Indulgence: A Russian Mafia Romance (Grekov Mafia Book 1)
Page 5
When we made it to the street, Nikola swept me into his arms, pulling me against his rock hard body and planting a dizzying kiss on my lips that left me drunk with a desire so strong I could barely stand up. If it weren’t for his embrace, I would have surely fell to my knees before him. Not that he would have minded.
On our way to the car waiting a couple of spaces down the street, we passed a homeless man sitting near the mouth of an alley. Nikola shifted away from me, leaving me standing by his car and the scar-faced driver as he fumbled in his jacket. Pulling out what appeared to be a wad of bills, he squatted before the elderly man and placed them in his hand. They spoke in hushed tones for a few minutes as I watched in curiosity. The old man nodded a few times and spoke to Nikola. I was stunned by the Russian mobster giving money to the man.
Everything I had read about Nikola showed a dangerous man with no mercy, but what I had just witnessed proved there was more to this man than met the eye. While I found the dark side of him disturbing on many levels, this new side of him was a side I found sexy and appealing. Who in their right mind would want to knowingly be with a murderer or a drug dealer? Not me. At least I thought I wouldn’t, but there was something about Nikola that I was attracted to in a purely physical way.
The sexual attraction was undeniable, and I knew that for a fact because I had tried to ignore the chemistry between us, but I couldn’t help how he made me feel. Of course, there could never be anything serious between us. He was a mobster. I was DEA. Eventually, he’d learn my secret. Hopefully he wouldn’t learn it until the handcuffs were put on him but it was inevitable that the truth would eventually come out, and that would change everything, regardless of sexual chemistry.
Nikola was a gentleman the entire night, showing that softer side I really didn’t expect from someone so deep in the mafia lifestyle. It was shocking, to say the very least. He helped me into the car, as he had earlier in the evening. As he settled in the seat next to me, lacing his fingers through mine, he brought my hand to his lips for a soft kiss on each of my fingertips. As much as I wanted to hate the feel of his lips on my skin, the touch of his hand on my body, I just couldn’t. No man had ever made my body buzz this way. It was a heady feeling that could only be compared to the rush an adrenaline junky felt when they skydived or bungee-jumped. I wanted more of whatever this was between us, for ever how long it was to last, before I was thrust back into my boring, sexless life of bad dates and even worse lovers.
“I’ve had such a wonderful time tonight, Nikola,” I said, surprised because it was actually the truth. “Thank you.”
“It’s been a while since I have enjoyed the company of a woman. And never one as enchanting and real as you, RAdost’ moyA.”
“I have a hard time believing you would have difficulty finding a woman. But thank you. What does that mean?”
“It is a Russian endearment. It means my joy.”
“That is very sweet. I like it.” I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
The drive back across New York to my tiny apartment was fairly quiet. Nikola received a few business calls. I looked out the window, acting as though I understood nothing being said, even though I understood every word he spoke. The driver watched me through the rear view mirror as if to say he didn’t trust me in the slightest, and he was right to have that feeling. I would have to make it a point to gain his trust in order to lessen his watching my every move in the coming days… or weeks, if it went that far. Trust was very important, not only between me and Nikola, but the people close to him as well, if I were to succeed in getting the information needed to shut down the Grekov operation.
“Ivan, wait here,” Nikola instructed as we pulled to a stop outside my building. “Keep the car running. I won’t be long.”
I could see the lights burning brightly and the curtain shift in the apartment next door to mine. I knew who it was and shrugged it off. Ivan, on the other hand, followed my eyes to the window and looked back at me with a glare that sent a chill down my spine.
“You don’t have to walk me up, Nikola.”
“I will see you to your door. It is the way things are done, is it not?”
I only nodded in understanding as he placed his hand at the small of my back and gently led me to the building. He had me there. That was the appropriate thing to do, but rarely – if ever – had a man done so with me. I smiled as he opened the door to my building and escorted me inside. A girl could get used to being treated like this.
