Endless Love Read online

  Endless Love

  Tabatha Drake

  Contents

  Reading Order

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  The Epilogues

  Excerpt: Untouched

  Books by Tabatha Drake

  About the Author

  Copyright

  Reading Order

  While the Killer Love saga follows multiple couples, the books should not be considered stand-alone and are meant to be read in order of release.

  Reading Order

  1. Killer Love

  2. Secret Love

  3. Tainted Love

  4. Broken Love

  5. Mad Love

  6. Cruel Love

  7. Endless Love

  Prologue

  Marilyn

  Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together?

  My father always said that patience was the greatest of virtues. As I stand here, surrounded by the disappointed faces of my enemies, I realize that he was right all along.

  I’ve waited long enough for this.

  But, as always, this is no time to get complacent. There are still miles to go before sweet sleep.

  And I will rest soundly knowing Fitzpatrick and his gang of animals are buried six feet under my rose bushes.

  “Everything is ready, Boss.”

  I smile as I glide across the dirty casino floor. “Thank you, Byron,” I say.

  Whimpering girls. Blood-splattered faces. Fire and destruction.

  Such a beautiful sight.

  I walk past the bar toward the card table at the front. As I draw closer, I feel positively giddy. Three little men all in a line, each one mere minutes away from…

  Well, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

  The death of one’s enemies should be savored.

  Every single moment.

  My father was right about that, too.

  Chapter 1

  Luka

  Sergei pauses, his steady, gloved hands halting above Markov’s face.

  “Hold still, Markov. And you…” He eyes me with annoyance over the rims of his glasses. “Stop giving him booze.”

  I snatch the vodka bottle from Markov’s blood-stained hand and set it on the desk behind me next to the computers.

  “Sorry,” I say. “Doctor’s orders.”

  Markov scoffs. “You’d think a doctor would let his patient have painkillers…”

  “You can drink yourself silly when I’m done stitching you up,” Sergei says, his needle pointing toward Markov’s left eye. “Until then, stop fidgeting or I’ll blind you.”

  Markov settles onto his bench, looking annoyed. “Where’s the snake now?” he asks me.

  “The warehouse,” I answer. “Nik and Yuri have already started on him.”

  “Good,” he says, wincing as Sergei draws the needle through his skin again. “Tell them to leave a piece for me.”

  I nod. “Hopefully, it won’t take long to get information out of him.”

  Markov chuckles. “These snakes sing like birds. Always have.”

  “It’s not that easy…”

  “Just start carving out their balls. Works every time.”

  A feminine chuckle breaks the tension.

  “I can’t say that’s the strangest thing I’ve ever heard walking in here,” Sofia says as she passes through the doorway.

  “My apologies, Miss Sofia,” Markov says. “Watching my language in front of the women has never been my strong suit.”

  “It’s all right.” She pauses by the bench and sighs at his wound. “There must be some angels out there who don’t mind your language, Markov.”

  He smirks. “It only takes one.”

  I brush a hand along her arm. “You should be sleeping,” I say.

  “On a night like this?” She shakes her head. “Who could? Even Lucian is tossing.”

  I breathe out. It’s far too early for my son to have sleepless nights.

  Sergei pulls the line taut and snips it with his scissors. “And you’re finished,” he says.

  I extend the bottle toward Markov again and he happily grabs it.

  “Take it easy for a few days, old man,” Sergei scolds him. “No excessive blinking — or your eyeball might fall out.”

  Markov gives a dark laugh. “Could be worse, dah?”

  “It could always be worse,” I say. “Doesn’t mean it’s not bad.”

  He raises the bottle. “Don’t forget who taught you that, Luka.”

  “You should follow your own lessons.”

  “Markov!”

  My mother rushes in from the hallway wearing nothing but her blue robe and slippers. She brushes past me and Sofia to stand by the bench next to Markov. She studies the fresh stitches above his eye, her frightened face turning an even starker shade of white.

  “Oh, you…” She sighs angrily at him. “You stupid bastard!”

  “I’m all right,” he says calmly.

  Her eyes swell with tears. “No, you are not all right. This is not all right! I cannot lose you, too.”

  I take a quick step forward. “Ma—?”

  Sofia grabs my hand, stopping me.

  Markov cups my mother’s face to comfort her. “It was either me or your boy, Nina,” he says. “I’d do it again.”

  A tear tumbles down her cheek. “Markov…” she whispers.

  “Shh.”

  He pulls her closer and kisses her on the lips.

  I blink in stunned confusion as Sofia guides me backward.

  My mother collapses and Markov cradles her, leaving soft kisses on her forehead as she sobs against his chest.

  “Luka…” Sofia whispers, drawing me out into the hallway.

