Chapter 4
Kazimir
Lev’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I look up and find my best friend, sitting across from my desk, watching me with an expression that tells me I haven’t heard a damn thing he’s said.
“Did you hear anything I just said?”
I lean back in my chair. “No.”
He sighs and starts talking again, I try to focus. But it’s difficult when all I can think about is a certain dark-haired woman with a body so curvy it could go on for days. Chloe.
Last night, I wasn’t supposed to be at her apartment. I shouldn’t have gone back. I was supposed to keep my distance. That was the plan. Except all week, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. She had taken over my thoughts. When I woke up, when I showered, when I worked.
Even when I was surrounded by men discussing business, weapons, territory, and the war with Vadim, somehow my mind always found its way back to her. No woman has ever had that kind of effect on me. The harder I tried to stay away, the more I thought about her.
It was like there was an invisible force pulling me toward her.
And knowing she lived alone in that apartment only made it worse.
Was she safe? She hadn’t told me where she worked, but finding out wasn’t difficult.
So every day, I passed by her apartment and her workplace. Just to make sure she was safe.
I followed her to work. I followed her home. And when I couldn’t be there myself, I had my men watching her. It had been like that all week. Until last night. I couldn’t stay away anymore.
I’d told myself I was only going to check on her.
The plan was to get into her apartment, watch her sleep for a few minutes, and leave.
She wasn’t even supposed to know I’d been there.
But then I stepped into her bedroom, and saw her calling my name as she touched herself, every ounce of self-restraint I’d spent the entire week building disappeared.
And afterward, all I could think was that I’d never experienced anything like her.
I’ve traveled to countries most people only dream of visiting.
I’ve stayed in the finest hotels, eaten at the best restaurants, owned things most men could never afford.
I’ve experienced more than most people ever will.
None of it compares. Nothing. Not even close.
Because nothing has ever made me feel the way Chloe does.
“You’re zoning out again.” Lev’s voice cuts through my thoughts.
I blink and look at him. “You were saying?”
He studies me for a moment. “Let me guess.”
I already know where this is going.
“This has something to do with your disappearance last night. You went to see the woman.”
I give a small shake of my head. “Yes.”
He exhales sharply. “Kazimir, this is a bad idea. You’re supposed to keep your distance from that woman. It’s risky enough that you went into her apartment in the first place. She’s a civilian.”
I lean back in my chair and stare at him. “I think it’s a little too late for that.”
His expression changes. “What does that mean?”
“I like her. And I’m going to keep seeing her.”
Lev looks at me like I’ve finally lost my mind. “This is a very bad idea, Kazimir. With everything going on with Vadim coming after us, this isn’t the time for this.”
He leans forward. “We need to keep our attention where it belongs. We can’t afford divided attention right now. We need to focus on fighting Vadim and your taking the position as Pakhan.”
“I am doing exactly that. She isn’t going to distract me.”
He gives me a skeptical look. “Really? You’re already getting distracted in meetings because you can’t stop thinking about her.”
“Relax, I still have my head in the game. Nothing has changed.”
Lev shakes his head, not looking any bit convinced. I know he has a point. With Vadim coming after me, being involved with Chloe isn’t exactly safe. She is a civilian. She has nothing to do with our world, and bringing her into it could put a target on her back.
But the truth is, that target might already be there. The moment I stepped into her apartment that night while Vadim’s men were chasing me, there’s a chance I already put her at risk. Which means staying away from her won’t necessarily keep her safe.
That night, I had been following one of Vadim’s men, hoping he would lead me to where Vadim was hiding. Instead, I walked straight into an ambush. I’d taken out two of them before more men came rushing in. Then one of Vadim’s idiots managed to catch me with his knife.
When more of them appeared, I tried to lose them.
And then I saw the entrance to Chloe’s building.
I didn’t know whose apartment I was breaking into.
I only knew I needed somewhere to hide. I never expected to find Chloe.
And I certainly never expected her to become the one thing I can’t seem to stay away from.
The Chicago Bratva has been without a clear successor since the Pakhan announced his retirement a few weeks ago.
It’s long overdue, considering he’s in his sixties and battling lung cancer.
He has no sons, and his two daughters got married to civilians.
That means the council has to choose who comes next.
And most of them already know who they want. Me.
I’ve spent years building the Bratva’s businesses and making the council money. I’ve expanded operations, increased profits, and proved that I can keep the organization strong. The numbers speak for themselves. But Vadim wants the position for himself and his son.
The two of them have been working behind the scenes, bribing council elders and trying to turn enough men against me to stop my appointment. So far, it hasn’t worked. The council still leans in my favor. Which means Vadim has stopped trying to win fairly. Now he’s trying to eliminate me.
Lev leans back in his chair. “Just be careful. That’s all I’m saying.”
I meet his eyes. “I am.”
