Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
MIA
ONE YEAR LATER
Tuesday nights at the bar are usually quiet, but tonight we have a group. They’re taking up like three tables in the corner of the room, and they are serious about their drinks. They are also serious about their business.
One thing people forget about is the helpers—bartenders and owners—hear everything. We know so much about what’s going on in the towns we live in that we could write a book on broken promises, sins, and even the happy moments. These guys have been coming in for a few years now. I know they run a security company together and that they also plan and execute rescues of people needing out of bad situations. As someone who could have used their help once upon a time, I usually give them a discount. It’s something I can quietly do to let them know I appreciate it. I know Daniel, who runs the thing, and his wife Victoria, but I don’t know the others’ names. Just their drinks. Beer.
I only know Victoria and her husband because of my own personal past. I have a shared history with her sister Lizzy.
“Hey, Boss,” Brodie calls from the window between the bar and kitchen. “Food’s coming up. Want me to take it out?”
“Nah, I got it.”
Brodie has been with me for a little over six months. College kid, hard worker. He’s adorable in an annoying little brother kind of way, but I know he’s going to break some poor girl’s heart one day. He’s reaping the rewards of working at a bar next to a large college campus. He gets action more than I do—or did. I haven’t been taking anyone new home with me lately. Thinking about the why makes my stomach flip.
Demitri Pavlov. Well, he goes by John Smith now, has been hiding in plain sight for over a year, working in a garage that restores custom cars and bikes. He goes up to Boulder Canyon quite a bit working with some guys up there who run a garage, trading parts and talking shop. I’ve been with him a few times, but only because no one forty minutes up the mountain range will have any idea who I am. I’m nobody. And whatever this thing between Demitri—or John—and me is, it’s not for public consumption. It’s a secret. And something about that makes it even more exciting.
I carry the food to the table. “Here you are, round one of food.” I smile, placing the appetizer plates on the table. “Will there be more joining you tonight, or is it just you six? Also, you’re new?” I point to a good-looking man sitting with the regulars.
“I’m Sam Carmichael, ma’am.” He dips his head in greeting.
“Well, I’m Mia, not ma’am,” I sass to the laughter of the guys. “This is my place, so let me formally welcome you to City Brews.”
“Thanks, it’s a nice place.”
“Sammy here is PD over in Briar Mountain.” Victoria smiles. “And we have a few more meeting us here tonight.”
“Yeah? Other women? These guys look like they could use the company.” I hitch my thumb at the other three guys. “Sam, I don’t know you well enough to know if you need company yet, but I know they’re always here alone. Unless it’s some odd relationship where you’re all with her?”
The comment gets the reaction I’m hoping for, the new guy, Sam, laughing until there are tears in his eyes, the other three guys unconsciously covering their dicks, and Daniel looking like he’s ready to go scorched earth if someone even looks at his woman too long.
“Oh, that’s funny,” she laughs. “But honestly, they couldn’t handle me. Even if they tried at the same time.”
I fist bump Victoria while the guys get their shit together. The door opens, and a woman comes in. Daniel stands from the table, walking over to her. They share a very platonic hug and he brings her to the table, where everyone seems to know her. So, not a naked partner for the lonely boys.
“Welcome to City Brews,” I greet her. “What can I get you?”
“Just a beer. I’ll share their pitcher.” She looks at everyone, daring them to argue.
“I’ll grab a mug and an extra plate.” I wink at her and make my way back to the bar.
Not twenty minutes later, the door opens again and two more people walk in, sharing a very indecent kiss at the entrance. Makes me sad that I’ll never have that, but I get over it quickly. I don’t want that. Never will. That’s not what my life has in store for me. And I know the line. If I keep telling myself the lie, maybe one day even I’ll believe it.
I keep an eye on the group, giving them time to say their hellos before I take the new pair’s order, and smile to myself when they start congratulating the couple and passing hugs around.
I make my way back to the table, smiling when I genuinely welcome them. “Couldn’t help but overhear. Congratulations, lovebirds. I’m Mia, this is my place. Welcome. What can I get you to drink?”
“Thank you.” The new woman smiles in return. “How about something fruity and frozen?”
“Oh, that sounds good,” Victoria adds. “Make it two.”
“Beer’s good,” the man says.
“And more food,” another adds. “Whatever we can all share.”
“That would be amazing,” the first guy replies. “Need to keep my strength up, you know.”
I laugh, leaving the table to put in the orders to their groans and laughter. I get to work mixing up a pineapple concoction I know Victoria likes, hoping the new girl likes it too, and tell Brodie the food order. They look deep in conversation, so I give them a few minutes before I carry the tray their way. When I get closer, I can’t help but overhear the conversation, and it makes my blood run cold.
