Chapter 2
Alexsey
“What the actual fuck?”
I wasn’t in the goddamn mood after the day I’d been through.
“Don’t get me started.” I clicked the key fob to lock as I always did then huffed.
What the fuck did it matter? My car was wide open.
Thankfully, this was a secure parking lot located in the back of the hotel my brother operated.
Between the gate, the cameras, and the guards, I doubted anyone would dare try to steal the car.
If they did, given the shitty mood I was in, I’d likely beat them to a bloody pulp.
Or worse.
“What happened? Come on. You’re like a fuse ready to explode.”
“You’re goddamn right I am,” I barked. He flanked my side as we headed to the hotel where I had an office.
“Does this have anything to do with your meeting with Petros Papadakis?”
“You mean the windows, no. My bad mood? Part of the reason.” After pressing my fingertips against the keypad and the light turning green, I flung open the door, storming inside. “Papadakis is a dead man.”
Kazimir sucked in his breath because he knew I never openly threatened anyone’s life, especially inside one of our hotels.
I wasn’t considered a big, bad Bratva dude like my brothers or cousins and that was fine by me.
I hadn’t grown up in Moscow. I hadn’t been forced to leave everything I knew behind and move halfway across the world.
I was American through and through.
Only I was born of tainted Russian blood.
I adored my family. We were tight. We were powerful. We were fucking rich. But there was no leaving our Bratva traditions behind. It didn’t matter we were almost completely legitimate in our business operations or that we’d garnered the respect of people around the world.
There was no way of completely hiding behind iron-clad contracts written by the attorneys we had on staff.
There was no sugarcoating the fact my father and uncle had made several dangerous enemies.
Hell, we’d recently discovered we had another uncle still living in Moscow who wanted his own brothers and their families exterminated.
And they’d tried.
Maybe that’s why Papadakis’ pushback and his bullshit rhetoric had irritated the hell out of me.
Kazimir waited until we were inside the elevator before grilling me. “What exactly did the Greek asshole do?”
“Increased the prices of our supplies by three hundred percent.”
My brother coughed. “What in God’s name was the reason he gave you?”
“You’re assuming he gave me one. I had to threaten to beat it out of him before he smiled coyly and spouted off because we were Bratva bastards who could afford whatever he wanted to charge.”
Huffing, Kazimir rubbed his jaw. “Oh, I only imagine how that will go over with the Pakhan. You might be right and he’ll come out of his new fatherhood haze and make good on your premonition.”
Our older brother, Mikhail had taken over the helm of the Dmitriyev Bratva only a few years before. A position he was highly qualified for. His break in methodology from our father had been put to the test over the years in dealing with several former enemies.
I’d always told myself I had no desire to mirror my father and his actions, but after today’s meeting and my reaction to Papadakis, I was beginning to believe the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
“I’m going to have a conversation with Petros’ brother, who technically owns Performance Food Service.”
He laughed and clapped me on the back as the elevator doors opened. “Good to see you’re working through your aggressions. Was Papadakis responsible for smashing your windows?”
I threw him a sideways glance as we walked down the hallway toward the executive offices. Right now, I needed a goddamn drink. “No. That was done by the most beautiful woman I’ve laid eyes on and the biggest pain in my ass.”
“Wow. You leave for a meeting and you come back with another woman in this city hating your guts. I give her credit for going to the extreme of smashing the glass. Isn’t there a Carrie Underwood song about some cheating ex?”
“Ha ha.” I jerked out my keys, grousing under my breath. “Get this. She’s a fucking firefighter. No, she’s the goddamn captain of the fire station. Can you fucking believe that?”
I pitched open the door with enough force it slammed against the wall even though there was a doorstopper near the baseboard.
Immediately, I headed to the bar in my office, my thoughts shifting away from Papadakis and his ridiculous decision to the woman who’d gotten so deeply under my skin, I could feel her tickling my intestines.
“Does that mean you parked in front of a fire hydrant?”
“Yes, so what?”
“Let me think. Did you happen to catch the news about the huge fire on Commerce Street earlier today?”
Snorting, I grabbed a glass and my favorite bottle of Macallan scotch, pouring a hefty amount. “Yeah, so what?” I repeated.
“So fire equals firefighters and the need for water to put out the flames. From a fire hydrant, dude. She had every right to break your windows.”