  I turn away from them to look at her. “What is…”

  She raises a single knowing brow.

  I pause, taking one last look into the room. “Oh,” I say.

  My mother… and Markov?

  “Let’s give them some privacy,” she whispers.

  I nod slowly as she squeezes my hand and takes me a little further down the hall. As we walk in silence, the shadows grow heavier around me. We climb the stairs slowly, each step making my shoulders sink deeper. I realize that she’s leading me toward the master suite.

  I stop my stride. “Sofia…”

  She turns to look at me, her soft, gorgeous face just barely visible in the dark corridor. “Yes?” she asks.

  My lip trembles. “I’m so sorry,” I say. “I couldn’t...”

  “Luka, it’s all right.”

  She rests her warm hand on my cheek, but I look away. A man unworthy.

  “I let him go,” I admit. “I saw Markov bleeding and I couldn’t—” I drop to my knees before her and wrap my arms around her delicate waist. “Forgive me, please,” I beg.

  “Luka,” she says, her hands on my head. “My love...”

  I bury my face in her dress, holding her tigh
ter in case she rejects me. “I’m so sorry,” I say again. “I failed you.”

  “No.” Sofia slowly lowers down, resting on her knees to face me. “Luka, you saved me,” she says, smiling softly.

  I close my eyes, still unable to meet hers. “But I should have—”

  “There is not a day that passes by that I’m not in awe of what you’ve done for me,” she says. “And for our son. You gave us life... and for that, you could never fail me, Luka Lutrova.”

  She cups my face, guiding me to raise my head.

  “We’ll get him,” she says. “Maybe not tonight. Or tomorrow. But...” She presses her lips against my cheek, pursing lightly before shifting to the other side and planting a second kiss there, too. “Giovani’s days are numbered in this world. He’s just a man.”

  “And what am I?”

  “You’re the man I chose,” she answers. “I looked into your eyes once and the Zappias could never break me. I loved you, then and now...”

  I kiss her lips, unable to hold back. “Sofia,” I whisper.

  “And I will love you for thousands of tomorrows.”

  I pull her even closer and she falls into my embrace. Her arms crawl around me, sparking goosebumps along my skin. I immerse myself in the comfort of her. I let the memories of this cruel night fade away as I scoop her off the floor and carry her into our bedroom.

  Sofia. My beautiful Sofia.

  She slides from my hands to sit on the edge of the bed, instantly leaning in close to kiss my stomach as she unzips my pants. I close my eyes, letting my other senses take hold of me. The pleasant scent of her hair. Her soft touch and the warmth of her breath on my skin. Quiet, gentle moans as she opens her mouth to me. I grow hard quickly as she works me in and out, her smooth, wet tongue coaxing my blood to pump south.

  I groan for her, my hand resting on the back of her neck. She takes her time, tasting every inch of my cock and I bite my tongue, wanting so badly to taste her, too.

  I lean over to guide her down, but Sofia pushes against it. Instead, she takes my hand and leads me onto my back.

  She stands and slides her dress off her shoulders. It drops to the floor, along with her panties, and I admire her beautiful, porcelain skin as she climbs onto the bed and straddles me.

  “Shh,” she whispers, her wet lips touching mine. “Let me comfort you, Luka.”

  I submit to her. I lie down, allowing her to do as she pleases. She reaches between us, gripping my dick in her strong fingers and sliding it between her willing folds.

  I enter her and she smiles in the dark. Pleasure takes me more and more with every smooth buck of her hips. She reaches for my hands and places them on her breasts. Her soft, breathy moans come faster. I fall to pieces beneath her beauty. My Sofia. Forever and always.

  I gasp, feeling wave-after-wave of heat tempting my release. I feel her body again, from her hips to her breasts and back down to her throbbing clit. She tries to stop me at first, to make this moment for me and my comfort, but my pleasure is linked with hers. There is nothing in this world I find more pleasurable than satisfying my wife.

  I keep the pressure firm as she grinds a little harder, a little faster. Her chest heaves. She loses herself, falling forward and she lays her palms on my chest to keep her balance.

  I grit my teeth, feeling climax take hold as her pussy clenches around me. I pull her down for a hard kiss, smothering the deep moan as it spills off her tongue. We come together, our hearts and bodies dissolving into one.

  Sofia collapses, her warm breath grazing my skin as she lowers down to lie beside me. Without a word, she turns onto her back and raises her arm, gently pulling me in. I lay my head on her breast. Her steady heart pounds against my ear.

  She kisses my forehead and runs her fingers through my hair; one last, warm show of comfort before my eyes close on their own and sweet sleep takes me.

