Clinch (The Underground Book 2) (8 page)

He wanted to slam his head against the wall for being so lax and taking such risks lately.

Yenin hadn’t made contact with Leo or Mikhail since Dmitry left the country. It seemed he’d almost lost interest in trying to bring his prized fighters back into the fold.

His father, Grigory Yenin, had come from New York to handle matters in Vegas while Anton had been in jail, but with his release, Grigory went back to his perch in the northeast, and things had settled down in Vegas. At least that’s what Leo assumed. He always kept one eye open. With Sergei and Nikolav still in Vegas fighting for Yenin, Yenin wouldn’t have much reason to sniff out anything suspicious about the other four. They were close. Like brothers. No way would one of them be an informant while two of them were still in Yenin’s care. But if that fact kept Yenin in the dark, all the better.

Dmitry and Mikhail had come first as soon as Yenin was locked up a year ago. They’d needed the money they would make fighting under Abram Gromov, and they’d needed the refuge—a place to sequester Alena and Lauren.

It was only a matter of time before Nikolav and Sergei joined the four of them. The money in Chicago was better, mainly because Abram worked hard to book more fights for them. Yenin hadn’t been as involved since his release, seeming to spend more of his time in his Vegas lab than giving instructions in the ring or arranging fights.

A hand landed on Leo’s left shoulder, making him jerk his gaze to the side, instantly on alert.

He smiled. “Dammit, Gromov. You nearly scared me to death,” he shouted at his manager.

Abram tipped his head toward Katie and raised a brow.

Leo held her closer. It was none of Abram’s business that Leo was out with Katie. Abram was sharp. There was no way he didn’t remember exactly who Katie was from meeting her months ago when Dmitry was injured in his last fight.

Katie was on her tiptoes watching the match and talking to Alena. She didn’t turn around to acknowledge Abram.

Abram frowned. “You on top of your game, Gulin?”

“Always,” he replied, knowing Abram meant far more than his ability to fight. Abram was referring to Leo having a woman.

“Good.” He turned his attention to Ivan. “Got you on the schedule in three weeks.”

Ivan nodded and then turned his attention to the fight, or perhaps toward the man across from them.

Leo leaned closer to Abram. “We have a fan.”

“He’s not your only fan in the room, either.” His voice was low enough that no one except Leo heard the remark. Thank God. No sense scaring the hell out of the women.

Abram was astute. The man could case a room in seconds. He was well aware Yenin had people following his fighters. Abram was Russian too. He had eyes and ears everywhere. He didn’t get where he was in the underground circles as a respected MMA manager without staying on top of everyone’s business, including Yenin’s.

“A little too obvious though, don’t you think? I spotted him in an instant,” Leo muttered under his breath.

“Don’t think he gives a fuck. He’s probably a warning.”

Leo nodded, wrapping his arm tighter around Katie. Yep, bringing her to this fight had been a bad idea. Could be the worst one he’d ever had.

“Watch your backs,” Abram advised before walking away.

Leo got the message loud and clear.

He’d had plenty of warnings lately.

There was a shift in the Chicago air. The past five months he’d spent with his guard down were coming to an end. He could feel it in the intense stare shooting daggers his direction through the fenced ring. Maybe the guy was FBI. That was always a possibility. For nearly every man Yenin had stalking the fighters, the FBI probably had two. Perhaps the guy seemingly too interested in Leo, Ivan, Alena, and Katie was really taking a stand as a warning to Yenin’s men.

Leo held his breath, wondering how many people in the room were watching him, and therefore Katie. It was complicated. So many involved. Some pretending to watch them. Some doing so outright. Some there for the sole purpose of alerting others. He couldn’t begin to imagine how many eyes were on them. But it wasn’t good.

Fuck.

»»•««

Anton Yenin leaned back and to the side in his chair to extract the phone from his pocket. He glanced at the caller ID before taking the call. “This better be good, Millings.”

“It is. Dayton and I are at the fight tonight. Mikhail Dudko was just in the ring.”

“Yeah. Is this supposed to shock me? I know you didn’t call to tell me that.”

“No. Leo and Ivan were here too. And not alone.”

“Who were they with?”

