Sabrina POV

-Where the hell is my favourite bra? I shouted from the first floor into the living room where most of my friends were -Caleb! I shouted again, glaring at the brown man who looked at me indignantly.

-Why do you assume it was me, you bleached blonde? He said annoyed.

He couldn’t see me in detail but I arched an eyebrow as I walked over to the railing and leaned against it.

-Do I really have to answer that question? I said mockingly and the colour draped over his ears.

-It was just once Sab, just once years ago, why can’t you get over it? He g*****d avoiding my gaze and we all laughed at him.

-Because we can’t forget so easily the fact that we caught you sweeping the kitchen with your black bra on while you were singing free I am at the top of your lungs. Reykon answered for me as he tried to tidy up the mess in the flat.

He said it in his usual monotone voice, but we all ended up having a fit of giggles anyway, which made Caleb blush even more.

-Where’s that right to free will stuff,” he pouted as he folded his arms, “Whatever, it wasn’t me this time, I don’t know where your bra is Sab,” I concluded as I slapped his hand over my shoulder. I conclude as I slapped Anton who was annoying him by squeezing his cheeks.

I sighed in frustration as I ruffled my hair.

Great, we had to leave for the airport in twenty minutes and I can’t finish my suitcase.

But how did I lose so many clothes in so few days, it wasn’t like I had gone anywhere.

She must have stayed in that guy’s room at Tasha’s dad’s club.

Ugh, I couldn’t go back for him and I definitely wasn’t going to ask my friend to go get him, that would be awkward. Since, I might as well buy a new one when we got home.

Home.

It was going to be weird living in Russia without my best friend, without partying every weekend, without sleepovers where we didn’t sleep and only ate junk food, without her waking me up in the early hours of the morning to exercise, without her fighting with one of the boys over food.

But I’m glad to see her happy, I haven’t seen her smile so much since Nikolai died. Things with her father aren’t the best and I doubt very much that they ever will be, but anyway she seems to replace a little peace in the midst of all the mess, so I can only wish her the best of luck.

I went back to my room a little sadly and finished packing my things, closing the worn purple suitcase I found it ironic that it was old and small in the middle of an incredibly luxurious flat.

I guess I would never get used to thinking of Medusa as a millionaire, to me she would always be the snotty-faced brat who arrived with Niko when she should have been the least but when we needed him the most.

I sighed and looked around the room where I had been busy the last few days, I tried to leave everything as tidy as I could, but organisation wasn’t something that came naturally to me so I hoped my friend would appreciate my effort.

-Knock knock, can I? I turned and saw Boris leaning against the door frame with his h*p against the door and his knuckles on the wood.

I smiled at him as I nodded and he came into the room and sat on the edge of the bed next to my suitcase.

-Are you ready? He asked me with his eyes on my luggage.

-Everything is ready, I just need to take it down with the others and then we can go. I answered and went to the mirror on the wall to fix my high ponytail.

-I’m going to miss this place,” he said sighing and laying down on the soft mattress, “It’s so easy to get used to the good stuff. He complained and covered his eyes with his forearm.

-None of this is ours, and we don’t belong here. I answered seriously, giving myself one last check before turning and sitting on the opposite side of the bed from where my friend’s head was.

Slowly I slid my fingers through the strands of his hair caressing it, he sighed and leaned his neck a little so that my hands could reach the back of his neck.

I chuckled.

-I know it’s not from us and we should go back to where we belong, but I’m not thrilled about going back to our dilapidated building with our frozen food preheated in the middle of an eternal winter to deal with assholes who do nothing but shove shit in their veins and complain about how miserable their lives are. The dyed blond’s gesture was filled with resignation and it rubbed off on me.

I bit my l*p and played with him a little, I didn’t want to leave either, none of us did. Ivan a little bit because he was in a hurry to see his girlfriend, the girl had him by the balls and he was happy about it.

There was diabetes to see them together.

My thoughts were filled with couples, two of my closest friends had found love in the last few months which was amazing. I was happy for them but I definitely didn’t see it coming.

Although I also didn’t see it coming that Tasha turned out to be the heiress and head of the famous Kozlov oil company, the richest company in Russia.

