Alaskan Sabears 3: Final Takedown (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  Alaskan Sabears 3: Final Takedown

  Katerina Petrov is running for her life. Before fleeing, she was a prima ballerina with the Russian Ballet Company—until she overheard the company’s dance director agreeing to hand her over to the Russian mafia boss.

  Serge Moss and Ward Vaughan know as soon as they rescue the injured and unconscious woman that she is their mate. Kat’s life had been all about ballet, and though she’s drawn to Serge and Ward, she isn’t sure she can give up her passion. But with Russian mafia boss Vadim Sokolov after her, she has to rethink her whole life.

  Ward and Serge want Katerina by their sides for the rest of their lives, but are they willing to let her go if she decides she can’t stay? None of them can ignore the mating heat, and when Kat overhears what will happen to the two men if she walks away, her decision is made.

  She’ll also do anything to protect the people of Savoonga. Even give up her own life.

  Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Shape-shifter

  Length: 59,667 words

  ALASKAN SABEARS 3:

  FINAL TAKEDOWN

  Becca Van

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  ALASKAN SABEARS 3: FINAL TAKEDOWN

  Copyright © 2017 by Becca Van

  ISBN: 978-1-64010-095-4

  First Publication: March 2017

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2017 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

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  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  My name is Becca Van. I live in Australia with my wonderful hubby of many years, as well as my two children.

  I read my first romance, which I found in the school library, at the age of thirteen and haven’t stopped reading them since. It is so wonderful to know that love is still alive and strong when there seems to be so much conflict in the world.

  I dreamed of writing my own book one day but, unfortunately, didn’t follow my dream for many years. But once I started I knew writing was what I wanted to continue doing.

  I love to escape from the world and curl up with a good romance, to see how the characters unfold and conflict is dealt with. I have read many books and love all facets of the romance genre, from historical to erotic romance. I am a sucker for a happy ending.

  For all titles by Becca Van, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/becca-van

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Epilogue

  Landmarks

  Cover

  ALASKAN SABEARS 3:

  FINAL TAKEDOWN

  BECCA VAN

  Copyright © 2017

  Prologue

  Katerina Petrov’s vision was blurry, and even though she blinked to try to clear her sight, it didn’t help. The roar of the boat’s engine was louder than the wind rushing past her ears, and although the temptation to close her eyes was strong, she forced them open again.

  Kat was exhausted, hungry, and cold, but she couldn’t give up because if she did he would somehow find her. She’d been on the run for what seemed forever, but in actual fact was only three or four days. In all that time, she hadn’t slept or eaten and had barely taken the time to quench her thirst. A hysterical bubble of laughter rushed up from deep in her chest and escaped her dry, chapped lips.

  She could see a dark shadow in the distance and hoped it was land rather than another boat. Her whole body was one big massive ache, and her right arm was throbbing like a bitch, and while she was cold to the bone, she was hot and shivering. She didn’t need a medical degree to know that the cut on her arm was infected, but at least she was alive.

  Katerina had been a prima ballerina for the Russian Ballet only days before, and now her life was in tatters. There would be no more dancing or bowing to the applause from crowds after watching her and the other dancers dance Swan Lake.

  Fear skittered up her spine as she remembered hearing the company director talking with a man she’d never met. However, when she heard the director, Alexei Smirnov, say the man’s name, she’d known she had no choice but to run. It didn’t matter that she’d left her clothes and a few personal effects behind, nor that her roommate would be worried about her. What mattered was that she was alive.

  She’d had no idea that the company director had been or was friends with the notorious Russian Mafia mob boss, Vadim Sokolov, until she heard the men making plans about her. Luckily, they hadn’t been aware of her presence since she hadn’t had the chance to knock on the slightly ajar office door. If she had, she’d probably be in the hands of that monster.

  Sokolov was renowned for arms dealing, prostitution, flesh pedaling, and God knows what else. She’d heard him ordering Alexei to set up a meeting with her and then gone on to explain that he wanted her for his woman.

  Katerina had no clue how she managed to leave without alerting them to her presence, but moments later, she’d been in a taxi on her way to the Moscow airport. Her escape hadn’t been without incident, and she’d spotted a couple of Sokolov’s henchmen just as she was boarding the plane. Her first instinct was to board an international flight and head back to the US where she’d grown up, but when she’d been at the check-in counter, the knot of dread in her gut had grown bigger and the hair on her nape had stood on end. She’d learned from a young age to trust her instincts and had bought and paid for a ticket to Vladivostok International Airport. Then she’d taken another flight to Pevek Airport hoping against hope that she would be able to dodge Sokolov’s men. She wasn’t stupid and knew when he realized she’d flown the coop he would send his henchmen after her. He was the type of man who wouldn’t rest until he had what he wanted and didn’t care who he hurt in the process.

