Ira could feel his burning gaze on her, and she sucked in its warmth. She let herself soak into it like she was soaking in the sweet morning sunlight. This thing they were having between each other was beautiful, so beautiful that it brought tears to her eyes. But this was a happy moment and she did not want to ruin it by shedding tears over it.
She glanced at him and a question kept burning in her head, a question that had been haunting her from the day she first met him. “Victor, can I ask you something?” his heart nearly stopped beating the minute his name rolled out of her mouth. This was the first time she had called him by his name and it had sounded like music to his ears.
“Yes, my love,” he replied, barely able to mask his smile.
She closed her eyes and sucked in a calming breath she had to do this for her own sake. “Why did you kill that man that night?” she asked and his body grew stiff for a minute. He was surprised by her question but he did expect it to pop sooner or later. He took a deep calming breath and let it out.
“He was a mole in my organization and he cost me the life of a dear friend and millions worth shipments.” he put his hand on hers and gave it a gentle squeeze, “You know what I do and you know in my line of work bloodshed is a common thing. But I promise you my darkness won’t taint your shine. I’ll keep you high up in the pedestal where you will be worshipped. I will never hurt you nor will I let anybody else hurt you.”
She took his hand in hers and brought it to her lips. He sucked in a breath as her warmth pressed over his hand. A sense of acceptance washed over him and he knew that she had just accepted him for what he was, a monster, a beast.
He parked the car on the side of her building and killed the engine. He stepped out of the car and walked up to her door and held it open for her. She hesitantly stepped out of the car and he closed the door behind her. He put his hands on her sides and leaned into her pinning her back against his car. “Won’t you invite me to your apartment, angel?” he asked her softly and she nodded with a cheeky smile.
She took his hand and led him into the creepy looking apartment building that looked even worse from inside than outside and he had this urge to get her stuff packed and move her to his penthouse right away. In that way, she would be close to him all the time. The thought sounded fascinating but it was still too early for its execution.
So he put the thought on hold for now.
He’ll move her out of here soon but first, he wanted their relationship to grow a little more or at least once he takes her to bed. He knew that he wouldn't be able to stay away from her once he had had her. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and drew his attention back to her. She was unlocking her door and he took the time to stare at her perfect ass. Gosh every inch of her was made for sex and he could barely hold himself from whisking her away and ravishing her.
She held the door open for him and he stepped inside the shoebox-sized apartment which looked as empty as a box. There was hardly any furniture and the tiny kitchen was barely enough to cook anything decent. Anger flashed in his eyes and he balled his fists.
“Why on earth are you living in a dump like this?” he demanded, completely unaware of the embarrassment he was causing her. He turned to her and his heart sank, crap did he just humiliate her? He stepped closer to her and tried to touch her but she took a step back. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she burst into tears.
“You think I’m here by choice? There is nowhere else I can live but here. I send 80% of my earnings home and I’m left with barely anything in hand. This place is my sanctuary, at least it’s better than living off the streets and..” he silenced her by smashing his lips on her’s. He kissed her hard and rough and yet she did not whimper in his arms.
She parted her lips welcoming him into her and he took it like a thirsty traveller who was just given a sip of water. Her lips were soft and delicate like rose petals, and she tasted so sweet that he had completely lost himself in her. He brought his hand to her face and gently tilted her chin. His lips released hers and started trailing feather-like kisses across her jaw and her neck.
A soft moan escaped her lips and he growled in appreciation. His hands moved to the side of her waist and rested on the curves of her hips. He cupped her bottoms and a gasp escaped her lips. He pressed her against his growing erection and she let out a soft moan. He wanted her, right here right now but he had to stop.
She’s most likely a virgin and he’s way too aroused to be gentle to her. Plus he didn’t want to have their first time in a dump like this. He had to stop for her sake. He pulled away abruptly leaving her wanting and breathy, her eyes shot open and she watched him with wide disappointed eyes.
“Did I do something wrong?” She asked him, her voice barely a whisper. His heart sank at her innocence and he moved closer to her, gently cupping her face in his hands, “No angel, you are perfect. When the time comes I will claim you, all of you, but for now you should get some rest?” she hesitated for a moment but nodded in response.
“Good night, Angel.” he gives her one last look and then storms out like the place was on fire. He didn’t dare look back or slow down on his tracks until he reached his car fearing his arousal would take control over his senses and he would go back to her and claim her then and there.
He drove back to the club feeling like shit; he had never felt this frustrated in his entire life. All of this for one girl, his girl; nobody had ever made him feel this way and a part of him did not like it. He was getting way too involved with this girl and he knew that sooner or later this would come backbiting his ass. She would become an easy target for his enemies.
But he no longer had the strength to stay away from her and deep down he knew that she felt the same too, then what the fuck was the problem? The problem was she was not designed for his kind of life. One does not bring an angel into hell but she was already way too involved with him and he knew that she was ready to take a step forward.