  Chapter 2

  Sofia

  Luka’s head grows heavy and I know he’s finally fallen asleep. Soon, the others will come for him. There’s still so much to be done but I want him to be ready. Ten minutes of deep, relaxing sleep in my arms isn’t too much for a wife to ask for.

  I catch the shadows moving beneath the door and I sigh.

  On second thought, maybe it might be.

  I move slowly, guiding Luka to rest on the pillows as I slide out from under him. I grab my robe off the nightstand, quickly wrapping it around my shoulders and hoping I get to the door in time before they knock.

  I silently open it to find Fox standing in the hallway.

  “Fox,” I whisper as I step out and close the door behind me.

  “I’m sorry,” he says, his eyes straying to my robe. “I didn’t mean to interrupt—”

  “No, it’s fine. Are you all right?”

  He pauses, hesitating as he exhales a deep breath. “Dante and I are leaving but I wanted to say goodbye to you before I go.”

  I smile. “I would have been offended if you didn’t.”

  “We didn’t get a chance to talk much,” he says. “Maybe when all of this is over, we can find the time.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “And...” he shifts on his feet, “I wanted to apologize to you for how things went tonight. I know how much catching Gio means to you. I’m sorry I didn’t kill him before... back then.”

  “It’s not your fault, Fox,” I say. “I often curse myself for not killing him in his sleep when I had the chance.”

  “I’m going to keep looking. This isn’t over yet, Sofia—”

  The bedroom door opens behind me. I startle as Luka steps out wearing nothing but his unbuttoned pants.

  “Yes, it is,” he says, staring Fox down. “You’ve said your goodbyes, Fox. Now you should go.”

  I blink in confusion. “Luka?”

  Fox’s face falls with shame. “Look, Luka—”

  “I expected it from Dante,” Luka says over him. “He abandoned his promise to take down Gio, but I didn’t expect it from you.”

  “It wasn’t like that.”

  Luka takes a step forward, planting himself between me and Fox. “If you had been there, watching like you were supposed to be, then Markov wouldn’t have been hit.”

  “And Lucy? What about her?”

  “I don’t care about her.”

  I reach for Luka’s arm. “What has gotten into you?”

  “You are no longer welcome here, Fox Fitzpatrick,” he says.

  My jaw drops. “Luka!”

  “No, it’s fine,” Fox says, calm and steady. “I understand.” He takes a step back and my heart twists in my chest. “Goodbye, Sofia. It was nice to see you again.”

  He turns and heads down the hall to the stairs.

  I look at Luka, hoping the expression on my face is enough to make him take it all back but he ignores me. He walks back into the bedroom, leaving the door open for me, but I stand still, utterly torn between them. My husband and my friend. A soulmate and a kindred spirit. Two soldiers on the battlefield of a war I started.

  I step back into the bedroom, dropping my robe as I reach for my dress.

  “Sofia, what are you doing?” Luka asks from across the room.

  I pull my dress up my body, hooking the sleeves onto my shoulders. “I’m going with them,” I answer.

  He jerks his head at me. “You’re what?”

  I step into my shoes. “I’m going with them,” I repeat.

  “With Fox and Dante?”

  “Yes.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  I head for the door again but Luka bolts forward to cut me off.

  “Sofia—!”

  “We are this close,” I seethe, “and you turn your back on our most valuable ally?”

  “He could have ended this tonight,” Luka argues. “He chose them instead.”

  “I would have made the same choice,” I say, refusing to blink. “Lucy was an innocent and she needed his help. Even you made the same choice once.”

  He tilts his
head. “That wasn’t—”

  “I’m going to see this through,” I say. “When they find Lucy, we find Gio. That much is certain.”

  I yank the door open and I step around Luka into the hallway.

  “Sofia, wait.”

  I pause between our room and the stairs, digging my heels into the carpet as his face fills with annoyance.

  He nods. “I will go with them and you—”

  I continue toward the stairwell.

  “All right! Wait...”

  I stop mid-stride and he deflates. A man defeated.

  “We will go with them,” he corrects.

  I smile, nodding once in victory. “Good.”

  Luka shakes his head, a bit of pride showing through his bright, gray eyes. “You truly are sinister sometimes, you know that?” he says.

  “I’m a Lutrova woman,” I say, crossing my arms. “I get shit done.”

  He smirks and returns to the room to fetch his shirt.

  Chapter 3

  Luka

  I wish I were a better father.

  I dare say I do better than some, that rotten gutter rat Gio obviously included, but still, I can do more. I can be more present. I can read more stories, cook more meals. Someday soon, I will be.

  That is my promise to you, Lucian.

  He stirs in his bed in the dark, drawn to me as I’ve always been to him. He opens his tired eyes and looks at me kneeling beside his nightstand.

  “Is it morning, Papa?” he whispers.