  Kat had been on pins and needles the whole time she was in the air, too tense to relax and get some much-needed sleep. She’d known as soon as she disembarked from the plane that the Mafia boss’s men had beat her there. How they’d been able to track her she had no idea but then hadn’t been the time to think about that. All her concentration had been needed to plan, but no
matter how hard she tried to decide what to do, nothing came to her other than running.

  She’d glanced around frantically but hadn’t been able to see them, and since she didn’t know who she was looking for, it had been a futile effort. She’d hailed another cab from the airport constantly looking behind her until the driver had stopped on the shore. As she’d been glancing around frantically trying to figure out what to do, her gaze had alighted on a boat. She’d been searching for someone hoping to hire a helmsman or just a boat, when Sokolov’s men had made their move.

  If it hadn’t been for her hidden strength and flexibility, she would have been captured. She’d kicked one man in the jaw with her inch-high boot heel and knocked him out. Just as the other goon made his move, she twisted her supple body and managed to break the hold he had on her arm, but she hadn’t come away unscathed. The bastard had given her an evil smile, pulled a knife from a sheath he had clipped to his belt, and come at her again.

  She’d never been so scared in her life, but she was determined to escape, and since she was short and petite, she hoped the asshole would continue to underestimate her strength.

  She’d been sweating and panting as the flight-or-fight hormones kicked in, but instead of running, she’d stood her ground. When the smile had left the thug’s face and his left eye had twitched, she loosened her muscles and waited. He’d exploded into action. Instead of backing away from him, she stepped into him and lifted her knee as hard as she could between his legs. He’d made a god-awful sound as he fell to his knees, but just as he’d dropped to the ground, the knife in his hand had slashed a path across her upper right arm, slicing through her jacket and flesh as if through butter.

  Kat had been so full of adrenaline she’d hadn’t felt any pain, and she’d clasped her hands together as the bastard had fallen forward onto his hands and then slammed them down on the back of his neck. He’d slumped down onto the cold hard concrete and hadn’t moved again.

  She’d then hurried down the boat dock and was lucky enough to meet a man just securing his speedboat. She’d offered him a thousand dollars cash to hire him and his boat, but he’d refused. The only other thing of any value she’d had on her was her deceased mother’s diamond engagement ring, and though she was loath to part with it, she knew her mom would understand. She blinked back tears when she pointed to her finger, and the man’s eyes had nearly bugged out of his head when he’d seen the ring.

  Kat had had it appraised a few years back and even she hadn’t been able to comprehend the value of the piece. The fourteen karat, white gold, triple-shank Abbraccio engagement ring was worth just over seven thousand dollars. More than enough to cover the cost of the rundown speedboat. She hated passing over a family heirloom that had been passed down from generation to generation, but if she wanted to survive, she had to.

  Now here she was, standing at the helm of the boat, shivering and aching with no idea where she was. She’d had to stop morning and night to refuel the boat’s engine, floating with the currents while she did so.

  When she passed over her mom’s ring, the elderly Slavic man had smiled and nodded and then rushed along the dock away from her. At first Kat thought he was just going to leave her there stranded, and she’d sighed with resigned dejection, her shoulders slumping in defeat, but after a few minutes she’d heard him coming back. She’d lifted her gaze and renewed hope had surged through her heart. The man had been carrying full jerricans. He took three more trips, setting the fuel containers at the stern of the boat so she wouldn’t have to carry them too far when she needed to refuel, and when he was done, he’d handed over the keys. Thankfully, he’d also given her a crash course in what did what, and then he’d left without a backward glance.

  Kat hadn’t realized she was bleeding steadily until she felt moisture trickle down her hand and was grateful that her jacket was black since it had hidden the fact she’d been bleeding from the elderly boatman. She’d wanted to tend her wound, but she was too worried the Mafia boss’s henchmen would wake up and come at her again, so she’d started the powerful outboard motor and headed out. That had been three—or maybe it was four—days ago. Since it was summer, the days and nights were never-ending sunshine, so she had no idea how long she’d been at sea.

  She blinked again, trying to focus her bleary gaze on the dark blob, but it was a useless endeavor. She was too tired, too hungry, and too sore. She swayed when lightheadedness assailed her and decided to slow the speedboat in case whatever it was in the water was land or a maybe a large rock. She didn’t want to end up killing herself by crashing the boat.

