25. Lev
If I thought I was going to be able to focus with Brooke on my arm tonight, then I was gravely mistaken.
I underestimated my attraction to her.
During the car ride over, she and Feliks talk non-stop like girlfriends, and it irritates the hell out of me watching her fall for his charms. But it’s not jealousy. It may look like it, but it’s not. Because I would have to have a romantic interest in her to let it affect me that way. And I don’t. I just want to fuck her brains out again. Just to be clear.
And my cousin is being an ass. Taunting me by flirting outrageously with her.
Thankfully, he deserts us for the bar as soon as we arrive at the venue. And now, she’s on my arm as we move through the room full of family and business associates, and all I can think about is how good it feels to have her there.
She is gorgeous. Beautiful.
The dress she’s wearing is perfect. Elegant. Classy. Sexy as fuck. It’s a midnight-blue sheath molded to her luscious curves and exposing just enough cleavage and thigh to make me hungry for a taste.
But I push the thought away. Any ideas of peeling it off her and devouring every inch of her skin with my mouth will have to wait.
Tonight, I need to focus. It might be a family affair but since becoming pakhan, I’ve learned family doesn’t always mean safety. There are cracks in mine, and I know Vadim is the cause. What I don’t know is who shares his belief that he should be pakhan and how deep it goes in the family.
“And what do we have here?” comes a booming voice from behind us. We turn around, and my Uncle Boris howls with laughter and opens his arms wide for a hug. “My favorite nephew.”
He pulls me in for a bear hug and claps me on the back before turning his attention to Brooke. He takes her hand and kisses it. “Shes beautiful, and therefore to be wooed; She is woman, and therefore to be won, he says, quoting Shakespeare.
“Don’t let the old man’s shamelessness in quoting Shakespeare as a pickup line fool you,” my cousin Maksim says to Brooke as he joins us. “He is harmless and quite charming when he doesn’t have a belly full of vodka and his bad manners on display.” He holds out his hand. “I’m Maksim. This old bull’s son and Lev’s cousin.”
“Oh, so you’re Feliks’ brother?” Brooke asks.
Maksim winks at her. “The older and obviously much better-looking brother.”
Brooke smiles, and I can see the twinkle in my cousin’s eyes. Like everyone here, he is not immune to her beauty either.
I look at Boris. “Are you enjoying your birthday, Uncle?”
“It’s a fine affair, Nephew. A fine affair.” He swipes a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. “Remind me tomorrow how much fun I had tonight, will you?” He downs the champagne like it is water and laughs.
I have a lot of time for Boris. My father’s youngest brother, he has always been good-natured. When I was a kid, he was the fun uncle. While my father and Uncle Vadim were always so serious, Boris knew how to have a good time.
And I know Boris has my back. Unlike Vadim, who can barely keep the snarl from his lips when in my company.
“Forgive my father,” Maksim says to Brooke, good-naturedly. “He doesn’t usually drink, but when he does, he makes up for lost time.”
“Ah, the doctors have me on a tight leash, that is true. But tonight is my birthday, and none of that matters.” He grins, but it fades when his brother approaches us.
Vadim Zarkov.
My father’s brother.
And thorn in my fucking side.
He has yet to make the move to overthrow me, but it’s coming.
Yet we play this game of tolerating each other until someone makes a move.
Boris doesn’t like Vadim. Not many people do.
He doesn’t usually come to family events, and his presence makes me wonder what he’s up to. The only time I see him is when the bratva meet at The Tea Room to discuss business and to vote on matters.
“Happy birthday, brother,” Vadim says to Boris.
Boris gives him a nod. But even my easy-natured uncle can’t hide his dissatisfaction that Vadim had the nerve to show his face.
Vadim notices Brooke as he turns his attention to me. “Nephew, are you not going to introduce us?”
My jaw tightens. I want Brooke on his radar as much as I want a bullet in the head. But I have little choice but to maintain niceties. “Vadim, this is Brooke.”
He slides his dark gaze to her, and the way he looks at her makes my fingers twitch at my sides.
“It’s a delight,” he says with a menacing drawl, and I notice Brooke flinch. “My nephew has been keeping you a secret from us.”
Brooke glances at me nervously, picking up on Vadim’s dark energy.
“If there’s something this family does well, it’s secrets, isn’t that right, Uncle?” I say.
Vadim turns to Boris and then brings his gaze back to me, chuckling darkly. “Some of us better than others.”
He doesn’t even hide his deceit.
I bite back my irritation. “I have to agree with you, Uncle.”
He offers me a snake-like smile. “Keep well, Nephew.”
He walks off, leaving a trail of foulness in the air.
“Well, if I didn’t need a drink before, I certainly need one now,” Boris says.
“You’ve been drinking champagne all night,” Maksim reminds him.
“I need something harder after that,” he says, watching his brother disappear into the crowd. “Crazy mudak showing his face here like he hasn’t been trying to crack the bratva from the inside out ever since poor Konstatin’s death. I need something with some fire to swallow down his bullshit.”
“Fine, I’ll get a vodka from the bar,” Maksim says, leaving us to get his father a drink.
Brooke touches my arm. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find the powder room.”
I nod, and she leaves me alone with Boris.
“She is stunning, Nephew,” Boris says, clamping his hand on my shoulder.
I follow his gaze and watch Brooke walking away from us. Her dress plunges to the small of her back, exposing her flawless skin.
Skin I ache to run my hands along.
“It’s unlike you to bring a date to anything, let alone a family gathering,” he says. “She must be special.”
“She’s something,” I mutter.
“Are you thinking of settling down?” he asks.
I glance at him. “I’m considering my options.”
He looks at Brooke moving through the crowd. “They look like pretty good options if you ask me.” He brings his focus back to me, his face sobering up as he says, “The bratva want you to marry. They want the heir in waiting.”
“So Feliks keeps reminding me.” I take a mouthful of champagne. “What do you think? Do I need a wife?”
“You’re asking me? The man who had two sons to two different women while at the same time trying to keep all my mistresses happy.” He chuckles. “Son, I say run a mile. Have fun. Fuck as many women as you can. This life is never a long one. Enjoy it while you can. Especially as pakhan.”
He laughs but stops when a beautiful woman in a dress with a low plunging neckline walks past. He grins. A similar grin to his son, Feliks. “If only I were younger,” he drools wistfully.
“And better looking,” I add.
“And not such a bastard,” he adds, laughing. But then his laughter fades, and a serious expression crosses his flushed face. “A bratva wife is a hard life for a woman. I advise you to choose wisely. If you choose at all. I don’t need you to be married or producing an heir to respect you as pakhan. You already have that.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
Maksim returns with three vodkas and hands them out.
Boris downs his in one mouthful. “Now, enough with business. It’s time to party. Let’s get another drink at the bar, and I’ll tell you all about the time I got too toasted on vodka and ended up buck naked on a ferry in Chicago…”
I join my cousin and uncle at the bar and try to focus on what Boris is saying, but I can’t. It’s been a while since Brooke left for the powder room.
I scan the room for her but can’t see her.
Fuck, has the little firecracker snuck away?