And now my best friend had a biker to enjoy life with, (who was to be eaten with chocolate).

Speaking of the king of Rome…

The image of the huge mountain of brunette muscles that seemed to appear everywhere flooded me, that jerk. Who did he think he was to treat us the way he did when we first met? Hadn’t anyone ever told him that first impressions are the most important?

And the way he looked at me.

I shuddered.

I’d met too many men in my life, too many, and all kinds. Jerks, gentlemen, brainiacs, handsome, ugly, shy, outgoing, there was nothing I hadn’t seen before.

But this biker was the first one who made my b***d run hot even when he wasn’t there, and he didn’t mean it in a good way, with those brown eyes that reminded me of a hawk, whenever we were in the same room I could feel his gaze burning me.

I didn’t deny that the guy was straight out of any erotic novel, even with that scar that just gave him a mysterious air of danger.

I smacked my cheeks hard.

Stop it Sabrina, don’t think about this, you know how these stories end.

-Get up brat, it’s time to go. I hit Boris on the head and he complained while killing me with his eyes.

-Don’t call me a brat witch, I’m bigger than you. I stuck my tongue out at him and stood up from the bed.

-Nobody asked you, so get off your a*s, if we’re late Rey will have our little bodies cleaning the toilets again.

-I really hate you. He mumbled, getting to his feet and helping me carry my suitcase.

I smiled at him with all my teeth and left a k**s on his cheek.

-You confuse hate with envy, but don’t worry, I have enough love for both of us. I fluttered my eyelashes and he snorted, rolling his eyes, though a smile escaped him.

Ah, that was my friend, he always wanted to act tough but he was more like a teddy bear.

The dyed blond left the room first with me glued to his heels, I took one last look at the place before closing the door, we walked down the hallway until we reached the stairs, we walked down them carefully, trying to avoid any misfortune.

When we reached the hall we discovered that we were the only ones missing. Rey, Anton, Ivan and Caleb were already there waiting for us with their respective luggage.

-We all turned to look at each other but none of us said anything. “Well, let’s go, we don’t want to miss the flight.

He was the one who went to the door and opened it for all of us to go out. But we were surprised when we saw Tasha leaning against the wall in front of us while she was trying to control her breathing. She was as red as a tomato and completely covered in sweat. It was as if she had run a marathon.

-Tasha? Rey asked with confusion that we all felt, the Russian just raised a hand to ask us to give her a second to pull herself together.

I don’t understand anything, what is this girl doing here, wasn’t she supposed to be on bed rest, and where is her biker who is always stalking her?

-Damn it Tasha, I leave you alone for one damn second and you disappear, if anything happens to you Hell and Hades will have my head on a silver platter before you know it. A guy full of piercings and expansions with purple hair comes running from the direction of the elevator.

-If they didn’t kill you when we went to the fights, what makes you think they will this time? complained my friend as she calmed down a bit.

-Because they don’t know that I accompanied you, that’s the only reason why I’m still alive, but you don’t want me to reach 30 with so many suicidal ideas with which you ask me for help. The red-haired man complained and by this time the boys and I didn’t know whether to laugh or demand an explanation.

-You know as much as I would like to hear the whole story behind these claims, the boys and I have a flight to catch. Rey jumped into the conversation.

-You can’t leave. Tasha said very seriously and now she didn’t know what was going on in her crazy little head.

-Well, if you would just step aside and let us pass, we could. Caleb said amused and the red-haired girl stuck her tongue out at him.

-Let’s be perfectly honest, what are you going back to Russia for, and before you answer me with things like. And before you say things like, “That’s where our home is,” “The business” or something like that, let me tell you that the dump you’ve lived in for as long as I’ve known you can’t call it home any more than selling drugs and racing can call it a job. Seriously, why are you in such a hurry to get back? I’ve never seen so much determination behind her emerald eyes, that bitch, she really is a looker and her biker must know how lucky he is to have her by his side.

-It’s not like we’re dying of happiness to be back Tasha, you can’t leave that world and you know it. Reykon said in such a somber voice that I felt my whole body shudder.

-I didn’t say they would abandon it, but they wouldn’t be the first or the last to change territory because they think someone else has a better chance. My brave friend didn’t back down, I rarely saw her stand up to Rey like that, after all, he was the one who looked after us all and we didn’t usually face him so directly.