“Leo was with that doctor. The one who treated Dmitry about six months ago before he took off. I looked into her. Name’s Kathryn Schwan.”

Anton knew exactly who Dr. Kathryn Schwan was. He’d been keeping an eye on her for months, ever since she became a pet project of Leo’s. Surely the man was fucking her. Not that Anton cared who fucked whom, but he did like to know who Leo was keeping company with.

Millings continued, “And Ivan was with a small pale blonde. Cute. Blue eyes. Ring a bell?”

“Mikhail’s sister?” Anton sat up straighter. He’d assumed for months that Alena was in the country. There was no record of her in Russia. He’d tapped every resource he had over there trying to locate her.

“That’s my assumption. She looks a lot like the girl in the picture you showed me. Older of course. But I’d bet money it’s her.”

Anton leaned back in his chair and smiled. “Excellent. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll arrange for someone to leave a subtle message for our friends. Stir the pot. Keep those assholes on their toes.”

“Whatever. I’d rather you didn’t elaborate. Gotta go.” The call ended before Anton could utter another word. Fine. Didn’t matter. He trusted Millings and Dayton. He certainly paid those two enough to warrant their loyalty.

Alena Dudko. Slippery little thing. How long had she been in the US? How did she get a green card?

If he could get his hands on that bitch…

Katie was surprised to find Leo ushering her away from the ring the moment Mikhail’s hand was lifted in victory. It seemed more people in the speakeasy had bet on Mikhail than the other guy, judging by the expressions on most of their faces.

She didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye to Alena before Leo ushered her back the way they came and out the side door.

She hated to admit she was a little disappointed. For all her pissing and moaning about MMA fighters and how disgusted she was, the experience had been exhilarating this time. Could have been because she wasn’t fuming over being dragged there with no explanation by Marshall. Or it could have been because she actually knew the fighter this time.

Or, if she was honest with herself, it might have been the company.

In any case, she didn’t argue with Leo. If he wanted to leave, fine. Her ears were ringing already from the screaming crowd.

Her clinic didn’t open until ten on Saturdays, but after a long week, she was exhausted and could use the extra sleep. Staying out half the night wasn’t something she usually did.

Leo tucked her into the passenger side of his sports car and rounded the hood at a jog. Maybe she was paranoid, but it seemed he was paying extra attention to their surroundings.

He didn’t say a word as they drove back to her clinic, and he led her inside, locked the door behind them, and reset the alarm, still mute. “The locks and alarm you have on this door are outdated,” he grumbled. “They aren’t going to keep anyone out.”

She glanced back as they ascended the stairs. “The street is well lit, and no one has ever tried to break in.”

He made his way to the window and tipped one of the slats of the blinds down to peer outside.

“Do you think someone followed us or something?” She eased up beside him and set a hand on his back, smoothing it down toward his jeans until she tucked the tips of her fingers into the edge of denim to steady her arm and peek outside next to him.

“Nah. I’m just paranoid.” He spun around, dislodging her hand, and pasting a smile on that didn’t reach far enough. “What did you think of the fight?”

“It was loud.” She tipped her head back to meet his gaze, setting her chin on his chest and clutching his T-shirt in her hands at his waist. She’d never stood this close to him or been this bold, but after spending the entire fight with his arm grazing her boobs, she wanted more.

No way in hell Leo would hold on to her like that if he thought they were just friends.

He smirked. “Loud? That’s all you have to say?”

“And hot.”

“Uh-huh.” He set his hands on her back and spread his fingers to rub them up and down.

“Smelly?”

The green of his eyes deepened to a darker shade as she stepped between his legs and pressed her body against his. The bulge at her belly was unmistakable.

Several seconds passed. She stared at him, willing him to make the next move. How much more blatant could she be without making a fool out of herself?

Leo eased his hand up her back and around her shoulders, sending a shiver down her spine. “You’re playing with fire, Katie.” His voice was deeper than usual. Sexy.

“Am I?” She licked her lips. “How?”

He rolled his eyes. “Babe, I’m not your type.”

There, finally something was said that broke the ice more directly.

“What type is that?”

“The educated, soft, doctorly type.”

She scrunched up her face. “Is that a thing?”

