Sinful Promise (Koslov Bratva #6)

1. Emily

1

EMILY

This is the last thing I should be doing on a Saturday night. Especially considering the fact that my father is a retired cop. I’m well versed in the consequences if I’m caught. Though I would much rather suffer the consequences enforced by the state of New York than those enforced by my father.

You do not want to cross Andrew Mullens.

But the looming threat of my father doesn’t seem to be enough to stop me from taking the tequila shot from my best friend and downing it in one.

“Jeez, that’s disgusting,” I hiss through my teeth as the alcohol burns my throat.

Jana starts hopping up and down and pointing at the table. “Quick, bite into the lime!”

“I don’t think that will help,” I mutter as I take the wedge of lime and bite into it.

My eyes sting as the juice floods my mouth, and I shake my head back and forth, trying to distract myself from the taste.

“That made it so much worse.” I toss the wedge back on the table and reach for my water.

“You are such a lightweight.” Jana laughs, pushing her curls out of her face.

“Can you blame me? I shouldn’t even be here.” I glance around anxiously. “I’m not twenty-one for another few months.”

“That fake ID in your pocket says otherwise…” she winks.

I’m not even sure why I bothered with the fake ID, considering the owner of Espionage , Anton Koslov, is technically family, so he was willing to break a few rules to let me in, considering the fact that it’s my best friend's twenty-first birthday.

Not that serving some tequila shots to an underage girl is a big deal in the grand scheme of things, considering who the Koslovs are.

My father, on the other hand, would personally make it his mission to shut the place down if he found out they let me in.

He’s strict, but I know it’s only because he cares, and I can’t fault him for that.

If he asks, I spent the night at Jana’s, eating pizza and drinking soda and lime.

I glance around the bar, looking for the other member of the Koslov family who also works here.

Jana looks around too. “Is Danil here tonight?”

It’s as if she’s reading my thoughts.

“Why?” I run my hands over my dress.

“Because you keep looking around for him.” Jana’s trying her best to hide her smirk, and my cheeks start burning up.

“No, I’m not. I’m just…taking in the atmosphere.”

Am I really being that obvious?

Jana laughs. “Yeah, okay. Well, I’m sure the atmosphere is around here somewhere.”

I scowl at Jana, but that only makes her laugh even more.

She and I both know that there are plenty of bars in the city that would have let us in tonight, even without a fake ID. So, it’s obvious that I suggested coming to Espionage for a reason.

And that reason is currently walking straight toward our table.

Danil Koslov .

My breath catches in my throat as I look at him.

He’s easily the most gorgeous man I’ve ever laid eyes on. The way his black slacks hug his muscular thighs as he walks, along with his tight-fitted black shirt which he has rolled up to the elbows to show off his thick forearms, has my mouth watering.

He has a few of the buttons undone to show off a hint of the dark chest hair beneath, and my fingers twitch at the thought of running my hands over that broad chest.

Everything about him oozes masculinity.

He has the signature Koslov look that has every woman in the bar turning in his direction.

Danil flashes me a wink, and I blink.

My blood turns to fire in my veins as he looks at me with that slight smirk on his lips.

I offer him a smile in return, though it feels awkward. I brush my hair out of my face and try to act casual, though I’m suddenly too aware of my own limbs, and my palms are starting to sweat.

Danil could have any woman in this place, so I shouldn’t get my hopes up that anything will ever happen between us.

But then he looks at me like that, and I melt into an Emily-shaped puddle on the floor.

God, could it be any more obvious that I have a massive crush on him?

Probably not.

I’ve known Danil for a few years. Ever since my sister Zara married his brother Dimitri, we’ve been forced to hang out at family events.

With us both being the youngest out of our respective families, and both single, we’ve naturally gravitated toward each other at weddings and parties.

But over time, we’ve become more than just each other’s plus one to family gatherings. We’ve become… friends .

Which is something I never thought would happen.

After all, he’s part of one of the most powerful and dangerous families in New York, who have a taste for breaking the law.

But despite those things, it turns out Danil and I have a lot in common.

Last year, when I learned that Danil was taking a postgraduate course at NYU, where I’m currently studying, we started hanging out on campus and studying together in the library. Eventually, our study sessions turned into movie nights and takeout dinners at either my place or his, and our friendship blossomed.

I used to think him studying business was a waste of time. After all, his family is well established, and I was sure he had a pick of whatever job he wanted.

But Danil didn’t want to be handed a position on a silver platter. He wanted to truly learn the ropes and earn his position at Espionage , which Anton granted him after he graduated last summer. Which only made me admire him more.

Though, I do miss the weekly study sessions we used to have. It can get a little lonely in the library without him constantly cracking jokes and winding me up.

He’s great company, and I always find myself laughing whenever we hang out together.

How could I not develop feelings?

The guy is drop-dead gorgeous, annoyingly funny, and is one of the most caring men I’ve ever met.

