10. Risk
Chapter ten
Risk
K ira’s wedding was exhausting but beautiful. Luerna took out each earring, and a tired smile reflected back at her in the mirror. It was an extravagant night. Her family had been whole again for a few short hours as they all watched Kira get married. It was a surreal moment. Kira’s husband seemed nice enough, and Luerna hoped that out of all of them, Kira would get the best pick. Hers was the only marriage that wasn’t a hundred percent for family gain.
The best thing was that Rurik found a woman to entertain and was currently at some hotel with her.
Luerna leaned her phone against the mirror and typed in ‘hairdresser’ before clicking it. Only two rings before Levka’s face popped up.
“Hey, sunshine.”
His greeting had become somewhat of an addiction. After a month of conversations, she needed to hear it, even if it was all he said before she had to hang up in case Rurik heard it.
“How was the wedding?”
“Wonderful.” She grinned back at him. Levka sat at his desk, leaning back with his feet up. Did he know how stunning he was? He must because he set himself up at the perfect angle, where the light casted shadows under every muscle.
Levka’s gaze dipped down to her chest, and he coughed before nervously directing his eyes elsewhere. “That’s what you wore?”
The comment affected her smile. It sounded like something Rurik would say, and she was scared to respond. “Yes.”
“Your tits look amazing. I’m surprised your father didn’t make you change.”
She grinned and looked down at herself. They did look pretty good, and she casually squeezed them together before stopping and laughing.
Levka grinned. Seeing her happy was one of the best things in the world. It was fleeting, but over the last month, her smile came easier, and her laughter soon followed. It was like watching a flower bloom. All she needed was a little sunshine and care.
Luerna took out the pins in her hair, letting each curl come out, and Levka simply watched, amazed by every movement she made. The first few phone calls, she was uneasy when caught in his stare. Now she wanted to earn it. He had the power to make her feel brand new.
“I met Adrik’s new wife, Katia Stephanov.”
“Don’t remind me,” Levka hissed. “My father won’t stop cursing your family’s name.”
“I don’t like her.”
“She’s a Stephanov. What’s there to like?” Levka poured himself a drink. “The wedding pulled in a lot of unique visitors at the hotel. I think I made some friends.”
“And what could you possibly want those kind of friends for?”
“I’m gonna get back on top one day.”
Luerna took a wipe and rubbed it over her face. “You men and power.”
He rolled his eyes. “How else am I going to steal you away?”
Luerna’s smile fell, and her hand dropped on her lap. “Levka.”
He waved it away. “I was joking.”
Levka’s infatuation was cute, and Luerna adored it. But she didn’t want him to believe anything could really come from it, but she had no idea how to stop it. It was a risk she was taking to keep him as a friend. Because he really was making her life better.
Luerna moved off-screen to dress into pajamas before she took up the phone and propped it against a pillow lying next to it. She continued to stare at Levka. He squeezed a stress ball, staring at the wall to the right of the screen.
Luerna picked at the blanket. The elephant in the room caused the silence to stretch and the tension to thicken. But she wasn’t going to let it ruin tonight. “You know you never talk about your mother?”
Levka cleared his throat, forcing all the terrible thoughts away, and sat up with his elbows on the desk. “I know, it’s a conscious decision.”
She smiled softly. “Well?”
“She died giving birth to my brother.”
“I didn’t know you had a brother.”
“He died, too.”
“Oh, shit, I’m sorry.”
“I was four, so I don’t have many memories. Alexander was gonna be his name. I remember the tiny coffin. The tombstone. My dad was convinced someone had something to do with it. The hospital was under Stephanov’s control.”
“But that doesn’t mean they sabotaged the delivery.”
“I agree, but my dad vowed revenge. Fought the Stephanovs these last seventeen years. Then I fucked it up.”
Luerna shifted nervously. She was well aware of the reason Levka didn’t marry her sister, and it hung over her head. She wondered if he regretted it, but she didn’t have the right to ask. “I think it’s sweet he never remarried.”
Levka responded with a snort. “Nothing sweet about the number of hookers that he goes through the apartment on a weekly basis. I can barely support the habit.”
“What about you? How many do you go through?”
Levka suppressed a smile. “You really want to know?” He wanted to be playful, considering her interest in his sex life made him extremely happy. They’ve been skirting around the topic of sex like two virgins unwilling to admit they liked each other.
