17. Viktor
17
VIKTOR
I didn’t see Irina for two days. She didn’t show up to her poetry class. There were no signs of her at her usual haunts, the café, the cafeteria, the coffee shops, the library, and the gym. I didn’t spot her once.
Aggravated that I was so hung up on her, I tried to talk myself down from missing her. She couldn’t matter like that. Sure, she had the sweetest pussy I’d ever tasted, but she was still a target to spy on. A source to get intel from. A Mafia princess from a rival family.
I also did my best not to worry. I delivered her back to her apartment in one piece, and I knew she had to have guards there. Going back to her place and checking on her was next on my list, but I wanted to be patient. She had to be suspicious of my interest as it was, and I didn’t want to risk her getting more suspicious or curious.
By the end of the second day, I felt like I’d go crazy if I bottled in all this worry and confusion. So, I headed back to the Baranov mansion, accepting an invitation to dinner with the Boss, Lev, and Eva. Boris was there too, but like always, Oleg’s younger brother didn’t speak much, just drinking into oblivion.
I stopped at the main whorehouse on my way there, checking in on how things were going with the man I’d had working in my stead. I was sure I’d be stuck going back there eventually, so it would probably pay off to keep in touch with how things were going.
After dinner, Eva commiserated with my report. “I’m not surprised you’re struggling to get close to her.”
“I didn’t say I was struggling, per se…”
She smiled as she rolled her eyes. “However you want to say it. Irina never seemed to have many friends. Not real ones. She’s always seemed like someone who refrained from letting anyone in.”
But why? Eva was sort of the same, held to a higher standard in the society of the Mafia organizations because she was a Mafia princess. She proved that she could make friends, though, like she had with that Kelly woman for a while.
“It’s curious that the Ilyins were trying to capture her,” Oleg said, puffing on his after-dinner cigar.
Lev nodded. “I can’t see Igor being too pleased with the Ilyins if they’d succeeded.”
Neither could I, but I witnessed them trying to capture her. It had happened, for whatever reason.
I enjoyed my time with them, but all too soon, it was time for me to go. If I didn’t see Irina tomorrow, I’d seek her out at her place.
On the drive back to my apartment, still in my suit and tie since I hadn’t changed after working on papers and crap for the next lecture, plus spying on some Petrov soldiers who were loitering near the gym, my phone buzzed with a text from Rurik. I checked the screen at a light.
Rurik: I heard you were trying to find your girl.
I huffed. “My girl?” I could hardly claim Irina was mine. I did miss the pleasure on her face when I called her sweetheart , though.
Rurik: I just spotted her heading to the library. I was there watching Kelly for a while.
“Huh.” I found it curious that Oleg and Lev still had Rurik doing checks on the blonde friend Eva had made. Kelly hadn’t reached out to Eva at all, but Oleg and Lev seemed to want to offer slight protection and courtesy checks on the woman, hence why Rurik was on campus when he was.
Viktor: Thanks.
I was slightly surprised that she’d go to the library this late, but as I’d learned on my previous stops there, the old building of books seemed busier after the sun went down.
I parked and headed there, shoving my hands as deep as they could go in my pockets. I was sick of this weather. Spring could come and thaw us any time now.
After I entered the four-story library, I set out to hunt her down. She wasn’t in any of the study areas where I sometimes spotted her, but I hit the jackpot on the top floor. Large windows showed the snow drifting down outside on the square. While the vista could’ve been picturesque, Irina was seated further from the windows.
As I strolled toward her, she sighed and shook her head. Then she stood, stretching a little before carrying a book back to a shelf.
Following behind her, I paused at her table and draped my coat over hers. It’d be fine there as I stalked her down the long aisles of books. While the lower levels had more students—some studying and some seeming to jam to music and just talk—she must have chosen this top floor for the quiet. Hardly anyone was up here, and I relished the illusion of privacy I could have with her.
