stella, so this is one of the few chances we have. I already gave Katia Kyle’s toothbrush, so she should be able to get the DNA results soon.

Now that the plan is in motion, my concentration goes back to the event.

Damien is focused on his meal, cutting through the meat with unabashed savageness. His manners are generally so bad that both Dedushka and Sergei gave up on schooling him years ago. He’s basically the black bull of the brotherhood who’s ready to murder anyone in his path.

But he’s not the one who catches my attention among everyone present. It’s Kirill and Adrian who keep talking to each other in hushed tones. I don’t like it.

Kirill is a cunning fox behind gentlemanly behavior. While Mikhail can be considered my most vocal enemy, Kirill is the one who’s able to inflict the worst damage. He doesn’t stop. Ever. I have no doubt he’s digging into me, trying to find a way to push me completely out so he can sink his foxlike claws into Sergei and V Corp.

The reason I’m threatening him with the secret he’s keeping under lock and key is because it’s the only card I have against him.

“You seeing what I’m seeing?” Vlad whispers from beside me, his gaze drifting to Adrian and Kirill, then back to me.

“When did those two become so cozy?” I ask.

“I told you not to trust Adrian.”

“I don’t.” But I at least thought he was in the middle. If he chooses the other side, I’ll have no choice but to attack, and it won’t be pretty.

Lia isn’t here, so I can’t try to dig deeper into her. Judging from Adrian’s reaction a few days ago, she’s either his weakness or she holds something over him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have acted out of character when she was threatened. It’s no surprise he purposefully keeps her out of similar occasions, but I will find a way to drag her in if I have to.

A hand wraps around my nape from behind, and shivers instantly break out on my skin before a sinister voice murmurs near my ear, “What are you two whispering about? Let me in.”

“It’s none of your concern.” I take a sip of my soup, trying to ignore how Kyle’s mere touch has awakened my whole body.

“I’m your husband and baby daddy, Princess. Everything about you is my concern.”

I throw him a sidelong glare, which he merely answers with that infuriating smirk of his. I attempt to talk to Vlad so I can ignore Kyle all night, but his hand on my thigh keeps me prisoner.

His smile is still in place, but the humor behind it is gone, currently replaced by a threatening gloom. “Don’t fucking ignore me for other men.”

“Let me go,” I hiss.

“Are you going to do as you’re told?”

“You can’t get in between me and my plans, Kyle.”

“What plans do you have with Vladimir?” I don’t miss the way he says Vlad’s name with pure condescension.

“Plans that don’t include pushing Igor for the leading position.”

He pauses.

“What?” It’s my turn to stare down at him. “You thought I didn’t know? Your intentions are as clear as the sun.”

“You’re adorable to think that way.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Stop talking to other men in my presence—or the lack of it.”

I huff and turn back to ask Vlad about the security measures. I already got my report from Ruslan and Katia, so I don’t technically need to talk to Vlad about it. However, if it will piss Kyle off, I’m game.

I open my mouth, and it remains that way when humming starts between my legs.

Shit.

He set the toy at one of the highest levels from the get-go. The chatter, faces, and words start to fade into the background as the insides of my walls sparkle at once.

Due to Kyle’s thorough fucking, I’ve become sensitive as hell, and mere friction is enough to shatter me to pieces.

“Your pleasure is visible on your face,” he murmurs at my ear, then slightly nibbles on the lobe. “Makes me want to fuck you until you scream the whole house down.”

Forcing my lips shut, I grab his hand that’s still resting on my thigh and sink my red nails into his flesh as hard as I can.

That doesn’t sway him. If anything, he brings the intensity up a notch. My thighs tremble and my stomach dips in preparation for the impact that’s brewing in the distance.

“The more you defy me, the more I will wrench pleasure out of you,” he rasps before pulling away to throw a piece of salmon into his mouth. He’s eating leisurely as if he’s not playing with me right now. I feel like the trapped mouse with no way out.

I don’t loosen my hold on his hand, because, at this moment, it’s my only anchor. It should be odd that Kyle is both my tormentor and my anchor, but he’s always been a few steps higher than the devil. He knows exactly which buttons to push and how to push them.

“You want more?” He leans in again while wearing a fake smile for the outside world. “Who knew you’d be quite the exhibitionist?”

“Shut up and s-stop it.” I try to scold, but it comes out like a needy moan.

“No can do, but here’s what I can do.” He licks my earlobe. “I can offer a hand.”

“Fuck. You.”

“Here?” He pretends to be astounded. “Your exhibitionist tendencies are more serious than I thought, Princess.”

He pulls away to eat nonchalantly while I’m fighting with the sparks that keep invading my body. I try focusing on the food, but my hand is too shaky to grab the spoon.

“How do you feel about becoming a grandfather, Igor?” Sergei asks.

I’m too dizzy to focus very well on facial expressions and body language, but I can tell Igor’s demeanor doesn’t change as he says, “Stella and I are ecstatic.”

His wife smiles by his side. Not sure if Kyle told them the truth or not, but either way, it doesn’t seem like they’re awfully happy about the news.

“Good, good.” Sergei takes a sip of his drink. “This house needs kids running around.”

“Weird, though.” Damien wipes his mouth with the back of his hand like a savage animal, his gaze falling on me. “I never thought Rai would be the maternal type.”

Everyone’s attention turns to me, and I curse internally. I can barely keep a straight face right now. There’s no way in hell I’ll be able to talk, but at the same time, if I let Damien’s provocation slide, it’ll appear as a weakness.

I try gathering my bearings and swallowing a few times so my voice will come out somewhat normal.

“People change,” Kyle says casually.

“Apparently they do if she’s letting you talk on her behalf,” Damien shoots back.

“Well, he won’t have to kick your ass on my behalf,” I manage in a semi-calm tone, even though I’m burning up on the inside.

Some laugh and others snicker, but Kirill smirks at me. He fucking smirks as if he knows my deepest, darkest secret and is saving it for later use.

Everyone else goes back to their chitchat, and Kirill joins them a bit too late, after he finishes taunting me.

What the hell is he hiding?

I’m about to chance a glance at Vlad to see if he noticed anything when the vibration between my legs increases. My hand instinctively grips Kyle’s harder as I trap my lower lip between my teeth.

Is he really planning to have me come in front of everyone or something? My spine snaps into a line, and I can feel the tingles of the orgasm that’s about to sweep me under.

I jerk upright, my voice barely audible as I mutter, “Excuse me.”

The wait for Sergei’s nod feels like an eternity. As soon as he moves his head, I fly out of the dining room on shaky legs. I slap my hands over my mouth so I don’t release an embarrassing sound.

I continue running until I find a staff room and push the door open. After I’m inside, I sag against the wall. Just when the orgasm is about to hit me, the vibration decreases to a teasing level.

No, no. I need that release.

In the span of a few weeks, I’ve become so prone to the pleasure Kyle wrenches out of me. Even just now, in the midst of all those people, a twisted part of me wanted to come then and there.

I lift my dress up and pull my panties down before my fingers find the toy. I bite down on my lower lip as I slide the dildo out then push it back inside. My back flattens against the wall as the earlier sparks return.

They’re slow-building with every thrust in. My heart crashes against my ribcage, its rate pulsing in my ear in my attempts to muffle my voice.

The door of the supply room crashes all the way open and I yelp, pausing with the dildo halfway inside me.

Why didn’t I close the door? Just why?

Then when my eyes meet those dark blue ones, the reason hits me with the force of a thunderstorm.

Kyle is why I didn’t close it. Did I unconsciously hope for him to follow me or something?

He steps inside, his height blocking the outside world and the light when he closes the door and leans against it. “About that hand…”