“Yeah.” He threaded one hand into her hair and tipped her head back farther, gripping her locks to force her chin higher. “It’s you.”

The tight grasp he had on her hair sent a wave of arousal through her system. Her heart beat faster. What the hell was wrong with her? Admittedly, when she read something like this in a novel, it made her hot, but in real life? A man yanking her by the hair? It should
not
hold so much appeal. “You seem to enjoy my company.”

“Oh, believe me, I do.”

“Then what’s the problem. You hold me at arm’s length with kid gloves. You’ve been doing so for months.”

He opened his mouth, hesitated, and then continued, “Don’t get me wrong. I love spending time with you. I’ve run out of reasons to haul my ass over here as often as I can.” He let his gaze roam around her face until her cheeks flamed. “I’m rough around the edges.”

“Who says I don’t like rough?”

“Well, let’s make a list. Your mom for starters. You think your parents would approve of me?”

She stiffened her spine. “Can we not discuss my mother when I’m in the middle of throwing myself at you?”

He chuckled. “Yeah. That was tacky. Sorry.” His dimples came out, making her relax a fraction.

“Maybe you could try kissing me and see where that leads?” That was the end of her begging rope. If he didn’t take the bait, she was done.

“I already know where that would lead, babe.”

“So?”
Jesus. Mercy
.

“You aren’t ready for someone like me.”

She dropped the grip she had on his shirt, jerked herself free of his touch, and stepped back. Kicking off her heels, she spun around and headed for the kitchen area.

Leo groaned loudly. “Katie, babe.”

“No. It’s okay. I get it. You can stop pretending you don’t think you’re good enough for me, or whatever story you’re telling yourself. I’m super clear. I couldn’t possibly have made myself more available than I have tonight. If you aren’t moved to make love to me after the outfit I wore or the way I touched you all evening, then I’m going to throw in the towel.”

She spun around, still ranting. “We can be friends. It’s fine. You don’t see me that way. It’s okay. I’m a little embarrassed, but I’ll get over it.” She shrugged, not feeling any truth in her words. The reality was she was humiliated and felt like a complete idiot. And she wanted him to go home and leave her to soothe her wounded pride.

She turned around again and grabbed a bottle of wine from the counter. Red. She didn’t care which one it was. She needed a drink. And maybe a hot shower. And then sleep…if it would come.

As she stretched her arm out and grabbed the corkscrew, Leo stepped into her space from behind. He took the bottle from her hand and set it back on the counter gently. He pried the corkscrew from her fingers and set it down too. “No alcohol,” he muttered into her ear, nibbling a path across her shoulder that burned her skin through the thin blouse.

“What?” she sputtered, trying to find a brain cell under his touch.
His lips are on me
. “Now you’re going to tell me what to drink too? First you tell me what to wear, then where to stand at the fight, and now I’m not even allowed a glass of wine?” She squirmed in his embrace, trying to break free, but his hands landed on the counter at her sides and he pressed her forward, trapping her belly against the edge.

“I’m bossy.”

“Really?” She couldn’t have spoken that word with more sarcasm if she tried.

“Babe,” he moaned, lifting his lips from her shoulder. “I’m bossy in bed too.”

She froze. Her heart beat so hard, it seemed to fill the room. The rest of her body went ramrod straight. And then the ball of need that had been growing in her stomach all evening tightened. Did he say bossy in bed?

Why did her pussy flood with arousal?

His hands eased from the counter to her biceps, and he brushed them up and down several inches, as if warming her. “I’m
really
bossy in bed. I don’t mean that mildly.”

She swallowed.

Her breasts swelled at the admission. Whatever the hell he meant, she wanted to find out. Her mind might disagree with this plan, but her pussy pulsed with desire.

“I’m not interested in making love to you, as you suggested. I want to fuck you. If you sleep with me, I’ll rock your world. No man has ever taken you the way I will.” His voice lowered an octave. “And no man ever will again.”

Jesus.

She hadn’t touched the thermostat this time to sabotage the temperature in the apartment, but the heat rose all the same.

“Tell me to stop,” he mumbled as he resumed kissing her shoulder. “
Now
, Katie. Tell me to go home.” He held her biceps with more force.