Chapter 5 #2
Before I can clarify that this is a working relationship and that we’re still not in kidnapping mode, the front door opens and a man walks in.
He’s covered in even more tattoos than Volodya, which is saying something, and he’s gorgeous, of course he is.
I’m beginning to think the only two requirements for joining the Medvedev Bratva is to be okay with killing people and to look mouthwateringly sexy while you do it.
The man puts a set of keys on the counter and says something in Russian to Volodya before giving me a smile. He’s beautiful, but he doesn’t make my heart race like his boss does. I smile and flip the omelet.
“Hi, I’m Nikolai,” he says, ignoring Volodya’s stern look and giving me a wink.
“Hi, I’m Maddie. Do you want some breakfast?”
Before he can answer, Volodya says something in Russian that makes Nikolai laugh. Nikolai turns back to me and says, “Thanks, but I need to get going. I just came with Ilya to drop something off.”
“I’ll be right back,” Volodya says before grabbing the keys and going out the front door.
“I am going to grab a quick cup of coffee, though,” Nikolai says, helping himself to everything he needs.
I study the intricate designs on his arms. “Those are really good,” I tell him. I may not know much about tattoos, but even I can see the talent behind those.
“Thank you.” He gives me a big smile. “I did them myself. I do all the tattoos for the Bratva.” He eyes my bare skin. “I could do one for you, if you want. Anyone who’s connected to the Bratva gets them for free.”
“Oh, I’m not connected like that. I’m just here to cook and clean.”
Nikolai laughs and leans against the counter while I flip the bacon.
“If Volodya invited you into his home, then that means you’re under his protection.
You are connected to this Bratva, Maddie.
You were the second you agreed to work for him.
Actually, I’d say you were the second you stepped foot in this house. He never brings anyone here.”
“So you’re pretty good friends with him?” I ask, hoping maybe I can get some more info on my new boss.
“Can anyone be friends with a bear?” he answers cryptically.
He shrugs and adds, “I guess I am as much as any one person can be, but I’m fully aware of the fact that he could choose to turn around and rip my fucking head off.
Some people are just a little more feral than others, and Volodya definitely pushes those boundaries. He always has.”
The sound of the front door has Nikolai closing his mouth.
He gives me another wink as Volodya walks in.
This time when he says something in Russian, Nikolai moves his ass and starts to leave, meeting up with another man at the front door who I’m guessing is Ilya.
He gives me a quick nod before turning to leave.
“Let me know if you decide you want a tattoo, Maddie,” Nikolai hollers out to me.
“What tattoo?” Volodya asks.
He seems tense. The man probably always has a tension headache.
“He just offered to give me one, said he does tattoos for all you guys.”
I fill two plates and hand him one. He takes it and sits down at the island. I hesitate, feeling like an idiot. “Do you want me to eat in my room?”
“Why the hell would I want you to do that?”
“I don’t know. Most people don’t eat with their maids.”
He nudges the barstool next to him with his foot, pushing it out towards me. “I’m not the fucking lord of the manor, Maddie. Sit your ass down and eat your breakfast.”
I sit down and turn to look out the large window behind me, the one that gives a perfect view of the ocean. “It feels a little like you’re the lord of the manor,” I tell him. “Pretty nice digs for a commoner.”
“Crime pays well,” he says, cutting into his omelet. “Tell me about Scott.”
“There’s not much to tell.” I grab my fork and dig into my own food. “He’s really gross, which I guess doesn’t give you much info about his business. He brings women over a lot. He’s always on his computer.”
“We’ve already hacked into his computer,” he says in between bites. “Nothing but a tremendous amount of porn.”
“That doesn’t surprise me at all. I never saw anyone that I didn’t recognize at the house.
I never saw any sort of shipment coming in.
Last night they were bitching about you guys, though,” I say with a laugh.
“They think you guys are a bunch of psychos, and they wish the Irish were still around because they were lazy about things. Darin was worried about going up against the Bratva, but Scott is confident that you won’t catch him. ”
“So gross and stupid,” Volodya says, making me smile.
“That’s pretty much Scott in a nutshell, yeah.”
“You’ve known them a long time?”
“Yeah, since we were kids. Kaylee and I went to school together. Scott graduated a couple years before us.”
“What do you think about Kaylee?”