“Ivan Pavlov. Katya Sokolova is his illegitimate daughter. And chatter on the street is she’s looking to take her place as heir and ruler of the Pavlov Family. She wants to revive the Bratva.”
All the men sit in silence, Victoria looking like she wants to throw up. Another looks like she wants to rip apart the building. What I don’t plan for is my own body freezing up, the tray slipping from my hands as the glass, liquid, and ice all land on the floor. Nine sets of eyes turn to me with various degrees of shock. I stare back, knowing I look like a deer in headlights, willing my brain to work.
The first thing I think is what comes out of my mouth. “You have to tell Demitri.”
“How do you know Demitri?” Daniel asks.
“He’s a customer,” I reply quickly. Too quickly.
“I’m going to call bullshit on that,” the new guy says.
“I’m sorry, but who the fuck are you? You’re sitting in my bar and accusing me of lying?” Shut up, Mia! Now they all know you’re full of shit!
“Official introductions.” Victoria stands, making her way around the table. “My husband, who you know, Daniel.” She pats the top of his head, and he gives her an indulgent smile. “He owns ANON, a security company with these smartasses—Aiden, Grady, and Nate.” She pats each head respectively as she moves around the table. “This is Sammy, who you met earlier, a cop over in Briar Mountain. This is Mary, an old friend of ours who works in an agency I’m not sure you’re supposed to know about, so I’ll leave that up to her to tell you. This is Joker, who works with those yahoos, and this is his new wife, Ginny, who plays the cello like you wouldn’t believe. Guys, this is Mia. Now, how do you know Dem?”
“Maybe I should be asking you how you know him?” I fire back, defense always my best offense.
“He’s a friend of mine,” she assures. “And these guys, they just want to make sure he’s safe. Do you know where he is?”
It hits me then that they don’t know how to get in touch with him, or that he’s living here under a different name. I have the power here, which makes me both happy and worried.
Daniel comes to stand next to me, putting his hand on my shoulder. When I flinch, he immediately drops it, and I can see in his eyes that he understands why he shouldn’t touch me. Victoria whispers something in his ear, and he grimaces before giving me a knowing look. Victoria knows, and now it seems Daniel does, too. Maybe I should get a fucking shirt that announces ‘ Hi, I’m Mia, and I was in a horrible abusive relationship where he beat me and raped me for two years before I could get away when he almost killed me’ and make it easier for everyone to know my trauma.
“You’re family, Mia,” Victoria quietly says, squeezing my fingers, somehow knowing that touch is okay. “Lizzy is my sister.”
I nod, the memory of the trial coming back. “You’ve always known it was me.”
She winks in response and takes her seat again.
“We need to find Demitri,” Daniel tells me again. “He might be in danger and not know.”
“So call him,” I hedge.
“We would if we knew his number,” Aiden replies. “He disappeared after the last mess he had to get involved in, and we’ve lost all contact.”
“What you say next will determine if you ever get a drink in here again,” I tell them, my voice stronger than I feel. “What kind of danger is he in?”
“The kind that involves his family,” Aiden replies. “And I’m not trying to be vague or obtuse or anything. We don’t know the danger, we just know there is danger.”
I stare at the man, deciding he’s being completely honest with me. His face is wide open, his eyes shining with an earnestness you don’t see often, and I nod.
“You don’t even have to give us the number,” Daniel offers. “Can you get ahold of him and see if he can meet us here tonight? And if he can’t tonight, sometime soon?”
“I can do that. I’ll be back.”
I turn away before I lose it, grabbing my phone from under the bar and sending a text.
Mia: There’s a group of men here who need to talk to you. Claim to be friends.
Demitri: They give you a name?
Mia: Daniel, Aiden, Grady, Nate, and Daniel’s wife, Victoria.
Demitri: What the fuck do they want with me?
Mia: They think you’re in danger.
Demitri: And how are you wrapped up in the middle of this?
Mia: I heard your family name and dropped the drinks. I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.
Demitri: Don’t apologize. They were talking about me?
Mia: Yes.
Demitri: Did you get a little protective over me, Mia?
Mia: Not talking about that. What do you want me to tell them?
Demitri: We’re going to talk about it, eventually. You know this. Tell them I’ll be there soon.
Mia: Come in through the back.
Demitri: Yes, ma’am.
I put the phone down and raise my head to find all the eyes on me.
“Give it twenty,” I tell them as quietly as I can. I scan the bar, taking note of the handful of other patrons, but they’re all sitting too far away to hear anything that might have been said.
Daniel mouths a ‘thank you’ and we go back to acting like the last ten minutes never happened.
And we wait.