Queen of Wilmette Page 2

  “Vikkas, are you still with us?” Jai asked, chuckling.

  Focusing on his brother, he said, “You know you're a pain in the ass, right?”

  “Oh geez, here we go,” Jai taunted, but his humor was infectious. “Really, man?”

  “Absolutely, but I wouldn't trade you for anyone else.” He smiled. “I love you, man.”

  Giving him a playful nudge in the side, Jai replied, “Please stop with all of that, you're making me nauseous.”

  With the heat of his father's eyes on him, Vikkas threw up his hands and focused on the rest of his Castle family entering the room. He greeted his brothers. In the forefront of his mind, he knew the conversation with Khalil, Jai, and Daron wasn't over. These men were notorious for not letting go of a discussion until they were satisfied their points had been made and taken seriously.

  After everyone greeted each other, they took their seats around a semi-circle conference table that was an exact replica of the one in the Castle back in the United States. The only person missing was Sheikh Kamran, but they'd been told by his personal security escort team that he was in route.

  Taking in the power of the men sitting around the table and those on the dropdown screen, no doubt they'd be able to deal with whatever came their way. So much talent and unique skill sets wrapped up in all of these men. Whoever mustered up enough bravery to challenge them or those they loved had better be prepared for the wrath.

  Fifteen minutes later, Sheikh Kamran greeted everyone in person as well as those attending virtually. The meeting was planned for about two hours so they could share the latest intel, discuss, and strategize on what steps they’d be taking to deal with the current threats. Vikkas turned his attention to the matters at hand. The quicker they made it through this meeting, the sooner he would be able to get home to his wife.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Sipping a glass of Moscato, Milan relaxed and was now ready to embark on the new expansion. Standing, she closed her eyes and embraced the peacefulness surrounding her. Feeling his presence, she didn’t turn around, but a smile etched its way onto her lips.

  Large, muscular arms circled her waist, then a gentle kiss pressed on the soft curve of her neck. That one touch ignited a fiery sensation throughout Milan's body. Only one man had ever made her feel this way and she was now lucky enough to be married to him, a King in his own right. Prestigious, even without his Castle affiliation.

  His cologne provided a pleasant scent that made her inhale the pure male essence of him. She was totally enamored by the six-foot-two-inch man holding her curvaceous frame securely in his arms as though he never wanted to let her go. He made her feel safe and unconditionally loved. A far cry from what she thought she'd ever feel with a man. Especially since her family’s blueprint favored thugs and ex-cons.

  “What are you thinking about, my love?” Vikkas whispered against her ear.

  Eyes closed and inhaling the light, aquatic scent again, she said, “Hi baby, I missed you today.”

  “I missed you too beautiful, but that’s not what I asked.” He used his long, tapered fingers to angle her chin so she could look in his eyes and waited patiently for her response.

  Turning completely in his arms, Milan gazed up into the dark brown depths of his eyes. “I was thinking about everything that will need to go into the upgrade process.”

  “There's nothing to worry about, my love,” he said in a calm tone, but a little lift at the end of the words meant something was going on. “Everything is in order.”

  With all of the construction going on and new businesses springing up in Durabia, the paperwork and security measures had to be precise. The current opposition rising up against the sweeping reforms Kamran had implemented was increasing. No room for error was allowed due to the scrutiny of the Durabian count. Upheaval was already present because of the emerging interracial relationships and marriages - ones like Vikkas' and Milan's.

  Sheikh Kamran and Sheikha Ellena had set off a firestorm when they united. As more interracial relationships emerged, the old guard were doing their best to intervene and stop this from becoming the norm to preserve Durabia’s purity. However, that was hard to do when you have a number of transplant couples coming to live in your country.

  After a few minutes of basking in a sensuous embrace, Milan placed a kiss on the fabric near his heart, refrained from questioning his tone, and said, “I know, just don't want anything to go wrong.”

  Vikkas gazed into her eyes, as if trying to read into her soul, then leaned down to place a comforting kiss on her lips that sent a tingle all the way to her toes.

  “I'm going to take a shower, care to keep me company?” he asked in a mischievous tone and a slow lift of his eyebrows.

  “Are you trying to distract me, husband?” Milan asked in what she hoped was a seductive tone.

  “Well, why don't you join me and find out,” he challenged, unbuttoning his shirt.

  A smile spread across her face when she was amused. Yes, he was definitely trying to keep her mind off something. She replied, “I'll be there in a minute, let me get everything off the table.”

  “Don't take too long, I'll be waiting.”

  Watching as Vikkas swaggered away, Milan’s gaze followed his every move. He was aware of her looking in his direction and gave a wink over his shoulder. After he was out of her line of sight, she gathered up her laptop, notebook and near empty glass of Moscato that she polished off in one drink. Excitement and anticipation filled her as she went to join her husband.

  One hour later, after an erotic climax filled shower, Milan listened to the light sounds of pots and pans on the stove as Vikkas fixed them dinner. Even though she did a lot of the cooking, he had insisted on being the chef tonight. Evidently her bedroom skills had brought out the culinary skills in him.

