Let Me In-Dragan's Tale: The Mikhailov Brothers (9 page)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

DRY HEAVES

Evie

I woke up to find
myself alone in bed. From down the hall I could hear muted male voices and the tinkling of spoons to cups. Coffee was ready! The smell made me mildly sick to my stomach but I knew I just needed the first cup of java and I would be okay.

After Brenna and Boris left, a wave of nausea hit me. I’d fell asleep on the sofa with the boys. Sergey had put me to bed last night. I hadn’t even brushed my teeth. They felt hairy. I crawled out from between the covers, a little ache between my eyes reminding me not to drink red wine and
I got in the shower.

I threw on a pair of my second favorite pair of yoga pants (Sergey had ripped my first favorite pair off me last week), a bra, a lavender short-
sleeved T-shirt and fuzzy socks and made my way into the kitchen.

At the table was a knot of sexy. My Sergey, still in his workout gear. His hair curling and damp from the sweat. Nico in nothing but a pair of silky looking blue basketball shorts and running shoes. Yep. The body was every bit as impressive as the face. Tanned, lean and strong. God is good.

“Morning baby,” Sergey purred, hooking his finger into my waistband to get me close. “How you feel, this morning?”

Morning, honey.
“I feel better,” I lied, kissing him. He tasted like coffee and my nipples went hard immediately. He had that effect on me.

I went to Nico who stood and folded his arms around me. “Did you sleep well?’ I asked. He kissed my cheek and smiled.

“Like a baby, Evie. Thanks. You sit and I will make you a cup of coffee.”

I grinned. “No you won’t. I got it.” I turned and went to the coffee maker, doctored a mug for myself and went back to the table.

“So, what are you boys talking about this morning?” I asked through a yawn.

Sergey answered. “Antonina’s car wouldn’t start last night. Tow truck picked it up a few minutes a
go. He just called.”

I frowned. “How’d she get home?
” Toni’s car was crap but just like me she didn’t want to part with it.

“Dragan took her home.” Sergey answered.

Oh, did he?” I asked. This got me a laugh from the brothers.

“Yep,” the brothers said in unison.

I raised a brow and contemplated Toni’s reaction to the cost of a tow truck.

Sergey took a drink of coffee and plowed head first into the rest of the story. “Babe, Dragan says Toni’s mom had some trouble last night. He ended up with Toni at the ER.”

“What kind of trouble,” I asked.

Sergey shook his head. “Don’t know details, baby. Just that he got Toni home and cops and a squad were there. They admitted her mom. Dragan t
ook Toni to work this morning.”

I rolled my eyes. Toni and her damn secrets. “What the hell?” I groaned and went to my phone on the counter. This was classic Toni. Crap falls down around her ears and she won’t reach out. It’d been like this for a couple years now and I was done.

I poked out her number on the keypad and waited.

“Sup?” was her reply.

“What the hell’s going on with your mom, Toni?” I replied.

There was a silence and a deep exhale before she spoke. “Evie, everything is cool. She took a tumble. I told Mikhailov not to—”

I interrupted. “I don’t care what you told Dragan. You should have called me. What’s happened? Is she out of remission? Talk to me Toni!”

“Mikhailov came. You were sick. And I don’t want to get into this on the phone. I have everything under control. And right now I got customers waitin’ for me.”

Shit, it was Sunday so Toni was at the Booth early. “Well, I will be there in 30 minutes. In between customers you are going to tell me what’s up with Patsy. What time is Rosa in today?”

Toni groaned. “She just walked in with Dragan. She looks upset. Let me call you back, okay?”

Standing, I walked out of the kitchen. “Don’t bother. I’m on the way to the bar now,” I answered and disconnected before she could reply.

I went into the bedroom and got my socks and shoes on. I was brushing my teeth again when Sergey came up behind me.

“Baby,” he said into my neck. “What’s up?”

I rinsed, spit and replied, “I don’t know Sergey. I knew something was going on with her and I assumed it was about Dragan.” I turned into his chest and enfolded my arms around his middle. “I’m so damn wrapped up in my own life; I didn’t consider it was Patsy.”

He kissed the top of my head. “Dragan said her mom got a pretty deep cut to the arm. And she broke her leg in a fall. He said the doctor at the ER wasn’t optimistic.”

