Chapter 4
Alexsey
This had absolutely been a ‘what the fuck’ kind of day.
As I took several deep breaths, the rubber pieces in my nose began to annoy the hell out of me. Just before I managed to rip the tubes from my nose, Mikhail and Bristol walked in.
“Oh, no, you don’t, mister.” She immediately rushed to my side, giving me her usual admonishing look. As my brother’s wife, she was certainly more than just a pretty face and arm candy for Mikhail. She was his equal and kept him on his toes.
What was I saying? She could do that to the entire family with one crook of her little finger. It didn’t hurt she’d given birth to the cutest kid in the world, making me a happy uncle.
So I gave her slack.
Although at this early in the morning, I was in the mood to beat some ass.
“I’m fine,” I growled.
“You almost died in a fire, bro,” Mikhail threw in.
“Yeah, and I knew exactly who set it. Fucking Papadakis.” Viktor had laughed at me when I’d explained things to him. His answer? A cold day in hell.
I should have known he’d retaliate.
“How are you?” Bristol asked.
“The doctors said I inhaled a lot of smoke, but no permanent damage.”
Mikhail shook his head. “Yeah, well, I heard that was because of the heroic efforts of a firefighter. You’re lucky to be alive.”
My thoughts had been going back and forth from the revenge I’d exact on the entire Papadakis clan to the beautiful woman who’d risked her own life to save mine.
She had indeed been heroic in her efforts, somehow managing to claw her way through the debris to cart my ass out. There’d been an electric connection between us, which was ridiculous given we’d been in the middle of horrific danger, but there was no way of denying the chemistry.
Then she’d looked me in the eyes, recognition destroying the slight tether.
I rubbed my jaw, the visions of her beautiful face still ravaging my mind. “Maybe so. I should thank her since Papadakis meant for me to die inside my own home.”
“You’re certain it was arson?” Bristol asked and poured me some water in a cup, placing the straw inside. “Drink this.” It was better to do as she asked instead of fighting her.
“Trust me. I heard a noise and came downstairs. Then poof, the lights went out and there was a sudden wall of fire. I could smell gasoline.”
“Not very creative,” Mikhail gritted out. “And how the hell did someone get past the guards?”
“Good question, but the neighborhood isn’t completely walled off. There are several locations they could have slipped through. And my address isn’t completely hidden from county records.”
My brother looked away. I was still in the emergency room, the doctor considering checking me into the hospital. That wasn’t going to happen.
“We need to deal with this carefully.”
“Carefully?” I repeated. As soon as I barked out the single question, my blood pressure increased.
“Gentlemen. Alexsey was in a horrific fire,” Bristol cautioned.
“The best medicine is kicking some ass.”
My brother was amused by my answer. “You need to get your rest. Plus, there’s insurance to deal with. The house is a total loss.”
“On the bright side, my beloved Porsche is in the shop getting new windows.”
He chuckled. “It’s good to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor. I heard about your incident with the firefighter. Maybe karma was trying to tell you something since you parked in front of a hydrant.”
Bristol’s eyes opened wide. “You did not!”
“I’m never going to live this down. But maybe you’re right. Same firefighter.”
“I bet she’ll be thrilled learning who she saved.”
My brother laughed just as my patience had run out.
I ripped out the oxygen, ignoring Bristol’s attempt to stop me and immediately disconnected the blood pressure monitor.
The machine started beeping, but I didn’t care.
I threw back the covers, swinging my legs to the floor.
“She knows. We had a moment.” When I grinned, Bristol folded her arms.
“So what Kazimir said is true. You like this girl.”
“I hardly think she’d like being called a girl.” And I was going to kill my other brother. There were no secrets in the family. None. “Don’t worry. She hates me.” Not that I could blame her.
“But you wouldn’t mind thanking her. Right?”
What did my sister-in-law have up her sleeve? “I suppose I should since I’m still breathing.”
Mikhail thought the exchange was the funniest thing he’d heard in a long time.
“Well, then maybe you don’t mind hearing that I happened to notice a firefighter four bays down. Long, dark hair? Braid? Since she was snipping at the doctor, she might be your firefighter.”
“She’s not my firefighter, but you could be right.” Why was it that even after all I’d been through, my cock was twitching? Was that normal? “Maybe I will say something to her. Why not?”