But then her face changed, and she reared back. “No, never mind.” Luerna could only imagine how much sex he had. It’s like his attractiveness dropped ten points. She didn’t know what it was about men that slept around that disgusted her. Maybe it was because her asshole husband couldn’t keep his dick in his pants longer than twenty-four hours.
“It’s been six weeks.”
She nodded. “Sure.”
Levka took it as an insult for her to act like he was a liar when he’s been open and honest about everything, to a point where she knew more about him than any other person on the planet. Every conversation they had this past month has been exhausting, like sitting and talking to a therapist. But this was a problem within her. There were things Rurik had damaged that might never heal, and he accepted them about her.
Levka didn’t try to convince her. He told his truth, but he did add, “I find it highly difficult when I compare every woman I meet to you.”
A blush crept across her cheeks, and she bit her lip. At least the compliment found its mark. “You know what I keep thinking about?” Her blue eyes popped up, glittering with excitement. “The night at the hotel.”
A smirk drifted on his lips. He leaned his head back on the chair, looking at her through hooded eyes. That night drove him crazy for days. Part of him hated himself for walking away. The purely male, sex-craved piece of shit of him anyway. But the mature, level-headed, decent guy in him knew he couldn’t take advantage of her when she was clearly emotionally void. “Me too.”
A giggle and a twist in bed, and she was holding the phone above with a mischievous smile. “Okay, don’t think I’m coming on to you, but I’m curious. Can you show me?”
His brows knit. “Show you?”
“Because I keep picturing like this anaconda-like thing and it’s freaking me out.”
Levka chuckled, still deeply confused. “Are you talking about my dick?”
“Yes!” she squealed, hiding her face.
“You want to see my dick?”
She hurried to her defense. “It’s just that I didn’t get a good feel, but I got a pretty good feel, and I don’t know if it was entirely you or something more, and it’s got me a little worried.”
He laughed loudly, and she curled into a ball to hide her humor in the pillow. “And you’re not hitting on me?”
“No, strictly curiosity.”
“Sure.”
“Really!”
“Yeah.” He shrugged carelessly. “Curiosity. It’s fine. I’m not ashamed.”
Luerna sat up as his hands went to his zipper. She couldn’t see past his belly button; the desk hid everything below his waist, yet she eyed it like she could use X-ray vision. Her breath caught in her throat, and she held a hand against her chest in a vain attempt to slow her crazily beating heart. He shifted, pulling his pants down. “You ready?” he asked and cackled when she dumbly nodded, incapable of speech.
A massive, thick, slightly droopy feather duster popped from the desk. Luerna fell over in a fit of laughter.
Levka waved it around. “You impressed? I’d say it’s about eighteen inches. It can get in pretty deep.” He adored her fit of giggles and kept slapping the thing. He stood up. “I don’t know if you can appreciate it. Let me stroke it for you.” He held it against his crotch and ran his hand up the silk feathers. He thrusted, showing how he used it and her laughter got louder.
Luerna’s eyes popped up, and her mouth snapped shut as she stared at something from off-camera.
And then Rurik’s voice came through the phone. “Who are you talking to?”
Levka leaned in to get closer, but the screen went blank when she ended the call.
Levka sat still in wait. But the seconds ticked by, and she didn’t call back. Panic popped him to his feet. He dove his hands in his hair, gripping till it was painful.
Still, he waited for the phone to ring.
And still, it remained silent.
Levka paced the ground as terrified thoughts ran rampant.
What if Rurik found out she was talking to him? He’d hurt her? Would he kill her?
Levka snapped open his desk drawer and pulled out a 9 mm silver glock. He checked it for bullets before snapping the magazine back into the hilt. What was he planning to do? It didn’t matter that he couldn’t drive to her estate and walk into her house. He had to fucking try. But that was suicide, wasn’t it?
It doesn’t fucking matter if I die.
Levka ran out of the office and to his car. If he had any power, he could call a bunch of people to help him, but he lost it all. Yakov had destroyed every connection. Little crappy gangs took over the streets. There was no family. No pack. Just stupid sheep congregating together to bully and kill. Levka had been more focused on money than he was about strength, but now it was here, telling him he needed to do more. All the effort to get where he was wasn’t enough when he had no strength to protect it.
