Russian Roulette (Russkaya Mafiya) (30 page)

“Nyet,” he replies in Russian and shakes his head.

“Ah.” I click my tongue. “Shame. I am Viktor Masterson, head of the organization you were working for and are stupid enough to spit at,” I reply snidely, glaring at him.

He turns his face away from me and looks in the other direction. This trash has lost his mind if he thinks I will tolerate this behavior in front of my men. I remove my suit jacket and hand it to Sergei, one of my guards. He follows me pretty much everywhere so he’s accustomed to being my coat rack when needed.

I unbutton my cuff links and roll up my sleeves leisurely, taking a nice deep breath to clear my lungs. Moving my head side to side to pop my neck muscles and loosen up. I draw my arm back and punch the jackass square in the jaw.

His head flies backwards with the momentum and there’s an audible crack that echoes in the trees. “Ugh!” he moans loudly. I’m sure he has a tooth floating around in there now.

Swiftly, I pull out my weapon. Cocking it, I smile and aim it straight in the middle of his forehead. His eyes widen, surprised. I pull the trigger without a moment of hesitation.

He drops like a sack of potatoes and the men stand there holding him. They’re all silent, staring at me and waiting. I guess I surprised everyone with that one.

“Let it be known that this was me being gentle on someone who steals from me. I will not show the same compassion to the next person who is caught.”

“Boss,” Alexei answers and nods, motioning at the other men. The group follow suit and nod as well. I turn on my heel and head back inside to my office.

“Take care of it!” I call out loudly as I walk away and hear them scurry to follow orders.

A few moments later I receive a message from Spartak and it makes the entire evening better.

Spartak:
She asks for you

Me:
Everything okay?

Spartak:
Yes, sir

I can’t even fathom the fact that she has finally asked about me. My stomach feels as if it wants to implode. I don’t know if that feeling is a blessing or a curse. Spartak will have to update me when she’s not working. I can’t wait to hear what she said.

I grab the keys to my Jaguar; my heart is beating quickly, excited. It’s time for me to head home. Clearly I’ve had enough excitement for today. I nod to Sergei so he knows I’m leaving.

We make it down the hallway before getting caught by Alexei, “Boss?” He gazes at me, questioning.

“I’m leaving. I have to check on the other warehouse tomorrow, so I will expect you at my house at ten in the morning.”

“No problem, sir, I will be there.”

“Good, you will stay and look over things?”

“Of course, sir. I’m sorry about earlier.”

“Until tomorrow,” I say and take my leave.

Sergei and I make our way to the cars. He gets in my Jaguar and starts it while I stay about twenty feet away. He always starts my vehicles for me. You never know when someone may try to get back at the Bratva.

THREE

ELAINA

This is the third shift of mine he’s missed. It
means
an additional day with Spartak following me around like he’s a puppy. He’s pleasant; I’m just finding myself speculating about Vik.

I know Viktor and Tate aren’t the greatest of guys, but it makes me wonder what they really do if Vik feels I need someone around me constantly. As each day passes, my curiosity and speculations grow. I’m sure I’m imagining something way more sinister than what it really is, but at this point I’m ready to give Viktor a piece of my mind.

I stroll behind the bar in OO7. Another day, another dollar, I suppose.

Hawk is filling in for the other bartender again. He must be exhausted, poor guy is already the manager at Club Taint. He’s one of the best bartenders I’ve ever worked with. He will make my night a cake walk, thankfully. After the scuffle with the drunk, I haven’t been too keen on coming in to work. At least I have some eye candy to look forward to. He’s sporting his signature blue mohawk, sexy grin and Chucks. I don’t mind being around Hawk; he’s friendly and has always been respectful toward me. He’s one of the few I don’t mind with the pet names. Viktor and my sister are the others I’ve gotten used to.

“Hey, beautiful,” he murmurs in his killer raspy voice.

“Hey, you, how’s life?”

“It’s good, just having woman issues.”

“Uh oh, anything I can help with?” I lean my hip against the beer cooler and cross my arms.

“Well, I met this chick, total babe, bright red hair, killer smile and body. She brings food to my shifts a lot but every time I think we are going somewhere, a groupie comes up and fucks it all up. Now Dillian, that’s her name, is pissed and is backing off again.”

