Protected by a Mobster: A Russian Mafia Romance (Volsky Mafia Book 1) (6 page)

Vlad: Girl is on the move. Went to a bar. Want me to go in???

Ruslan: Blyad’ Da! ‘Fuck yes.’ Protect her. Call me if problems arise.

Vlad: Da.

I gave a quick nod to my driver and slid across the leather seat of my town car, hoping that Vlad could manage to keep Liliya from getting herself into trouble. I had business to attend to and my mind was on her instead of where it needed to be. Part of me wanted to call him up and find out the name of whatever bar she had ended up at tonight. But I couldn’t afford to miss this meeting.

With the meeting of the five families just around the corner, I needed to keep my head in the game and be prepared for anything. There’d been a power struggle between the families lately and it’s putting the decades-old truce in jeopardy. The Markow boss is a shady prick. For years, he’s had it out for me, and I can’t say as I blame him. My father killed his father before the truce came into play. The bastard has never gotten over it. But his pops deserved what he got and then some. He’d crossed a line and kidnapped my mother. By the time my father and his men found her, she’d been raped and tortured by Markow’s men, and although she had been rescued, she never recovered from the despicable things they did to her while held prisoner. Sometimes the things that happen to you consume you, hollowing you out, leaving a shell of your former self. My mother, so beautiful and kind, had slipped away, her mind locked in torment until she succumbed to it all and took her life.

After that, lines were drawn and the streets were bathed in blood. All of the families had gotten involved in the war of all wars, whether they wanted to or not. Small things got men killed back then. The Markow and Duskin families sided together against the Volsky, Babkin, and Klepin families. The Bratva had always lived by their rules. Some of us take them more seriously than others. That’s how you can separate the men from the boys, in my opinion. We protected our own, and one thing every family and soldier knows is that the women and children of the Bratva were never to be touched.

As the town car pulled to a stop outside the club, my phone once again chimed, pulling me from my thoughts. Vlad again. Great. What now? I slid my thumb across the screen, pulled up my text messages, and belted out a hearty laugh. Then I stepped out of the car, straightened my suit, and strode across the busy sidewalk, heading for the front door.

As I walked through the door, my phone chimed again and the message was not what I was expecting. It seemed Vlad had suddenly lost his joking tone. Another chuckle broke free of my lips and I shook my head, imagining Vlad being led around Vegas by the princess, who was no doubt keeping him on his toes. That’d be a sight to see.  I typed in a quick response and headed upstairs to my office where my guests were already waiting.

Vlad: Your princess is tossing back the vodka.

Vlad: Princess is on the move again. Update again soon.

Ruslan: Shit V. Don’t let anything happen to her.

Just as I expected, my men were waiting in my office, kicked back on the leather sofas, enjoying a drink and chatting each other up. Our weekly meetings were as much business as they were social gatherings.

“Maksim. Bastian. Rat teebya veedet’!” Nice to see you!

“Where’s Vlad?” Maksim asked glancing over at Bastian.

“He’s doing a favor for me so he won’t be joining us tonight,” I responded as I poured a glass of Vodka. Taking a hearty gulp, I paused in front of the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the club.

“What’s up, boss?” Bastian asked.

Taking another sip, I turned away from the window and took a seat with the men. “When I know more about the situation, I’ll fill all of you in. Right now, things are… let’s just say they’re very delicate.”

Both men gave me a strained but knowing look, nodding their understanding. We drank for a while and discussed the income from our various businesses around town. Everything was going well for us. Over the last decade, we had begun the move from illegal business practices into legitimate business ventures. It took a shit-ton more work, but on the upside, we didn’t have the police crawling up our asses every five minutes, either. Sure, we still had a few illegal practices to maneuver around from time to time, as is always the case in this line of work, but the large number of legal businesses did an adequate job of providing cover for them.

After tossing back a few more drinks with Maksim and Bastian, my cell phone rang again. Vlad’s number filled the screen and I smirked. “Da.”

“Boss, you’re about to have company,” Vlad stammered as if out of breath. “The princess is heading inside the club right now.”

“What? She’s here? Now?”

“Da. She’s walking through the front door right now.”