We owed him too much.

My hands shook with the images my mind brought back to the present.

B***d, screams, tears, pain, an endless source of grief and suffering.

I pinched my thigh to anchor myself to today and now.

Don’t go down that road Sabrina, you know what awaits you in the end.

Reykon and Tasha were still arguing as if we weren’t around them, and signs that they were both losing their patience appeared. Anton cleared his throat to get their attention to no avail, instead he gave me a look and I knew it was time to intervene.

I buried the screams of my past in a corner of my mind where I didn’t have to hear them and smiled as I approached my favourite brunette’s side.

-Well, why don’t we hear what our Tasha has to tell us, because something tells me you have a plan to tell us. My friend’s eyes sparkled and a famous smile crept across her lips.

Ha, something tells me we’d better get used to speaking English instead of Russian.

Tasha Medusa POV

-Of course I have a plan, I always have a plan and if that doesn’t work I have a backup plan- Which was to lock them in the flat until they agreed to stay- And if that doesn’t work either I have my backup plan- Which was basically to call the airline I had just bought a couple of hours ago and demand they cancel the flight they were leaving on.

Because yes, okay, I had spent all damn night and all morning screaming and threatening every single board member of Kozlov’s Inc, after being ignored or labeled crazy since I came of age, with Demon’s help I got all their personal information from every single member.

And when all of it is ALL of it.

Since I turned twenty-one and with the fulfillment of my mother’s will, I legally owned fifty-five percent of the company’s shares, my father Hades owned fifteen percent and the board of directors owned the remaining thirty percent, which were divided among eight of my grandfather’s former partners.

Sabrina POV

-Where the hell is my favourite bra?! I shouted from the first floor into the living room where most of my friends were -Caleb! I shouted again, glaring at the brown man who looked at me indignantly.

They had been trying for years to invalidate my family’s wills so that I could not access my family legacy, and after receiving all sorts of creative threats, (from exposing their private life to social media to facing the law for their crimes), they very wisely and kindly gave me back my position as CEO of the company.

It was such a long process where I didn’t sleep for more than an hour, but I made it through with the help of the crows, who knew that from time to time they were not as useless as they seemed.

The first thing I did when I accessed my bank accounts and my position was to use my surname to buy the international airline that my friends were going to use to travel to prevent them from leaving. It cost me more money than I would have liked to spend, but in the end I had done it, the deal would not be made public or official for another two weeks but I was already in control of all the movements in the company.

Impressive, isn’t it?

Well, three years of orphanage didn’t erase a lifetime of learning, I had learned to balance chemical equations in my mother’s office while I helped her to make financial statements and annual budgets of possible future acquisitions.

-I want you to tell me your reasons for coming back and I promise I have a solution for each one. I said confidently as I looked Rey in the eyes, in them sparkled defiance and amusement with hope and suspicion, “And if at the end of all I tell you, you still want to leave, I will take you to the airport myself, but if not, you will shut your mouths, turn around and put your belongings back in your rooms because you are not going anywhere, deal?

The boys and Sabrina exchanged glances before they locked eyes with the brunette who was still looking directly into my eyes.

-Deal. He answered after a few seconds and we shook hands.

If there’s one thing you should know about Reykon, it’s that he would never, ever, ever break his word, no matter how much he hates to do it, no matter how much he regrets giving it, once it’s done he’ll keep it until he dies.

I licked my lips feeling them dry before I spoke.

-Well then, shoot, tell me according to you, the reasons that make you want to run away to that communist ice cube. I prodded my friend with intent but he didn’t flinch as he replied.

-All our money is in that ice bucket, along with our belongings and the only house we’ve ever known. Our life’s earnings are in there along with our work, work we have sweated, suffered and even nearly died for. Said the first reason and the boys nodded their heads with serious countenances.

-The money you have can be converted to dollars, it’s less money because the dollar is worth more, but whatever you need I can lend you. And no, I’m not giving anything away, it’s a loan that you will pay me back when you can. Your earnings along with your belongings can be brought here, damn it King, you sent me my motorbike and a truck, do you think a few boxes will be a problem? The job you defend so much you can have it here, and stop risking your a*s every night not knowing if you are coming back or if you will earn enough to eat that week. If you come back you’ll just keep living on that endless treadmill until someone else dies. Yeah well, low blow on that last sentence.

