Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Rodion
Klub Chernyy
Staring up at the sign now emblazoned on the front of the building that was once Club Vibe sends a pulse of excitement zapping through me like lightning.
We will reopen this weekend, and everything is nearly ready with the second level.
After calling in a couple of favors back home, we’ve secured our first couple of fights, all above board and legal for now.
Once we’re settled in and better understand the local scene and community, we can confidently transform Klub Chernyy Arkansas into the dark haven it aims to be, mirroring the thrill and exclusivity of its sister club back in Moscow.
This is more than a reopening. Now that we have our girl back, it’s the beginning of a new chapter.
“It looks amazing, Ro.” Alyona slips her fingers into mine and I lace them bringing our joined hands to my lips.
“You look amazing,” I growl, wrapping my other arm around her and grabbing a handful of her ass encased in a pair of leather shorts. “Where’s Z?”
I ask her because there’s a noticeable tension between us right now, and he's avoiding talking to me. I dislike it immensely. Him looking into the past will only bring pain and trouble. We finally have Alyona back with us, so we don’t need that shit.
I don’t want anything to spoil this. Only I’m on that page, though, because Alyona agrees that he should find out about the Chesters and if what happened to them could potentially have any consequences for Z or Roza.
Little does she know the can of worms that will open.
Sliding her arms around my neck, she sighs against my lips. “He’s inside and insists Roza is fine there while he works in the office. He’s going over a nanny list again.”
“She will be fine. You worry too much. You're strung tighter than a bow. I’ll loosen you up when we get back home later.”
She’s been on edge since Abram came to the house and said taking out Yuri will prove difficult. We didn’t think it would be a walk in the damn park, but the slippery fuck has worked his way all the way to the top of the food chain over the last few decades, and no one is brave enough to remove him.
We will end him though.
Even if it causes us to go to war with Vlad.
It’s not ideal, but a last resort. Our father is planning a visit here and we will discuss our options and plan of action then.
“Come inside for a few minutes,” I tell her. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“It’s not another girlfriend, is it?” she teases after seeing Nikita here at the club yesterday. And I smack her ass for being a little brat. She was very satisfied with the knowledge that we plan to move Nikita’s expertise to The Vault for Viktor’s expansion.
“Ouch,” she squeals when I slap her ass again, harder, and she begins running ahead of me.
Opening the doors to the club, pride fills my chest. It looks incredible inside.
We’ve transformed the lobby, now featuring a sleek second entryway that leads down to the expansive second level.
The atmosphere is vibrant, enhanced by special lighting encased in the walls throughout the space.
One of the standout additions is our state-of-the-art scanning system.
When you step through it, it feels like you’re walking through a futuristic corridor of illuminated screens.
However, its true function is to scan for weapons, drugs, and any other contraband individuals might attempt to smuggle into the club.
Our security team refers to these devices as millimeter wave scanners, similar to those used in airports. I call them necessary.
We control the bloodshed here and any drugs that flow in and out. No one else.
Chasing Alyona through the club, I catch her, she screams, and then bursts into a fit of giggles as I spin her.
My lips crash to hers and I lift her ass until she’s sitting on the bar surface.
I nestle myself between her thighs and grasp the base of her throat.
“I’ll always catch you, ptichka.” Little bird.
Footfalls sound all around from people working downstairs and I begrudgingly pull away from Alyona’s warmth, enjoying the keening sound she makes in the back of her throat.
“We don’t want you locked away—well, we do—but we know you won’t like being hidden away all the time. Now that we’ve neutralized the immediate threat, you can go about your normal routines.”
She rolls her eyes. “Thanks, Dad.”
“That’s Daddy to you,” I say with a filthy grin.
The blush that creeps up her neck makes my dick twitch. I reach around her, clasp the box I had stashed behind there, and hold it in my palm out to her.
Wide eyes expand, and I realize what it must look like. “It’s not a ring,” I blurt out. “Well, it is, but not the kind you might be thinking.” I wince and open it.
“Oh,” she says, faking enthusiasm. “It’s big.”
A bark of laughter rattles my shoulders. “It’s a weapon.” I pluck it free and push down on the silver rose protruding from a silver band. The rose flips like a lid and a small blade shoots up about two inches.”
Her gasp and astonishment are real, and my heart does some fluttering shit. “It’s stacked in there like a pyramid. That is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.” She reaches for it, and I quickly close the rose lid.
“It’s razor-sharp all around and not just the tip, Alyona, so don’t accidently touch it if you ever need to get it out.”
“I love it, thank you.”
“I love you,” I murmur as I slip it down her finger and grin when it fits perfectly.
A shadow moves to our right. Alyona notices and asks, “Who is that?”
It’s just a giant at the end of the bar with no facial expression. He looks like the Grim Reaper.
“That’s Jason,” I say, waving a hand toward him. “He will accompany you around.” I tell her as casually as I can muster, like it’s normal for the fucking Hulk to follow her around.
“A bodyguard?” she asks incredulously.
“A reassurance,” I placate, holding my hands up in surrender. Viktor recommended him.
“He’s a bodyguard.”
“Just be a good girl and do this for us.”
Defiance glimmers in her eyes. “You do know you trained me to look after myself.”
“Yes, love.” I capture her lips, dragging kisses up her face until my lips reach her ear. “Do this for us and we’ll do unspeakably nasty things for you later.”
“Fine. But I need to go get groomed and do some shopping first.”
Pulling a wad of cash from my pocket, I tuck it down her shirt, biting my lip when I get a glimpse of the swell of her tits. “Get whatever you need.”
“I have money.” She frowns, plucking it out and holding it between her fingers like a cigarette.
“We have more. Indulge me, please.” I place my hands together in prayer.
