Fixing Broken Hearts Read online

  Helping her stuff her long train into the limo made him laugh. By the time she was seated, his new wife looked more dress than woman. She quickly swooped and tucked it all aside to make room for him to sit beside her.

  Unable to resist, he pulled her close. Gripping one side of the neckline, he pulled it gently away to reveal her creamy brown flesh. A quick glimpse up into her startled brown eyes told him she was as excited as he was. Dipping his head, he ran his lips down her neck, nipping lightly at the slim column he’d grown to love so much.

  “Thanks for not smearing the lipstick.”

  “I am not a villain.”

  “Umm, yes, you are.”

  Chuckling, he clamped his teeth down and sucked at her skin. When she began squirming, he moved lower to capture one soft, dusky nipple.

  “Viktor…”

  “Yes?”

  “We’re going to be at the reception in no time at all.”

  “All the more reason to enjoy you while I can.”

  A tiny squeak sounded in his ear when he nipped her sensitive flesh. His hands slid down, searching for handful after handful of gown on a mad quest to locate her molten core.

  “Too many clothes, my precious.” Finally finding her soft thighs, his hand landed on the tiny sidearm strapped to her leg. “And you won’t be needing this.” Sliding the weapon free, he slipped it into his jacket.

  “Give that back, you big brute. It was something blue.”

  Viktor laughed at her newfound interest in cold blue steel. “Your something blue?”

  “Brides are supposed to have something old, new, borrowed, and blue.”

  “Let me guess. Your wedding dress is the something new. Your pearls are old. The lovely diamond necklace was bought for my mother the day she gave birth to my youngest sister, so that must be your something borrowed.” Tapping his jacket pocket, he said, “And the small pistol, as you have said, is your something blue.”

  “You’re pretty good at snooping out all the clues. I think you missed your calling as a detective.”

  Viktor snorted a short laugh. “You make me happy.”

  “I love you too.” Pulling the handkerchief out of his pocket, she wiped her lipstick off.

  Feeling his excitement kick up a notch, Viktor couldn’t wait to take his pretty bride up on her unspoken invitation. Kissing with one hand up her dress was favorite place to be. No sooner had he ripped her flimsy thong away, than he heard a harsh knock on his side window.

  Cursing under his breath, he pulled himself together. Stuffing the tong in his pocket, he smoothed her dress down before lowering the darkened window.

  Tony was standing outside with his girlfriend. “You two can’t hide out in there all day, Vik. Time to get the party started.”

  Viktor’s hand twitched towards his weapon before he even thought about what he was doing. Cassandra smacked his hand away, frowning.

  “Only joking, moy kotenok.”

  “You’d better be, mister.”

  “Do not frown at me on our wedding day. It is considered foreboding for a bad marriage.”

  Her eyes got big. “Really?”

  “Of course not, Mrs. Balakovich. Come, your mother is worried.”

  Fuck, even Demetrius was taking her side. Viktor’s eyes drifted to the small woman clinging to his longtime friend’s side and could not find it in his heart to harbor any resentment over it. Cassandra had done him a good service by securing his woman when she was in peril, and thus earning his loyalty. Grinding his teeth, he worried that he was losing his edge and becoming emotional like a woman.

  There was dinner, toasting, dancing, and basking in the goodwill of their friends and family. This was the only wedding day he would ever have and Viktor made an effort to savor every moment of it.

  Bringing an ice cold vodka to his mouth, he took a sip as he watched his sweet little bride opening her wedding gifts. The women had arranged some kind of mini-assembly line. One handed her the gift, she unwrapped it, and everyone made a fuss. Another woman gathered the crumpled giftwrap and stuffed it into a large white gab. It was all very organized, and for some reason the photographer felt the need to capture an image of her holding each gift. It was very strange to Viktor’s eyes.

  His cell phone jingled and he pressed the green dot without giving it much thought. It was a video clip from his ex-wife. Of all days to hear from her, this wouldn’t have been his choice. Glancing back at his new bride, he watched her pull his little one into her lap and kiss her on the cheek. Pushing the arrow, he watched her message.

  “Viktor, I know that I let you down. I was under a lot of stress and I just needed a little something to get through the day. Before I knew it, several days slipped by and you had already picked your daughter up from the hospital. I guess what I’m trying to say, is she’s yours now. I’m no good for her or you.” Bringing up a hand, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Don’t try to find me. I’m happy where I am and I’m not coming back.

  Turning his phone off, he put the woman completely out of his mind, in favor of watching his new wife and child opening gifts.

  His father-in-law’s voice sounded low and rough in his ear.

  “Enjoying the wedding, Viktor?”

  “Not nearly as much as being married, sir.”

  “You’re so goddamned polite. Did your fancy-ass father teach you that?”