As we neared my door, I wondered if he would kiss me goodnight but it didn’t take long to figure out the answer. Pulling my keys from my clutch, I turned to face him, barely having opened my mouth to thank him again for a wonderful evening when he pressed me against my door. His lips sought mine in a passionate kiss that spoke of more than a single date; it told a story of wanton lust and desire so strong that a battle between right and wrong was now underway within me.
I could feel my control slipping as his tongue danced with mine, his fingers digging into the soft skin of my curvy hips. I moaned against his mouth as a deep growl reverberated from within his chest. My body was on fire, my hips brushing against his, the feel of his engorged cock pressing like granite into my stomach. I craved him and when he broke the kiss, I could see he too was losing control, his silver eyes hazy with a mixture of lust and danger.
“Would you like to come in? Have a drink with me.” I asked, running my nails over the well-defined muscles of his chest.
For a moment his eyes closed, relishing in the feel of my nails digging into his skin. I could see the enjoyment on his face. His chest rose and fell faster the closer my nails got to his cock. I wanted more than anything to drop to my knees, but I couldn’t allow myself to do that. Not here in the open for anyone to see. I fought the urge and won… but only barely.
“I can’t tonight. I will see you again though, very soon.” Nikola ran his thumb along my jaw and gently kissed me. “Goodnight.”
“Good... night,” I replied, stunned that he had turned me down. And then he was gone.
CHAPTER TEN
Nikola didn’t stop by or send for me the next two days, but he did let me know that I was on his mind. Several gorgeous bouquets of flowers arrived; the first to let me know he looked forward to seeing me again with two dozen of the most exquisite yellow roses, the second a dozen of the most unusually colored blue roses as an apology for not being able to see me that evening. I had to check the Internet for the meaning of a blue rose and was thrilled to discover it meant he couldn’t stop thinking of me. The next day, another bouquet of apology roses. This time it was a mixed batch of the most colorful roses I’d ever seen. My apartment was beginning to look like a garden had exploded in it.
I was beginning to wonder if I’d actually be able to see him again when Ivan, his driver, showed up. He filled my doorway like a gladiator, standing over six feet tall and freakishly large. His size, combined with how he had glared at me before, made me very uncomfortable.
“The boss would like to see you tonight,” he barked out, his tone one that I cared little for.
“Just a minute and I’ll change. Where will we be going?”
“A club. The Desire Club,” he ground out, his voice laced with disgust. I didn’t know if it was disgust with me or the place we were going to but I didn’t care. Nikola wanted to see me. That was all that mattered.
I rushed into my bedroom and stripped out of my jeans and t-shirt, trading them for a knee-length black dress with a slit up my left thigh that hugged my curvy hips, perfectly paired with black heels. The plunging v-neck design provided an ample view of my full breasts. It was sure to please Nikola and keep him interested in me. I looked good enough to eat. Hopefully, he’d feel the same way.
“I’m ready, Ivan. Shall we?” The big man hadn’t moved from where I left him, which I found rather puzzling. The man was odd. I didn’t trust him.
The Desire Club was a decent distance from my apartment, so as opposed to a painful
ly silent drive, I decided to attempt to make friends with Ivan. I needed him to be more at ease around me, and maybe – just maybe – let something slip in my favor.
“How long have you been working for Nikola?” I asked, watching Ivan’s eyes in the rear-view mirror.
“Years. His family has done much for me.”
“They must be very nice people. Good employers, I mean.”
“I owe them very much.” His eyes met mine in the mirror for just a second. “You are not like his other women.”
“Thanks, I guess. What do you mean exactly?”
“You are an innocent. Not... not tainted.” he said, keeping his eyes on the road.
“You don’t think I should see Nikola.” It wasn’t a question.
“It doesn’t matter what I think. I am only the driver.”