“A match made in heaven,” Mikhail chortled. “You’re coming home with us instead of heading to your condo. We’ll figure out what to do later this morning. And no, I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“Fine. Whatever.” I could go back to the condo I owned in the heart of Las Vegas, but a plan did need to be made.
The sooner the better. Including full retaliation.
“Let me talk with the firefighter. Then we are getting the hell out of here.” I shuffled toward the curtain, realizing every muscle in my body ached.
No, the fire certainly hadn’t been on my bingo card.
“What are you doing, sir?” The nurse tried to push me back into the tiny space. “You haven’t been released.”
“Yes, I have. Make it happen.” Thankfully, she didn’t try to stop me. I moved down the corridor, avoiding the doctors and nurses, catching sight of the lovely firefighter only a few seconds later.
I could have anticipated she would be arguing with the doctor attending to her.
“I’m fine. Just some smoke,” she said forcefully. She was still dressed in the firefighter trousers, but her jacket had been removed. Underneath was a body-hugging tee shirt. Even with soot on her face, and strands of hair pulling free from the long braid she wore, she was devastatingly beautiful.
Especially once again seeing in her in the light.
“Captain, I want to keep you for observation,” the doctor insisted.
“That’s not going to happen. I’m fine.” She was already pulling at her oxygen cord, trying to swing her legs off the bed. She was as hardheaded as I was.
“You probably should allow her to go, Doctor. She’s a feisty one and won’t take no for an answer.” My words inflamed the moment. She snapped her head in my direction, fire coming from her eyes. My God, the woman could pin me to the ground with her hard glare.
And I loved it.
Almost no women challenged me. For her to do so was far more tempting that it should be. Yet my cock was doing all the thinking, vivid and very filthy images floating through my mind.
The doctor sighed, grabbing the iPad from the small table and fervently punching his fingers on the screen. “Fine. But you do so with your own recognizance.” He eyed me carefully as he headed out, avoiding getting too close.
She sighed and immediately looked away and I could tell she was grumbling under her breath.
I stood where I was, able to tell I was getting under her skin. Just like she’d done with mine.
“I thought I’d take a minute to say thank you for saving my life.”
“No thanks needed.” She managed to stand and as soon as she did, she swayed, which caused me to react instantly. I moved forward, taking her into my arms. The moment I did, the same electric connection bolted through us both.
There was no doubt she felt the same strong current by the look of surprise on her face. I pulled her even closer until my body was firmly pressed against hers.
Her entire body stiffened and she placed her hands on my chest, pushing to try to break free. My instinct was to tell her that she wasn’t going anywhere, but that wouldn’t go over very well.
Still, I refused to back away until she shoved her hands against me.
“I’m fine,” she retorted.
“Are you sure? You’re a little unsteady on your feet.”
“Just a little lightheaded.”
I backed away, but only by a few inches. Of course I was amused and she sensed it, raking her hand through the few strands of loose hair, displaying irritation and a hint of nervousness. Ah. She was anxious around me.
She definitely felt the same intense connection I was feeling.
“I’m sorry about your house. We did our best.” Her voice was still edged with agitation, but she was softening to me. Slightly.
“It’s just a house full of things that can be replaced. You gave me a second chance at life.”
For my honesty, I was given a slight smile. “Well, your thank you is accepted. Now, try and remember the next time you see a fire hydrant that you could be endangering someone else’s life.”
There was the lecture, just as I’d expected. Ordinarily, I’d be furious someone dared to continue crucifying me when I already felt bad enough. But with her, I almost relished the criticism.
The moment became awkward and I don’t know why, but I also had the strong need to thank her more appropriately. “Have dinner with me.”
She looked at me as if I’d just grown two heads, laughing softly almost instantly. “I don’t think so.” She tried to sidestep me, but I refused to allow her. Even with the stench of smoke and gasoline, I also gathered a sweet scent of strawberries. Maybe her shower gel. The fragrance suited her.
“Why is that? Can’t a man whose life was saved offer thanks by way of a good meal?”
Her laugh was more forced. “Because I have a strong feeling that strings are attached.”
I pressed my hand against my chest, acting shocked. “Me? You don’t know me very well.”
“I don’t know you at all.”
“Why don’t we change that. Alexsey Dmitriyev.”
The way she eyed me curiously meant she’d recognized the family name. “Ah, yes. I thought I caught a hint of a Russian accent.”
“I’m not certain if that’s good or bad.”
“Your accent is very… acceptable, Mr. Dmitriyev. I’m simply not immune to your power in this city.”