-Citizenship is not something you can get from one day to the next and without it we have no job, we would be doing the same shit we were doing over there with the difference that nobody knows us here so we would be starting from scratch. He gave his second reason ignoring my subtle mention of my best friend.

-You seem to be forgetting who you’re dealing with, I’m not just Tasha or Medusa the scary girl that Niko took to that ruined house a few years ago because she didn’t have anything to drop dead in. I’m Natasha Kozlov and that citizenship is going to be baby play if I want it. And while the paperwork is going through so you can work at whatever you want, you can work at the bar.

The Russian raised an eyebrow and clicked his tongue.

-I don’t think your daddy dearest’s crows will like having us around. He scoffed and now it was me who clicked my tongue.

-The clubhouse grounds with all the Black Ravens businesses are in my father’s name so I can’t touch them, but I was referring to the bar where I’m a member and which must be nearing completion of its extension and refurbishment at the moment. I wouldn’t be their direct boss so they wouldn’t feel trapped living off me in every way.

-Since when did you become a partner in a bar and why weren’t we aware of that? Sabrina asked and I saw curiosity on her face, I glanced over my shoulder at Darren who shrugged.

I waved a hand to play it down.

-Details plus, details minus, it’s been a few months since that happened and I’d forgotten about it. I smiled angelically.

-Where would we live? Caleb asked and I looked at him mockingly as I bowed to him despite my aching muscles.

F**k, at this rate I’d probably be healed in a couple of years.

-Oh I’m so sorry your highness, isn’t this poor and humble flat enough for your demands? I finished and the blonde snorted a laugh as the Russian stuck his tongue out at me.

-This is your flat, we can’t stay here forever. Boris declared but I saw in his eyes the longing to stay.

-In case you don’t remember I still have to live with the bikers for a while, and after that I plan to move into the house Hell bought for the two of us. It’s not like I’m going to use it in the near future, you can stay here as long as you want until you decide to move out and you can give me rent if that makes you feel more comfortable but I want to stress that it’s not necessary. This flat was a gift from my mother and she would be grateful for someone to use it after such a long time of neglect. I took a breath and crossed my arms, I looked each one of my friends in the eyes taking my time to let them see my seriousness before I continued- Citizenship, jobs, housing, money, security, all that you never had is here if you stay, tell me really, with all your heart, why the hell are you in such a hurry to leave and if you give me one good reason I will step aside and let you pass-.

And as I guessed all six of them were silent, or so I thought until Ivan looked at me with puppy dog eyes.

-My girlfriend is in Russia, you don’t know her and I don’t know where it’s going but Zaria is the light in my darkness, that precious jewel I didn’t know I was looking for until I found her, I’m not willing to give her up Tasha. He said with apology in his tone and I tried not to look guilty as I answered him.

-Yeah well, about her…”. I started to say and my head searched for the right words to say without sounding like an obsessive, controlling, maniacal stalker.

-She who Tasha?” the blond interrupted me and his blue eyes narrowed in my direction, “What did you do to my girlfriend Medusa? He asked with panic in his voice.

-I just convinced her that it was the best idea if she came to California on holiday for a couple of months, you know, nobody turns down an offer like that and even less if it’s all paid for” My friend took his mobile phone out of his trousers pocket and went into despair for a few moments “I don’t think you can contact her, her flight should have left a couple of hours ago, so at this moment she must be crossing the continent to come and see you. Isn’t that romantic? . I asked as I batted my eyelashes making my emerald eyes sparkle with innocence.

Caleb cursed in Russian and his brown eyebrows arched in awe and respect as he watched me.

-Damn it Tasha, don’t you sleep? Boris asked, half amused, half serious, and I pretended to think about it for a few seconds.

-Sometimes, when I have no other choice,” my teeth caught my lower l*p nervously and I sighed, “So, are you staying? I questioned fearfully.

The group of six friends who had become my family turned to look at each other as they seemed to communicate telepathically.