What I had initially thought to be distrust was clearly a concern for me. Ivan viewed me as an innocent and knew what I was getting involved in, even if he couldn’t outright warn me of the danger I was facing. What he didn’t know was that I already knew exactly how dangerous this could be. Ivan seemed to have a kind heart, albeit painted in the darker shades of the mafia world. I was certain that he could, at some point, be beneficial to me. From now on, every chance I got to work on softening him up towards me would be used wisely.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ivan pulled into the packed parking lot of Desire. From the looks of the patrons heading inside, it was hard to tell if it was a gentleman’s club or something else entirely. Ivan graciously helped me out of the car and led me inside, staying by my side as we made our way through the room. Desire wasn’t exactly a gentleman’s club in the typical sense… but close, in my opinion.
There were a dozen stages spread out around the room, each one displaying dancers in various stages of undress depicting different Kama Sutra poses. I’d never seen anything like it before. It was incredibly erotic. On one stage there was a couple, a man and woman, bodies glistening with sweat and sparkling with body glitter. I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. They were suspended from the ceiling with wide velvet ropes; the man on bottom, the woman on top, in what most called the sixty-nine position.
I gasped as the blonde-haired woman skillfully took the man’s engorged cock into the depths of her mouth. The dark-haired man’s head fell back as she sucked his cock so very thoroughly it made my pussy ache with want. Then, his tongue lashed out, flicking along her moistened pussy, driving the blonde wild, her body convulsing with immense pleasure as her orgasm took her over the edge. I whimpered at the sight of them, wanting to feel that overwhelming pleasure for myself.
Glancing quickly around the room, I noticed I wasn’t the only one transfixed by the enticing displays that were provoking the animal nature within all of us. I was rather surprised the throngs of men and women in the audience could keep their shit together because I was hanging on by a thread; a very fucking thin one. It was then that I felt a large hand grasp my arm. Ivan didn’t say a word as he pulled me the rest of the way through the room to a dark corner where Nikola awaited.
“RAdost’ moyA.” Nikola stood from the table and pulled me against him. The group of men at the table – some I recognized, others I didn’t – stared at me with hungry eyes as Nikola whispered into my ear. “You look ravishing tonight. Have you been thinking of me?”
As much as I hated admitting it, I couldn’t stop the words from escaping my lips. “I have.” I stepped back from him. “I wore this for you. Do you like it?” His eyes roamed over my body, taking in the ample cleavage on display, licking his lips as his gaze roamed farther down. Taking my hand, he helped me into the seat beside him at the table, pulling me close to him. The men at the table sat in silence, their faces emotionless and cold, lips pressed into hard lines, masking their thoughts from the man beside me. A waitress in a skimpy little skirt that barely covered her ass approached, carrying a tray of drinks. She quietly delivered each of the drinks around the table.
“Would the lady care for a drink tonight?” the young woman asked, hesitation alive in every word.
Nikola spoke up before I had a chance to open my mouth. “The lady will have Purity, chilled. Keep them coming. I do not wish for her to be without for a second.”
The girl nodded and darted away to the bar. Nikola snaked his arm around me, keeping me close to him as he began to speak in Russian to the men. I kept my eyes averted to the goings-on in the club, listening to every word. My understanding of the language was pretty good, but listening to this heated conversation and trying desperately to catch every word as the men spoke over each other was difficult. When the Purity Nikola had ordered arrived, I thought it best to nurse the drink but Nikola tsk’d me so I downed the first few shots with a smile. That appeared to make him happy.
Nikola and the group of men argued back and forth about how they should handle a threat to their territory but I couldn’t figure out exactly who the threat was. Either they were speaking in code or they saw no need to name the threat out loud. Either way, I had nothing to go on there... yet. As the men continued the meeting, I realized the men before me were brigadiers, their sole purpose to lead smaller groups of the Grekov organization around the city. They were all worried about their territory being infringed upon.
“Nikola we must make a move,” said a man named Alik with a heavy Russian accent. “The Russo family must know we will not let them take what is not theirs without retaliation.”
