Anatoly Medlov (16 page)

“Same here. I mean, I’m always looking for the next big story, and I never get a chance to just hang out.” She shrugged her shoulders.

“What’s the next big story in food, anyway?”

“Well, a hot, new restaurant is opening not far from yours. It’s a Mexican place.”

“I don’t like Mexican food.”

“Really?”

“Well, I like Cuban food. I enjoy...,” he moved over a little closer to her. “I enjoy going to Little Havana and having a real meal. I fly down there all the time.”

“That sounds exciting.” Her eyes sparkled.

He reached over and touched the lobe of her ear. She closed her eyes and smiled. “Not as exciting as sitting here with you,” he said, taking her drink out of her hands. “I don’t want you to get too drunk. Le’s talk for a while. Tell me something about you that I don’t know. I’m always interested in meeting new people. With what I do, I don’t get a chance to socialize much.”

“As a restaurant and boutique owner, I would think that’s all you get a chance to do,” she said curiously.

“Well, that’s not
all
I do.” He winked at her.

Destiny could barely contain herself. She told Agosto! This guy was already breaking. Looking at him while he placed her glass on the table, she titled her head. “Well, I’m originally from Mobile, Alabama. Then I moved to Birmingham after college.”

Anatoly listened to her as she went on and on about her childhood, teenage life and college life at an HBCU. He entertained her, asking questions every once in awhile to ensure that his interest was not waning. A few hours into the conversation and after he’s let her drink more than her share, he made his move.

“We’ve been here for hours, and I haven’t even asked if you hungry,” he said, standing up.

She looked up at him. “I actually had something in the oven. I totally forgot about it.”

“Well, I’m sure that it’s cold now, and you’ve been such a great host. Why don’t you let me take you to get something to eat?”

She stood up beside him. “Sure, where would you like to go?”

He smiled. “I fell like having a little Cuban. You up for it?”

“But there isn’t a Cuban restaurant in Memphis.”

He looked at his Rolex. “I know. I was hoping we could go down to Miami.”

Destiny chuckled in disbelief. “Miami? Tonight?”

Anatoly put his hands in his pockets. “Yeah. I do it all the time. My jet’s fueled up and ready. The pilot’s on call 24-hours a day. It’ll only take a couple of hours to get there, and on the way we can continue this awesome conversation.” He smiled at her.

“Well, I have to be at work tomorrow at eight.”

“I’ll have you back here in no time. You won’t miss work, and you won’t be late. Promise.” He crossed his heart.

There was a pregnant pause before Destiny grabbed her purse. “Sure, why not.”

Chapter Ten

Miami, FL

The truth of the matter was that Anatoly had business in Miami that couldn’t wait. Vasily had informed him after his
run-in
with Renee that one of his transporters was in fact cutting into the Medlov money by not delivering all of their product to trusted clients. It didn’t take a genius to know that this was a problem.

As soon as it had been confirmed, Anatoly had Vasily send word to the guy that he wanted a meeting this evening. Finding out about Destiny was just a way to kill two birds with one stone.

After they were loaded on the plane, Anatoly took it upon himself to entertain her. At first, she had been apprehensive about loading the jet with his entourage, but he had calmly explained them away. Plus, he knew that she wanted to go
deep
undercover. This was his way of helping her do that.

As soon as they reached Miami, they were escorted off the private airstrip into the back of a Mercedes and zipped away. Anatoly could tell that she hadn’t been many places. Her eyes were glued to the window, much like he remembered Royal’s when his father had taken her to New York. Only, his intentions were not so well-placed.

Three motorcycles led their small motorcade - one Land Rover traveled in front of them, one behind them. Quietly, he checked his Blackberry while they stylishly made their way through the city.

Destiny tried to keep her bearing, watching every move that he made with a pasted-on smile.

He finally sighed and looked up from his work.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked, putting his phone away. There had not been one text from Renee, even though he had texted her twice.

“I’m speechless,” she said, crossing her legs. “And you can do all of this as a small business owner?”

He looked at her and smiled. “
Da
.”

“I need to start cooking Russian food then,” she smirked. Playing with the tendrils of her hair in front of her face, she looked over at him and bit her lip. “What else do you do, Anatoly?”

“What else do you want me to do?” he asked back, running his hand over her exposed knee. “I can be just about anything you want me to be.”

Destiny raised her brows and ran her hand over the console to open the windows. She needed some air. This man was suffocating her.

Anatoly stopped her. “Are you hot?” he asked adjusting his vents towards her.

“Sort of?”

“Turn up the air,” he ordered to the driver as his voice rose. He turned to her and smed. “Better to leave the windows up,
eh
.”

Nodding, she took her hand off the console. “So where are we going again?”

“A fellow restaurant owner of mine owns the best place in Little Havana for good Cuban food. We’re going to pay him a visit, and I’m going to set the bar for you in Cuban cuisine, just in case a Cuban restaurant ever did open in Memphis or you relocate.”

The car stopped abruptly on Calle Ocho.

In front of a small restaurant hidden under huge yellow awnings and decorated with bright colors and palm trees, the mystery of Cuban cuisine awaited. Instantly, the doors were opened by Vasily and his men as they waited for the couple to get out.

