Ultimate Vengeance

Wanted Men, #4

Nancy Haviland

Publication Date: May 31, 2016

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Mafia Romance, Organized Crime

Preorder: Amazon

To a young Russian girl raised to respect and fear the Bratva, gaining the attention of the impressive Sovietnik from a ruling organization was a terrifying thing. Alekzander was a dangerous temptation Sacha Urusski had no hope of resisting. Predictably, her heart was decimated and she was left bleeding…with a precious reason to go on. But when Alekzander bullies his way back into her quiet life and offers a confession that absolves him of his sins, rather than celebrate, Sacha is forced to acknowledge an alarming truth; she has now become the villain in their story. Or so she thinks. When the most damaging secret of all is revealed, her final hope dies and she’s left with no other recourse. She must run.

Sixteen months ago, Alekzander Tarasov made the mistake of his life when he annihilated his relationship with his soulmate. At the time, protecting her was his only thought. Now, after attempting to live without her, his focus has changed. He wants her back where she belongs. And he’ll stop at nothing to drag his curvy angel away from her new life and so deep into his world of violence and uncertainty she’ll never find her way out again. Through a deluge of secrets and lies, disillusionment and broken faith enters a world where loyalty and trust reign. Will Alek and Sacha’s battered love be strong enough to survive? Or will it be a sense of duty that inexorably binds them together in the end?

EXCERPT

Rather than drive his fist through another man’s sternum to rip out his still beating heart, Alek rudely gave everyone but Sacha his back. He placed his hands on the car’s roof, boxing her in. She pressed back, as though she didn’t want to come into contact with him. Understandable. The last time she’d seen him, he’d had his hands full of a woman that wasn’t her.

He excluded Sheppard entirely by reverting to Russian once more. “I would appreciate a few minutes of your time. We could talk in the car. Vasily’s car,” he specified with a dismissive look at the Mercedes. “Or, if you prefer something more public, we can go into the restaurant. But whichever you choose, it’s time to send him on his way. I’ll make sure you get home.” Preferably their home.

A new tension began crackling in the time it took for her to raise her incredulous stare. The vulnerability surrounding her disappeared, and she made a small sound of amusement that wasn’t reflected in her expression. “Just like that?” She spoke quietly enough so only he would hear. “Your arrogance is shameful and sad if it allows you to believe there would be any point to us sitting down together, no matter the location.” Even in her disgust, he’d never seen a woman so fucking beautiful.

“I’ll admit you’d have to struggle to find something you’d want to say to me that didn’t involve me giving it to myself somewhere I can’t reach, but there is much I’d like to say to you.” He watched her throat work through a swallow and wanted to scrape his teeth over the silky skin. “I don’t know how the hell you came to be here tonight, but if you think I’m going to let this opportunity go without taking full advantage, then you’ve forgotten who I am.”

“No, Alekzander. And that would be the problem; I have forgotten nothing.”

Shut down.

He dropped his arms and retreated. He remembered that tone and knew he wouldn’t get her cooperation this night. Which meant he was going to have to demonstrate some patience after all by allowing her to leave. Maks must have Sheppard’s info by now. If not, Alek would get the plates on the Benz and they’d hack OnStar. Bingo. Sacha’s addy.

Despite the setback, peace was invading him. He had her. And that was everything.

He took another step back and even managed a small smile. “I understand,” he said, inclining his head as if in defeat. But before he could prove how gracious he planned on being about the whole thing by opening the car door for her, she made a fatal error.

Alek watched as if in slow motion Sacha move that stunning hourglass figure over and press what belonged to him into Sheppard’s side. After the slightest hesitation, her date encircled his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in.

Vasily and Maks came forward at the same time to wedge themselves between Alek and the blasphemous display they’d all just witnessed.

Disappointed that she would do such a thing in front of his people, Alek tsk’d quietly. “Why would you provoke me in such a way, Sacha?” he murmured, holding her eyes as he brought that target back up when he’d mentally been lowering it because deep down he knew Sheppard didn’t deserve his malice. Or, he hadn’t. Now, Alek squared that bull’s eye on the guy’s chest, and almost as if she sensed where his mind was, his naughty angel paled before he lost sight of her.

Maks lowered his head and caught his eye. “Time to get this train backed up,” he said in a tone laced with humor. He forced Alek back by bumping their chests together. “He’s untouchable,” he added in a murky tone more suited to what was happening here. “We have to regroup and figure some shit out. Then we’ll take care of this in a more private location.” He bumped again. “Don’t worry, brother. I got you covered.”

The storm tearing through him calmed at hearing that but the dark clouds of possession hovered, going nowhere. “Take my gun.”

Maks’s hand immediately snaked inside his jacket and came out with his nine millimeter. It was gone from sight before anyone had a chance to lock eyes on it. At the same time, Vasily was sending Sheppard back around the car and opening the door to help Sacha into the passenger seat with a quiet farewell that Alek didn’t hear her return.

“Justin Sheppard.”

He paused with one foot in the car, appearing remarkably unfazed by the undercurrent surrounding them.

“Take care of her. She’s precious in a way you couldn’t possibly understand.”

Finally, a reaction came when the blatant warning caused the muscle in Sheppard’s jaw to jump. “I understand that just fine, Tarasov. She’ll be fine. Goodnight, gentlemen.” He disappeared into the car, and the tinted windows shut out prying eyes as they drove away.

#WANTEDMEN

#NOISYLOVER

#ULTIMATEVENGEANCE

DON'T MISS THE OTHER SIZZLING BOOKS IN THE WANTED MEN SERIES, FEATURING SEXY ALPHAS AND THE WOMEN THAT CONQUER THEIR HEARTS...

Purchase: Amazon (#Free with #KindleUnlimited) | Amazon PRINT | AUDIBLE | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | B&N PRINT

Purchase: Amazon (#FREE with #KindleUnlimited) | Amazon PRINT | AUDIBLE | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | B&N PRINT

Purchase: Amazon (#FREE with #KindleUnlimited) | Amazon PRINT | AUDIBLE | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | B&N PRINT

ABOUT NANCY HAVILAND

Nancy Haviland, author of the bestselling organized crime series, WANTED MEN, writes about her alpha mobsters and their ladies from her home near Toronto, Ontario. She fights for space on her keyboard with her arrogant kitty named Talbot, and adores her Tim Horton’s coffee; as any self-respecting Canadian would. She writes contemporary romantic suspense but will happily read anything that involves two people smooching. A member of Romance Writers of America, Nancy is represented by Nalini Akolekar of Spencerhill Associates, and is published by Montlake Romance/Amazon Publishing.