Hawk is a drummer in a rock band when he has spare time. He has some great arms to prove it too. His brother is the singer of the group; I can only imagine his voice with how great Hawk’s is. I wonder what the rest of the band looks like.

“That sucks! Have you told the groupies to back off and explained to Dillian that you aren’t interested in them?”

A stool scrapes loudly and I glance back to see what Spartak is doing, only I’m met with annoyed green-hazel eyes and a scowl to match.

Viktor looks at Hawk angrily. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re supposed to be doing inventory, yes?” It’s not really a question, just formed like one. It’s more like an annoyed growl.

Hawk nods. “Yeah, I was just on my way to do that.”

“Very good,” Viktor replies shortly and Hawk walks quickly to the storage room. I put my hand on my hip and spin to face Viktor fully.

“Well, hello, grouchy pants. Why aren’t you friendly with Hawk? He’s a nice guy.”

“He’s not my friend, he’s my employee. I pay him to work.” He shrugs indifferently.

“Well, you also pay me to work, but yet you never seem to have an issue with me talking to you.”

“That’s entirely different, Elaina,” he murmurs, running his hands through his hair.

“Reeeeally? How so?” I lean on my elbows against the bar, closer to him. He copies me and leans in closer.

“He’s a single man.”

“Annnd you’re not?”

He grasps my wrists tightly in each of his hands and I draw in a startled gasp. He leans in close and his breath washes over me. I clench, turned on at the sensation.

“No, Printsyessa
(Princess), last time I checked, I was all about you.”

I tear my hands away and step back. “Uh, Viktor, you’re wrong,” I reply quietly.

I pace toward the end of the bar and busy myself. I bow down and start shifting glasses around into straight rows. I get nervous and it causes me to act as if I have ADD.

Regardless of feeling a presence behind me, I stay bent over. It’s one of those moments where you clench your tummy tightly and lie, telling yourself nothing’s behind you when in fact you know there really is something there.

I’m startled when a strong hand grasps my bicep, pulling me up and backward. I spin, ready to fight and let loose a piece of my mind. I’m met with Viktor’s serious expression about four inches from my face and it makes me pause, forgetting every word that had been wanting to come out.

“NO. You are wrong. I have been chasing you for
months
. Open your eyes.” He steps closer so I can feel his warm, sweet breath whisper over my face each time he speaks. “Printsyessa
,
” he whispers and tenderly takes my bottom lip between his. My pussy throbs wantonly at his touch.

Freezing up, I open my eyes wide, chanting inside not to freak out. He pulls back, releasing my lip from his. His hand brushes my cheek gently and I feel his breath as he pants close to my lips. I can taste each breath of his I breathe in. I open my lips slightly, my mouth watering at the idea of his being so close to mine.

“Viktor,” I choke and he dives in roughly, ravaging my mouth as if he is starving and I can quench his hunger. One hand grasps my cheek and the other rests on the bar behind me as he forcefully pushes my body against it with his.

His body is hard, demanding, and wanting. I tightly grasp his shirt as I let him take my mouth. His tongue caresses mine, teaching me how to please him.

His hand leaves my face and trails up my thigh under my skirt. It’s like a splash of cold water and I push him away forcefully.

Panting, I step to the side and press my hand to my swollen lips. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t,” I say, ashamed. Why does there have to be something wrong with me? Why can’t I just be like everyone else?

“You can’t now, but you will,” he says sternly and walks away from me.

I stand still holding my mouth and shake my head. My skin is sensitive to the touch from his five o’clock shadow. God, I wish I could give him what he wants, but it will never happen. I watch him walk down the hall and to the office.
Just great, what am I going to do now?

I attempt to make the night pass quickly by being diligent and extra friendly to the customers I get. It just doesn’t work, Hawk asks me like twenty times to tell him what is eating at me, but I’m not someone who opens up. I learned many years ago to hold it all inside.

I guess my sister and I have more in common than I realized. I like to keep stuff to myself and she is stubborn, always trying to do everything by herself. We are twins, so I guess we are bound to have things in common.