“I bet you anything the MS is out of remission.”

“Dragan said Toni wouldn’t share details.”

“That’s Toni,” I re
plied and took his face into my hands. “I’m sorry to mess up our first Sunday with Nico. But I need to go to her.”

He kissed me then. “You’re not messing anything up, baby. Let’s go to your girl. Do what you gotta do to help her. I’ll be right there with you if you need me.”

“Oh, honey… you don’t have to come with me.”

“Oh no!” He shook his head. “Babe, you were sick last night. I’m with you today. Now get those fucking tight pants off. I don’t want other men looking at that ass.” He wrapped his arms around my middle and slid
his hands down to cup my butt cheeks. Squeezing them, he groaned. “This ass is mine, Evie.”

I smiled and kissed his jaw, his chin. “Yes, sweet
pea, it is.” I rubbed my face into his chest. “Love you honey.”

He grinned, his eyes sparkling emerald green. “I love you, baby,” he whispered into my hair.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

THREE FUCKING JOBS

The Dragan

Something smelled amazing.

Rosa and I had just come from my attorney’s office. It was done. I was a business owner.

It was eleven in the morning and the Booth had at least five dozen people scattered around tables and at the bar. An odd combination of drinkers and caffeine fanatics. Toni had a pot of coffee, pouring the hot liquid into a mug in front of an elderly man. His back to me.

When she heard the door, her eyes took in Rosa and me and she frowned. In her other hand was a cell phone which she said a few words into
, and tucked into the back pocket of her jean skirt.
T-shirt, tight jean skirt and knee-high cowboy boots. Holy fuck.
Her eyes never left me. She didn’t know it yet, but she was already mine.

“Hey, Toni,” Rosa started. “Let’s have Gary take the bar. I need to speak with you.” Her voice sounded tight and nervous.

Toni furrowed her brows and eyed me cautiously. I tried to temper my mood but it was hard. Shit was coming together. Getting the bar, the building. The case against Drobski and Irina was going well. And tonight, I had every intention of getting Toni Hume naked.

“Ok
,” she answered Rosa with suspicion. Gary came behind the bar and started refilling coffees. She went in the kitchen and returned with a box of something for the old man at the bar. Rosa told me she always had some kind of pastry and fritter at the bar on Sunday. It smelled like today’s fritter was banana.

Taking the box out to him, he said
something to her and she winked. Then her eyes came back to us as we waited at the corner booth.

As usual I was seated to get the best view of the bar and the doors. I had dressed in a gray tweed suit. Rosa sat next to me. She closed her eyes for a moment and gave me a weak smile.

Toni sat across from us
and I waited for Rosa to introduce me as the new owner of the booth.

The women stared at one another for a moment before Rosa finally sighed and leaning her arms on the table she started to speak. “Toni, I need to tell you something.” Rosa’s voice cracked and she looke
d down at her hands that she had clasped tightly together.

Toni
frowned. “What’s going on Rosy?” She looked from me to Rosa and back to me. “You can say anything to me. We can handle it. We’ve been a team for a long time. Right?”

Rosa groaned and nodded. “We have Toni. We have and I can’t tell you how much you mean to me. No one knows all you do for this place.” Rosa waved her hand toward the bar. “But I do. I would have given up on this place five years ago if it hadn’t been for you. When Lenny died...” she paused to find the words. “When Lenny died, I wanted to give up. I didn’t want this damn bar.” A tear escaped from the corner of Rosa’s eye and rolled down her soft brown cheek. “You kept me going, Toni. I would have let Len’s dream of this bar die with him if it weren’t for you.” She ended on a sob and I watched Toni’s hand reach out and take Rosa’s.

“Rosa, babe. What’s going on?” Laced in her voice was a hint of panic. “Whatever is going on…” she looked and me from the corner of her eye and refocused on her friend. “ We can handle whatever life gives us. Just, please, tell me what’s going on.”

It felt inappropriate that I was baring witness to this private moment. But Rosa had asked that I stay as she explained things to Toni when we had met outside moments ago.

Rosa breathed deep and dove in. “Toni, I sold the bar to Dragan. He owns The Booth and the building. I signed everything over to him last night.” I saw her hold her breath and wait for a response.

