Alexei: A Mafia Love Story: Dark Erotic Romance (9 page)

That had been the main reason he had shot Slava, having intercepted the man in the process of taking possession of the shipment of people he had already forbidden his
bratva
to touch. When he had opened the shipping container and discovered more than half of the occupants were girls under the age of eighteen, and under fourteen in some cases, he had lost his shit, so to speak.

At that point, Slava has slipped away in the ensuing chaos of sorting out the identities of the girls and arranging temporary shelter for them as he tried to figure out what to do about their future. Once Yuri and Stepan had tracked down Slava and brought to the club, Alexei hadn’t even attempted to hold back the anger he’d felt at the other man’s betrayal and lack of compassion.

“If there’s nothing else, Kasilli, I have things to do.”

Vadim glared at him, his lack of respect appalling. It demanded a response, but Alexei just wanted the other man gone. “If we have to have this discussion again, it won’t be so polite. Understand?”

“Of course, Varnakov.” Without another word, Vadim spun on his heel and strode from the office.

Alexei didn’t bother to follow him to ensure the other man left, knowing Stepan would do so.

Once he’d regained control of his temper, Alexei left his office and walked through the house, intent on joining his father and Tara in the garden area. The grass was damp from the rain they’d had overnight, but he disregarded any damage it might do to his handmade Italian loafers. He stood back beside a silent Yuri to watch them for a few moments. It was a chance to observe both unaware, and the tender way Tara interacted with his father made his chest ache. It was a disconcerting sensation, but not entirely unpleasant.

He smiled when she did, as she chatted with his father. He frowned when Ivan called her Valentina twice, because that indicated his memory had slipped even further. Both times, Tara just gave him a gentle reminder of her name before carrying on as though nothing had happened. He wondered if she had experience with memory impairment.

Finally, he stepped forward and made his presence known by kneeling down beside them. “What are we planting today, Papa?”

Ivan beamed at him. “Tulips,
syn moy
.”

“Planting or killing? That remains to be seen,” said Tara lightly, not giving any hint that she might be there under duress, or bearing any ill will toward Alexei. He didn’t know if her discretion was for his father’s benefit, or if she was just a good actress, but he appreciated the lack of acrimony in her response.

“Tell me how I can help.” It was an impetuous offer, and he’d certainly never been on his knees in a garden bed before, but with Tara there, alongside his father, he couldn’t imagine a better place to be at the moment.

***

It felt like a surreal turn of events as Tara entered the dining room that evening, having been shown the way by Yuri, who hadn’t spoken. She didn’t know if he was still angry with her for kicking him, or if he was simply a reticent man. Either way, it was surprisingly soothing to be in the silent man’s presence, to not have to make small talk or worry about making an impression upon him.

She certainly didn’t have to protect Alexei’s bodyguard from the truth that she was here as a captive. Ivan wouldn’t have handled that well, she was certain. Already, she felt protective toward the gentle older man. She didn’t want to see him hurt or distressed.

Perhaps that was how she found herself joining them for dinner. Ivan had spoken as if it was a foregone conclusion that she would be at the dinner table, and Alexei had done nothing to counter the idea. So she had found herself dismissed from gardening ninety minutes before dinner so she’d have time to freshen up and dress appropriately.

Now, as she entered the elegant dining room, three men stood up from the table as a sign of respect. She smiled at Ivan, gave Alexei a cool nod, because she was still conflicted on how to feel about him, and then turned her attention on the third man whom she hadn’t met yet. “Hello.”

He shared some resemblance with Alexei and Ivan, but his hair was dark, and his cheekbones were sharper. He also had ice-blue eyes instead of their almost-black shade. Still, she wasn’t surprised to learn he was Lev Varnakov, Alexei’s younger brother. He must favor his mother, the deceased Dorothea.