I chew my last bite of bacon, trying to decide how best to answer. Volodya leans back, turning the stool so he’s facing me. He’s thighs are spread, pinning me in again, whether he realizes it or not. I’m guessing he does. I don’t think anything is unplanned where he’s concerned.
“Just tell me how you really feel.”
I turn to face him. “She’s not very pleasant to be around.”
He gives a harsh laugh. “That’s an understatement.”
“Wait, I thought you didn’t know her.”
“We’ve recently become acquainted.”
I suck in a quick breath. “You went back and grabbed her last night, didn’t you?”
He doesn’t answer, just keeps those eyes of his locked on mine.
The gaze is almost predatory. I’ve never met anyone before who seems so fucking feral.
It’s like his humanity is a much smaller part than the rest of him.
Usually it’s the savage parts of ourselves that are less dominant, but with Volodya, it’s the exact opposite.
“You didn’t kill her, did you? I mean, she’s an ass, but she doesn’t deserve to die. She’s not a part of her brother’s drug stuff.”
“Relax, kiska, she’s still breathing.”
“Well, in that case, be careful. She’s going to try to sleep with you.”
His eyes give nothing away, but something has me on edge. I’m surprised by how much it pisses me off to think of Kaylee getting her hands on Volodya. It’s a crazy thought, I know it is, but it doesn’t stop me from having it. I think I kind of want to keep the big bad scary man to myself.
He puts me out of my misery by leaning closer and saying, “Relax, kiska, she’s not my type.”
“What is your type?”
“Not her,” is all he says, watching me and knowing I want to ask more.
I bite my bottom lip to keep my damn mouth shut and grab our empty plates.
When I try to squeeze by, he refuses to budge for a few seconds, waiting until I meet his eyes before finally shifting his weight so I can slip past. I’m starting to appreciate the cool temperature of the house.
It’s the only think keeping me from spontaneously combusting.
“Leave those for now,” he says, getting up and waiting for me to set the dishes down and join him. “I want to show you something.”
I follow him outside, smiling when all three dogs immediately run over to us. It’s like they haven’t seen us for days. We pet them for a few minutes, but when Volodya says something to them in Russian, they run off to go play.
“I left your car where it was, so I got you this instead.” He hands me the set of keys that Nikolai had dropped off and motions towards a brand-new, black Jeep Wrangler.
He runs a hand through his hair, and if it was anyone else, I’d say it was a nervous gesture.
“I got you an automatic because I wasn’t sure if you knew how to drive a manual.
I can switch it for something else if you don’t like it. ”
“You bought me a Jeep?” I turn to him, unable to hide the shock from my face. “Why did you do that?”
“Your car is a piece of shit, and you need something reliable.”
I shake my head and walk over to the vehicle. He has no way of knowing this, but I’ve always wanted one of these. They just look like they’d be so much fun to drive, but now when I look at it, I just feel guilty. This thing could pay off so many medical bills.
“Don’t even fucking think about it,” he says. “I’m keeping the title in my name until I know I can trust you to not sell it.”
“How in the hell did you know what I was thinking?”
He presses the keys into my hand. “You’re pretty easy to read, kiska. Come on. I still need to show you around the house.”
I follow him back inside. He takes me from room to room, showing me where everything is.
He has a huge home gym that he says I can use whenever I want, and there’s also a media room with the biggest TV I’ve ever seen along with a leather sectional couch that looks buttery soft and more comfortable than any bed I’ve ever slept in.
By the time we hit the stairs, I’m overwhelmed.
Kaylee and Scott’s house is just as big as this place, but it’s older and not as nice.
It also lacks the beautiful views out of every window.
“There are a couple of spare rooms down the hall,” he says, pointing off to the right. “And this is my room.”
We step into a large room with a king-size bed and windows that stretch along two of the walls, giving a view of the rolling ocean and the wooded area to the side of the house.
“Wow,” I whisper, taking in everything. My eyes drift over to his bed, but I quickly look away and refuse to let my mind wonder about whether or not the man sleeps naked. “Your home is really beautiful, Volodya.”
“Thank you.”
When my eyes go back to his bed, he gives a soft laugh that makes me feel like he’s caught me doing something wrong. I try to cover it by asking, “When was the last time you washed your bedding? I like to do it once a week.”
The look he gives me makes it obvious he knows I wasn’t just mulling over the laundry schedule, but I ignore him and wait for his answer.
“Two days ago.”
“Okay, I’ll do them every Thursday then.”