Feeling more sober, she clenched her fists on her lap. Her heart felt like was about to burst from the confines of her ribcage. She didn’t argue. Why bother? Viktor was going to do as he pleased as always anyway. Besides, he’d done a heroic thing. Sure, she would’ve chewed that guy’s head off if they were alone, but he had friends with him.
“We’re here,” Viktor said.
“What?” She blinked, rubbing her eyes. Had she dozed off in his car? How embarrassing.
“At your apartment. I’ll walk you inside.”
“Huh? It’s perfectly all right.” She opened the car door. There was Viktor, waiting for her on the sidewalk. She frowned at him as he walked next to her. Once inside the elevator, she turned to him. “You don’t need to keep doing this. I won’t talk, okay?”
He blinked, seemingly taken aback by her outburst. “I know you won’t.”
“Then why all this? You didn’t need to accompany me all the way to my apartment. Normal bosses don’t do that.”
He cornered her, resting one hand against the wall. She breathed hard, inhaling his scent. Vodka. Cigarette smoke. Ava caught the faint whiff of his cologne. This man had proven more than once today that he was dangerous. Yet, Ava was still drawn to him like a moth to the flame.
She hated how her traitorous body reacted when Viktor pressed himself closer to her. The points of her nipples tightened. An ache started between her legs. God knew she spent many nights, fantasizing about Viktor taking her over and over again until she was spent.
Viktor kissed her. Ava could have told him no. Insisted he couldn’t do this after making it clear they were only boss and employee. She returned his kiss fiercely, curling her hand over the back of his neck. He thrust his tongue down her throat. Ava rubbed her body shamelessly against him, aware he could easily rip her dress away. If he decided he wanted to fuck her raw and dirty in the elevator, she didn’t think she’d be able to resist him. That was just how little self-control she had when she was with him.
The elevator chimed, telling Ava they’d arrived at her floor. An older couple flashed them looks of mirth as they left the elevator.
“You don’t have the right to kiss me,” she whispered. “After telling me all I was good for was a one-night stand.”
“What if I want more?” he asked.
“Screw what you want.”
“Don’t you feel anything between us? The way you threw yourself at me just now tells me differently.” Viktor flashed her that wolfish grin that easily made her weak in the knees. She thought of unsexy things. Of how Viktor twisted that man’s arm in the club. How Viktor mercilessly beat his own brother because of a simple misunderstanding. Ava got her emotions under control.
“No. It’s over between us. Hell, there’s nothing between us.” She started walking, silently praying to God he wouldn’t follow. She didn’t hear his footsteps. Ava almost expected to feel his big hand on her shoulder while she unlocked her front door. Nothing.
Ava snuck a peek at him and was rewarded by the sight of Viktor’s muscled back entering the elevator. She practically ran inside her apartment so he wouldn’t catch her looking at him with longing. Would it be so awful if she wanted something more as well? A single night was all she had with him. She had barely scratched the surface. Viktor might have a good side as well. He couldn’t be all that bad, right?
Once inside her place, she collapsed on the couch. She had no energy to take off her clothes and shower. Hell, she didn’t even think she could walk to her bed. After everything that had happened today, she felt drained.
Her phone rang. Thinking it was Gina, she automatically answered.
“Ava, I’ve finally managed to catch you,” came her mother’s voice. “I’ve been really worried.”
“Hey, Mom.” Ava was tempted to tell her mom she was beat, that she’d promised to call the next morning. Then thought better of it. Her mom was a worrier and they hadn’t been able to talk since Ava had thrown herself into her new job.
“How’s things at your new workplace? Have you made new friends? Gina mentioned you’re working late nights again. I thought things would be different with your new boss?”
“Wow, Mom, slow down. I didn’t realize you’ve been talking with Gina.”
“Sweetheart, I’m just worried about you. I know you. You’re a workaholic.”
“I’m just sorting the mess the old accountant left behind, but after that, I’ll be pulling normal hours.” Ava still didn’t know what she’d do next.
Pretend like today never happen? Viktor hadn’t been forthcoming about what he did either. What if he was some kind of criminal wanted by the law? If he got caught, every employee who worked for him would also get dragged down. The selfish bastard. She’d let that kiss mess with her head but now? She was downright angry with him.