  “He places more of an importance on good social skills than I do. Still, I can’t think that being a pompous prick to my new wife’s stepfather is a good way to start my marriage.”

  “Well, you did have the common decency to ask for my daughter’s hand in marriage, so you can’t be all bad.”

  “But I am, Mr. Nash.”

  “Let’s hope so, ’cause it’s the only way you’re gonna survive around these parts.”

  “You do not strike me as the kind of man to engage in idle chitchat, Mr. Nash.”

  “Fine, I’ll get to the point.” Taking a drink of his brandy, he glanced around to make sure no one was near. The older man was kind of suspicious and guarded. Viktor liked that about him. “I want to talk to you about my son.”

  Viktor replied blandly, “I am not whacking him for you. If that is what you want, then we have nothing more to discuss.”

  Mr. Nash appeared to be trying to keep a smile off his face. “Is that your idea of a joke?”

  “I never joke.”

  “Whatever. I am given to understand my son asked you to check up on a gentleman by the name of Aleksandr Koshikov.”

  “Yes, sir. I discovered that he was attending the university to get a degree in healthcare management when his brother screwed the Chensnokov family in an arms deal about six years ago. He has a mother who lives near Siberia. His brother stayed behind to care for her and their sister while Alek apparently offered himself until the debt is paid. They say he has over a million and a half left on his debt. He is highly valued because his fighting skills earn quite a bit for the family. I was also told he is quite intelligent and resourceful, if you know what I mean. I have already inquired about purchasing the contract for Tony but the family says they will not sell his contract. They think of him as family.”

  “Seems a pittance to pay for such a resourceful gentleman. Why does Tony want that contract…do you even know?”

  “I assume your daughter wants him free.”

  “My daughters, as you well know from being with Cassandra, are not paupers. Sharon stands out in that she has put all that money in a Swiss bank account and she will not spend it because she calls it blood money. Tony has been after her for years to give it to him because he considers it family money and insists it should be put to good use. I think he is afraid she will just to donate it all too some charity one day.”

  “You think if I purchase the contract for him, he will use it to leverage the money from her.”

  Her father took another drink of his brandy. “He won’t stop until he has all seven million. That is not his money and he has no ri
ght to it. And yes, he would blackmail his own sister. God, sometimes I can’t believe that little prick is my own son.”

  Viktor sighed and asked wearily, “So we are not giving him the benefit of the doubt on this one?”

  Mr. Nash gave him a disgusted expression. “Hell no. I learned not to do that with Tony long ago. Don’t get me wrong, I love my son, but he is a shifty little son of a bitch when he wants to be. Buy the contract and put it in Sharon’s or your name, anyone but Tony’s. Send me information on one of your receiving accounts and I will see the money gets wired first thing in the morning.”

  “It will be as you say. I would not fail you, your lovely daughter, or a Russian brother in need.”

  “I was in a similar situation once. Early in my career, I made a bad choice and spent an entire year of my life working for a total dickhead. I can’t imagine being indebted to another person for six years. He seems like a stand-up guy. God, its only money. I spent that much on my lake house just for a quiet place to fish.”

  Viktor shifted anxiously. “I will see to it immediately.”

  “Not immediately. You have a wife and a honeymoon.”

  “Of course, sir.”

  “You’re making the right choice here, Viktor. Don’t look so weirded out.”

  “I have to admit this whole situation is making me uncomfortable…I’m not used to being the good guy.”

  The older man laughed loud enough to draw notice from others. “I’ll be damned, you do have a sense of humor.”

  Suddenly, Cassandra’s voice sounded nearby. “You two are looking pretty chummy.”

  Mr. Nash smiled down at his lovely stepdaughter. “I think the expression you are looking for is thick as thieves.”

  She laughed at the ominous tone of his voice. “Well, you two laugh it up. I’m going to change in my going away clothing.” Viktor opened his mouth, and before he could speak, she turned to him, pressing a delicate finger to his lips. “And no, I don’t need any help.”

  Watching her flounce away, Viktor stared at her as he brought another vodka shot to his lips.

  “I’m not sure I like the way you’re looking at my daughter.”

  “She’s not your daughter anymore, old man. Now she belongs to me and I’ll look at her any way I please.”

  The older man’s eyes crinkled around the edges in an expression of subdued humor. Tony’s ominous voice cut through the quiet. “You are not sounding much like a man who’s interested in living to see your wedding night.”

  “It is unwise to threaten a member of the bratva no matter where in the world you stand.”

  The three men all looked at Viktor’s father at the same time. “Threats to a Vory mean instant death in Russia.”

  Tony’s gleeful voice responded smugly, “Well, you ain’t in Kansas anymore, Toto.”