He drove into the underground parking lot of his club which was exclusively meant for his cars. He pulled into his usual spot and killed the engine. He stepped out of the car and rushed to the elevator that was exclusively meant for him. He hated getting involved with the guests in the club and this was his way of maintaining his privacy.
He stepped out of the car and hurried into the waiting elevator and headed straight to his penthouse. He had barely stepped out of the elevator when he found Kevin waiting for him in the living room. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be down at the club?” he demanded him without bothering to hide his annoyance.
Kevin raised a perfectly arched eyebrow at him as he pushed himself out of the couch and walked up to him. He had been waiting for him for a very long time and after what had happened earlier he was not going to let him go without an explanation.
“So are you. Yet here you are doing the walk of shame.”
Victor ignored his sardonic comment and walked around the marbled bar and helped himself to a glass of scotch “Okay, so we are going to play it that way, aye?” he demanded, unable to hold back his frustration.
Victor gave him a pointed look, “Mind your tone Kevin, don’t forget who you are talking to.” he did not have time for his interrogation and he owed no explanation to anybody.
“We don’t mess with the general public, that's rule number 1 and yet you almost beat that guy to death. What were you thinking?” he demanded.
Victor glared at him with disbelief, “You have no idea what he was about to do to her Kev. I don’t even want to think what would have happened to her if I hadn't been there.”
Kevin sighed, “Look man, that guy got what he deserved; but that still does not explain why you had to go there in the first place.”
Victor closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh, “I don’t know man, I just had this feeling and…” he paused realizing that he was just about to bare his soul in front of him.
He closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh; he once again picked up his glass and
gulped in all its contents. “There’s something about this girl Kev, it draws me to her,” he told him honestly. Kevin studied his friend carefully with a knowing look on his face.
“Did you fuck her?” he asked him getting straight to the point. Victor narrowed his eyes, “How does that concern you?” he snapped at him. Kevin grinned at him, “I take that as a no. No wonder why you have been so worked up on her.”
Anger crossed over his face and he threw his glass at the floor making Kevin almost jump out of his skin, “don’t you dare talk about her like that. She’s an angel and...” he paused realizing that he was shouting at his own best friend.
A smile crossed Kevin’s face like he got the reaction he was hoping for, “She’s an exotic dancer buddy, everybody would talk about her that way. Like that manager, he saw her dance here and then got ideas.”
This is something he wanted to discuss with him for a long time. Ira’s involvement with the club was not just good for her reputation nor was it good for her safety. Any of his enemies could easily get to her; all it would take is to make a disguised entry to the club.
“A girl like that should never be put in a place like this, Victor; she’s too nice for it.” Victor narrowed his eyes at him and Kevin sighed in response, “What I’m trying to tell you is as long as she works as a dancer here she’s never going to be safe anywhere. Some or the other morons would recognize her and who knows the next time you won’t be around to protect her.”
Victor did not speak for a long minute as he thought about what he had just told him. Kevin had a point; what happened today wouldn’t have happened to her if she had not been working here. He turned towards Kevin with a hard look on his face, “Get me, Simon, as soon as possible.” he knew what he had to do.
CHAPTER 13
Ira could not go back to work the next morning; after what happened last night, she did not dare to go back there. Everybody had seen her with Victor and she knew that she had now become the topic for hot gossip. If that was not enough she had gone a step ahead and made out with him in front of his men and her colleagues.
The solitude of her apartment and her unsatisfied arousal had rebooted her brain making her think straight. What was she thinking, throwing herself at him like a whore? This was not her; the girl she knew would never throw herself at someone like that.
Then why had it felt so right? His body pressed against hers, his warmth spreading through her had felt so damn right. Her body still throbbed like a leaf just by thinking about him. What had he done to her? Why does she look up at him like he was the dark angel sent to protect her? Last night he had protected her the way nobody ever had and she knew that there was nobody in this world who would ever take care of her as he does.
But he was a dangerous man; he had killed more people than she can ever imagine. He runs a massive drug operation and is responsible for almost 80% of the underworld activities of the city. He lived a dangerous life and if she didn’t take a step back she would be entangled in it too.
But she didn’t care, for the first time in her life she felt alive and she liked it. He was her knight in shining armour and she was going to have her happily ever after with him but happily ever after was a myth and she of all people should know it. Her mother was living her happily ever after until the reality had bounced back on them.
What sort of a future would she have with a drug lord like him? What would her mother say if she found out about what she was doing, but she was willing to take the risk? First time in her life she had wanted something for herself and this time she was not going to let anybody take that away from her, not even her fears.
She was nudged out of her thoughts as the train came to a stop at her destination. She got up from her seat and waited for the automatic doors to slide open and then stepped out. She glanced at her watch and let out a heavy breath, today she was unusually early and she had rested well and had been looking forward to seeing him again.