  Enjoying the smells of the Indian seasoned lamb, sweet rice, and mixed vegetables, she sat back relaxed on a plush cardinal red couch. Basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking, Milan leaned her head back on the pillows, she closed her eyes and slipped into a sated slumber.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Soft kisses caressed her face causing Milan’s eyelids to flutter open. Smiling as her gaze connected with Vikkas', she was immobilized by his intense stare. All she could do was remain silent, thank God that Khalil had sent him on a search for her while he was yet on the serious end of a lifesaving surgery. “Go find your wife,” Khalil had commanded. He did not mean the woman that Vikkas’ mother had arranged for him to marry, despite Khalil’s protest. He had meant Milan. After a few seconds, his baritone voice broke the silence.

  “Are you hungry, my love?”

  “Why didn't you wake me when you were done cooking?”

  He shifted his stance. “You needed to rest, and the food is warming in the oven on a low setting. Besides, I enjoyed watching you sleep.”

  Placing her hand on his clean-shaven face, she whispered, “What can I say to that?”

  “Let's go eat, woman. My stomach is already at the table waiting for us.”

  Raising an eyebrow, Milan welcomed the searing kiss he placed on her lips. Full of promise for more to come after they completed their meal. Her ravenous appetite needed to be quenched on both fronts. She’d never get enough of this man.

  Over the rim of his glass, he asked, “Anything exciting happen today at work?”

  Milan locked gazes with Vikkas suspecting that he already knew about the young man who unexpectedly appeared up at the center. With all of the security in place, the Kings and Knights kept each other informed, especially when it came to their families.

  “Is that a trick question?” she asked, her fork pausing in mid-air.

  “Of course not, my love. It is a simple question, so why are you tap dancing around an answer?” he said in a calm tone, obviously trying to keep the conversation from getting contentious.

  Milan had been avoiding an argument with him, feeling deep down information was being kept form her. His current question was getting under her skin because she knew that he prided himself on knowing everything that was happening. That was the “King of the Castle” way of operating.

  Placing her utensil on the edge of the plate, she sighed, “Really, Vikkas. I'm sure you know everything that happens at the center.”

  He took two more bites of lamb, then placed his fork down. As much as she loved the protection provided by the Kings and Knights, it was also an Achilles heel. There'd always been this sense of freedom that she cherished; to make some decisions and move on her own accord ever since her mother kicked her out at age fifteen and directly resulted from Pearline’s own self-hatred and jealousy towards her.

  “Yes, I know about your new guest. I won't apologize for making sure you are safe at all costs,” he replied, and a hard edge crept into his voice. “You do realize where we are living and where your business is located, right?”

  Inhaling then releasing a slow deep breath, she bit back on a sarcastic response. “I know and understand. It doesn't mean that I have to be a fan of these extra measures being taken,” Milan said. “It has been a little overwhelming with the increased security and politics.”

  Reaching across the table, he laced their hands. She relaxed as he held them silently for a few seconds. “Baby, I know everything going on is a lot right now. Making sure danger stays as far away from you as possible is one of my responsibilities as your man. Don’t fault me for that,” Vikkas said in a tone that spoke of his adoration. “Loving you with everything in me is real. My passion for moving heaven and earth to keep you safe will never end.”

  Briefly, Milan's thoughts flashed back to the challenges they faced during their friendship and becoming a couple. His mother, Varsha, played a huge part in separating them because of her bias about interracial dating and the fact that Milan hailed form Englewood. A low-income neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, while Vikkas’ family was her family’s definition of filthy rich. Then she pushed her son towards an arranged marriage that his father didn’t approve of. Then years later, the man showed up at her office. This time around she wasn't letting him go. As eventful as their wedding was, it served as the symbol of their unbroken bond and love.

  Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, she looked at him feeling so much love for this man it hurt. “Honey, I get that and I'm not complaining. Sometimes it gets a little stifling. You mean the world to me. I love you for loving me the way that you do.”

  Her breathing hitched as she watched Vikkas push his chair away from the table. He walked around to gather her into his arms. Sweetly kissing her forehead, the couple stood quietly surrounded by the love transmitting from one to the other. Heading into the living room, minutes later, she laid her head on his muscular, comforting chest as they cuddled on the couch.

  The spacious room they sat in was smaller in comparison to their Chicago suburban mansion. The 10,000 square foot, two-level house in Durabia was a mini replica of their 20,000 square foot home in the States. The earth tone and vibrant color schemes, decorations of abstract art and furniture throughout were similar because Milan wanted everything to make them feel at home. Vikkas made sure that her requests were all taken care of.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  An hour later, Vikkas glanced over at his wife sleeping peacefully on the couch. They'd been talking about the challenges he was having cleaning up the fallout with his family and then dozed off. After covering her up with the purple throw, he walked into the kitchen to clean up. Heavy thoughts swirled in his mind about everything going on, including the Kings and Knights putting countermeasures in place for the pending war and how that would affect her as well.