Jumping up from my seat, I rushed to the window and sure enough, there Liliya stood. Maksim and Bastian were by my side in a matter seconds.

“Stay with her, Vlad. We’ll just see what she’s up to.”

“Yes, sir.”

I ended the call and tossed my phone onto the couch, my eyes never leaving Liliya as she pulled back her shoulders and sauntered to the bar, pushing her way through the throngs of sweaty bodies. She was a feisty little thing. She snapped her fingers and I watched in awe as the bartender damn near broke his neck trying to get to her. She leaned over the counter, saying who knows what, and the bartender’s eyes went as wide as fifty-cent pieces. Oh yeah, this girl was up to no damn good. The bartender glanced up at the windows with a stunned look on his face, grabbing the phone at the bar. Seconds later, my office phone rang.

“Da.”

“There’s a chick down here that wishes to speak with you.”

“I’ll send someone down for her.”

“Yes, sir.”

With a smirk, I placed the phone on the cradle and looked at my two most trusted men. There wasn’t a reason to tell them who she was just yet. Soon enough, they would know anyway, so why should I spoil the surprise.

“Both of you head down to the bar and assist the young lady in finding her way to me.”

“Yes, boss,” the men echoed in unison as they turned and headed for the door.

“She’s not to be manhandled. Understood?” I growled. They turned and gave me a look of shock, then nodded, even though they didn’t have the damndest clue who she was.

I returned my gaze to the window, eyes trained on my girl. The smile that worked over my lips felt foreign. Liliya glared daggers at the glass before me, unable to see just who stood behind it. Would she be surprised to see me or did she already know who I was? In a few short minutes, I’d know the answer to those questions, and many more. Was I ready for them? Fuck if I knew, but it was happening no matter what. Her head snapped to the stairs, lips quirking up in the cutest damn snarl I’d ever seen, no doubt watching Maksim and Bastian as they descended the staircase and headed directly for her. My night was about to get very damn interesting.

I refilled my glass of Vodka as the guys led Liliya up the stairs, and returned to my position at the window. I could hear her bitching at the guys all the way down the hallway. She definitely wasn’t happy. By the time my office door opened, my pulse was erratic, my chest heaving. Liliya’s voice washed over me like honey, her sweet scent filling the room.

“Get your damn hands off of me. Do you have any idea who I am?” she wailed, slapping at their meaty hands as they urged her forward.

“That’s enough!” I said in as stern voice as I turned to face her. “You will show respect or there will be consequences.”

“You! Fucking hell!” she squeaked, her hand flying to her mouth in utter shock, her gaze dropping to the floor almost instantly. My cock stirred at the submissive display.

“What is it you want, Miss Markow? You do realize that you delivered yourself to your father’s rival, do you not?” I asked, stalking across the room, closing the distance between us and stopping a foot in front of her. Her breath hitched at my closeness. The throbbing pulse in her neck giving away her… nervousness? Excitement?

“Y… yes, I’m well aware,” she stammered, clutching her hands before her.

I glanced down, taking in her luscious little body before me. She was so nervous. Good. That would make this easier.

“Why are you here? I would recommend you tell the truth. I do not appreciate being lied to.” Reaching out my hand, I gripped her chin, jerking her face upward. I wanted her to look at me, to see how serious I was. Her lips trembled at my rough touch but the lust and hunger reflected in her eyes was stunning. I hadn’t expected that. For a moment, it threw me off my game, made the visions of spanking her hot little ass pop into my head again. I pushed them away. Now was scarcely the time for that.

Liliya licked her lips and pulled her shoulders back, her full breasts arching forward. Fuck! In a heartbeat, she grabbed me by the wrist and wrenched my hand from her face, thrusting it away with a snarl. I laughed heartily. This woman provoked me in ways no other would dare and I loved the hell out of it. I dropped my gaze for a heartbeat, devouring her with my eyes. “Answer me!” I growled.

“I… need your help,” she whispered.

My help? She has to be joking. But now my curiosity was piqued. “You do, do you? And why would I help you? Run home to daddy little girl before you cross a line you’ll regret.”