She didn’t turn or acknowledge me as I followed her, and I wondered what could be weighing down her mind so much that she wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings. Growing up in a Mafia family, she’d have better street smarts than most women.
Flinching a little at seeing me closing in on her down a long aisle between tall cases laden with books, she raised her brows in surprise. “Viktor,” she greeted.
God, I missed her voice. I slowed, walking up to her and taking the book out of her hand. It was a text for rock formations. “Are you burning the midnight oil cramming for a geology exam?” I guessed.
She shrugged, lowering her gaze as she looked at the book in my hand.
“Is that why I haven’t seen you anywhere on campus these last couple of days? You’ve been too busy studying?”
Lifting her face to me, she slyly smiled, as though the idea of my looking for her pleased her. Excited her. “You’ve noticed my absence?”
How could I not?
“Oh, let me guess. You’re just pissed that I missed the poetry class today.”
“I’m not mad…”
“You did tell me not to waste your time and disrespect the class rules and expectations,” she teased mildly.
“I did. But every student is allotted two missed days before their grade is affected.” But you don’t care about your grade, do you?
“What are you doing here, then?” I asked.
“I just wanted to come somewhere… safe.”
Alarms sounded in my mind. I was instantly on edge with her comment. I hated that she would ever feel in danger, and as soon as I acknowledged that, I wanted to groan.
She’s supposed to be a target. The enemy.
“And being around all these old books makes me feel safe.” She wrapped her arms around herself in a hug as she looked around at the rows and stacks of books surrounding us. Before she could elaborate, she continued walking further down the aisle, and beholden to needing and wanting her company, I followed behind.
“Thank you, by the way, for helping me out with those guys at that party.”
I hadn’t been counting on a heartfelt thanks, days later.
“They were just joking around.”
I frowned at her. “Don’t lie,” I warned. “They were trying to kidnap you. Capture you.”
She looked to the side, not commenting.
“Did you want them to capture you?” Was it supposed to be some kind of ploy that I’d interrupted? I felt like I was in the dark with what Igor had planned.
“No,” she mumbled, furrowing her brow at me, as if I were an idiot to guess that. “Besides, what would it matter what I want?”
I smirked. She was a Mafia princess. She had to want for nothing.
“Tell me.”
She stopped, facing me fully. “What?”
“Tell me what you want.” I waited, calm and patient even though my blood boiled at hearing her fantasies or wishes.
Trapped under her stare, I felt like I was the luckiest man alive. To be the object of her attention. To see her blue eyes glittering with mischief.
Without losing eye contact with me, she smiled slightly, backing up a step. Then two. I advanced after her, curious whether she was literally trying to play a game of catch. The thought of her enjoying the thrill of a chase made me start to get hard.
“I want…” She swept the tip of her tongue along her lower lip. I couldn’t get enough of this daring side of her.
I uncuffed my sleeves and rolled them up slowly, forcing myself to be patient before she’d tell me.
“I wish you’d kiss me again.”
Fuck yes. I nodded, letting her see how much I desired her as I kept walking after her. She led us further into the maze of bookcases, securing our privacy from the center part of the library space.
“That you’d pick up right where you left off in your office,” she added, her voice soft and quiet, as though she couldn’t believe she was speaking her mind.
“That’s what I want.”
I tilted my head, prolonging this wait and letting the tension and suspense build between us. Because the moment I had her in my arms, I would be doing my best not to rush.
“I should punish you for such naughty thoughts about me, sweetheart. Lusting after your professor?” I shook my head slowly, taunting her.
She drew in a quick breath as her eyes darkened. Under the shadows this far into the library, she looked more exotic, more like an untouchable dream.
“Do it,” she taunted. “Punish me. Make me feel something other than…” She frowned, focusing on me again. Reaching forward to grip my red tie, she stared at me with such a begging, pleading expression that I’d never be able to tell her no. I didn’t intend to.
“I want you, Viktor,” she whispered as she tugged on my tie, pulling me closer.