Dancing for the Badman (Russian Bratva Book 3)

by Hayley Faiman

  Then planning ensues. Emiliya calls and is able to get us into the dress shop the next morning. Haleigh goes online to find a bakery for a cake, and Sonia plans out every last detail throughout the day. The wedding is going to be simple, classic, and elegant.

  The centerpieces will be tall, skinny, silver vases with a giant ball of soft pink, white, and cream roses, and strands of rhinestones draped from them. They sound simply beautiful.

  Sonia has a talent for organization, and I can’t believe how much she has accomplished in just a few hours, in a city where she doesn’t know anybody.

  “It’s going to be beautiful. Now, all we need is a photographer and an officiant,” she grins.

  “We have a cake testing Tuesday evening around five,” Haleigh announces as she chases after her little girl.

  “Cake testing?” I ask in surprise.

  “Money buys urgency,” Sonia smiles as she pats my thigh.

  I’m exhausted by lunch and take that as my cue to rest. The house is full of women and children, laughter and love all around me, yet I feel unsettled. Maybe it is because Kirill is gone on some mission, something I know that is dangerous.

  “Can I lay down with you, mom?” Kiska asks after I excuse myself and walk into my bedroom.

  “Always, my Kiska girl,” I smile.

  Kiska has her e-reader in hand, and together we curl up in my bed. The bed I now share with her father. I haven’t talked with her much about my accident or how she’s doing. It seems as though everything in our lives has been on warp speed since Kirill came barreling into it.

  “How are you doing, my girl?” I ask as she rests her head on my chest. I play with her pretty dark hair, hoping that it sooths her. It definitely soothes me.

  “I was so scared, but papa and Grandpa told me you would be okay,” she whispers into the room.

  “And see, they were right,” I say.

  “I know, but it was scary,” she admits.

  “It was very scary. I’m so sorry you had to see me like that,” I murmur into her hair.

  “I’m happy now. You and papa are going to be married,” she says as she grins and turns to face me.

  “I’m glad you’re happy about that. I am, too,” I smile.

  We don’t say anything else, we just take joy in being near each other.

  It was Kiska and me for so many years, and the past few months, we haven’t had nearly enough time alone with each other. I am relishing this moment, knowing that soon she’ll be too old to cuddle with her mom.

  I fall asleep with my girl in my arms and I dream of my lover—my Kirill.

  The motorcycle’s clubhouse parking area is completely full. Motorcycles and SUV’s fill every square inch of empty space. We all file out of our cars and head to the front door of the clubhouse.

  I recognize the man standing next to the door as Sniper. He looks past me and straight to Sergei. I watch as Sergei nods and then blows me away with what he tells the club member.

  “Your family. You have uncles in the Ukraine. I thought Lukin was a familiar name, and it is. They’re in the organization. Your father was as well, but not high ranking. In fact, he ran when he was going to be imprisoned for one of his crimes. A coward, disowned by his brothers of blood and of the organization,” Sergei announces.

  “He is still very much a coward, and a drunk,” Sniper shrugs.

  “This is the number to your uncle Vlad. He’s very interested in hearing from you, as he didn’t know you existed. I have told him of your father, and of your many accomplishments—both on the battlefield and with your organization,” Sergei informs him.

  “Uh, thanks,” Sniper grunts.

  “Your uncle Vlad and your other three uncles are good men, Bates. They would be good allies to have, and come with large families,” Sergei offers. He then walks away to leave Sniper alone with his thoughts.

  “Vlad Lukin. He’s a good man. I’ve known him many years,” Radimir interjects. Sniper gives him a jerky nod.

  The conversation is dropped and we all file into the clubhouse, Sniper on our heels. At a round table in the middle of the room is MadDog, along with a younger version of himself to his left—his son.

  Sergei, Radimir, and I sit down at the table across from them. Maxim and Ziven sit directly behind us, and the rest of our men behind them. There are even more soldiers right outside of the building, they’ve arrived early with more still to come.

  “You Russians don’t fuck around,” MadDog murmurs after he shakes my hand in a greeting.

  “I want these fuckers gone,” I grunt.