With tears in her eyes, she fell to her knees, shoulders slumped as she grasped a hold of my slacks. What the hell? Maksim eased forward, as if to help her up, but I halted his movements with a wave of my hand. He arched a brow in concern and followed my command. I’m sure they were as eager to hear the answer as I was. The words that left her mouth in the next few seconds, barely above a whisper, had my blood running ice cold in my veins.

Wiping her eyes, she looked up at me. “I want you to kill my father!” Then, seconds later, she whispered her final plea. “Please!”

Chapter Nine - Liliya

“Do the thing we fear, and the death of fear is certain.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

My heart hammered like a drum against my ribs as I awaited Ruslan’s response. The shock of seeing him here, and the realization of who he was, threw me the moment our eyes met. How could I not see it? How had I missed the connection? He’d told me his name and I’d never caught on. Idiot! What’s worse is he had been so nice to me at the diner, but now all signs of that man were gone. Was his kindness only an act? Had he known who I was that day?

So here I sat, on the floor of his office, my knees digging into the cold hard floor, tears dripping onto my denim-covered thighs, head bowed before him. To say I was afraid right now would be an understatement. As I sat here on the floor, a powerful mafia boss towering over me, two of his henchmen at my back, I felt small and powerless.

The silence continued for what seemed like an eternity, the sound of the steady bass from the club vibrating the floor beneath me. My throat burned. I let out a shaky sigh, forcing my eyes to remain fixed on the floor. I feared that if I looked up, my eyes would meet the barrel of a gun. Then a small voice inside me let me know that I was being stupid. But was I? A shiver rolled over me and I took a chance and slowly lifted up onto my knees.

Clearing my throat, I dug deep, searching myself for the courage I desperately needed in this moment. I had to prove my salt to this man. I needed him to take me seriously. “If you’re going to kill me, then fucking do it already. Stop playing cat and mouse with me, for fuck’s sake.”

Then, shaking off the weakness I had lived with my entire life, I lifted my gaze to his sea-green eyes and all of the air in my lungs dissipated in a rush. His gorgeous eyes pulled me in, telling me everything and nothing at the same time. I saw the exact moment his control shifted, and it was exhilarating to see. The corner of his lips quirked up. I licked mine in response.

“Leave us!” he shouts, his eyes never leaving mine. “Now!”

His men scramble out the door. And just like that, we are alone. When the door clicked closed, I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I held.

“Get up.”

I push up from the floor, standing on shaky legs. My knees are knocking as I realize I might just be in over my head. What had I done? Oh yes. I stormed into his club, demanded a meeting, and then disrespected him in front of his men. I was fucking screwed, and I knew it. I’d let my mouth run away with me, not thinking of what he might do in response.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I don’t want to die.”

He laughed. The bastard actually laughed at me. “I’m not going to kill you, Liliya. I have no reason to.” He turned away from me, headed for a small bar near the floor to ceiling window overlooking the club, and fixed himself a drink. “Would you like a drink?”

I didn’t respond. I was transfixed by the way he moved with ease and grace, like a jungle cat tracking his prey. His powerful body was a thing of beauty. And those eyes – Dear God – they were hypnotizing. I could get lost in them if he let me.

“Have a seat, Liliya. I think you have some explaining to do. What you ask of me is not a small thing.”

Shuffling across the room, I took a seat on the leather couch, hands trembling. “My father had my brother killed, you know. He… he’s up to something. Dane and my father killed Malcolm. All because they…” my voice cracked, and the tears came in earnest. I couldn’t stop them.

Just when I thought I couldn’t be shocked by anything, I felt Ruslan’s large warm hand grip my shoulder. The couch dipped against his weight and his strong arm pulled me into his side. It felt like home, and without another thought, I let him hold me, exhaustion overtaking me, my eyes closing as I felt truly safe with this man for the first time in what seemed like ages.

Sometime later, I awoke to the sound of men talking. I struggled to a sitting position, my head pounding from the liquor I had consumed. Rubbing my swollen, aching eyes, I glanced around the room and gasped at the sight of several men sitting around me, all their eyes on me.

“What the hell are you looking at?” I growled.