My heart pounded hard in my throat, then Rey cleared his throat and looked at me with a soft smile.

-Well, we realised that you would obviously be miserable without our presence so we will have mercy on your poor soul and stay and live here. But I’m not going to work in your bar, don’t take this the wrong way but my life has always been about illegals and always will be. I concluded and a m**n combined with a cry of happiness came out of my throat as I threw myself into his arms.

As usual Rey caught me on the fly as I hung like a koala around him, soon the others surrounded us and we became a pineapple.

I was grateful with all my heart that they were staying, I didn’t want to live without my family anymore and now we could all be together forever.

I just hoped they liked being in California as much as I did.

Slowly we drifted apart until I was back on my feet on the ground as small tears of relief slid down my cheeks.

-Thank you. I said, my voice breaking with emotion, and Rey made sure to wipe the traces of salt water from my face.

Someone cleared their throat behind me and I remembered how Darren had helped me, (again), run away from the house of crows so I could get there in time.

My friend who now had purple hair looked touched and a little uncomfortable at being a complete stranger.

I smiled a little guiltily and busied myself introducing them, the boys thanked him for keeping me safe and accompanying me on every crazy thing I could think of.

The American’s cheeks coloured with so much attention from my intimidating and serious friends, as red as a couple of apples that I felt like biting into one. I turned to Sab to see her reaction to him with my matchmaking senses activated.

But it wasn’t the blonde’s eyes that I caught giving my handsome bartender a cheeky once-over.

But honey green ones framed with dark lashes that contrasted with her dyed blonde hair.

Uh, uhhhh.

This looked interesting, I didn’t dare say anything but made sure to send the Russian a half smile declaring that I had seen through his intentions, he made sure to look confused and not pay much attention to Darren again.

But it was quick evasiveness that made me want to laugh inwardly.

-I think we’re going to have to call the airline and ask for a refund for our flights. Anton distracted me and I shook my head in his direction.

-Nahhhhhh, no need.” I said as I winked at him.

-I want to know what you mean by that. He asked cautiously and I shrugged my shoulders.

-I smiled in a way that showed most of my teeth. “I bought the airline as a backup plan in case I couldn’t convince them to stay, if you want a refund so badly I just have to pick up my mobile phone and deposit the money in your account. I confessed with simplicity and got a lot of backlash.

Sabrina opened her mouth wide enough for a shoe to fit, Caleb and Ivan choked on their saliva as they let out a gasp, Boris blinked hard as if he hadn’t heard correctly, Anton started laughing in disbelief to the point that I was afraid he was going to fall over and Rey let out a low whistle.

Oh and Darren looked at me as if I had confessed to him that I was actually the tooth fairy and that I was coming to steal his teeth.

His eyes wandered between me and my friends.

-You’re joking, aren’t you, you’re pulling my leg, aren’t you? He asked in a half-voice, still craning his neck in both directions.

-One thing you’re going to learn about us, little Kubik, is that we don’t tell many jokes. Sab scoffed and my eyebrow drew an arch on my face at the nickname.

-The blonde is right, from our lips you will hear the truth, the truth and nothing but the truth, so be careful, if you anger one of us and he tells you that no matter how long it takes he will take his revenge. Believe me when I tell you, you better start sleeping with your eyes open for the rest of your life. Supported Ivan.

-So if our Medusa said she bought the airline,” A sceptical look at me before continuing, “You’d better believe her. A smirk stretched his lips.

The red-haired man shuddered and started mumbling about how he would never get used to or understand the foreigner’s sense of humour, making us all laugh.

-I think our recent move deserves a celebration,” Anton said and everyone showed their support.

I let out a slight g***n as I stroked the back of my neck.

-Can we go to the Black Ravens bar, I kind of snuck out and didn’t tell anyone where I was going, I’m sure they must have a good idea but I was hoping I could get back before anyone noticed. I confessed and Sabrina looked at me amused.

-Your biker didn’t notice that you didn’t wake up with him? She asked with mockery in her tone but I replied bitingly.

-He had to go before me with Toro and Diablo to investigate a clue about something at the club, Bruno and Demon should be looking out for me but neither of them would dare to break into my man’s room to bother me.