“Here we are,
La Pequeña Habana,”
Anatoly said, stepping out and offering his hand to Destiny.

She looked up at him with greedy need. His blue eyes sparkled under the street light. He looked heavenly with his bold blonde locks and startling blue eyes. He smelled richer than any man she’d ever known and his firm hand felt masculine and safe with the softness of his fingers tickling her and the worn-down calluses of his strong grip bracing her.

Destiny could not deny herself the utter lavishness of the man’s clandestine lifestyle. As she followed him inside the closed restaurant, she realized what it might have been like to really be his woman. Suddenly, being a cop didn’t seem so exciting.

The white shuttered doors opened for them and they were greeted by two beautiful Cuban women in sundresses, who offered Anatoly several cigars on a platter.

Destiny took in the marvelous interior. The building was airy and exotic. Large ceiling fans rotated above up in the beams of vaulted ceilings. In corners were mini palm trees rooted in large, elaborate pots. Cuban music played on the stereo system, pictures of Cuba hung on the walls along with famous Cuban-Americans like Desi Arnaz, Nona Gaye, Andy Garcia, Cachao López and Oscar Hijuelos. In a nutshell, she felt as though she had stepped into a different world.

Dimmed receding lights cast a glow over the space and made the marble floors gleam, indicating their recent moppng. Each table was covered in white, crisp cloths and decorated with beautiful candle-lit lamps. Modern and vintage woodwork on the walls and bar gave it a truly Latin feel.

They were quickly escorted to a large booth covered with small appetizers and drinks. “After you,” Anatoly said, allowing her to sit.

He sat across from her and took off his suit jacket to reveal rippled muscles under a soft, cotton t-shirt. Tattoos colored both of his arms and hands.

“Care if I smoke?” he asked as he thought of Victoria.

“No,” Destiny said, looking around. hIs the placed closed on a Thursday night or something?”

Anatoly looked around. “Well, it’s closed to the public for tonight.” He winked at her. “But there is another party right over there.” He motioned to the back, where a large, balding man in a white suit sat with three women surrounding him and bodyguards standing guard behind him.

“He looks
unsavory
,” Destiny said, turning back around to Anatoly. “You know him?”
“No, but I know that he knows my father. I should probably go and say hello,
eh
?” He lit his cigar and took a puff. “In a minute.” Looking at the fine tobacco, he shook his head. “There is nothing better than a good Cuban cigar.”

She laughed. “Is that a real Cuban or is it made here at one of the local shops by a native Cuban?”

“It’s straight from Old Havana,” a man answered as he strode over.

Anatoly smiled. “Good to see you,” he said with a grin. “This is my dear friend, Diego. The coolest Cuban Jew I know.” He stood up and they embraced each other.

Diego was a short, stocky man who wore black dress pants and white button down. Deep tanned with a bright smile and pure white hair, he looked over at Destiny and gently smiled.

“How are you?” he asked, bowing. “I am Diego. And you are?”

“Destiny Palmer,” she replied intrigued.

“Well, I hope that you enjoy my restaurant, Ms. Palmer. Are you here visiting Miami?”

“No, we’re just here for dinner,” Anatoly interjected.

Diego nodded and looked oddly at Anatoly. “Well, enjoy. I’m going to step out for just awhile, and I’ll be back later. However, I did tell the cooking staff that you’d be back there to make up a special meal for your guests.”

Anatoly smiled. “It’s always good to have someone you can count on. Thank you, Diego.”

“You’re very welcome.” He put his hand on the young man’s shoulder before he departed. “Make sure to tell you father hello for me.”

“I will,” Anatoly said, sitting back down. “Now, where were we?” he asked Destiny, sticking his cigar back in his mouth. “Okay. I want you to taste a little bit of everything. Just sample it all, but not too much, because I don’t want you too full before the main course.”

Destiny laughed as she looked at all the food. “I’m supposed to
not
get full?”

“Exactly,” he said as Vasily leaned into his ear to whisper something to him. He looked over at the fat man again and nodded. “Now if you’d excuse me,” he said, standing back up. “I’m going to the kitchen and do what I do best, and I’ll be back in just a bit.”

“Okay,” she said, picking up her spoon to taste the
Moors and Christian
in the blue, porcelain bowl in front of her.

***

Within minutes, Anatoly appeared from the kitchen in a white apron carrying a platter of food. He stopped at the table in the back with the mystery man first.

The man looked up at Anatoly with surprise in his face. “It’s good to see,” the man said, waving away the women and bodyguards, who quickly dismissed themselves.

“It’s good to see you too,
brat
.” Anatoly set the platter down on the table and took a seat across from him. Sighing, he wiped his tired eyes. “So, how are you after the surgery?”

“Doing better. Thank you. The doctor said I had three bleeding ulcers. Plus, the heart isn’t doing too well. I guess that I should consider losing a little weight,
eh
?” The man chuckled. Sweat poured down his shiny head.

Anatoly smirked. “I’m glad that you’re doing better and that you’re out of the house.” Anatoly yawned. “So, after all of that, you’re here with three young women drinking vodka and smoking cigars?”