Russian Roulette (Russkaya Mafiya) (31 page)

Viktor gapes at me, surprised and maybe even a little impressed. He yanks me forcefully toward the back door, shouting for Sergei to grab the other girl. I’m sucked into the chaos and shouting; it feels like we’re leaving the club. Everyone’s voices melt together and I start to feel a little dizzy from the adrenaline rush.

I glance down to make sure I still have my stuff and notice I have blood sprayed all over the front of me. I have little drops all over my arm and shirt. Well, Emily’s shirt.
Shit.
This is another reason why I don’t buy nice clothes, well, besides not really being able to afford them.

“Come on, you little trouble maker,” Viktor says loudly, threading our fingers together and pulling me through the throng of people.

We head out the back door toward the alley where he always keeps his vehicle parked. Sure enough, his car is there waiting with Spartak driving. How convenient.

“Wait, I have to get my car.” I pull back from his grasp, slightly resisting but he holds on.

“No, Elaina, come on, just get in. I’ll bring you back to get your car later. Curious people will start coming out that door, and we need to be gone. Things could turn very ugly and I refuse to submit you to that.”

Spartak jumps out of the driver’s seat quickly to open the back door and Viktor rushes me inside. I slide to the rear passenger side and he scoots in beside me.

“Go, Spar,” Viktor orders and Spartak speeds away efficiently.

“Why are you in such a hurry? It was just a little blood.” I glance at him curiously. From the way he acts in the bar I thought he was a bad ass.

“Yeah, it was just a little bit of blood you took from an important man’s daughter. Christ, I’m pretty confident you broke her nose back there.”

I open my mouth to respond and defend myself but he holds his hand up, signaling that he needs one minute. He pulls his phone out and quickly dials a number. I eaves drop the best I can.

“Alexei, have you left?”

“Okay, when you leave, call her father and schedule a meeting, offer my apologies.”

He presses end and places his phone in his inside jacket pocket. The whole inside is lined in what appears to be silk or some other delicate material.

I sit still, staring at him and he turns to me, giving me his attention again. I wish I could have heard what Alexei was saying on the other end. It’s the club’s fault with all the loud music, my ears are still ringing.

“You may finish now,” he says and reaches across me to grab my seatbelt. My heart quickens as he stretches it across me and buckles it. “Just like your sister,” he murmurs and sends me a chastising look. “Tate always tells me that he has to buckle her in.” He shakes his head again and smirks at me. I roll my eyes in defiance.

“I’m honored to be like my sister, she’s a good person.”

“I know she is. That poor girl has been through a lot. She will make a fantastic, strong mother.”

“I know! I can’t wait to be an aunty!” I grin excitedly. “I’m going to have the baby call me Tanta.”

“I did not know you were German, you strike me closer to Russian.”

“I don’t know if I’m German or not, I just think it sounds cool. I haven’t talked to Emily much about that part of our lives. Is that why you like me, because I look Russian?”

He shrugs and sits back in his seat a little. The smooth leather seats are out-of-this-world comfortable. I hope he doesn’t just like me for my looks. That Kendall chick was pretty in her own face-painted-like-a-clown way.

“Who says I like you at all, Printsyessa
(Princess)?”

“Well, the stalking factor sort of clues me in.”

He chuckles loudly. “Stalking, huh? Is that what you call it? I call it looking out for you. Kind of like a guardian angel. Yes, think of me as an angel.”

“An angel? Yeaaaah right.” I smile cheekily and wink.

“I know. I am not a very good man, maybe a dark angel. Nonetheless, I will care for you.”

“But why, Viktor? I don’t get it. Why you would care about me in the first place? It’s been so long and you’ve gotten nothing from me. A failed date and some not so interesting family dinners with my sister, Tate and myself. I don’t understand why you would still be giving me the time of day and not moving onto someone else by now.”

I swallow deeply as he lightly runs his pointer finger along my skirt hem next to my thigh. He scoots back in; close enough to me that I can see the stress lines next to his eyes. My tummy flips over and over as I try to concentrate on not moving my leg away from him.

“You are wrong, you give me everything.”

“What could I possibly give you?” I mutter in a disbelieving voice, studying his beautiful eyes.