  “Clearly,” he says before he smiles. “So how shall we proceed?” he asks.

  Together, we devise a plan. MadDog shows me a map of the area. All of my men and the bulk of his will surround the area before we strike. No survivors and no prisoners. I’m done.

  “Where’s your headache, Green?” MadDog asks.

  “Get him,” I growl to Ziven.

  A few minutes later, Ziven throws a bound Ex-Federal Agent Green on the floor at MadDog’s feet. He’s crying—actual tears.

  “So this is the guy who has been causing issues for a decade? Looks like a pussy,” MadDog chuckles with a shrug.

  “He is that,” I nod. “He’s been in contact with Cartel this entire time,” I say.

  “What’s your contact’s name?” MadDog asks, kicking him in the stomach.

  “Juan Zamora,” he cries out. His ribs probably hurt like hell, since I broke every single one of them a couple days ago.

  “He’ll be there. My contact is Eddie Hernandez, but Juan is higher up,” MadDog explains.

  “How high up are the men that are going to be here?” I ask.

  I want to hit these fuckers where it hurts. I’m under no illusion that they’ll just disappear, two more leaders will pop up in their place, but I want them to think twice about fucking with me or my organization ever again.

  “Several Capos, a couple lieutenants, and their low level falcons for protection, I’m sure,” MadDog grumbles.

  “No hitmen and no El Jefe?” I ask about their version of a Pakhan, a boss, arching a brow.

  “Probably not,” he answers.

  “Originally, I wanted to make them hurt, but I want this done quickly. What if we captured the Capos and had the others executed quickly, by surprise,” I offer.

  “By snipers?” MadDog asks.

  “I have several Torpedos here today, and I’m sure you have some men who are good shots?” I ask, looking directly at Sniper. I’ve seen his record. It’s amazing.

  “How are we going to do that without causing mayhem?” MadDog asks.

  “All at once,” Sniper rumbles.

  “Yep. All of the men pick a member of the Cartel and they all pull the trigger at the same time. Then my soldiers will simultaneously take down the Capos for capture,” I instruct.

  “I like the way you work,” MadDog chuckles.

  We finalize our plans and then we breathe easy. This task is almost complete. I call in the rest of my men, and together, as a united group, we tell them how everything is going to go and what to expect. With a firm plan in place, we spend the rest of the evening relaxing. No party and no drinking. We all have to be on our game for what’s to come.

  Once we’re back at our hotel, I decide to call Tati. I don’t bother calling her cellphone, as I’ve deactivated it and haven’t replaced it as of yet. I wasn’t planning on leaving her side so soon; being away from her is making me nervous. I call the house and Sonia answers.

  “Sonia, this is Kirill, is Tatyana available?” I ask as I empty my pockets onto the hotel’s nightstand.

  “She’s resting,” Sonia says quietly.

  “Is she okay? Does she need to get back to the doctor?” I ask, my heart pounding in sheer panic.

  “No, I think all of the wedding talk and excitement just wore her out. Everything is happening quickly, and it was too much,” she says.

  “What else?” I ask, pursing my lips.

/>   “Nothing, really. She’s just tired.” I don’t believe her, but I don’t push it. If it were something necessary, she’d tell me.

  “Where’s the wedding, then?” I ask, trying to dig information out of her.

  “The Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard.” I cough out a choke.

  “How much is this going to set me back?” I ask.

  It’s not that I don’t have the money, or that I even mind spending it. It just surprises me and catches me off guard. My original plans were to have the reception in one of my restaurants, a night’s loss of profit, but I’m sure nothing close to what the Roosevelt is going to charge me.

  “You never gave a budget, Kirill, and you have five women holed up and planning,” Sonia says, her feathers obviously ruffled.

  “I don’t care about the price, Sonia, but I would like to know how much I am going to pay for one day,” I chuckle.

  “The ballroom, including the food, will probably be around eighty thousand dollars,” she says nonchalantly. I cough and I put my hand over my heart, afraid that it will stop beating.

  “That’s a new car, Sonia,” I scold.

