Chapter 20: Dark Obsession: Chapter 20

We’re back at the mansion, and I’ve never been so damn happy to be in this fortress of a home.

The others are scattered throughout the place, on phone calls with family, telling them to stay in safe houses and out of the city for now.

We’re officially in the middle of a war zone.

Elena’s in the den, sitting on the couch with her legs tucked under her, staring at the TV. The hospital attack is all over the news, with footage from helicopters showing the blown-out front of the building.

I step behind the couch, watching the screen over her shoulder. I can feel the tension radiating off her, but she stays quiet, processing.

The reporter drones on about the details of the explosion, a somber expression on her face.

“Luckily, no civilians were killed in the attack. Several injuries were reported, but all of the deaths seem to be linked to the gang responsible for the assault.”

I watch as Elena lets out a breath she’d been holding.

“This is only the beginning,” I say quietly. She nods once, not looking away from the screen, her fingers gripping the blanket draped over her lap.

‘Yeah,’ she replies softly. ‘But we made it through today. And that’s something.’

I step over to the fireplace and get a blaze going, the crackle of the flames filling the room with warmth. Outside, the rain picks up, drumming softly against the windows.

I glance at Elena, and with a dry smile, I say, “Feels like it’s been raining for weeks. Almost forgot what the sun looks like.”

She smiles, but her eyes are tired. “Yeah, before we know it, it’ll be the holiday season. Then we can enjoy a brutal Chicago winter.”

I chuckle. “Right. If we make it through this damn war first.”

Her smile falters, and I instantly regret saying it.

‘Shit. Sorry,’ I mutter, shaking my head. “We’ll get through it. We always do.”

She nods, but I can tell she’s not entirely convinced. I can’t blame her for that. There’s a lot of unknowns hanging over us right now.

She shifts on the couch, looking up at me. “Take me to bed?” she asks, her voice soft and exhausted. ‘I’m wiped out from everything.’

I turn off the TV, leaving the glow of the fire in the room. “Sure.”

Before she gets up, she glances at the fire, a faint smile on her lips. “Actually, the fire’s nice. Maybe I’ll sleep down here.”

“Up to you,” I say. She pulls the blanket tighter around her, then looks up at me again.

“Sit with me?” she asks, her voice small.

I sit beside her, and she rests her head on my leg. “There,” she whispers, her breath softening. “You make a good pillow.”

I stay still, watching her eyes flutter shut, the firelight flickering across her face. As she drifts off to sleep, I swear to myself I’ll never let anything happen to her.

It’s been days since the hospital attack, and everyone’s on high alert. Total lockdown. No one gets in or out without eyes on them. So when the doorbell rings, I check the security feed first. It’s Detective Barnes. It’s about time.

I make my way to the front with Alexei by my side. We asked to meet with him, to hopefully get some answers.

When we open the door, Barnes is standing there, looking like a man with too many problems on his plate. I let him through, and we give him the once-over, patting him down for weapons. He grumbles, shooting me an annoyed look.

“Not a good look for me, strolling into the Ivanov mansion like I’m here for tea and cookies,” Barnes mutters as he steps inside.

“Better than you being dead in a gutter,” Alexei shoots back with a smirk.

Barnes snorts, clearly not in the mood for jokes. ‘I prefer my tea without the looming threat of war, thanks.’

Alexei and I walk him farther into the mansion. I can tell Barnes has something big for us. We just need to make sure it’s the kind of intel that’ll tip the scales in our favor.

The detective crosses his arms once we reach the study, his eyes darting around like he’s expecting us to pounce any second. “You’d better make this quick. People are already asking why I’m sniffing around your place.”

Alexei leans against the wall, relaxed. “Come on, Barnes. You know you’re in deep with us. Don’t act like this is some one-time thing.” He chuckles, enjoying himself. “You’ve been on our payroll for years.”

Barnes’s expression hardens, and I can tell he’s getting pissed.

‘That was different. A favor here, a tip there but this?” He gestures around the room, shaking his head like he’s the one in a bind. “I’m not risking my career for your damn turf war.”

I take a step forward, my voice sharp, “You already are.” I stare him down, letting the words sink in. “You know the stakes, Barnes. You know what the Molinas are doing, pushing their way into Chicago. And you know what happens if they take us down.” I pause, just long enough to make sure he gets the message. “If you don’t want the cartel running your city, you’ll give us what we need.”

Barnes clenches his jaw, his face betraying the internal struggle. He knows I’m right, even if he hates it.