“I’ll settle for your heart,” he purrs and smiles devilishly.

“Good luck with that one, bud.” I chortle, raising my eyebrows and he laughs again. I always see him stressed and serious, it’s nice that when he’s around me he can relax and laugh. In fact, he always laughs and smiles a lot when we are together for lunch or whatever. I get all warm inside knowing that, I love it.

“Are you hungry?”

“No, not really, but I do need to go to my car.”

“All right, if you insist. Spartak, please take us to her car.”

“Yes, sir.”

Spartak turns the car around and makes the short, uneventful drive to the employee area where my car is. I love being around Viktor but I don’t think I can handle it if he keeps playing with my skirt. My nerves are bouncing all over the place.

I start to reach for the door handle, ready to jump out as soon as we stop.

“Wait.” Viktor voice is husky as he gently grabs my wrist. I glance down at his hand and he follows suit. I snatch my wrist out of his grasp and he looks at me, puzzled. Spartak opens my door and I quickly unbuckle, moving to get out.

Viktor grabs me again. I turn quickly to correct him, only I’m met with his mouth on mine before I even have a chance to process what’s happening. I’m pulled to him so my shoulder and part of my breast are firmly resting against his strong chest.

Grasping my face, he keeps it turned to him so he can ravish me as he pleases. Returning his kiss fervently, I pour out all of my pent up frustration and aggression into the kiss. My stomach melts inside as his tongue thoroughly caresses mine.

Viktor gradually pulls away, kissing my top and bottom lips softly, chastely. I remain still, unmoving, relishing in the feeling of being touched and kissed and actually enjoying it.

He tenderly places his forehead on the side of mine, holding my face in place, and I keep my eyes closed.
Just enjoy this feeling a little longer.

He whispers gruffly, “Now that – that is how our kiss should have been.”

Vik places a tender kiss in my hair and I pull back. I look him in the eyes and nod minutely, staying silent. He literally took my breath away just now. My mind is reeling trying to process this feeling of wanting to do more right now instead of being scared as I normally would be.

Grasping my purse, I scramble out of the vehicle quickly and he lets me go. I was almost expecting him to hold me back. Maybe pull me in and kiss me again. Perhaps that’s just what I wish would happen.

Turning to face him, I stand beside the car, peering at him dazedly. I take in his dilated eyes, chest rising rapidly and clenched fists making him appear even more delicious. I lean in, kindly saying, “Thank you for caring about me, Viktor.”

“Good night, my lovely,” he responds and grins as Spartak closes the car door and leads me to my vehicle. Minus the scuffle in the club, I’d say it was a very good night.

FOUR

VIKTOR

one week later…

I’m standing in the club chatting with Alexei about
business when he immediately moves in front of me to intercept Nikoli. Niko’s my brother’s pet, the blond gorilla, who is storming toward me at full speed.

He would probably smash Alexei up quite easily, but my guards are loyal. They will take it as much as possible in order to protect me. I can’t imagine what could possibly have Niko wound up in a tizzy, to come at me like this.

“It’s okay, Alexei, he’s Tate’s man.” I tap him lightly on the shoulder and he moves back to my side.

Niko yells loudly, his Russian accent stronger than mine, as he shoves in to me “You fuck!”

Backing up, I place my hands up in a placating gesture and breathe deeply, attempting to cool my rising temper before I do something to upset my little brother. Niko obviously has a death wish, pushing me like that.

“Nikoli! Touch me again and I will put you in a lake!” I growl sternly and he huffs angrily in return. “Did you jump Tate’s leash? He would have your head if he were to witness your behavior right now.”

“I am on no leash, ass face. Tate is my best friend, he would show me support.” His outburst is defensive.

“No, you are his guard, Nikoli, and you are messing with business and family right now. Tell me, why are you wasting my time and why am I not drowning you right now?”

“Do you have any clue who Kendall is?”

“Of course I do, I have had business with her father in the past.”

“Well, I hear from her sister you bust her nose. Bina not happy so I come to fix.”

“I did not bust that troll’s face. She was interfering with Elaina and me leaving the club. She started it and Elaina finished it. I spoke to her father the other day and everything is settled.”

“How is it settled? I have not heard of this.”

