Obeying the Russian Mafia Boss: A Mob Romance

by Bella Rose

  “Does she know that she’s in danger?”

  “Well, I don’t know, Dina. Someone told her that I’m a killer,” he said icily.

  “I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I just don’t know why you hired her. I was just trying to protect you.”

  Erik was still upset, but he couldn’t fault the woman for trying to keep him safe. “We’ll deal with this later. She knows that something is going on because I told her to stay in her room. Make sure that happens, and do not let anyone near her room.”

  “Do you care for her?” Dina asked softly.

  “Don’t be stupid,” Erik snapped. “She has connections in the city. If she dies, someone will notice, and the whole police force will be on my head. We’ll be done before we even get started.”

  Before she could press the issue, he hung up and made another call. If Yashin was still in the city, he needed to know. When the staff confirmed that Yashin was at his home in Vegas, Erik hung up. “Matvei, keep me updated. I’m going to be gone for a couple days.”

  “Where are you going, boss?”

  “Las Vegas.”

  Erik didn’t take anyone with him. He told his driver that they needed extra eyes on the house and drove to Sin City on his own. He pushed the speed limit and got there in just over four hours. Yashin would have had plenty of time to kill Leonid and get back to Vegas, but Erik was hoping that if it was Yashin, he would have stayed in San Diego to watch the fallout.

  The first thing he’d done when he’d moved from Russia was familiarize himself with Yashin’s territory. It was partly to understand the expansion of his organization if he married Valeria and partly in case Yashin became an enemy. Despite not having spent much time in the city, he had no problem navigating.

  Located at the back of the Spanish Trail, Yashin’s estate stood out even among the other mansions in the wealthy gated community. Erik didn’t even blink an eye as he lowered window at security and announced himself.

  The underpaid guard called the Yashin estate and waved Erik through. Obviously Yashin wasn’t worried.

  It took more than a few minutes to navigate past the wealthy homes that sprawled out on thousands of acres. Erik had to endure a secondary gate and guard, but this one wasn’t a run of the mill rent-a-cop. He packed some serious heat in his holster, and his eyes gleamed with violence.

  “Go on back, Mr. Chesnovak. Mr. Yashin is excited to speak with you.”

  It was going to be an interesting conversation.

  Erik parked in the paved roundabout and tossed his keys to the man at the steps. Four armed guards waited for him at the steps.

  “Four? Seems like overkill,” he murmured as he walked up to them. “I’m not armed.”

  “We’re your welcoming committee,” one man said with a horrific smile. His teeth were yellow and crooked. Erik didn’t know what Yashin was paying his men, but he certainly wasn’t offering them a dental plan.

  “Consider me welcomed,” Erik said as he wrinkled his nose. The guards opened the door and escorted him through. Yashin waited for him at the top of the grand steps and spread his arms open.

  “Erik Chesnovak, in the flesh. I’m honored. Just why would the man who turned down my very generous offer drive all this way to visit me? Unless you’ve changed your mind.”

  In a split-second decision, Erik chose not to tell Yashin about Leonid’s death. “No. I won’t be changing my mind, but I am here to test the waters. I’m hoping we can still find peace.”

  Yashin slowly walked down the stairs. A man in his fifties, he was still fit and healthy. The years of Vegas sun looked good on him. He was tan and handsome. Erik knew the man probably fit right in with the wealthy Vegas tycoons and the show girls more than happy to make an extra buck.

  “Perhaps we should have this conversation some place more private,” Yashin said when he approached Erik. The older man led him down the hall into a room surrounded by glass. The view from the home was spectacular, and Erik told him so.

  “It is nice, isn’t it?” Yashin asked as he opened a mini bar and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. “I have to admit that I’m getting tired of the city. It’s almost too easy, and it would be nice to be a little closer to the ocean.”

  The pointed remark wasn’t lost on Erik, but he didn’t react to the man’s threat. “I hope your daughter wasn’t offended by my words this morning, but I wasn’t pleased with her surprise visit or the way she treated my staff.” He accepted the drink and slowly sipped it while he kept an eye on Yashin. The man was hard to read.