It was a lesson his father had tried to tell him, but he had ignored it.
Levka slammed a hand on the steering wheel, cursing as he pressed hard on the gas. Every minute that passed was another defeat. He was two hours away from her. There would be nothing left by the time he got there. It was pointless.
Levka pulled over on the side of the bridge. He could hear the rushing water. It was a whisper, a promise of a quick, painless death. Everything could end right now, and he’d never have to worry about all the bullshit. It would just be gone.
Levka clenched the phone in his hand. He was waiting for her to call. He’d give her an hour. If she was alive and unharmed, she’d call him because she’d know what the silence was doing to him. But if she didn’t, then she was dead, and he’d be quick to join her.
Levka got out of the car and paced along the side of the road. Cars were going by, honking at him, curious as to what made him stop. Not many people used this main bridge to off themselves because it wasn’t high enough to die on impact. There would be a chance he’d survive. He leaned over the edge, imagining what it would be like. Should he use the gun instead? He didn’t want any chance of survival.
The phone rang, and Levka stared at it. It was her name. But it could be Rurik. He could be standing over her blood-covered body, listening to the last sounds of her breath, as he held the phone above him, allowing Levka to witness her death.
Levka flicked it on.
Luerna stared back at him with a soft reassuring smile.
His knees weakened, and they hit the floor hard. He rested his head against the car.
“I’m okay. I’m sorry.”
He clenched his eyes shut, and an incredible wave of relief left him sick. He panted to control the nausea, choking on a sob that turned into a cough. He spit on the ground. Levka inspecte, to assure himself she wasn’t harmed before he shut his eyes again, concentrating on fighting off the hole in his stomach where the dread had eaten away the lining.
Levka shifted, sitting with his back against the car and the phone in front of him. He stared at the sky, despising God for playing with his head in such a way. He had never contemplated death before, but if Luerna had left this world, nothing was worth it. He hated how much power she had over him. She had what no one should have.
“I can’t do this.” He shook his head. “I can’t do this.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think he would come back. It won’t happen again.”
Levka brought his gaze down to her. “This isn’t going to work. I thought I could be in your life, and it would be better than being without you, but it’s worse.”
Tears burned in the back of her eyes, and she blinked rapidly, trying to suppress them. “Don’t–don’t say that. I like talking to you. I need it. Every day, I look forward to seeing your face.”
Levka squeezed a fist against his head. He didn’t want to hear it. It would kill his resolve.
“You’re the only good thing in my life, Levka.” Luerna searched his face, but he wasn’t looking at her. For the first time, he didn’t seem to want to. She rolled off the bed, searching for her shoes. “Where are you? I’m coming.”
“No,” he fought. “He’ll know.”
“I don’t care.”
“I can’t protect you, Luerna,” he admitted, hating himself more than he’s hated anything. He swung his arm, slamming his fist into the side of his door. “I can’t fucking protect you. Not yet. Not now.”
But it’s gonna change.
He realized what he’s got to do. It’s not just money, stability, or keeping his dad comfortable in luxury. It was about taking Luerna and her children from Rurik and surviving the aftermath. But that would require more of his attention. Being distracted, waiting for nine o’clock every day took more than he realized. If he was going to raise his family back to the top, one hundred percent of his attention needed to be on the goal.
“You don’t have to protect me. We’re not doing anything wrong,” Luerna whispered. “We’re friends.”
“You know I want more than that.”
“I know. But I can’t give you anything, Levka. I mean, I’m ten years older than you. I have four kids. My family is one of the most powerful families in Russia. There’s no just leaving. So please, be my friend. I want to talk to you every day. I want to hear your voice. It’s better than nothing.”
“It’s too much risk.”
“But it’s worth it, isn’t it?”
The way she said it, she was searching for validation that she was worth it. But what she didn’t understand was the risk. He couldn’t put her life in danger when he had no ability to save her. And with her as a distraction, it would take twice as long to get where he needed to be.
If he was going to become a boss who could take on Yakov Morozov, he couldn’t have weaknesses.
“Goodbye, Luerna.” He clicked off and then blocked her number.
Levka leaned his head back against the car. His chest was caving in, and he could hardly breathe. But he only gave into it briefly before forcing himself to his feet. There wasn’t time to lose. He had a goal to reach and an empire to create.