Nikola nodded, seeming to think for a beat before responding. The other men were nodding harshly, obviously very strongly in agreement with Alik.
“The boss would agree but before we make a move we must consider all options. Acting in any way would cause a war. Are you ready for that?” Nikola asked, his eyes alight with a cold frustration that spoke of the intensity of the situation at hand.
Alik and the other men answered in almost complete unison. “Da! We are ready for what comes.”
“Then prepare your men and I will speak to Konstantine,” Nikola said. “As with all things, he makes the final call.”
Heads nodded all around, my body tensing up with the knowledge that war was coming to New York and little could be done to stop it. The group of men shook hands and left, paying no mind to me or the goings-on in the club. I wasn’t surprised by that. They had plenty to deal with, it seemed, and I had finally received my first bit of evidence to bring down the Grekovs. It may not be drug-related but it was a start, and that, in my opinion, was better than nothing.
Sitting beside Nikola, I watched him out the corner of my eye while drinking yet another shot of Vodka. The conversation with the captains of the five boroughs had obviously not gone the way he had intended. He pulled his phone from his jacket pocket and made a call. I listened carefully to the one-sided conversation as Nikola spoke heatedly in Russian to his father. Nikola informed him of the Russo territory infringement and the concerns of the captains. The consensus, from what I gathered, was that they must send a message to the Italians. I hadn’t done any research on the Italian mafia so I still didn’t know exactly what was going on, but his conversation had provided a few more pieces to the puzzle. My assignment just got more interesting.
Nikola stood, straightening his suit before turning to me. I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, much like the day the agents had been killed. Considering the Russians were having problems with the Italian mafia, and hearing it first-hand, could be the reason for the worry, but I felt it was much more than that. Before I could continue my morbid thoughts Nikola helped me up, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me against him. His lips crashed down on mine, making my knees weak. When we finally broke apart, we were panting like teenagers in the back seat of a car on prom night.
“Come home with me.”
“O... Okay.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
With Corsica on his arm, Nikola stepped into the cool night air. He wasn’t sure what it was about this woman that had him acting like a young boy, but it
felt good. Ivan had been right in his assessment of the woman. She was nothing like the company he usually kept. Maybe her innocence was what he found so appealing. The women he shared his bed with knew who he was and what he did for a living were whores after all, preferring his wealth and power over all else. There was no love involved and that was how Nikola liked it. He didn’t have time for that. The Bratva was no place for love. He knew that very well, having watched his mother get killed by a rival family just to get to his father. He had learned the hard way that when it came to the Bratva, the Bratva was the only family a man needed. Women had no place in this life. They were a weakness that could be exploited.
A car suddenly barreled through the parking lot of Desire, tires screeching, snapping Nikola’s attention from the woman by his side. Ivan jerked him to the ground so quickly that Corsica slipped from his grasp. He watched in horror as a hailstorm of bullets rang out, shattering windows all around Corsica as she stood frozen, screaming bloody murder. Nikola had just made it to his knees, screaming her name, when her body lurched backwards. She hit the ground, eyes wide with fear and torturous pain as he scrambled to her side. Right away, he noticed she had been shot in the stomach, blood already soaked through her dress. Lifting her into his arms, he shouted for Ivan, who appeared by his side instantly. “Call the doctor. Have him meet us at my place. NOW!”
Cradling Corsica in his arms, Nikola placed her in the car, keeping pressure on the wound as Ivan tore out of the parking lot. They raced to the apartment, Ivan swerving around other cars and running through red lights, but time seemed to stand still as he listened to Corsica moan in pure agony.
“I d... don’t want to d... die,” she gasped, lifting a hand to his face. The softness of her voice, laced with fear, cut him like a knife. He was responsible for this. He was to blame; him and him alone. He knew it was the Italians gunning for him, not caring one way or another who went down in the process, but they would pay for this. Corsica was an innocent and he... he was not. He was the devil who would see each and every one of them die.