He sighs and gets back to talking business. For the rest of the day, I take Lev’s advice and stay away from Chloe’s apartment. I don’t even let myself think about her. At least, that’s what I tell myself. But by the next day, I’m fighting a losing battle.
And after a meeting, I get into my car, and I find myself driving toward the hospital where she works.
When I pull into the parking lot, I glance at the time, it’s almost her lunch break.
I shut off the engine and sit there for a moment, staring at the hospital entrance.
I have no business being here. But I’m already here, so I’m going inside.
By the time I reach the hospital cafeteria, I spot her almost immediately.
She’s standing at the food counter, waiting for the woman behind it to finish serving her.
She’s still in her scrubs, and scrubs have never looked any sexier.
Her dark hair pulled into a tight bun, a few stubborn strands framing her face.
She looks tired. Beautiful, but tired. I walk up behind her, then I look at the woman serving her. “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Chloe gasps. She turns so quickly that her eyes widen when she sees me.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey yourself,” she says, narrowing her eyes.
I grin. I deserve her anger. After all, I did leave without saying a word. She turns back to the counter and continues ordering, but before she can reach for her wallet, I pull mine out.
“I’ve got it.”
“You don’t have to—”
I hand some cash to the woman before Chloe can finish. “Keep the change.”
Chloe looks at me like she’s trying to decide whether to be annoyed or amused.
I pick up both trays. It’s salad. I glance down at Chloe’s chicken salad, then at mine.
Apparently, this is what we’re having. I carry both trays toward an empty table.
I notice a few nurses and doctors watching us. Some are openly staring.
We sit across from each other. “How are you doing?”
She gives me a look. “Don’t ask me that.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“You shouldn’t just come back acting like nothing happened after disappearing on me without saying a word.”
“I deserve that. I’m sorry.” I never apologize to anyone, but with this woman, I’m willing to admit when I’ve fucked up.
Her expression softens slightly, but she still looks annoyed.
“I didn’t mean to leave you the way I did. I had an urgent meeting to go to.” The words leave my mouth, and I immediately know they’re wrong. I shake my head. “You know what? That’s a lie. And I don’t want to lie to you.”
I set my fork down. “The truth is, yes, I had business to attend to. But that’s not the only reason I left. When I woke up that morning to the beautiful sight of you asleep beside me, I watched you for a while.”
I remember it too clearly. The peaceful expression on her face. The way she’d curled into the sheets without a care in the world.
“And I realized you were reaching somewhere inside me that no one has ever reached before.” I pause. “It scared me.”
Her eyes widen.
“I didn’t understand what I was feeling. I’ve never felt anything like it before, and I didn’t know what to do with it.”
“And now?” she asks softly.
I reach across the table and touch her cheek. My fingers brush gently over her soft skin. “Now, I don’t want to fight it anymore.”
I hold her gaze. “I want to find out where this goes.”
She studies me for a moment. Then her lips twitch. “Hmm.”
“What?”
“You were very confident the other night.”
I already know where she’s going.
“This isn’t ending anytime soon. This is only the beginning,” she says, mimicking my voice. “And then the next morning, you ran away.”
I can’t help but smile. Nobody talks to me like this. But somehow, with Chloe, I don’t mind. I shake my head, laughing under my breath. “Wow. That was below the belt.”
She laughs. “I’m not lying.”
“No, you’re not.” I lean closer. “But this time, I’m not running.”
“Better not.” She points a finger at me. “I didn’t like waking up and finding you gone. If you ever leave before I wake up again, at least leave a note.”
I nod solemnly. “Yes ma’am.”
“And your phone number.”
A smile pulls at my mouth. “Someone missed me, didn’t they?”
She says quickly. “Like you didn’t miss me.”
“I did. Now, give me your phone.”
She hands it over. I enter my number and save it, even though I already have hers. I doubt she’ll appreciate me telling her that. When I hand the phone back, she looks at the screen. Her eyes soften when she sees the name I’ve saved myself under. Mine.
She smiles. And something warm settles in my chest. We go back to eating and a few minutes later, an emergency comes in, and Chloe has to rush back to work. I watch her leave, already wishing I had more time.
“I’ll be at your apartment tonight,” I call after her.
She turns around. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
And I keep it. That evening, I’m at her apartment. And this time, I stay until morning. After that, it becomes a pattern.
I drop her off at work. I go back to my place and handle business. I check in with my men. I deal with Vadim’s latest moves. I spend hours doing everything I need to do to make sure I’m one step closer to taking the position that’s meant to be mine. Then, by evening, I’m back with Chloe.
Sometimes we go out for dinner. Sometimes we stay in her apartment. We talk. We laugh. We lose ourselves in each other. And every morning, I wake up beside her. And somewhere along the way, something changes.
At first, I think it’s desire. Then I think it’s obsession. But eventually, I realize it’s something far more dangerous. Something I have never felt before.
Love. I’m falling in love with Chloe.