Toni’s mouth opened but nothing came out. She snapped her teeth together and stared. Her pale cheeks became spotted with dark pink. Blush streaked up her neck. She opened her mouth again and looked at me.

“You,” she said staring at me. “This is why you’ve been a fixture here, eh? Researching an investment?”

I gave a small smile and answered truthfully. “At first, yeah. But…” I
chuckled. “I like it here. I liked it the minute I walked in.” I resisted the urge to say I liked coming to The Booth to watch her.

Toni nodded. “I liked here right away too,” Toni said, her voice cracking. I looked at her eyes where tears were pooling into the corners.

“Toni,” I said. “This doesn’t change anything. Your job here is safe. Rosa made sure that everyone was secure before she sold to me. If that’s what’s worrying—”

She shook her head and released Rosa’s hands. “I’m not worried about that.
” She looked at Rosa then. “Why? Why did you do this?”

Rosa started crying harder. “Toni, shit’s bad at home. My brother is… My brother is in a lot of trouble. I needed the money. Oh, Toni, I am so sorry.”

“Then why the hell didn’t you talk to me. You promised me, Rosa.”

“I know Toni and—”

“No, you don’t know. Three fucking jobs!” she yelled, lifting three fingers in the air. “Everything I’ve done. All the work for the last five years was to buy this goddamn bar,” she screamed.

Patrons turned to watch us and my brain skidded through her words. Toni inhaled and stood. Biting her top lip she turned to me.

“Was this a big fucking joke for you? Is this funny for you?”

Before I could answer, Rosa did. “Toni, he had no idea you wanted to buy the bar. I didn’t tell him. I asked him to stay away from you. Not let you find out. He couldn’t even talk to Sergey about it. This is all my fault. Dragan. He’s a good guy.”

Toni chuckled but there was no mirth in it. With frustration manifest on her face she said, “What the fuck Rosa? Why didn’t you tell me? I’ve been cleaning toilets, scrubbing floors, anything just to bring in the money YOU said I’d need to buy this place.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s all been for nothing.” She rubbed her hands over her face, and then she slumped in defeat.

Rosa’s tears had stopped and she was wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “God I am so sorry Toni. Aaron really fucked up and I can’t let my parents pay the price. I had to get the money.”

Toni nodded. “I’m sorry your brother’s in trouble again,” she said.

Rosa rolled her eyes.
“ Fuck, don’t be nice. It makes me feel even worse. Please don’t hate me. You’ve saved me and…” she started crying again.

Toni groaned and walked to Rosa, leaning down to hug her shoulders. “I can’t hate you Rosa. I love you, you dumb bitch. Just let me be pissed and disappointed for a
while. I’ll recover. I always do.”

Rosa stood and hugged the woman hard. Then she excused herself to go call her parents.

Toni watched her go and then turned to study me. Her face, pensive and blotchy from anger and unshed tears.

“Are you al
l right?” I asked. Getting to my feet, I walked to her.

She nodded but said nothing. I lifted her chin to look at me.

“How’s your mom?”

“Better,” she answered. “I called about an hour ago and she was asleep. She ate some breakfast.”

“That’s good, right?”

She nodded. “It’s good.” She kept staring at me. “Thanks for asking.”

I chuckled. “Gotta admit. I don’t know what to do here.” 

“How so?” she asked quietly.

“Wasn’t expecting the conversation to go like that,” I replied.

She raised her brows. “No kidding.”

“You okay?” I asked.

She nodded. “Of course, I’m always okay.” She wasn’t okay. She looked tired and disappointed.

I took my thumb and rubbed it across her cheek. Her skin was hot and clammy from emotion. I had an overwhelming urge to make everything better.

She pulled her face away from my touch and started to walk away. “I got work to do. You want some coffee?”

She turned away and headed back to the bar. I followed and even from behind I could tell the old man was watching Toni walk into the kitchen to retrieve her apron. Before I could gently encourage him to get his eyes off her ass, the double doors opened. Through them walked Sergey, Evelyn and Nico.

I waved them over. I’d envisioned what this moment would b
e like. Going legit. And sharing that fact with family. Honestly I wouldn’t have cared who I stepped on to get what I wanted. But I fucking hated that I did it to her. I tried not to measure the lengths I would go to wipe that disappointment off Antonina’s face. Instead, I smiled and readied to welcome my brothers and Evelyn to my bar. My future.