“Fine.” She jabs a finger playfully into my chest, her expression a mix of frustration and amusement.
“You do owe me panties. Not a single pair of mine has survived you and your brother’s mischief.
” Her cheeks flush a deeper shade of crimson as she glances around, remembering that we aren’t alone in the room. “Jason’s very quiet.”
“Shame you’re not,” Nikita suddenly announces, entering the bar with a clipboard and pen. “Rodion, Rick wants to talk to you about the Octagon.” She comes to stand beside me, so close her arm brushes mine deliberately, while smiling pleasantly at Alyona.
Stepping into her space, Alyona asks, “Have you ever been inside an Octagon ring, Nikita?” There’s a threat in her demeanor, and it sends my semi-hard cock to full salute.
“I’m a lover, not a fighter,” Nikita drawls, her eyes scanning up my body and smirking.
My cock shrivels up.
“Well, I’m both,” Alyona tells her, wrapping her palm around my neck and nudging Nikita away. Then, she stands on her toes and crushes her delectable lips to mine. By the time she pulls away, we’re both panting, and Nikita has left. “Oh boo. I was going to show her the fighter too.”
“You’re a menace,” I groan. And feel the urge to tell her I’m only playing when she stares up at me like it’s the last time she will see me.
“I love you,” she says, her eyes closing briefly. “I’m going to say goodbye to Z and Roza. I’ll see you later, yeah?”
“You better, or I’ll chain you to the bed and never let you leave,” I threaten as I watch her sashay down the hall to where Z is. To the Hulk, I growl, “Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“I won’t, sir.”
Walking into the office, I head straight for Roza and pick her up into my arms. Z had one of the workers go buy this portable cot that just springs up like a tent earlier, and it’s been a revelation.
“Have you missed me?” I ask her, blowing raspberries on her tummy. I’ve been in the lower level for most of the afternoon, and now I’m tired, hungry, and in need of Roza cuddles.
“What about Daddy? Has he missed me?” I coo, walking with her over to Z. I grasp the back of his neck, and knead the tension there.
“We shouldn’t say things like that to her. It may confuse her.” He frowns, clicking off a screen and leaning back in the chair, groaning when I apply more pressure.
“She’s the luckiest girl in the world getting two of us,” I tell him, having fallen even more in love with him watching him father Roza these past weeks.
He’s a natural. There’s something so magical about being a parent. This tiny human was created from the essence of both Alyona and Z. I didn’t realize there were layers to love, but what I feel for Roza is different to how I feel about them. It’s just as intense, but it’s wholesome and precious.
A knock on the door draws both our attention.
“Come in,” Z barks.
The door swings open and Roman, the former doorman, is standing there.
“What do you want?” Z snarls, subtly jerking his head for me to get behind him. I think I could take him with Roza in my arms, but I wouldn’t, so I move behind Z’s chair.
“I know I fucked up, but I know who you both are, and I want a second chance.”
“And we’d give that to you, why?” Z asks, bored, fiddling with a paperclip on the desk.
“I’ll prove myself in the ring.” He shrugs and crosses his arms. “I like to fight underground.”
Z’s brow quirks up and he leans forward in his chair. “Are you any good?”
“Why not give him a run, Z? You’ve been wanting to hit something,” I drawl, turning with Roza in my arms, smiling at her when she decides my ears are the best toy she’s ever had.
“With my eyes blindfolded and an arm tied behind my back, it still wouldn’t be a fair fight,” Z muses.
A chuckle reverberates my chest. It’s true.
“Where is Alyona?” Z suddenly snaps and leaps up from the desk, his eyes darting toward someone behind Roman, a look of panic etched on his face.
My heart races, pounding violently against my ribcage as anxiety grips me. I see Jason standing in the doorway, his chest heaving as he clings to the door frame for support. Roman takes a step back into the hallway watching the interaction with confusion.
“I lost her,” Jason gasps. "She slipped me."
Z walks past me and raises his leg, booting Jason into the hallway and slamming the office door closed behind him. Grunts and groans echo through the walls. I race to put Roza in her pop-up cot, giving her her favorite dolly to play with.
Swinging the door open, I find Jason lying at Z’s feet, out cold with blood streaming from his nose and lips.
“Call her,” Z demands, his hands clenched and body practically vibrating. My own hands shake as I retrieve my phone from my pocket and pull up her number.
“Get rid of him and you’ll have your fight,” Z tells Roman, who jumps into action, gripping Jason’s feet and dragging him away. “Do it,” Z roars at me when I hesitate with my phone.
One ring. Two. Three.
“I’m not running,” she says as soon as she answers, and oxygen floods my lungs. “Put me on speaker with Z.”
“Where are you, Alyona?” he demands, eyes closing tight.
There are people chatting in the background wherever she is. “I know I don’t deserve to ask this, but I will anyway. I need you to trust me. Give me three days.”
What the fuck.
This isn’t happening.
“To do what?” I ask, confused.
“Just please give me three days. I’m leaving you with my life, our Roza. Believe me when I tell you I’ll be coming home to you all.”
“This doesn’t make sense,” I say, taking Z’s hand and steadying him.
“It will, I promise. Please, set a timer. Three days.” And then she hangs up.
My hand drops with the phone, and Z punches the wall, his fist puncturing the plaster.
“What do we do?” I say, my equilibrium making my feet sway. It doesn’t make fucking sense.
“Something must have happened,” Z says, his breathing slowing.
“So, what do we fucking do?” I bellow.
Ice blue eyes cut to me, and my stomach clenches at the agony there. We can’t fucking make it through this again. “We trust her and wait.”
“And what if she doesn’t come back?”
She has to. She fucking has to.
“Then we scour every corner of the earth until we find her.”