“What I need is for this war to end without half of Chicago going up in flames. Do you even realize what the fuck you’re up against?”

Alexei steps in, leaning close. “Enlighten us, Detective. Let’s hear what’s got you so rattled.”

Barnes swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. His eyes flick between us. “The Molinas are planning something big—something that’s going to make that hospital attack look like a goddamn picnic.” He lowers his voice, like someone might be listening. “They’ve got muscle coming in from out of the country. And Claudio? He’s not the head of this anymore.”

I freeze for a moment, my eyes locking with Alexei’s. Something dark passes between us.

“Then who is?” I demand.

Barnes wipes sweat from his forehead, looking more uncomfortable by the second. “I don’t have a name yet, but word is this new player is a ghost. No one’s seen his face, but they say he’s the one who put Claudio in charge. And now he’s coming to finish the job himself.”

I step toward Barnes, my eyes drilling into him. “Tell me everything you know right now.”

He shifts like he’s standing on broken glass and nervously runs a hand through his hair. “All I’ve got is that he’s coming in from New York City. That’s it.”

Alexei steps in beside me, eyes narrowing. “That’s all you’ve got?” His voice is a low growl, his disbelief clear.

Barnes raises his hands, almost like he’s surrendering. “Yeah, that’s it. If I had more, I’d tell you. Look, I’d rather be working for you guys than dealing with this cartel shit. This guy… he’s no joke.”

I’m already tired of this back-and-forth. It’s useless. “What about Sanchez? Any word?”

He shakes his head. “Not a damn thing. After the hospital attack, he’s gone underground, waiting for this new boss to come in and tell him what to do next while licking his wounds. But I’ll keep digging.”

I watch as he wipes a bead of sweat from his forehead, the reality of what’s happening hitting him hard. “Hell, I never thought I’d see shit like what happened at the hospital go down in Chicago. Felt more like Fallujah than home.”

I’m getting impatient but there’s no point in pressing him further. Barnes is dry for now.

“When you get more intel, you come straight to us. In person. No phone calls. You understand?”

He nods quickly, all too eager to get the hell out of here. “You’ll hear from me as soon as I’ve got something.”

As Barnes hurries off, practically tripping over himself to leave, I feel Alexei at my side.

“Spineless, but useful in his own way,” he says.

Alexei and I sit in silence, the weight of Barnes’ information pressing down on us. ‘This war’s bigger than we thought,’ I mutter, already calculating the next move. ‘We need to bring everyone in. No one can be left in the dark.’

Alexei nods, tapping his fingers against his leg. ‘Lev and the others are already on it. They’re making sure the soldiers are ready. If this new head of the Molina Cartel is the real deal, we can’t afford to get caught off guard.’

I don’t respond right away. I’m too busy thinking about what’s coming. It’s always the same feeling—like the air’s about to change. The calm before the storm. I glance over at Alexei, about to say something else, but then I catch a glimpse of movement outside the room.

Elena.

She walks past, and for a split second, our eyes meet. She blushes, then hurries off, trying to escape the pull between us. It doesn’t matter how much I try to bury it; the tension is always there.

‘Earth to Grigori,’ Alexei says, his voice cutting through my distraction. His smirk tells me he saw the whole thing.

I clench my jaw, focusing back on the situation at hand. ‘What?’

He leans back, amusement flickering in his eyes. ‘You were saying?’

I force the conversation back on track, shutting down any attempt he makes to needle me. But damn it, Elena’s still in my head, twisting me up inside. Even in the middle of this impending war, she’s all I can think about.

And that’s a dangerous distraction I can’t afford.

It’s late, and the mansion’s quiet, save for the low hum of the TV. I’ve been flipping through channels for hours, but nothing holds my attention.

I drum my fingers on the table, feeling the tension gnawing at me. She’s somewhere in this house, probably asleep by now, and the thought of her wrapped up in her sheets does something to me I can’t shake. I get up, frustrated, and head to the kitchen. I realize I haven’t eaten since the morning. Maybe some food will help clear my head.

But when I walk in, Elena’s there.

She’s standing at the counter, her back to me, wearing nothing but a pair of sleep shorts and a sleeveless shirt. The kind of outfit that hints at every curve I’ve already felt under my hands. My gut tightens.

She turns, smirking when she sees me. ‘Midnight snack, huh? You must be famished if it was enough to interrupt your beauty sleep.”

I give it right back. ‘Seems like you’re doing the same. Guess we both need more than beauty sleep.’