Though, to be honest, that’s not exactly a difficult feat to achieve. All the men I’ve dated, or even just talked to, have been complete douchebags, and all of my relationships turn into a complete dumpster fire when I finally decide to stop ignoring all of their red flags.

Which only makes Danil even more appealing.

But I’m terrified of losing our friendship.

What if it didn’t work out? After all, the common denominator in all of these failed relationships is me.

Maybe I’m just not girlfriend material. Maybe I just bring out the worst in guys…

Even if it’s an unlikely theory, it’s not one I want to test with Danil. If it didn’t work out between us, it would be a disaster.

It’s not like we could call it quits and never see each other again. My sister is married to his brother, for Christ’s sake!

So, even if at night in my bed I can pretend the world is different, when we are together, I have to put Danil firmly in the friend zone. It’s difficult, though, because from the way my body reacts whenever he is around, I often consider moving him into at least the friends with benefits zone…

Danil hovers at a nearby table, where he stopped to chat to a few girls. They’re hanging off his every word, and he flashes them a calm smile that has that cute dimple appearing in his right cheek.

He’s so fucking sexy when he smiles like that.

Jana glances over her shoulder and laughs when she sees what I’m scowling at.

“Seriously, Emily, when are you just going to bite the bullet and fuck Danil? It’s clear you want to, seeing as he’s all you ever talk about.”

“Jana!” I hiss, glancing nervously at Danil.

He’s close enough to our table that he could have heard Jana, but there’s also a high chance that her words were drowned out by the music blaring through the speakers.

“It’s true, though.” She laughs, glancing over her shoulder again.

“Stop looking!”

“He’s so hot.” She sighs. “Don’t tell Mason I said that.”

“I will if you mention anything about me and Danil ever again.”

Jana rolls her eyes, and I anxiously look over at Danil again.

If he heard what Jana said, he’s not letting on.

But that might be because he’s deep in conversation with a girl who’s wearing a dress not too dissimilar to my own. Tight, revealing. Everything I rarely use, but tonight I decided to shake things up.

I figured my best friend only turns twenty-one once, so I wanted to dress up. I even put on red lipstick to match my dress, which I only ever wear on very special occasions.

At least, that’s what I’m telling myself for why I chose to wear a dress that hugs my curves and is so low cut in the front that I have to keep adjusting it for fear of flashing a nipple to an unsuspecting patron.

Though it seems she wears it a lot better, considering she’s the one holding Danil’s attention, and I’m not.

She reaches out to touch his arm, and he grins, no doubt enjoying the attention.

Is he going to go home with her tonight?

The thought of him fucking her has my stomach sinking.

“Fuck this.” I reach for another shot.

I down it in one, hoping that it will help me forget just how lovesick I am.

“That’s it. You just need to drink more. It’s the only way to get used to the taste.”

“What if I don’t want to get used to the taste?”

Jana laughs. “You don’t really have a choice. You have to do as I say tonight.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works.”

Jana pouts, pushing another shot into my hand. “Come on. It’s my birthday.”

“How many of these did you buy?” I cringe at all the empty glasses on the table.

“Luca, the bartender, said it was buy two, get eight free. Or maybe it was the other way around… Honestly, I have no idea. All I know is that we need to keep drinking.”

“One more shot, and then we’re done.”

She lifts her glass to clink it against mine. “Yeah, whatever, grandma .”

I take a sip of the liquid.

It’s awful. Better just to knock it back in one go.

“Okay, I’m done.” I set the empty glass down on the table as Jana throws her hands up in the air as one of her favorite songs comes on over the speakers.

She starts to sway in her seat but loses her balance and almost topples right off it.

Her skin is flushed pink from the alcohol, and her eyes are becoming more and more glassy with each shot she takes.

I don’t want to put a damper on the fun, but I also don’t want to be the one holding her hair back as she pukes.

“Let’s get you some water.” I sigh, slipping off my stool and going around the table to put my arm around Jana’s waist.

“Fine, but if I drink the water, can I have more tequila?”

“Sure,” I lie as I start guiding her toward the bar where her boyfriend is currently chatting with Luca.

I grunt under her weight, but luckily, I manage to catch Luca’s eye, who quickly sends Mason over to help.

“Are you girls done?” Mason chuckles as he wraps an arm around Jana’s waist.

He’s a football player and insanely strong. Each one of his arms probably weighs more than me. There’s no doubt he can carry Jana home without even breaking a sweat.

“I think we were done three shots ago,” I mutter.

“Did you have fun?” His eyes are on his girl.

“So much fun,” Jana sighs, her eyes fluttering closed as she leans against Mason’s chest.

I look up at him. “Are you okay to take her home?”

“Course. I’ll make sure she messages you in the morning.”

“Thanks, Mason.”

“Do you want to come with us?”

“No, that’s okay. My apartment isn’t far.”

“Are you sure? I don’t like the idea of you walking alone?—”

“I’ll walk her home.” The deep voice travels all over my body, raising goosebumps as it goes.

I spin around to find Danil standing right behind me with a smile on his face that almost sends me to my knees.

I guess he’s not going home with that girl after all…