  “Valeria is headstrong. I’m quite proud of that. I wanted a son, but I’m pleased that I have a daughter that no man can push around. Having said that, I am not happy with the way you treated her this morning. I believe you broke her heart.”

  They both knew that Valeria had a heart of ice, but Erik didn’t comment on it. “You promised me time to get my operations off the ground, and she demanded an answer right away. I have to trust that any future partners of mine will follow orders.”

  “I can stand behind that,” Yashin said as he slowly approached the window. “She has yet to learn the virtue of patience. I’m sure we can still come to some sort of arrangement. Your father assured me when you moved here that we could coexist peacefully.”

  “I’m all ears,” Erik said carefully.

  “In most cases, when a wedding is called off, the parents of the bride would demand some sort of cash restitution. Down payments for wedding venues, caterers, entertainment, and the dress are not cheap. Only the best would do for my daughter.”

  Erik narrowed his eyes. “Are you telling me that you already paid for a wedding that I hadn’t agreed to?”

  “Of course not,” Yashin said with a wave of his hand. He gave Erik an easy smile. “I’m just letting you know how I would traditionally deal with this situation.”

  Setting the empty whiskey glass back down, Erik crossed his arms. “I suppose you’re going to inform me of how you intend to untraditionally deal with the situation?”

  Yashin smiled. “I think it would be best for all parties if we just stick with the traditional route. I’m sure we can find a way for all of this to work if you give me the deed to the Black Orchid.”

  Erik kept his face still, but the anger rose inside him. He had a feeling there was more to this than met the eye. “And why would you want my club? It’s barely established.”

  “I don’t really want your club as much as I want your clientele. My daughter has taking a liking to San Diego, and having a judge, police commissioner, and state senator in my pocket would ease the transition quite nicely. I’m quite impressed with your operation and how quickly you’ve gotten it off the ground.” Chuckling, Yashin pulled his phone out of his pocket and turned it so Erik could see the screen. He swiped through to show Erik the surveillance photos. “Your women are beautiful. I’m sure they’d do an excellent job of satisfying me.”

  Erik cocked head. “You know, Yashin, I came here willing to offer you several million dollars as a settlement. I’m sure Valeria could have found something productive to do with the money. Threatening the safety of my employees was not a good move on your part.”

  “The safety of your employees?” Yashin echoed with raised eyebrows. “I would treat your women with the utmost respect. Damaged women don’t bring in money.”

  Erik knew of Yashin’s reputation with women in Russia. He took what he wanted, and he imprisoned them with threats against their family. There were at least thirteen women at his estate at all times, and even though the bruises didn’t show, there were rumors that he ripped their souls away. Erik might have been a criminal, but he would protect his employees until the very end.

  “I’ll need to think about it,” Erik said softly. “You gave me at least until the end of the spending quarter to make up my mind about the proposal. I trust that you’ll give me that length of time to consider your offer.”

  Yashin pursed his lips and studied him.
Erik knew the man didn’t actually believe that Erik would hand over the club, but he would play along. It would be rude not to.

  “That seems fair. I’ll contact you at the end of the month to see the progress of the club.”

  “Does this mean that you’ll have a tighter leash around your daughter?” Erik said nastily. “My security won’t be so nice next time she tries to break in.”

  Yashin’s lips curled in disgust. “Do not ever compare my daughter to that of a dog, or I’ll take more than your club.”

  Erik didn’t apologize, and the men eyed each other. Finally, Yashin relaxed his shoulders and smiled.

  “It was good that we had this conversation, Erik. I like that you came to me. It shows that you are a man of honor and respect. I look forward to burying the hatchet between us. I hope you’ll stay and enjoy my city for a few days. I’d be more than happy to provide you with entertainment. I have several delicious women on my payroll and high rollers just waiting to lose their money.”

  It was a challenge. Yashin wanted to see if Erik was man enough to stay in the city unchaperoned. If Erik ran back home, he would look like a coward.