“He asked me to take her to lunch and apologize. I agreed. Not that it’s your business. Who is Bina?”

“Sabrina Cheslokov, Kendall’s younger sister.”

“Ahh, I see, and you fancy her?”

He looks at me skeptically. “She is good friend.”

“Very well. I understand. Is that all?”

“Yes, my apologies, sir, I didn’t know it was fixed.”

“I understand that.” He starts to turn around. “Oh and Nikoli?” I call out calmly and he turns back to me.

“The next time you want to inquire, have my brother call. You approach me in such a manner again, and I will not hesitate to teach you manners. You forget my brother is not the only powerful man around here.”

He looks taken aback for a moment then nods in resignation. “Sir,” he says and when I nod back he takes his leave.

“You okay, Boss?” Alexei turns to me, concerned.

He scans me from head to toe once Niko is out of the club. I pull on my jacket to straighten it out again, brushing the small creases with my hands. I can’t stand not looking professional when I’m out in public.

“I’m fine,” I grunt. “I’ll let that one go.” I rub my temples, trying to soothe my irritation, and continue, “I know what it feels like to be taken with someone and wanting vengeance when they are hurt.”

“Are you planning on letting Knees know about what happened?”

“No, I know if I call my brother he will put Niko down and I don’t want to take his close friend from him. Don’t call him that in public either. That name is for our ears only and I don’t want the wrong person getting wind of it. There are many Feds out there trying to figure out who matches up with that name.”

“Yes, sir, of course. It won’t happen again,” he responds and goes back to watching the club.

“Would you like anything, Viktor?” my Printsyessa asks, distracting me from my anger.

Smiling slightly at the light she ignites inside me each time I hear her voice, I gaze at her, entranced by her stunning blue eyes. “No, lovely, I’m fine. I need to go handle a few things. Are you okay? I will leave Spartak for you.”

“I understand you can’t always be here, Viktor, and it’s okay. Thank you for always hanging out, but go. I’ll be okay and you don’t have to leave Spartak if you need him.”

“No, Elaina, I will leave him. I like knowing someone is here to help if you need anything. It gives me peace of mind and calms me.”

“Okay, if you insist. I’m going to pretend he’s my personal assistant though, less of a stalker feeling. I have to go sit in on a meeting, so I’ll see you later?”

“Of course, you can see me anytime you wish.” She blushes and I grin in response. “Shall we have dinner?”

“I guess that would be fine, but nothing crazy. Just something simple, please.”

“I promise I’ll keep it tame.” I had tried to wow her in the past and it was the opposite, she left and went home prior to even eating. I was embarrassed to say the least and haven’t had the nerve to ask her for another chance until now.

“Okay, great,” she replies with a beautiful bright smile.

Finally she agrees to dinner with me again. It’s been months and this time I’m not screwing my chance up. Now I just have to figure out something she will like. I wish I didn’t have to leave her right now.

It’s Saturday morning, around eleven, and Elaina has to go to that boring staff meeting she mentioned. Then she’ll be stuck here doing the weekend prep for the staff. She’s off but comes in to get paid for a few hours of prep and stocking.

I came up with it so she would have an easy way to make the extra money I know she needs. She isn’t aware that it’s not a normal position and I prefer it that way. I wanted to pay her even more but the manager said it would be too obvious. The other bartenders were happy to give up some of their required side work. They are lazy goons wanting to slack off, nothing like my sweet Elaina.

Unfortunately I have to meet with Kendall today for our ‘lunch date’. I don’t want to, but I am keen on keeping the peace between our families. The best part about today will be getting to have dinner with Elaina. It will completely make up for having to subject myself to Kendall for an hour or so.

Elaina

I’m sitting through this mind-numbing meeting listening to the manager basically telling us all how we are doing a shitty job and to quit slacking off. I work my butt off here so I’m pretty much ignoring him. As if dealing with the drunk assholes isn’t enough, the manager has to be one too.

I stare, bored, at his bald little head and beady gaze. I don’t understand how he even has this position. I wonder if he’s related to the Masterson’s and they just gave him the spot. I could do a better job with this place than he does. Aren’t managers supposed to interact with customers and motivate their employees? Because we get none of that with him.