Ava let her mom continue talking, but she listened with half an ear.
“I was thinking of coming down there for a visit,” her mom finally said. That caught her attention.
Remembering that tense moment in Viktor’s voice, she sucked in a breath. Ava was definitely no longer tired now. Viktor didn’t need to shout. His threat spoke volumes. Hours ago, Ava had been certain he wouldn’t hurt her, but what about those she cared about? Viktor was certainly capable of anything.
He even hurt his own brother to prove a point. Ava had been so stupid. She actually considered giving him a second chance? What would they do? Go out and have a nice dinner, maybe see a movie? Maybe he’d do all that with her, only to beat on some poor sod later that evening.
“Don’t do that!” she blurted.
“Honey, what’s wrong? What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly. “I’m just worn out. That’s all. Now’s not a good time, but how about in a few weeks?”
Her mom paused. “I understand, honey. Just remember, you’re not a machine. You’re not getting any younger either. Gina suggested she can fix you up with someone from work.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “I know everyone at the firm, Mom. All the guys there are pretentious dicks. No thanks. Besides, I’m dating someone.” An outright lie, but she knew how her mom could be when it came to her dating life.
“You are? Why didn’t you mention this earlier?”
“Because it’s so new and I don’t know where it’s going yet.” She felt bad about lying to her mom, but it was the only way to get her mom off her back. “Anyway, I have an early day tomorrow.”
“Oh, sorry about that. It must be late there. Good night, honey.”
“Sweet dreams, Mom.” Ava ended the call and considered her situation. Ava had no choice but to pretend everything was fine. That was the best she could do. Meanwhile, she’d think of a solution to get out of this hole she dug.
Chapter Twelve
“She hasn’t come in yet?” Viktor asked Katya the next morning. They were in his office. Viktor put on his bulletproof vest, then buttoned up a white shirt over it.
Katya shrugged. “After what she witnessed yesterday, I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t call in sick today.”
Viktor clenched his jaw. He didn’t have time for this. Today, he’d be dealing a huge blow to the Mogileviches, so he needed all his wits about him. Ava was a problem he could deal with later, assuming she hadn’t left the city. No, his Ava didn’t strike him as the kind of woman who’d flee at the first sight of trouble.
“Yesterday was a mistake,” Viktor admitted. “But Pavel crossed a line.”
“You know how Pavel is. He likes to joke around,” Katya said. “I’m just going to ask this once, but what’s Ava to you, Viktor?”
“None of your business.” Viktor couldn’t even admit to himself that Ava was someone important to him. A vital chess piece he couldn’t seem to let go.
Katya sighed.
“Will you please talk some sense to her? Convince her that I’m not the villain she imagines me to be?” Viktor seldom asked favors from everyone. Showing weakness equated to a death
sentence in his world, but Katya was like a sister to him. Loyalty was one of her core values. She’d never betray him.
“How in the world will I accomplish such a task?”
This time, he glared at her. “You’re making this unnecessarily difficult. Figure it out. I can’t stay and chat, not when I have an important meeting to attend.”
“Are you sure it’s wise seeing Fernandez without Pavel to back you up?” Katya asked.
Viktor had been tempted to snap at her, to remind her he was the boss, but he saw the worry on her face. Fernandez ran the cartel and he was also the Mogliviches’ biggest supplier.
“That’s why I’m taking two of my most trusted lieutenants with me. Fernandez won’t think to harm me, not when I’m about to give him a better offer.”
“Just be careful, Viktor, and don’t worry about Ava. I’ll make sure she’ll come around.” Katya paused. “She likes you, you know?”
That gave him pause. “Yeah?”
Katya nodded. “Ava isn’t exactly a hard woman to read.”
“I’ll leave it to your hands.” Viktor picked up the gun from his desk and tucked it in his shoulder holster. No doubt Fernandez’s men would demand they surrender their weapons, but it never hurt to be always prepared for the worst. In this line of work, tides could easily shift at a moment’s notice. Viktor put on his jacket, walked around the desk, gave Katya a kiss on the cheek, and then exited his office.