  “I’ll take you up on that offer,” Erik said quietly. “Maybe you’ll join me at the tables.”

  Yashin chuckled and nodded his head. “Oh, yes. I do like you. I’ll have my men escort you out, and there will be a very nice room waiting for you at the MGM Grand. Enjoy yourself, Erik.”

  Erik didn’t even flinch as he turned his back. Yashin might break his word, but he wasn’t one to shoot a man in the back. Especially if it was a man that he liked. Erik would spend the next twenty-four hours in Vegas, and then he would go home and figure out a way out of the hole he’d dug for himself.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sitting cross-legged in the middle of the bed, Ella stared at the phone in her hands. She’d spent yesterday afternoon and all night in her room as Erik had asked. Dina brought her some food, but she didn’t have any appetite. An armed guard stood outside her door. It was already noon, and she hadn’t heard anything from Erik.

  When she’d called her mother yesterday, Heather had been in the middle of getting a few more tests done. She’d wanted to call this morning, but she didn’t trust her emotions to have a conversation without crying. Too much time had passed, and if she waited much longer to call, her mother would know that something was up.

  Taking a deep breath, she dialed the number to her mother’s room.

  One hundred and twenty-eight plus one hundred and twenty-eight is….two fifty…eight, no. Two hundred fifty-six. Two hundred fifty-six plus two hundred fifty-six was four hundred…five hundred twelve.

  “Ella!” Her mother sounded strong and happy. “How are you, darling? How’s the job? How’s the delicious boss?”

  “Mom!” Ella said. She could help but smile. “I tried to call you yesterday, but you were too busy flirting with the nurses. I’m so happy about this surgery. I think our luck is finally turning around.”

  “I know, baby. I’m sorry about all that stuff I said earlier. It’s been hard for me with your father gone, but you are my light, and I’m going to fight to stay here with you for as long as I can. But that money that you make is going to go to your future. Do you understand me? This is my surgery and my debt.”

  Ella was not going to have this conversation. “I thought you wanted to hear about my delicious boss.”

  “Oh, I do. Give me all the details!”

  Chuckling, Ella twisted the sheets between her fingers. “I don’t know what to think about him. I’m not sure he’s a good man.”

  “You would not be the first woman to be attracted to a bad boy, Ella. I’ve already told you. You have to trust your instincts.”

  “I’m not sure my instincts have my best interests at heart.” Her mind told her to run, but her body told her to strip down naked and make all her fantasies come true.

  “Don’t think so much, Ella. Have a little fun,” her mother said teasingly.

  “I’m not sure when I’ll get there next to see you, Mom, but I promise that I’ll call you tomorrow.” If only her mother knew. There was a knock at the door, and Ella quickly said goodbye and hung up the phone. With her heart in her throat, she slowly moved to the door. “Who is it?” she asked softly.

  “It’s me,” Dina said. “I have your lunch, and I’m not leaving until you eat it.”

  Cautiously, Ella opened the door and peered out. The other maid stood in the hall with a tray of food and an impatient look on her face. Widening the opening, Ella glanced at the guard. It wasn’t the same one who was there earlier.

  “I’m really not hungry,” Ella said, but Dina pushed in without listening.

  “You are already too thin. If Erik comes back and you are wasting away, he’ll have my head.” She sat the tray down and opened the lid. “Look, grilled cheese and chips. Zoya almost cried when she made it, but it’s an American classic, and I’m not leaving until you eat it.”

  Ella grabbed the bag of chips and sat back down on her bed. “Have you heard from him?”

  Dina gave her a disgusted look. “You’re eating a bag of greasy, crumbling chips in the middle of your bed. How have you passed yourself off as a maid all this time?”

  “All the rooms that I have to clean are already clean,” Ella said with a shrug. “Have you heard from Erik? Can I leave my room?”

  “Mr. Chesnovak,” Dina stressed, “hasn’t contacted me. Ella, you can’t keep walking around calling him Erik. You already stand out too much as it is. If you want people to think that you’re just a maid, you’re going to have to act like just a maid.”