  Her legs trembled and though she locked her knees in place, they still ended up buckling. Her ass hit the seat near the helm’s wheel, and she powered down the boat even more to a slow chug.

  The blurriness in front of her gaze receded as black pinpoints encroached over her vision, until finally she was totally sightless. She tried to blink, but she was so cold, and with the deep-seated ache in her body penetrating to her bones, she didn’t feel her eyelids move. Even though she was one big shivering, aching mess, she was also numb. Her head was pounding so bad she felt sick to her stomach, even her nose was throbbing, and her lips tingled with numbness.

  Her hands slipped from the wheel, and while she tried to reach for it again with her uninjured arm, her limb was too heavy. Dizziness assaulted her until she didn’t know her left from her right, and with a sigh of resignation, she fell into the deep, dark abyss.

  * * * *

  “What’s that noise?” Serge asked, tilting his head as he listened intently.

  “Sounds like a boat,” Ward replied.

  “Let’s go,” Serge said as he broke into a run, his best friend and housemate right beside him.

  “What the hell?” Ward frowned his way before he covered his eyes, shading his gaze from the bright sunlight. “There’s no one at the wheel.”

  “Shit, it’s going to run aground,” Ward murmured as he stared at the empty vessel. “Do you think whoever owns it fell overboard?”

  “How the fuck should I know?” Serge snarled. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Ward said. “My sabear seems to be just as antsy as yours.”

  Serge rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you think we’ll ever be lucky enough to meet our mate?”

  Ward shrugged. “I hope so. It’s getting hard to watch Tarik, Hodge, and Celeste, as well as Phelan, Hopper, and Tammy.”

  “Yeah.” Serge squinted against the sun. “Should we call the others to come look? I don’t like this.”

  “No,” Ward answered. “I don’t like it either, but there’s no use raising any alarms until we know what we’re dealing with.”

  Serge sniffed the air as the offshore breezed wafted their way. “Do you smell that?”

  Ward lifted his nose and inhaled. A low rumbling growl formed in his chest and escaped from between his parted lips. “Blood. Sweet honeyed woman and blood.”

  “Mate!” Serge rumbled.

  “Mate!” Ward snarled.

  Serge was running into the water seconds later. Splashing to his right told him Ward was right next to him, but Serge only had eyes from the slow-moving speedboat. He dived into the water, his sabear coming to the surface to aid him with speed and strength as he powered through the waves. Minutes later, he was clinging to the side of the boat with Ward next to him. He lifted his body up out of the sea using the strength in his arms, and then his feet were touching the bottom of the boat.

  “Shit! She’s hurt.” Serge hurried to the seat in front of the wheel and sank to his knees. He sniffed the air and pinpointed where the blood on his mate was coming from. An angry snarl emerged from between his parted lips when he saw the cut in her black jacket. He eased his fingers into the slash, being careful not to touch his mate in case he caused her more pain, and tugged the material. The fabric tore apart, and then he was growling again when he saw the deep cut seeping blood. From the swollen redness around it, as well as the scent, it was ob
vious her wound was infected.

  “Is she hurt anywhere else?” Ward asked.

  Serge glanced at his friend and shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t want to strip her down out here.” He caressed a finger down her cold cheek before clasping her hands in both of his. “She’s freezing.”

  “We need to get her home and warmed up,” Ward said. “You hold her while I get the boat ashore.”

  Serge nodded, rose to his feet, bent over, and scooped his mate up out of the seat. He sat and draped her over his lap, again being careful not to touch her wound as he situated her so that her head was resting on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist, hoping to share some of his body heat with her even though his clothes were soaked through. It didn’t matter that he’d just been swimming in ice-cold water. Because of his inner animal, he could stand being in well below freezing temperatures without blinking an eye or shivering up a storm.

  He ground his teeth with fury as he tried to imagine what had happened to her while Ward steered the boat toward the shore. Once the hull touched bottom, scraping over rock and sand, Ward turned the boat off and jumped over the side.

  Serge stood and then passed her over into Ward’s waiting arms before leaping from the boat. Neither of them spoke as they hurried toward their house. Serge was glad that none of the other stealth members were around to ask questions because he didn’t have any answers, but as soon as his mate woke up, he would.

  His inner beast was snarling and butting against his insides, trying to get out so he could mark his mate, but Serge shoved him back down. The last thing he needed right now was his animal escaping his leash and scaring his and Ward’s woman. She was fully human and had no idea shape-shifters existed. He didn’t want her coming face-to-face with his sabear and running from them, or dying from fright. He and Ward were going to have to be careful with her. They were going to have to take things slow, and hopefully when she knew them a bit better, she would agree to mate with them.