  “It is not. You have a car worth over a million dollars in your garage. Don’t give me any shit, Kirill. You’ve been waiting ten years to marry this woman. She’s the mother of your child and she almost died. She gets everything,” she growls.

  “Okay, okay Sonia. She gets everything. Now, can you also go down to Cartier and buy my krushka a wedding ring? I don’t know if I will be back in time. I know you will find something fitting for the woman who shares my life.”

  “Of course,” she agrees.

  “I’ll call ahead. How about tomorrow morning? I’ll have a man drive you,” I offer.

  Sonia compliments my taste and tells me she’s happy I didn’t chose Tiffany’s. She says although they’re classic, Cartier will have what she’s looking for. It’s as if she’s had this planned.

  I smile to myself after I hang up the phone, thinking about how Sonia will most likely make the salesman piss his pants in fear. She knows what she wants and goes for it, such a strong woman, as she needs to be, being the wife of Pasha.

  “Your wife is a shark,” I offer Pasha as I join him for dinner a few hours later.

  “This I know. What did she do to you?” he asks, taking a sip from his tumbler of vodka.

  “She’s taking control of the wedding planning. I hope this shit with the Cartel pans out. I’m going to need the flow of income to return,” I chuckle as Maxim, Yakov, Radimir and Ziven join our table.

  “She has been wanting to plan a wedding since Maxim and Haleigh were married. It’s killing her that her children won’t settle down,” he says, shaking his head.

  “Well, she’ll have fun tomorrow, then. I am sending her to Cartier to pick out an engagement ring,” I murmur, pouring my own glass of vodka.

  “You do realize you’ve just put yourself in debt, right? Sonia will assuredly pick out the most expensive piece in the store,” Pasha grumbles.

  “As Sonia so reminded me, Tati deserves the best, so money is no object,” I shrug. Pasha chuckles.

  “Spoken like a man in love,” Pasha says.

  Maxim and Radimir grumble their agreements and together we enjoy our meal.

  Tomorrow we will be victorious, but that does not mean that I’m not worried. I am confident, but shit can take quick turns in this line of work. One wrong move, a few seconds of delay could ruin the whole fucking plan. I just hope that we all work as one big team, at least for this mission.

  I finish my dinner and go to bed. We’re all somber and mentally preparing for tomorrow.

  Preparing for war.

  “IT’S LOVELY,” SONIA GUSHES as she hands me the lace dress from the rack.

  It is lovely, classic, and demure. All of these things I haven’t felt in such a long time. I look at the high neck, lace dress hanging from my hand and I just stare at it. Simplistic and elegant. No big flash, no crystals, just a solid white dress with an overlay of lace.

  “You don’t think it’s too… pure?” I ask.

  “Try it on,” she urges. I nod.

  I take the gown into the dressing room and, with the help of the sales girl, I slip it on over my head and let the fabric fall to the ground. The sales girl doesn’t let me look in the mirror until she’s finished primping, clipping, and arranging the dress to fit my frame.

  “Turn around,” she urges. I do, slowly—and I gasp at the sight before me.

  The top of the dress is a boat neck style of sheer lace. The dress is tight and strapless. It goes straight across my breasts and hugs my body all the way down to the ground before coming out in a slight mermaid style, from my knees to the floor.

  The lace is delicate and covers from my neck down to the ground; but the back, that is what has me in awe as I look at the mirrors behind me.

  The dress is completely backless—no lace and no dress in a deep V. Then, from my hips down is the train, it looks like it just floats behind me, all solid lace and completely sheer.

  “It’s beautiful,” I whisper as tears fill my eyes.

  “Do you want to show your friends?” she asks. I nod, unable to speak.

  Slowly, I walk out of the room and toward the waiting area where all of my friends and Kiska are waiting for me. Friends—something I haven’t had a lot of in this lifetime. Kirill has brought so many new and wonderful people in my life. I feel as though my cup runneth over.

  Once I’m situated on the little platform, I look into the mirrors, not at myself but at the people behind me. Kiska, Sonia, Haleigh, Emiliya, Ashley, Alex, and Oliver. They’re all crying, except for Alex, and I know without a doubt that this is my dress.