  “I am just a maid,” Ella snapped. “If I’m not safe in the house, why can’t I leave the house?”

  “Because there are armed guards in the house.”

  “Right,” she muttered. “Like I trust those. What if something happened to him? What if he never comes back?”

  “Would you quit panicking,” Dina muttered. “Eat your damn sandwich.” As she turned her head, Ella saw the woman quickly wipe her eyes with her hand. Feeling like a real heel, Ella lowered her bag of chips and slid off the bed.

  “Was the man who died a friend of yours?” she asked quietly as she picked up the sandwich.

  “I grew up with Leonid, but we weren’t close. He was always…what do you say? An asshole. But I would have never wanted him dead. He was always loyal to Mr. Chesnovak, and if the other men got too rough around me, he always stepped in. He and Matvei were close, and well, I like Matvei. I haven’t heard from him.”

  “I’m sure he and Erik are just fine. I mean, Mr. Chesnovak.” Ella reached out and touched the woman’s arm. “I know we’re not friends, but if you want to talk, I’m not going anywhere.”

  Dina snarled and moved away. “Eat your damn lunch. I’ll be back tonight with your dinner.” Ella opened her mouth to argue, but the woman stomped out of the room and slammed the door shut.

  “So much for company,” Ella muttered as she put the sandwich down. “How the hell do Russians makes friends with each other if they don’t want to talk?”

  She moved back to the window and moved the curtain aside. There was no sign of Erik, and there was no sign that she was ever going to leave this house.

  It was pitch black when Ella’s eyes flew open. Although she couldn’t hear anything in the room, she knew that something had woken her up. As her pulse spiked, she tried desperately to even her breathing and listen.

  The mattress dipped to the left, and Ella gasped and whirled around. Striking blindly with her fist, she jolted up in bed, but something pinned her arms down and forced her down in the mattress. She opened her mouth to scream, but lips descended on her and swallowed her fear.

  Her muscles tensed, but she recognized those lips. “Erik?” she whispered as he pulled away.

  “Were you expecting someone else in your bed?” he asked darkly. His thumb dipped gently into the hollow of her throat, and
she blinked. Slowly, her eyes adjusted to the darkness. His beautiful eyes stared down at her.

  “I wasn’t expecting anyone in my bed,” she whispered. “Where the hell have you been?”

  “Blowing off some steam in Vegas. I had a complimentary suite on the penthouse floor, all the booze I could drink, and more than one woman wanting to warm my bed.”

  Ella gritted her teeth and jerked against him, but he didn’t budge. “I’m glad you’ve had such a good time while I’ve been locked away in my room. If you enjoyed so many women last night, I’m sure you’ll be more than happy to retire to your own bed and get some sleep.”

  Chuckling softly, Erik rolled on top of her and used his knees to force her legs apart. There was no fear inside her. Only anger and desire. She could tell he was naked, and she desperately wanted to touch him, but her wrists were still locked in the palm of his hand. “When I sat down at the bar, a beautiful woman straddled me and told me that I could do whatever I wanted with her. When I walked back up to my suite, there were two naked women enjoying themselves in my bed.”

  Jealousy surged within her, and she turned her head. “I don’t want to hear this,” she muttered.

  “Why not?” he whispered as he licked her earlobe. “Did you miss me while I was gone, Ella?”

  “Do you care?”

  “I missed you. The soft silkiness of your skin. The smell of your hair. The way you bite your bottom lip. Do you do that when you want me, Ella? Do you do that when you’re thinking of pressing your body against mine?”

  Ella tried to push the images out of her head and struggled against his grasp. “Why are you doing this? What do you want?”

  His hand slid up her bare leg and pushed aside the fabric of her panties. Before she could twist away, he shoved his finger roughly inside her. “I want you to feel just as tormented as me. I had the sexiest women at my disposal, and I didn’t even touch them, and it’s all your damn fault. Trust me when I tell you that I’ve made it very clear that if anyone interrupts me tonight, I will kill them.”