Alexei held her chair for her, seating her before he took a seat himself, and the other two followed suit. She wondered if it would be like this every night, should she be allowed to join them on a regular basis—or choose to. She was uncertain about the change in status, and what kind of freedom she had now. It was something she would have to discuss later with Alexei when he came to her room. She had no doubt he would come for her, and then she would likely come for him, over and over again.

Her thighs clenched at the thought, and she couldn’t deny a curl of heat flickering in her stomach with anticipation. As much as Alexei confused and angered her, he also had the ability to turn her on like no one else.

Forcing her thoughts from the carnal, she folded her linen napkin and placed it on her lap, smoothing it down over the light-gray designer gown she had chosen for dinner. She’d been afraid she was overdoing it, but Alexei, Lev, and Ivan all wore oxford dress shirts and ties, though their jackets weren’t in sight.

A neatly uniformed maid served them each course efficiently. Pleasant conversation accompanied the meal, adding to the sense of surreality swirling through her. For all intents and purposes, she was nothing more than a guest joining them for an evening meal.

Lev and Ivan both appeared ignorant of her captive status, or how she’d come to be there. They seemed to assume she was simply Alexei’s woman, and they were treating her politely and courteously as a result. She supposed she could have destroyed the gossamer illusion with a few simple words, perhaps even garnered sympathy from the two men that might have forced Alexei to free her, but she was strangely reluctant.

In the end, she dismissed the idea of asking those men to assist her to freedom, because she knew it would cause strife between Alexei and his family. That wasn’t her problem, but the truth was, she was certain Alexei wouldn’t let her go anyway, even if both men tried to pressure him to do something different. And if they were both part of the
bratva
like he was, what were the odds of them actually deciding to help her? Alexei had already told her the rules they lived by—avoid witnesses or eliminate them if avoidance was impossible. If these men were part of the
russkaya mafiya
, they wouldn’t hesitate to follow its code, no matter how charming and gracious they seemed on the surface.

As the meal drew to a close, Ivan called her Valentina again. She gave him a gentle smile, and said, “I’m Tara, if you remember? Valentina is your daughter, isn’t she?”

Ivan seem to struggle with confusion for a moment before his expression cleared, and he nodded briskly. “Of course she is. Valentina’s away at school right now, but she’ll be home for summer vacation.”

“That will be exciting. Perhaps the tulips will bloom by then, if we manage to keep any alive, that is.”

Ivan chuckled, expression revealing nothing but contentment. The moment of confusion had evidently passed. “I shall see to them every day. My personal mission is to ensure they live, because I’m certain Valentina would enjoy them.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing them bloom myself.” Her heart stuttered at the realization that she would probably still be here when the bulbs became blossoms. This was her new reality, at least until she found a way to escape or could persuade Alexei to trust her not to reveal what he had done.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t confident she could stick with any agreement not to report his crime. After all, he had murdered someone, and he had to answer for that. She was uncomfortably aware that he had been way too perceptive of her personality and her need to do the right thing.

“You have to take a rain check on gardening tomorrow, Papa. You have a visit with Dr. Ting.”

Ivan frowned. “What do I need a doctor for? I’m in perfect health.”

Alexei and Lev wore similar expressions of concern, hastily hidden behind a mask of casualness. “It’s just for a checkup, Papa,” said Lev.

Alexei nodded. “You have to stay in perfect health, don’t you?”

Ivan grumbled, but eventually nodded. “I suppose.” He looked at Tara. “You’ll take me. My sons no longer allow me to drive, the ungrateful mongrels.” A twinkle in his eye gentled the comment, turning it from a grave insult to a sweet endearment. “So you will take me. I’d far rather go with you than with Yuri. He’s a quiet and grumpy man.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Yuri stiffening against the wall where he leaned, and she barely smothered a giggle behind her napkin. The bodyguard look offended, but surely couldn’t deny the astuteness of the observation. Her mirth fled when she realized she would have to disappoint Ivan, and she opened her mouth to try to phrase a polite refusal.

Alexei surprised her by saying, “Yes, you should take Papa. He could use someone familiar to accompany him and keep him calm.”