I know one thing; I will never forgive myself for hitting her with my car, but I’m torn, Had I not been drinking and driving I never would have found her in the first place since I had no clue she even existed. Yet I always end up beating myself up because I could have killed my only family member. I could have killed her before I ever had the chance to know about her.

Thank God she ended up being okay without serious injuries. Now she’s giving me more family with her baby. She’s had nothing but struggle in her life. I deserve every ounce of pain I received from that damn wreck.

Viktor eventually makes his way back out sometime during my shift. I am busy making another tray of martinis and when I turn around, notice him sitting in his usual spot. He doesn’t say anything; he’s being his normal quiet self and glaring at any guy who looks at me for too long. I never would have pegged him for the jealous type. After the endless refills of martinis I’ve made this shift, I could do with never making one again.

The club is brimming with thug-like guys tonight for some reason. I don’t know what is going on, but Viktor chewed out his guard, Alexei, earlier. He looked so angry I thought he was going to strangle him. I don’t like seeing his guard getting in trouble, but have to admit seeing Viktor with so much power draws me to him.

I’m busy finishing up my closing duties. I always have the early shift doing the prep work, so I get to leave earlier than the others. Grabbing my things, I notice a chick approach Viktor. She’s all skanked up in a short dress and a pound of make-up. I suppose men probably find her pretty, whereas I like a more natural look. Viktor watches me as she whispers in his ear, giggling like a hyena.

Whatever, I don’t have time for that. I roll my eyes and grab my soda in my Styrofoam to-go cup. I walk from behind the bar and he stands up, brushing off the girl and quickly makes his way to me.

The woman glares spitefully when she sees him come to my side. I’m not a hateful person but I can’t help the smirk that appears on my face as we pass her by. My stomach flutters with excitement at the prospect of someone believing he’s my man.

She steps in front of me with her hands on her hips, wearing a snotty expression. She obviously thinks she has something important to say.

Stopping abruptly, I look at her like she’s lost her mind. She’s crazy to just pop in front of people as they are walking, we could have run right into her. I have a feeling I’m not going to want to hear whatever she plans to say.

Viktor places his arm in front of me, pushing me back slightly and I shoot him a peeved look. He ignores it and commands the female’s full attention just by his strong presence. His back muscles stiffen under his suit jacket as he stands in front of me.

“Get out of the way, Kendall,” he says sternly, looking at her in irritation and demanding her immediate compliance.

She continues to poke her head around him and glare at me hatefully. My blood boils as I realize something; she has no valid reason to act this way toward me. I’ve had my fill of the ugly looks I get from people.

I push against his arm and get up close to her, right in her face. I may not like a man touching me, but after growing up in a few foster facilities, I’ve learned how to hold my own with a female. This is no exception; you put chicks in their place right away or you’ll have issues with them forever.

“Can I help you?” I inquire, staring her down and flaring my nostrils.

Scrunching up her pointy nose, she sneers, “Uh yeah, I wasn’t done talking to Viktor.” I swear, I could just grab her nose and give it a good twist. I can’t stand women who act like this. They think they’re so entitled, when in reality, no one owes them shit. She’s got a bad case of too many handouts.

I splay my hand beside me dramatically like I’m introducing the President or something. “Have at it then, sweetie pie.”

I turn to Viktor and he shakes his head.

I glance back at her, wide eyed. “Well, Kendaall, guess you have your answer, huh.”

I tend to draw my words out when I’m being sarcastic. It’s a bad habit, but I can’t seem to shake it plus it drives people crazy when I do it. I’m betting it will grate on her nerves also.

“Ugh!” She yells and shoves me backwards.

Yeah,
I don’t think so, bitch.
I shove her back and she comes at me. Grabbing her shoulders, I head butt her in her pointy nose without hesitation.
That will definitely need surgery to look perfect again.
I’m not about to let her get a hit in, I’ve learned about that the hard way. Blood sprays from the gash and her nose bleeds heavily.

She shrieks and I can’t help but snicker a little. Call it payback from some of us less entitled folks. People start pointing and surrounding us, ready to watch a fight. They’re too late though, I know she won’t bounce back from a hit like that.