  “I can tell by the lack of ruby slippers and flying monkeys, but thanks for the idle observation.” The older Russian’s response was dry and humorless.

  Mr. Nash spoke up. “You’ll have to excuse my son. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, but his mother and I did the best we could by him.”

  Viktor’s father responded smoothly, “Then he is the perfect adversary for my Viktor. We’ll have to make sure they have dummy swords so they don’t hurt themselves when they play.”

  Walking over, Mr. Nash looked him over curiously. “I heard you married a Winchester. Does that mean you get a special discount on their merchandise?”

  “I’m afraid not. They disowned her entirely. However, they’ve wasted enough ammunition trying to kill us to outfit a small army.”

  The men wandered off together, discussing what a waste of good ammo that turned out to be.

  “Fuck them both and the horse they rode in on. Ignorant pricks.”

  Reaching out, Viktor snagged a couple more shots and held one out for Tony. “Like you always say, my friend. They’re outliving their usefulness.”

  Tony grabbed the shot glass and grumbled, “I’ll drink to that. I can see right now that we’re going to have to stick together.”

  “Except about the Koshikov contract. Your father purchased it already.”

  “Well, screw that.”

  Downing his drink, Tony slammed it across the table and stalked off.

  “What was that all about?”

  Looking up, Viktor’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you wearing?”

  Smoothing her hands over a tight shimmering copper-colored sleeveless dress, Cassandra asked demurely, “Do you like it?”

  Tilting his head slightly, Viktor responded, “The only real question is if you like it. If you are partial to it, speak up now, because once we get in the limo, I plan to tear it from your curvy body and have my way with you.”

  “Viktor!”

  “It has been a long day, my sweet love, and I have not had nearly enough of you to quench my thirst.”

  “Sweet Jesus, have you been drinking?”

  “Three shots.”

  “You are definitely not drunk, then.”

  Walking over to her, he drew her gently into the circle of his arms. Drawing his hand up her naked back, he asked seductively, “Have you not missed my touch?”

  “Yes.”

  Bringing his lips to her neck, he murmured, “My lips?”

  Her head fell back, exposing the slim column of her neck. “God, yes.”

  Running one hand down to her bottom, his hand closed around one cheek, drawing her forward. Knowing she could feel his hard-on, he whispered earnestly, “How about my thick cock? Did you miss that?”

  Her head snapped up and her eyes opened. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Now?”

  Nodding, she grabbed him by the hand and led him towards the exit. “Yes. Right now.”

  Viktor smothered his smile as they were detained long enough for her to throw the bouquet to a group of women. They were in the limo within moments and Viktor made sure she was naked only moments after that.

  Worshiping her perfect body, Viktor noticed something interesting. The planes of her stomach were no longer totally flat. Running his hand over her, he felt for certain there was a tiny difference. She seemed thicker and her breasts a little bouncier. “Are you using a plumping machine on your breasts?”

  “Am I what…what the heck are you talking about?”

  Looking up from her body to her face, he explained. “I have seen on the video tube how women use glasses around their lips to form a suction which makes their lips plump. Your breasts seem plumper. I do not approve of suction machines on your body.”

  She seemed to be trying not to laugh in his face.

  “I thought I should register my complaint right away in order to avoid any ambiguity. I do like the new thicker, plumper you though.”

  Covering his hand with hers, she guided it back down to her stomach. “Glad to hear that, because I’m going to get a lot thicker around the midsection.”

  Chewing his bottom lip, Viktor knew exactly what she was saying. His lovely wife was having his child. Unable to keep the smile off his face, he kissed everywhere his devilishly wicked lips could reach before burying his face between her long, slender legs. Making her writhe in pleasure and scream his name was ego gratifying, to be sure. Not nearly as gratifying as knowing he was going to be a father again. This time with a woman who truly loved him.

  Finally coming up for a few kisses, he looked down at the sweaty, compliant mess he’d made of his new wife and grinned. “Thank you for carrying my child. I am so happy that I do not mind we cannot have sex on our wedding night.”

  “We can’t what? Get your sexy self down here and we’ll just see about that.”

  “But…”

  “But nothing. What makes you think pregnant women can’t have sex?”

  “Syl…”

  “I say you can. Who’s the doctor, me or you ex-wife?”

  Not needing further verification, his hand went immediately to his zipper.

  Epilogue


  ~ Cassandra ~

  Viktor strolled by with a child on each hip.

  “What happened?”

  “Nothing to concern yourself with, moy kotenok.” Bending down, he kissed her rounded belly. Shifting slightly to one side and then the other, he gave each of their son’s an opportunity to touch her tummy before carting them off.

  Viktorija walked in shortly thereafter, smoothing down her dress. Grinning at the ten-year-old, Cassandra asked flippantly, “Do I even want to know what shenanigans those two were up to just now?”