“I was standing right there. She could have asked me to move my Baby Blue.” Yeah, that’s what I called my car. My Porsche was my baby, a Carrera in Lugano Blue. I’d waited fourteen weeks for her arrival from the factory.
“Did she ask you to? Not that she should have needed to do that.” When I didn’t answer, he burst into laughter. “She did ask you. What did you do, tell her no or just ignore her?”
“I was busy with Petros.”
“While there was a fire. I think you need to check your priorities, bro.”
Of course he was right. I’d known someone was talking to me, but at first, I’d drowned her out. Then when I’d gotten a good look at her face, I’d lost all ability to think clearly. That wasn’t like me in the least.
“She pissed me off.”
“Did you get her number because I can tell by your reaction how much you like this girl.”
I threw back half the scotch, appreciating the slight burn down the back of my throat. “Fuck, no. She was annoying, treating me like an arrogant bastard.”
“Maybe because you acted like one.”
“Fuck you.”
He burst into laughter for the second time before thumping down in one of my office chairs. “Confess to your brother. You thought she was hot.”
Now I had to laugh. Kazimir had a way of yanking back the covers, exposing what I was really thinking. I moved to my chair, sitting down and throwing back my head as I swiveled back and forth.
“What’s not to like about a woman in uniform?
I mean, holy shit. I could just make out her breasts.
A perfect fit for my hands. She was so feisty in how she handled the situation that I was impressed.
She’s got this long, very dark hair and a golden kiss to her skin with the largest deep green eyes I’ve ever seen.
They were mesmerizing. You know what I mean.
Like you could drown in the shimmering pools and not worry about dying because it would feel damn good when you went. ”
He coughed into his hand.
I barely heard him.
“Plus, she has this mouth,” I said as I rolled the rim of the glass across my bottom lip. “Caustic. That’s the word. I can imagine what she’d say to me if she was really angry with me.” Or writhing underneath me. Screaming out my name.
Begging me for more.
“She’d need to get to know you for that. All of five seconds.”
I shot him my middle finger and closed my eyes, immediately able to grab an image of her in my mind. “Her lips were just the most voluptuous. Kissable lips.”
“Did you just say kissable?”
“Fuck off. And yes, because they are. Anyway, I can also tell she’s a mouthy handful and if there hadn’t been a fire across the street, I would have tossed her across my knees and given her one hell of a spanking.”
“Oh, so you did notice the raging fire.”
“Like I said. Fuck off.”
He adored teasing me. The entire fucking family did. Even my sister.
“You know what’s interesting,” Kazimir said as if he was concentrating.
“Do I really want to know?’
“Maybe. Maybe not, but I’m going to tell you. You haven’t mentioned a woman in months. Maybe longer. Usually, you simply say some shit like she’s a nice piece of ass. Nothing more. I know you made a promise to yourself to never fall in love, but it’s not too bad. Not too bad at all.”
I popped open one eye, rolling my head so I could look at his face. I knew it. He had that same lovesick puppy dog look he had whenever he thought about Marissa, the love of his life. The only woman who’d managed to calm his ass down.
“Don’t even go there, brother,” I told him. “And she is a nice piece of ass. However, I didn’t get her name, so it doesn’t freaking matter.”
He rose to his feet. “For being such a highly intelligent dude, you are a dumbass. What happened to that photographic brain of yours? Didn’t you see the number on the fire engine?”
Sighing, I shook my head, but I could feel the glint in my eye. “Something else had captured my full attention.”
“Jesus. You got it bad. All you need to do is make a couple calls and you’ll discover which engine company was sent to the fire. If you’re interested. Probably not. Since you’re a confirmed playboy and all.”
“Don’t test me.” I glared at him and we both laughed. The last thing I needed was to tangle with a wildcat right now. With whatever the hell was going on with the Papadakis clan, I needed to keep my eye on the ball. My instinct told me the two Greek brothers were up to something.
They were Greek mafia after all, although low on a list of players in town. We’d thought it a good idea to develop and nurture a business relationship with them. Up to this point, the relationship had been decent enough. That’s why the sudden breach in the contract had caught me so off guard.
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Just keep Mikhail in the loop about Papadakis. I don’t think I need to tell you, but I will; the grapevine has it that the brothers could be working with an Irish contingency in town. If you know what I mean.”