  I lift my eyes and focus on myself. The dress is more modest in the front, yet there’s a subdue sexiness with the exposed skin beneath the lace.

  Most importantly—I feel gorgeous.

  “Please tell me this is your dress,” Haleigh sobs.

  I smile and look over to Kiska.

  “What do you think, Kiska girl?”

  “I love it. You look like a real princess,” she whispers. I smile.

  “It’s decided then. This is my dress,” I say with a wide smile. Everyone cheers.

  I spend the next hour being measured and pinned inside of the gorgeous dress. Unfortunately, I have to have the floor sample altered and purchase that, as I don’t have time to order a new dress. I don’t mind, though. It’s absolutely stunning, and I can’t wait for Kirill to see me in it.

  I hope he’s as amazed by the white fabric as I am. Though, he probably won’t care until that night, until he can peel the layers away and have me completely bare and to himself—officially his.

  “Let’s lunch and then shop for Kiska and what’s to go under that sexy as sin dress,” Sonia suggests.

  We spend the rest of the day like any other group of friends would—eating a delicious lunch with champagne and dessert. We shop a little more and find a beautiful age appropriate dress for Kiska, it’s a light blue and she says it makes her feel like a fairy.

  Then, our last stop is Agent Provocateur on Rodeo Drive. The lingerie that lines the shelves of the store looks too pretty and delicate to touch, let alone wear on my body.

  “Oh, Tatyana, you have to get this,” Emiliya murmurs from next to me.

  I look over and she’s holding up what looks like some kind of piece of jewelry. It has several thin nude pieces wrapping around in a circle, and then it has gorgeous rose gold chains dipping down and hanging all the way around. I must look confused, because she laughs slightly before she informs me that it is a garter for under my dress. My eyes widen and I can’t stop the smile on my lips.

  “It’s gorgeous,” I murmur.

  “And against your light skin, it’s going to look phenomenal. Kirill, if he’s anything like Radimir, is going to adore it.”

  “He’ll love it,” I admit with a smile.

  We buy some new panties and a garter belt with
thigh highs to wear under the dress, and once we leave the store, I’m afraid Kiska has a new obsession—pretty lingerie. Between Haleigh, Emiliya, Sonia, and I, we pretty much bought one of everything in the entire store.

  “When I’m older, I want to wear all those pretty things,” Kiska murmurs as her cheeks turn red.

  “When you are old enough and ready, Kiska girl, you will defiantly be wearing all of those pretty things for a man that is worthy to see them all,” I say as I take her hand in mine.

  We dine together at our home, and then we all go to bed early. All of the children are tired, and I find that the day has completely exhausted me. My stamina and energy are getting better every day; but by the end of every day, I am completely spent.

  The phone rings as soon as I settled into bed, and I answer it quickly, hoping that it is Kirill. I was so upset when Sonia mentioned that he had called the other day while I was napping. I had been so disappointed that I’d missed his call.

  “Hello,” I murmur.

  “Tati?” the voice on the other line crackles.

  “Kirill,” I breathe.

  For now, he’s safe. He’s breathing and talking, and I can finally breathe easy for another day. I have been so worried, knowing whatever he’s out doing isn’t safe.

  “How are you, moyo zolotse?” he asks, his voice dipping a bit lower.

  “I’m good. Every day I am getting stronger and feeling much better. I found a wedding gown today,” I admit with a smile playing on my lips.

  “You did? That’s wonderful,” he says excitedly.

  “I miss you,” I admit, playing with the sheet that I have pulled up to my waist.

  “And I you, Tati. Very much so. I should be home in just a few days, then we’ll be celebrating our union,” he murmurs.

  “I also bought some lovely things to wear under my wedding gown,” I whisper.

  “Tatyana.” He grunts his warning, which makes me laugh.

  “I love you, Kirill,” I sigh.

  “Say it again for me,” he urges.

  “I love you, Kirill,” I repeat, feeling my heart swell inside of my chest.

  “I love you as well, krushka. Now, get some rest,” he orders. He hangs up the phone before I get the chance to say another word, but I don’t mind.