He nearly bumped into Ava outside. Viktor studied her. She looked flustered. Her hair and makeup weren’t done up and he noticed the wrinkles on her dress.
“Viktor,” she said, sounding slightly out of breath. “Good morning. Are you heading out?”
“That’s right. Be good while I’m gone.” Because Viktor was feeling lucky and bold, he cupped her cheek and gave her a kiss. She didn’t squirm away. Ava shut her eyes, kissing him back. Too bad he couldn’t take his time enjoying this moment. Viktor drew away.
“I’ll see you later,” he told her.
“We’ll see,” she whispered.
He didn’t like that answer one bit, but he’d wasted enough time already. Viktor went downstairs. Motya and Yuri waited for him, along with four others. Viktor didn’t need to look under their clothes to know everyone had armed themselves to the teeth.
“Let’s move,” he said.
Motya, Yuri, and Viktor took his car. Yuri volunteered to drive. The others rode in two different cars. His men flanked him back and front as they drove toward the neighborhood controlled by the cartel. Katya’s concerns had been justified. Despite Pavel’s propensity to use his fists first before his brain, Viktor never went anywhere without his brother guarding his back. It felt odd, attending this meeting solo. Then again, Viktor had landed Pavel in the hospital. Pavel had plenty of time to think about his situation. If Viktor was in a good mood after his meeting with Fernandez, he might just pay his brother a visit.
Yuri headed downtown and entered a rundown neighborhood that had seen better days. Graffiti sprayed the walls. Homeless men and women, along with addicts and gang members, littered the streets. Viktor wasn’t worried about their cars being jacked. Only a fool would try to steal from him and the Kotov Bratva. Yuri killed the engine in front of what used to be an old shoe factory.
His men got out first. Motya checked the surroundings before opening the car door for him. Two of Fernandez’s men greeted them at the entrance. Both thugs openly carried mini uzis. The police wouldn’t interfere. Why would they? Their pockets were lined with cash from almost all the gangs and crime families in the cities.
“Viktor Kotov, Fernandez is expecting you,” the goon to the right said. He was in his early forties or late thirties, muscled, and had a shaved head. An ugly and huge facial tattoo dominated most of his face. “You can pick two men to accompany you. The rest will have to stay.”
Viktor expected that. Motya and the others turned to him, and Viktor nodded.
“Motya and Yuri will come with me,” Viktor decided.
“No weapons,” the goon’s partner, a young man barely out of his teens, said.
“Of course,” Viktor said. Yuri, Motya, and Viktor surrendered their guns and knives. Viktor endured being patted down. Once that task was done, they were led inside the busy factory. Fernandez’s busy little bees were hard at work, packaging product on the assembly line. Baldie led them past the factory floor and up a flight of stairs. It didn’t surprise Viktor that Fernandez’s office overlooked the production and packaging area. Baldie gave a knock on the door. According to the intel his men had gathered, Fernandez was a ruthless boss and a shrewd businessman. Fernandez was nothing but efficient.
Baldie knocked on the door. “Boss, Viktor Kotov and his men are here.”
“Bring them in,” came a deep voice.
Baldie opened the door but didn’t linger. He left just as Viktor, Yuri, and Motya entered Fernandez’s office. Two huge and armed men positioned themselves on either side of Fernandez. Fernandez wasn’t taking any risks when it came to this meeting. Fernandez looked fantastic for a man in his sixties. He kept himself in shape. Despite his crown of white hair, shrewd dark-brown eyes stared back at Viktor from a heavily lined face.
“Viktor, I was surprised when you called for this meeting. Pleasantly surprised, of course,” Fernandez said. He rose from his chair and offered Viktor a hand, which Viktor shook. “Anything to drink?”
“Coffee, if you have any,” he said.
“Not vodka? I understand that is your favorite choice of drink.”
“It’s too early to be drinking,” he said. Viktor wouldn’t be surprised if Fernandez had done his research on him. Fernandez nodded to one of his bodyguards, who made Viktor a cup of coffee from the nearby Nespresso machine.
“Milk?” the bodyguard asked him.