  They were working strategically and in stealth mode, ready to handle the chaos but hoping the casualties could be kept at a minimum. A lot of enemies had been made, due to Kamran moving away from the traditional ways of operating in the Durabian kingdom. Those who had been banished to Nadaum had been plotting to overthrow the new implanted Sheikh’s reign. Kamran, Ellena, and their children were in danger again.

  Peering into the living room, Vikkas checked on his wife who was still sleeping soundly. He headed into his office to make a phone call. Whenever he was feeling unsettled, talking to the person who always gave him wise counsel was calming.

  “Hello, my son, is everything all right?” Khalil asked.

  “Hello, father,” he replied settling into his office chair. “Did I disturb you?”

  “Hold on for a moment, Vikkas,” he said.

  Hearing a muffled conversation between his father and stepmother, he realized they must have been getting ready to retire for the night. A minute later, he heard footsteps echoed on the other end signaling his father was on the move. If he had to guess, the elder Germaine was heading to his home office for some privacy. Not that he didn’t share important things with his wife, but Khalil definitely filtered the information after he’d decided on what was necessary to share and what needed to be taken to the grave.

  “Son, I'm here. What is wrong?” Khalil responded, concern lacing his voice.

  “Nothing’s wrong,” he replied, then thought better of holding that stance. “I’ve been a little concerned about all of planning and increased security measures we’ve been working on.”

  “Is your wife upset by everything we are doing? At least the parts that she knows?”

  Always amazed with his father's perceptive nature, Vikkas chuckled. “Hmm, what made you come to that conclusion?”

  “You forget I know both of you very well. Milan is a beautiful soul, who doesn't take too kindly to feeling controlled,” Khalil responded. “We both know she loves her independence and taking the lead. You have to respect that and still find a way to protect her without making her feel you believe she’s a damsel in distress.”

  Sighing loudly, Vikkas said, “You're absolutely right, father. But she can't control this situation. There's too many dangerous people involved in this scenario.”

  “How much information have you shared with her?”

  “What I can share based on our Castle code, father. You know how I feel about keeping secrets from her, but I made a pact and honoring that is equally important,” Vikkas said. “The balance is a struggle for me right now because I love that woman and don’t want to lose her trust. If she finds out we’ve been investigating the staff and residents behind her back and installed extra cameras without her knowledge, that trust will take a hit.”

  Vikkas waited while his father took a pause before responding, “Yes, son, I know. Believe me the martial bond is important, just as the brotherhood you entered into. If you need some couple’s counseling, Aashna will also be there for you and Milan.”

  “I think we'll be fine, but I'll keep you on speed dial, just in case,” he said. They talked a little more about the Maharaj family drama and then bid each other good night.

  Vikkas leaned back in his office chair, confident in the support that he knew they’d have through all of this. His main concern was the fact that he couldn’t speak openly about everything with his wife. Praying that a rift wouldn’t form between them.

  He clicked off the desk light and headed back to the living room. Besides the immediate concern, something was bothering his spirit. He had watched the video surveillance of that boy several times. Something was off. He couldn't put his finger on it. Right now, he'd focus on the things within his current reach.

  Tonight, he would enjoy the peacefulness surrounding them by turning his mind off of the things that they'd be facing when the sun rose tomorrow. Gathering Milan from the couch and cradling her in his arms, he carried her into the master bedroom. After placing her under the covers, he doubled-checked the security system then climbed into bed. His unspoken prayers were that they made it through this test. Pulling Milan to the center of the king-sized bed, Vikkas wrapped his body around hers and fell into a deep sleep.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Across the Atlantic Ocean, heavy rainfall saturated the ground while thunder roared and created a deafening sound. In the distance, specks of lightning brightened the dark grey sky.

  Two men sat at a round, mahogany table etched with gold accents in a dimly lit office. They scanned the furniture and zoned in on the expensive painting hanging on the wall. It depicted a three-dimensional, panoramic view of the Durabian skyline.

  Fifteen minutes earlier, the two shady characters had been escorted into the house. One six-foot burly man kept them company while they awaited their host. One of them had revenge on his brain, while the other was along for the pay day connected to whatever it took to exact said revenge.

  Once they agreed to the terms of this deal, there'd be no coming back from any associated consequences. Money was all that mattered. Everything else would be collateral damage.

  “Gentlemen, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting,” an elegant woman said, giving them a smile. She'd purposely made sure to take her time. Hidden cameras were strategically installed in the office, so she had been watching them the entire time.

  Seth and Marcus gave her head nods then glanced at each other, but neither immediately spoke. The beauty approaching them was not a reflection of the darkness that resided within her soul. Standing five-feet-four inches tall with fair skin and long black silky hair hanging down her back, she walked with the confidence of a vixen.

  “Welcome, gentlemen,” she said in a sultry manner that made them sit up and take notice. “Are you ready to get down to business?”

  “Can we at least get a drink before talking?” Seth asked.

  “Of course, I apologize that Carlos wasn't more hospitable to you.” With a slight smile, she sauntered over to the bar area. Usually, one of her staff would be fixing drinks but she didn't want anyone else to witness this meeting. The less folks in the know, the better.

  “What's your poison?” she asked.