She gave him a puzzled look, certain he must be toying with her. His expression revealed nothing to raise any alarms or lead her to believe he would snatch the opportunity from her at the last moment. Perhaps his father’s happiness was more important than his need to keep her confined to the estate. A bubble of excitement rose in her stomach when she realized there might be a chance to escape tomorrow, if she could actually get off the grounds with Ivan.

Alexei’s lips twitched, and it was as though he’d read her body language and saw her rising excitement. “Of course, Yuri and Stepan will accompany you to keep you both safe.”

“Of course,” she said with a heavy note of irony. It dampened her enthusiasm, but couldn’t quite smother the spark of hope burning in her. It would be easier to escape from the two men when they were distracted in public, especially with Ivan along. It was her best chance of getting away from this place and escaping her captivity.

And escaping her captor. For some reason, that made her stomach clench, and she gripped her napkin tightly until the strange sensation had passed. That was what she wanted. It was for the best, and she should have no ambiguity about getting away from Alexei.

It was still a while before her stomach settled, and she was able to once again foster the spark of hopeful anticipation.

***

After dinner, once Ivan had decided to retire to his room, and Stepan was escorting Tara back to her room on the third floor, he drew Yuri to the side after trading a good night parting with his younger brother. Lev was off to do a circuit of the clubs, to make sure everything remained peaceful and that Vadim hadn’t continued disregarding his edict on ending human trafficking in their city. “Tomorrow, keep a close eye on her.”

Yuri nodded. “Of course, Lyosha. I won’t allow her to escape.”

Alexei nodded. “No, she can’t be allowed to escape, but I want you to give her the opportunity to try.”

Yuri’s eyes widened, and his shock was clear. “Pardon, Lyosha?” His voice was full of doubt.

Alexei nodded before stepping away from his
byki
. “I need to know how much I can trust her, and if she’s going to try to run, tomorrow is a good opportunity for her to do so. I want you and Stepan to give her the appearance that she has a chance to escape. Of course, you’re to intercede before she actually can do so, but I want your observations first. I need to know when, if, and how she’ll try to run.”

Yuri’s expression was now clear of confusion, and he nodded, his face grim. “I can promise you she won’t be allowed to escape.”

“No, I’m sure she won’t.” Alexei wondered if he was moving too quickly, and if he was setting himself up for disillusionment by allowing her the chance to escape tomorrow. Part of him cautioned not to be bitterly disappointed if she did try to get away, because it was still so early in their relationship, and she was just now starting to accept that she had no other place to go, and no other role in life besides what he gave her.

It would be natural for her to try to escape, and even the most domesticated animal must occasionally chafe at the yoke of ownership. Still, he knew he would be disappointed if she tried to escape, and overjoyed if she didn’t.

As he left his man to go up to his lover’s room, he tried to shove what he was feeling deep down. Emotions made him weak, and his little fox was having too much of an effect on his emotions, determining how he felt at any given moment. It would be wiser to leave her alone tonight, to allow distance between them, but he still bypassed his own room to walk to hers.

When he let himself in to the black room, where they held prisoners of status who weren’t trustworthy enough to be free, but weren’t so untrustworthy as to be subjected to the degradation of the basement cells, he was surprised to find Tara waiting for him wearing a candy-pink baby doll nightie. She looked sweet and innocent, and incredibly seductive. His cock tightened in response, and he decided not to fret about his emotional investment in Tara at the moment. Tomorrow would be soon enough to worry about that.

“Do you like it?” She asked the question shyly, not quite meeting his eyes. She was either embarrassed or nonplussed by playing dress-up for him.

“I like it very much.” He felt a bit like a big cat stalking prey as he strode toward her, his hands burning with the need to touch her skin. The straps were some sort of lacy material and yielded easily when he pushed them down her shoulders. He didn’t want to be rough with her, but seeing her so vulnerable and sweet made him feel like the big bad wolf, ready to devour Little Red.