Chapter 20
The house Lev takes me to is nothing like I imagined a Russian Bratva boss would live in. It has a welcoming, home-like feel to it.
There’s security, though, and lots of it. When we pulled through the gates of the estate, three men were stationed at a guard house. The long, winding driveway up to the house was lined with trees, and the property backed up to a wooded area.
“How much of this belongs to them?” I ask as I climb out of Lev’s car.
He takes a moment to follow my gaze. “All of it.”
I look up at him, having to hold my hand up to my eyes to block out the bright sun. “Seriously? There has to be hundreds of acres here.”
He makes a face, like he’s calculating in his mind. “About fifty acres outside the house, I think.”
He slips his hand through mine and leads me up the steps and into the house. We’re expected, so the man who opens the door greets Lev with friendliness and tells us everyone’s in the living room in the back.
I try not to look to shell shocked at the expansive beauty of the house, but I can’t help but stare at all of the artwork and woodwork of the place.
“Ah! Here he is now.” Ivan’s the first to greet us as we turn a corner into a great room.
An enormous flat screen television is central to the room, mounted on the far wall over a wood burning fireplace. Several couches and cushioned chairs fill the space. The exterior wall is mostly windows with a glass door leading out into the expansive back yard patio that leads into a garden.
“Maxine.” Vee sidles up next to me. “Ivan told me what’s going on. I’m so sorry.” She pulls me into a big hug.
“It’s not your fault.” I reassure her.
“Like hell. You were shot at because of me.” She touches the spot on my neck where the debris struck me. “You were hit? Ivan didn’t tell me that.”
Anger fills her eyes, and I grab her arm before she tears into her husband.
“No. I wasn’t. It was a ricochet. A bit of the sidewalk hit me. I’m fine. It’s a scratch.” I squeeze her arm. “Seriously. I’m fine.”
“And your cheek?” She demands.
“Oh.” I touch the rough spot on my cheek. “That’s not from the shooting.”
“What’s it from?” Her brows pull together with concern. “Lev didn’t—”
“No!” I cut her off before she can even imply it. “He’s been good. I mean, he’s still an arrogant, overbearing ass, but he wouldn’t hurt me.”
At least not like that.
All the pain he’s caused so far has been filled with pleasure. Unadulterated pleasure that is nearly impossible to forget. And every time I think about it, about his fingers, his tongue, his voice everything inside of me turns to goo. It messes with my brain and my heart.
“Okay,” she tilts her head. “Then what?”
“When I was arrested the other day. The cop pushed me against the wall. It’s a little scratch. I’m fine.”
“You were arrested?” She turns toward Ivan. “Did you know that?”
He lifts a shoulder. “I figured she’d want to tell you herself.”
“What were you arrested for?” She asks, while still giving him a murderous look.
“A cop did that to her?” Alexander joins the conversation. He’s taller than Ivan, but only by a hair. His build is just as broad and strong as Lev and Ivan. I’m surrounded by giants.
“It’s been taken care of,” Lev says.
“What does that mean?” I ask.
He merely lifts his shoulders. “It means it’s taken care of.”
“More than likely it means someone lost a finger or hand,” Kaz turns the corner into the room with us.
He’s dressed more casually than the others in a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt. His hair is brushed back, still damp from a shower.
From behind him, a young woman enters the room. She’s obviously related to the Volkov men. She has the same high cheekbones, and dark eyes. There’s a familiarity to her. I’ve seen her before somewhere.
She was at Nicolette’s going away dinner— Elana. The youngest sister. But it’s something else that’s jogging a memory. I’ve seen her outside of that, but I still can’t place it.
“Nice of you to show up.” Alexander frowns.
“Not my fault this time, brother. Your little sister here was the one dragging her feet.”
“I was on a phone call,” she shrugs. When she scans the room, she catches my gaze. She seems to recognize me, as well.
“Hi.” I give a polite nod of my head. I’m way out of my league here with all of these people.
“Alexander, Kaz this is Maxine.” Lev nods toward me. “Max, the Volkovs.”
“Such a sweeping endorsement. He says our name like he’s introducing her to the mob.” Kaz gives a lazy smile.
He has a reputation for being extremely good with women. And if his smile is any indicator, I can understand why. A woman could get lost in that bad boy grin.
“It’s good to meet you.” Alexander says with a deep nod. “Lev mentioned there’s been some trouble.”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” I interject before Lev can spin things dramatically.
Lev grunts, clearly not pleased with my perspective on things.
“Speaking of trouble. Elana, who were you on a phone call with? An admissions counselor?” Alexander’s voice dips slightly with his question.