Huffing, I shook my head. Yeah, I’d caught some wind of that, but there were always rumors about one syndicate or another trying to weasel their way into Las Vegas.
As if they’d ever gain any control. We ruled the city both with criminals and everyday citizens.
“There is never a dull moment in this town. Either the Irish or the Russians, now the Greeks. When will they learn we own this town?” The question was rhetorical.
“What fun would it be if we didn’t need to stay on our toes? But I’m serious. The Greeks are some bad dudes. Like the Armenians. They’re like cockroaches with sharp fangs. Just watch yourself.”
I grabbed my cellphone from my pocket, lifting my eyebrows. “I think I can handle the Greeks. They just need to be put in their place. They can’t use extortion on us. That won’t fly. There are plenty of other food service companies in town.”
“Maybe so, but they don’t take kindly to being shut out.”
“Just like I don’t take kindly having terms of our agreement changed midway through a contract.”
“As if that will stand. You and I both know it. Months or years in court isn’t worth it,” Kazimir said as he walked toward the door.
“I’m just going to offer an incentive. Nothing more.”
“Uh-huh. Let me know how it turns out. With that singer finally starting her residency in two weeks, you know our cousin will be chomping at the bit to ensure there are no hiccups. Ecstasy, Genesis, Revelation, and Dreamscape are all booked solid for months. Plus, we have every high-dollar roller trying to command time in the Viper Room. Just something for you to keep in mind.”
We owned four hotels and casinos in Las Vegas.
Through an alliance with an Italian family, Cosa Nostra who had made Reno their own, we commanded both strips with iron fists.
The Viper Room had its share of very special guests from corporate moguls to sports stars, musicians and Hollywood actors spending time and a hell of a lot of money losing at blackjack and poker.
We were considered to be on cloud nine, wealthy beyond our dreams and with a recent expansion into Washington State and Saba Island, we were rocking and rolling. My brother had good cause for alarm.
That didn’t mean I was going to lie down and take Papadakis’ shit. No fucking way.
“I hear you. By the way, Lainey Rose isn’t just a singer, bro. She’s a phenomenon in the music industry.” She had also canceled the first time, which had made us leery of offering her a second chance.
He waved his hand. “Whatever. As long as she brings in wealthy guests, she can be a fairytale princess for all I care.”
“Get out. I need to do my job without you hanging on my coattails.”
“Ha. You wish.” He grinned and walked out, closing the door behind him.
I sipped my drink as I rolled my finger across the screen on my phone. I had no real clue why Papadakis had suddenly changed his tune with us, but Petros had made it perfectly clear in his smarmy way that he was playing with us. He’d wanted a reaction and I’d done my best not to give him one.
That didn’t mean I wasn’t livid at his method of extortion. Since I was in charge of food and beverages, music and entertainment, it had been left up to me to talk some sense into him.
I’d left furious and without a resolution. That wasn’t like me. I was known as the wheeler and dealer throughout the Southeast.
After another gulp of my drink, I dialed Viktor’s number. He was the older Papadakis brother, a tough old bird but usually capable of holding a decent conversation. He also considered himself an influential Greek Mafioso. We’d see how he handled my demands this time.
“Alexsey Dmitriyev. I thought you might be giving me a ring. My brother said your meeting didn’t go very well.”
I tried to laugh it off. “Not well at all, Viktor, and I think you know why. However, why don’t you explain to me why after two years of doing business together you suddenly want to cut ties with us.”
“I never said we wanted to cut ties. You simply need to pay us what we are worth, which you’ve never done. We cut you a break with promises of you providing us with additional contracts. That hasn’t occurred.”
That was bullshit and he knew it. “I wonder if the rumors are true and you’re suddenly in bed with some Irish bloke around town.”
He laughed. “Now where did you hear such a blasphemous rumor?”
Which meant what Kazimir had mentioned was true. Goddamn it. The Irish had been a pain in our ass for years. It wasn’t necessarily the same clan currently taking up homestead in this town, but the Irish stuck together. That much I knew. “Here’s how we’re going to play this.”
“I’m all ears, Alexsey.”
“You’re going to return the contract terms to what they were before. Period.”
“And if we don’t?”
“Then you’re going to learn in no uncertain terms what happens when you cross the Dmitriyev Bratva.”