She laughs softly and nods at the counter. ‘I’m making a sandwich. Want one?’

‘Yeah, that sounds nice.’

I lean against the doorway, watching her as she turns back to the food.

As she moves, my eyes trace every inch of her—those shorts, the smooth line of her legs, the curve of her hips. My grip tightens on the doorframe, the need to touch her rising like a storm I can’t control.

‘Anything new on the cartel? The attack?’ she asks, keeping her back to me as she works.

I grunt. ‘Nothing you haven’t already heard.’

I lean back, crossing my arms, watching her. She moves effortlessly, but I can tell something’s on her mind.

‘How about you? Your online efforts turn up anything useful?’

She sighs, turning to face me, two plates in hand. My eyes dart down. Her nipples are hard, tenting the thin fabric of her shirt, and it takes everything in me to keep my hands to myself.

‘Nothing useful. These cartel guys… they’re old-school. No fancy tech for me to hack into. Makes things hard when computers are your expertise.’

She hands me a plate as she lets out a soft sigh.

‘What’s going on?’

She looks at me, her expression conflicted. ‘I just wanted to thank you for what you did at the hospital.’

I laugh. ‘That’s my job.’

She smiles. ‘I know it’s your job, but it’s more than a paycheck. You put your life on the line for me every day. And I appreciate it. Really.’

With that, she turns to set her plate on the counter, dropping a napkin in the process, cursing under her breath.

My eyes track her every movement as she bends down to pick it up. When she does, her shorts ride up just enough to reveal that she’s not wearing anything underneath. My cock pulses, hard and urgent, a wild heat sparking in my veins. I grip the counter tighter, fighting the urge to close the distance between us, but it’s useless. I feel like an animal.

She straightens and turns to face me. Her eyes flicker with curiosity, like she knows something’s shifted.

“What’s up?”

I set my plate down, stepping forward with purpose. “I’d rather show you than tell you.”

She raises an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her expression.

“Is that right?”

“It is.”

I don’t wait for her to second-guess it. I close the space between us, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her into a kiss that’s raw and hungry. She tenses before melting into me, her body soft against mine. I can feel her heat, her need.

She grips the back of my neck as I press her against the counter, our breaths coming fast and hard.

She steps back, eyes glinting with mischief. ‘Let me do something nice for you,’ she purrs, her tone dripping with intention.

I raise an eyebrow. ‘Oh yeah? And what would that be?’

Without another word, she slowly drops to her knees in front of me, her hands sliding down my chest as she descends. That wicked look in her eyes has my pulse pounding in my throat. She reaches for my belt, teasing me.

She presses her lips against my jeans, her mouth warm through the fabric. ‘This,’ she whispers, kissing me there again, her breath hot. My cock twitches in response, the need growing unbearable.

She finally pulls my jeans down and takes me out, her lips brushing over my length slow and teasing, driving me insane. Her mouth is warm, soft, and when she wraps her lips around the head, my breath catches. Fuck, she’s perfect. She moves her tongue in circles, exploring every inch of me, while her hand grips the base, stroking in sync with her mouth.

The sensation is pure heaven. My head tips back, my hands gripping the edge of the counter as her lips slide further down, taking more of me. I can barely hold myself together as she works me, her mouth creating a slow, torturous rhythm that has me groaning deep in my chest. Watching her, my cock disappearing between those perfect lips, drives me wild.

I watch her work me for a bit, an orgasm building fast, coiling tight in the base of my cock. I can’t hold back much longer. With a growl, I pull her to her feet and kiss her hard, claiming her mouth the way she was just claiming me. My hands are rough as I strip off her top, my lips moving down to her breasts. She moans, soft and breathless, as I suck one of her nipples into my mouth, teasing it with my tongue while my hands roam over her body.

Her fingers tangle in my hair, her hips arching into me as I take her shorts down, leaving her completely naked. She’s gorgeous—more than gorgeous. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted but didn’t know I needed.

“Not wearing panties, I see.”

She smirks playfully. ‘Why bother when they’re just going to end up on the floor?’

I chuckle, sliding my hand between her thighs, feeling just how wet she is. “Fuck, you’re soaked,” I murmur, my fingers playing at her entrance, teasing her the way she teased me.

She gasps, her body pressing into my touch.

“Now it’s my turn to do something nice for you,” I say, dropping to my knees. I kiss her inner thighs and spread her legs apart, ready to taste her again.

To drive her as crazy as she drives me.