-They think you’re in Hell’s bed? Boris said in astonishment and I nodded, “How did you get here then? I pointed my thumb at Darren.

-I found a taxi as I climbed out of the bathroom window.

-That room is on the fifth floor. I cocked my head in his direction as I batted my eyelashes.

-Really, I hadn’t noticed, I’ll keep that in mind for next time.

They all chuckled except for Rey who looked at me reproachfully.

-I don’t know how many lives you have left Tasha, but pray to heaven or hell that you never run out. Ivan declared and I agreed with him.

Weeds never die, but it was better not to tempt fate.

Fate used to be a son of a bitch in my experience.

(…)

-I don’t understand and I don’t want to understand how the hell you got out of the room, Demon and I have been taking turns watching the door since Hell left in the morning and threatened our asses with getting our faces smashed in if we let you out of bed. That was the first thing my half-brother said when he saw me walk through the bar doors in the company of the Russians.

I let out a long sigh as I half lay down on Rey with sleep and tiredness taking its toll on me from my long, long night.

-Like you said, you don’t want to know, and if I were you, I’d be more concerned about erasing the security tapes in case Hades or Hell think it’s a good idea to check them. You know, just in case. I suggested suppressing a yawn and Bruno ran off cursing my name.

At this rate he was going to end up hating me again sooner rather than later.

My friends had returned their luggage to the flat and then we had all come to the bar in the Crows’ clubhouse, they were comfortable as they socialised with the bikers, who were now surprisingly more relaxed in the presence of the Russians.

I didn’t know if it was because they had left their bloody prejudices behind or because my father his Prez had ordered them to.

Either way I was grateful for the comfortable atmosphere around me.

I played a couple of games of pool, ignoring the fact that I wasn’t supposed to, I lost money playing cards against a biker I didn’t know, I watched as one of my friends slyly tried to flirt with the biker who was still oblivious, Sabrina and Anton together with some crows played clothes poker where my friend was the winner losing only two clothes.

Ah yes, life was very quiet, or at least it was going to be today, because tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and next week along with the next month was going to be full of stress on my part and trying to control Kozlov’s Inc from the United States.

I was going to have to build a headquarters in the city and just thinking about all the permits along with the time and the plans was giving me a headache. Plus I still had to take several university courses to make sure I was doing the right thing.

I had a future full of responsibilities and no holidays for me, but I wasn’t complaining, I had been doing nothing for three years. It was about time my a*s was doing something productive.

In the middle of the afternoon my body told me enough and I fell asleep on Rey’s shoulder, just before lunchtime.

And it wasn’t hunger or the bustle that woke me up a couple of hours later, but the sensation of being carried in arms as I settled into the person’s lap.

My eyes strained to half-open and be able to see Hunter cradle me in his body as he chatted quietly with Reykon, a yawn escaped me as I searched for a more comfortable pose, and a chuckle vibrated through his chest as I laid my head on his left side over his heart.

My man’s heartbeat soothed me and urged me to continue sleeping, but no matter how hard I tried I could not return to the world of dreams. After about fifteen minutes I gave up and woke up, I tried to stand up from Hunter’s legs but he wouldn’t let me, his hands held my h**s tightly pinning me in place.

-Good morning. He said as he carved my eyes.

-Good morning,” I replied amused by the time, “Have you been here long? I asked and looked over his body with my eyes to make sure he was in one piece.

-About half an hour ago, we had a meeting with Hades in his office as soon as we arrived and we just left, so that’s why I could barely get you back to where you belong.

-Where do I belong? I questioned amused and he looked at me with his black eyes narrowed as he squeezed me tighter.

-Yes, with me, obviously. He answered full of confidence.

-Obviously. I repeated as I placed a soft k**s on his beautiful lips while he grunted at the brevity of it.

-You shouldn’t skip meals, I’m going to feed you before I take you upstairs to rest, didn’t you get enough sleep when I left? A panicked look from Bruno who was in front of us listening to the conversation.

I bit my l*p, tempted to give him away just to see how fast he could run when Hunter chased him.

But I took pity on his soul and said nothing.

-It’s the medicine that makes me tired all the time, but don’t worry, the doctor said it would be normal and that it would wear off in the next two months. I assured him when I saw his intentions to take me to the emergency room.