Viktor shook his head. Fernandez’s man set it in front of the desk. Viktor picked it up and took a sip, not worried about poison. If Fernandez wanted him dead, the cartel boss could’ve ordered his men to shoot Viktor the moment he exited the car. The coffee tasted bitter. He set it down.
“I won’t waste your time. Let’s talk shop,” Viktor said.
“Right down to business, eh? I heard that about you,” Fernandez said. “Let’s hear the offer.”
Viktor nodded to Yuri, who began to explain the agreement Viktor had come up with the night before. It was a tempting offer, one Fernandez wouldn’t be able to easily dismiss. Viktor had holed himself in his office for several nights, pondering the best way he’d deal with the Mogilevich Bratva. He considered burning down several of their warehouses as retaliation, but that wouldn’t be enough.
Storage facilities could be easily rebuilt. Plus, it would be a waste of his men, time, and resources if it came down to a senseless war. Violence wasn’t the key, at least not yet. Viktor wanted them to really hurt. The best way to do that was to convince their biggest supplier to switch sides. Of course, Viktor had to sweeten the pot and offer Fernandez twice what the Mogileviches were currently paying.
“Of course, working with us would put the cartel on the Mogilevich Bratva’s bad side,” Viktor said once Yuri was done. “But unlike them, the Kotov Bratva respects their allies. It would be mutually beneficial for us to work together.”
“The Mogilevich Bratva are on thin ice with us. Their payments have been coming in late, which is becoming unacceptable,” Fernandez said. The old man impatiently drummed his fingers on the desk. It had only been for a moment, but Viktor caught the brief flash of anger in Fernandez’s eyes. Fernandez met his gaze and said, “But I bet you knew that little fact already.”
“Of course.” Viktor counted on Fernandez’s growing resentment toward the Mogileviches to make this deal happen.
“I’ll need to consider this offer more carefully. Discuss it with my men more. You’ll have our answer in three days,” Fernandez said. “For now, perhaps I can provide you with a sample of our product.”
“There’s no need for that, although I’ll grac
iously accept.” Viktor smiled, showing Fernandez his teeth. “Your product’s top-notch.”
They shook hands once more. Viktor then rejoined the rest of his men outside. Fernandez’s men returned their weapons. After strapping his gun and knives back on, Viktor walked back to his car. As Yuri held out the door, he looked over his shoulder at the old shoe factory. The two bodyguards Fernandez positioned at the doors looked at him passively.
Viktor had been half expecting a Mogilevich assassin to make another attempt on his life again. Nothing. Sweat dribbled down his back. Motya looked at him anxiously and breathed a sigh of relief when Viktor slid inside his car.
“That went well, I think,” Motya said. Yuri started the engine.
“It did. I thought Fernandez would need a little more convincing. He hides it well, but the Mogileviches are pissing him off too.” Viktor chuckled. “Fernandez said three days, but I already know his answer.”
“You’re sure of that, boss?” Motya asked him, scratching his head.
“Absolutely. Agreeing to this meeting in the first place also has its share of risk for Fernandez. It won’t be long before word reaches the Mogileviches about our meeting.”
“That would probably send them into a panic,” Motya said with a chuckle. “There are other suppliers in the city, but they only offer second-rate products.”
“That’s right.” Viktor leaned against his seat, suddenly feeling exhausted.
He shut his eyes and wondered what it would be like to come home to someone at the end of a day like this. Viktor pictured Ava waiting for him in their house. Her sweet face breaking into a smile as she spotted him entering the doors. The heat of her body as she threw herself at him without a second thought. Viktor gritted his teeth.
Was that what he wanted? To make her his woman? To keep her forever? What a tempting thought. He barely knew her, but maybe deep down, he’d already known she was his to keep. Ava might have suspicions about him and the business he conducted, but she didn’t know the truth.
Would it eventually send her running or would she be able to embrace Viktor? All of him? Viktor didn’t think a woman like that ever existed, but Ava wasn’t like most women. She was different. Special. A bright star that far outshone others. Viktor made his decision. She’d already seen a glimpse of his world. A better man would keep a gift like her away from the darkness, but he had never been a good man. He was a greedy one. Viktor wanted to drag her further into his world, just to see if she would float or swim.
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