Her short walk to the club was unusually pleasant; the sky promised rain and she seriously hoped that the rain would stop by the time her shift was over she had left her umbrella home and had no intention of getting rained on. A gust of cool moisture-filled breeze washed over her and a soft smile touched her lips.
The club was still closed so she did not have to take the back entrance but she would have to scan her I-card to unlock the door. Simon says it was just to make sure that some clever bastard does not enter the club claiming to be staff but she found this theory seriously flawed. If someone wanted to get inside he could easily use the back door provided no bouncer was guarding the door.
She took out her I-card and tried to scan it at the door but an error message flashed rejecting her card. Her lips curled into a frown and she tried the card again and once again the card was rejected. She knew that if she tried one more time it would alert the guards and she did not want to get into trouble so she once again decided to take the back entrance.
She nodded at one of the guards who was heading towards the back door and he replied with a half-smile. “Did you forget your i-card again?” he asked her, referring to the time when she had forgotten her i-card and he had to help her get in. she smiles cheekily at him, “Something like that.” she lied, she didn’t want to tell him that her i-card was damaged and was not working.
“Have a nice night then,” he told her and walked off and she let out a relieved breath. She doesn't like lying and she hated to start her day with lies. She walked straight to the green room and found four other girls getting dressed. She smiled politely at them and walked straight to her side of the room and dumped her backpack on the floor.
“You are early today,” Jimmy chirped happily as he finished up with one of the girls. She stepped aside letting the girl get off the makeup chair and walk away from them.
“Yeah, didn’t have to go to work today,” she told him honestly and he beamed at her.
“I don’t understand how you manage to work two jobs at a time and still manage to look so fabulous on stage,” he told her honestly and Ira let out a little laugh. “Thanks, Jimmy, that's very kind of you to say that,” she told him honestly. “So what are you going to do with me tonight?” she asked him sitting down on her chair. He walked behind her and gently put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it.
“Like you already noticed, we are going for a soft girly look. Don’t worry I’ll make you look like an angel tonight,” he told her with a wink. Ira met his gaze through the mirror and rewarded him with one of her finest smiles, “So sweetheart, let’s get started now, shall we?” he sang happily and got straight to business.
Her outfit for the night was neatly placed on the rack with her name tag on it. She ran her fingers over the white corset satin dress with black lace detailing and let out a heavy sigh. The dress looked like it was made for a child and certainly not for a twenty-year-old girl. Rolling her eyes at her lame thoughts she took the dress off the shelf along with the lingerie and the lace stockings that came along with her dress and stepped into the tiny changing room.
She stepped out of the changing room and studied her reflection in the full-length mirror and almost smiled at her reflection. Tonight Jimmy had gone for a more flirty look. Like always he had paid extra attention to her high cheekbone but this time he highlighted it with a rosy blush that matched with her soft rosy eye makeup. Her lips were coated with a glossy nude lipstick that completed her entire look.
He had styled her hair in a cute half-ponytail of sorts and let her long hair cascade around her shoulder in its natural waves. Jimmy always told her that she had nice hair and always made it a point that he let it flaunt its natural waves.
The tight strapless dress fit her perfectly hugging her curves on the right spots. The tiny dress barely covered her butt and she didn't like it one bit. The thigh-high black lace stockings gave a sexy edge to her look and the pointy black heels were the cherry on top.
“You look stunning,” Jimmy complimented her as he studied her entire loo
k. He took out his phone and asked her to pose for a couple of pictures. “I hope you don’t mind me posting these on my Instagram page?” she gave him a soft smile and shook her head. Jimmy had an Instagram page where he posted pictures of all the good makeup and hair styles that he had worked on and Ira was his favorite model.
Somebody cleared their throat behind her making her turn around. “Hey Ira, Simon wants to see you in his office.” the girl standing behind her told her and her lips curled into a frown. Usually, Simon never called any of his girls to his office. If he wanted to talk to any of them he would come down to them.
Ira opened her mouth to enquire if he told her what he wanted but the girl just turned around and went about with her business. Ira flashed an apologetic look at Jimmy and excused herself.
She picked up a pale pink silk robe from the rack and shrugged it on. She gave herself one last look in the mirror and walked out of the room and headed straight to his office which was on the first floor of the building and not to mention the only floor accessible by the staff other than the gang members.
His office was the first room on the first floor and unsurprisingly the door was wide open. Simon was busy typing something on his laptop when he heard a knock at his door. He tore his eyes off his screen and turned his attention to her.
“Hey Ira, Why are you standing there, Come on in.” she hesitantly stepped into the office.
He studied her for a long minute and his lips curled into a frown. “You are early today,” he noted as he studied her appearance.
He was surprised that nobody had told her anything yet. “You wanted to talk to me?” she asked him hesitantly. His usually happy face looked tense and she started to wonder if she was in trouble.
Victor's Girl: A Mafia Romance Page 10