Hospitals were not my favourite place, I seriously doubted that they were my favourite place for anyone who was a patient within their walls.

My biker didn’t look very convinced but he believed me and carried me into the kitchen where he stole a plate of food from one of the sweet asses who was cooking. It was a delicious beef stew that she took it upon herself to stuff into my mouth like a little girl despite my protests.

I admitted I was turning into a softie but the laziness of sleep and the satisfaction of being pampered by your man was a unique and delicious sensation that I thought I would make the most of.

Hunter always surprised me and this time was no exception with his affectionate gestures in taking care of me, the brothers and my friends made fun of how sweet we looked but a death glare from us urged them to shut their mouths and get on with their business.

By the time I finished eating the official meal time had arrived and the kitchen was filled with hungry bodies, so Hunter pulled me out of there to take us back to his room, set me gently on the bed and I listened to him tell me about his day as he undressed and took a shower with the door open.

He was smart enough to shower quickly before I was able to join him.

The onyx-eyed biker made an effort to give me all the details of what he did without revealing anything confidential that would be considered a betrayal, it was entertaining to watch him stumble over his words several times as he searched for the right ones and I thanked him for the effort he was making to balance his obligations.

When he returned to bed he didn’t bother to put on any clothes, he just pulled mine off until I was bare and held me in his arms, then I told him, (with details more, details less), about what had happened in my day and how my friends were going to live in Los Angeles.

Hunter was happy for me and told me that he knew how important it was to have them in my life, a confession that made me k**s him until we both lost our breath.

But unfortunately I couldn’t convince him of anything else as he was determined to get me back on my feet as soon as possible. I didn’t want to overdemand myself and have my wounds reopened.

And like the good, girlfriend, wife, property, old lady that I am, I simply smiled and agreed without revealing that I had escaped from a fifth floor flat earlier that day while everyone thought I was asleep.

It would have been fun to see her reaction though, wouldn’t it?

We kept talking about each other and the common ground we had, learning about each other.

For example, although Hunter was in charge of one of the Black Ravens’ bars, he was also one of the best artists the mechanic shop had, so when they had an important client or a particularly complicated order he would drop his duties and take care of it.

I was surprised when he showed me several of his drawings that were scattered around the room. My biker was really good at drawing and made me promise to pose for him in the future.

I also told him the story behind several of my tattoos.

For example on my right arm in the middle of my forearm was a bleeding rose that I had gotten on top of the first scar I had left after my first motorbike accident, or the tattoo of a violin almost reaching my left shoulder that I had gotten after Niko took me to a café/bar at night where they played live music and where a specific piece by a retired violinist had made me drunker with feelings than any alcoholic drink in my life.

But one of my favourite tattoos to show him was the Kozlov family coat of arms above my right elbow. It consisted of a shield with two towers in the background while a superimposed eagle flew with its beak open and in its talons it held an olive branch. Underneath it was the legend Сила заключается во внутреннней силе, which meant “True strength lies in inner strength”.

My ancestors really were serious people who did not mince their words.

Hunter’s fingers traced each drawing on my skin as he listened attentively to every word that came out of my mouth, and the feeling of being the centre of his Universe came over me.

As if I was his Sun and he was the Earth revolving around me.

With every second that passed in his presence the more I was convinced that my place was at his side, I thought of mum and Hades, and I felt sorry for both of them, neither of them had been totally happy when they were separated.

That made me appreciate the moment with my biker even more, I ran my fingers through his hair enjoying every sensation, every second, every heartbeat.

Remembering that there weren’t always happy endings, and that I was being very lucky to get mine after all the hell I went through, but that there were thousands of people out there who also deserved a break and didn’t get one.

So I fell asleep as I looked into Hunter’s black eyes with a sense of gratitude and fulfillment, knowing that I was ready for whatever challenge life threw at us.

I was no longer alone.

And I never would be again.

Now a handsome biker was with me, and he was crazy enough to love me and stay by my side forever.

Forever.

That sounded pretty good if it was by his side.

I closed my eyes and slept.

I slept with love pulsing through my b***d and fullness resting in my soul.

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