His wife, Megan, nudges him. “Don’t push her.”
“I’m not having this argument again, Alexander. I don’t want to talk about school.” She goes toe to toe with him, her gaze as hard as his own.
“Elana,” Alexander squares off with her. “You need to get back into school. The fall semester is already halfway done, but you might be able to go back for the January start date.”
Elana throws her hands up. “I’m not talking about this. I have plans, don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
“What are your plans?” Ivan enters the chat with his arms folded over his chest.
If it’s an attempt at intimidation, his sister isn’t falling for it.
“None of your business.” She turns on her heel and walks out of the room. “Are we going to eat, I’m starved!”
I watch her with strong admiration. She just took on the Volkov men and walked away completely unscathed. I have to give her props.
“I keep telling you.” Kaz shakes his head slowly. “If you push her, she just leaves. You have to be delicate.” He makes a gesture with his hand like he’s holding a thin crystal bowl.
“Delicate? Elana?” Ivan huffs a laugh dropping his hands to his sides.
“I think you should all just leave her be,” Megan pipes in while pulling her hair up into a ponytail and winding a scrunchy around it. She has jet black hair, except for two streaks of pure white near the front. It only adds to her casual beauty.
“And she’s right. Let’s eat.” Megan grabs Vee’s hand and then my arm and pulls us from the room with her.
She leads us to a dining room where plates have all been set out and an array of food has been placed in the middle.
“This is lunch?” My stomach growls at that moment as my eyes feast on the spread before me. I’d eaten breakfast, but being a guest I was careful about not taking too much. A yogurt and an apple had been enough to tide me over.
“Well, more like brunch. There’s quiche, spinach and a veggie one.
Scrambled eggs are in that dish, just lift the lid.
Vatrushka for Elana,” Megan smiles at her sister-in-law as she points to the plate filled with the cheese filled pastries.
“There’s meats on that platter there with rolls, if anyone wants a sandwich. ”
“It all looks so good,” I say.
“It does.” Vee nods. “It’s perfect for my last meal.”
I reach over and squeeze her hand. “It’s not your last meal.”
“It’s temporary.” Ivan stands behind her, squeezing her shoulders and presses a kiss to her cheek. “I promise.”
She sighs. “Still. I don’t like it.”
He helps her into her chair and takes the one to her right. I pull out the chair on her left, but Lev shows up and brushes my hands away from it.
“I can do it,” I mutter but let him scoot the chair in beneath me. He sits to my left.
Alexander takes the head of the table on one side and Megan on the other, leaving Kaz and Elana the seats across from me. The more I look at her the more clearly I sense that I’ve seen her before.
She catches me staring, and I quickly avert my gaze.
“Lev, I’m glad you came over. There’s been some messages from Moscow that I need to let you know about.” Alexander leans back in his chair.
“Moscow? From Boris Novikov?” Lev frowns. “What does that old man want?”
“Same as he always does, power and control.” Alexander answers.
“He has full control of Moscow and most of Russia; now he wants to dig his fingers into the States?” Ivan puts a scoop of eggs on Vee’s plate then passes the bowl to me.
After putting a spoonful on my plate, I try to hand it to Lev, but he taps the edge of my plate. A signal that he wants me to take more.
My cheeks heat, and only to avoid an argument in front of everyone, I comply and put another spoonful on before shoving the bowl at him.
“The DeAngelos have old ties back home that have his ear. The issues here are starting to spill over into their agreements back home. Boris wants an end to it.”
“What does Marco need to do in order to stop the war?” Megan asks.
With a firm voice and stoic expression Alexander says, “Die.”
“That’s a little dramatic, don’t you think?” Elana takes a bite into her pastry. “You’re all grown up men; can’t you come to some sort of agreement? A compromise of sorts? You’ve been taking down their businesses, and they’re blowing up your warehouses. It’s getting you nowhere.”
“Because of Marco, Megan was nearly killed.” Ivan states pointedly. “And Vee’s friend, one of my waitresses, was taken and brutalized. You think we should shake hands and go our separate ways?”
Elana glances at Megan then Vee. “Of course not, no. I hate what they did, but I just mean, it has to end at some point right? I mean, they sent people to kill you and Vee, Ivan.”
“Marco doesn’t survive this.” Alexander spreads his fingers across the tabletop. “Or his brothers.”
Elana’s gaze shoots to her oldest brother. Shock and concern covers her face.
“And when you kill him and his brothers, you don’t think that will create a vacuum?” Elana argues.