Chapter Ten
Leonid
“Can we meet tonight? We need to talk about you-know-who.”
Perfect timing.
I was just about to call Ivan and ask to see him.
We need to know where we stand with each other. This uncertainty isn’t helping anyone, least of all her. Clare’s confusion was obvious the last time I saw her. I can understand that. Two men had taken her to bed, and they seemed to have no problem with that. Two men she thought were tough and with egos the size of my yacht, had agreed to share her.
If I’m honest, I would be confused, too, if I didn’t know how deep my bond with Ivan is.
That’s our difference.
Ivan and I grew up together. We were barely fifteen when we joined the Bratva. We had to go through all the hardships of the life at a very young age. I can still recall my Pakhan’s words when his men brought us to him for the first time.
“You boys will have to grow up fast.”
Of course, we didn’t know what he meant by “grow up.”
We found out when we started doing things adults should be doing. Ivan and I were big, and we both looked older than fifteen. So, for about a year, we were Yelchin’s main collectors. We had to pay visits to people who had borrowed money from him and pick up payments.
Anybody who didn’t have the money was taught a lesson. Some cuts and bruises were enough. A second delay equaled a harder lesson. One or two cracked ribs, a busted jaw or a nose and that’s it. In case there was a third delay, our instructions were clear.
“Bring him to me.”
This order used to come from the Pakhan himself, because he didn’t want any misunderstandings.
So, we did. After that, neither of us knew what happened to the poor bastard in the same room as Yelchin. We got an idea as we walked away, though. The screams painted a pretty good picture...
“Blue Dolphin. 8 o’clock. Doors open at 9. We’ll have plenty of time for a chat before the music gets too loud in here.”
“Good. See you at 8.”
I stay at the rooftop lounge, sounds of my people working faint in my ears.
I can’t help but wonder what Ivan’s got in mind for Clare. He doesn’t hide his affection for her. On the contrary, he’s been very clear from the beginning. She’s struck a chord in him; even a blind man could see that. What I don’t know is what he wants from her. And I hate to say it, but asking him directly is not an option.
Behind that calm fa?ade hides a very violent man. I don’t mind violence, but I’d rather avoid it when possible.
Later, the thumping of footsteps on the iron staircase announces Ivan’s arrival. I stand behind the small table between two leather armchairs and take a deep breath. Amid the tension of the past few weeks, the last thing I want is an argument with my brother. He clicks the door open and enters, his expression relaxed as he extends his hand.
“Welcome,” I shake his hand. “Have a seat. Drink?”
“Not now, thank you,” he says. “Is it always so crazy down there or am I just lucky?”
“That’s why I employ twenty-six people here, Ivan,” I explain, sitting down across from him. “The lounge is large and a lot needs to be done before doors open every night.”
He exhales hard and leans forward before propping his elbow on his thigh. “I’ll get right to the point. It’s been killing me for days. The other night with Clare, uh...” He pauses for a long moment, his gaze darting from the floor to the table and back to the floor. “What the fuck was that, Leonid? Because it wasn’t just casual sex. We’ve done that together, and the other night was nothing like it.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself, bratishka,” I add, putting some force in my voice. “I agree that the threesome we had previously was just casual sex. There are lots of other things at play with Clare. Intimacy. Care.”
“Fuck, Leonid.” Ivan scowls, dragging his gaze away from me. “I know. How the fuck did this happen to us? What did she do? Put a spell on you and me?”
I roll my shoulders. “Your guess is as good as mine. But this...?” I pause and gesture at him and then me. “This is worse than what she did the other night. I mean, look at us, Ivan. Here we are, in my rooftop lounge, not inspecting escorts. Instead, we’re talking about some girl that hooked us.”
“I never said I was hooked,” he claims, the weakness in his tone showing how little he believes his own words. He may be able to fool himself, but he can’t fool me.
“Oh, hold the bullshit, will you?” I cringe and scratch the back of my head. “You wouldn’t have asked to see me if you hadn’t been thinking about her.”
He sighs, shifting his gaze back to me. “Okay. I like her. I’m not going to deny it anymore. Now—”
“What do we do?” I finish the question for him. “I don’t know, but I’ll tell you this: I’m not going to step aside. I’m not letting you have her.”
“Neither am I,” he declares, his tone as stiff as his glare. “But I’m not going to let this screw up our relationship, either. We’ve survived worse than this, Leonid. I’m sure we can work out a solution. And I don’t mean repeating the other night. This was a one time thing. Let’s not do it again.”
I sneer, cupping my jaw. “Okay. We date her separately. I’ll ask her out first.”
“Agreed.” He nods, a smile bursting across his face. “Now’s the time for that drink,” he continues, rising from his seat. “You want one?”
“Sure,” I accept, my pulse slowing.
I can relax now. I can enjoy a drink with him, knowing that whatever we do with Clare, is not going to destroy our bond. That bond was forged through hardship. We had to break bones to get closer. We had to suffer equally in the organization. It’s great to know that neither of us is prepared to throw all that away for the sake of a woman—that we won’t turn on each other just because we are both interested in Clare Jensen.
Clare
I spent the last couple of days considering breaking out once more.
If there wasn’t a chance of running into Leonid or Ivan, I would do it without thinking twice.
However, this turned out to be wishful thinking.
Their men had not appreciated my little escape. After I got back, they doubled the watch on the exits and even set a watch on the backyard. Crossing the Atlantic on a canoe would be easier an sneaking past them. Furthermore, Leonid’s words are still vivid in my mind:“You can’t walk around alone in the middle of the night.”
If I magically got past the men in the backyard and he found out, I’d never get to hear the end of it. As for the worst part about this? He would be right. I’d seen firsthand what my recklessness could cause. If he hadn’t stepped in, the least that would happen to me would be a scar. The worst? Death. Those two drunks didn’t seem nasty, no, but there was no telling what would have occurred if Leonid had not intervened.
A nice cup of coffee is my companion out on the balcony when a knock on the door forces me to step back inside.
“Who is it?”
“Leonid.”
My heart jumps in my throat at the sound of his voice. This man loves to surprise me. Yet, this is more than a surprise. I had no idea he was coming.
I set the mug down on the nightstand and shuffle off towards the door. I pull it open, the view intensifying my shock. Along with that, though, comes a warm, fuzzy feeling that envelops my heart. Leonid is in a suit with a bouquet of lilies in his embrace.
“Oh, my...” I whisper, looking up into his eyes. “Talk about unexpected.”
“Apologies for dropping by unannounced.” He assumes a gentle tone, offering me the flowers. “I thought these would help you forgive me.”
“Leonid...” I giggle, bringing the bouquet up to my nose. I let their wonderful scent flood my nostrils, his gesture pulling at my heartstrings. “There’s nothing to forgive. Please, come on in.”
“No,” he refuses, leaning against the doorframe. “Get dressed. You must be dying to go out.”
“Yes!” I cheer with a grin. “God, you can’t imagine how desperate I am to go out! Where to?”
“You’ll see,” he answers, reaching forward to the doorknob. “I’ll be waiting. No rush; take your time.”
Yeah, right...
Take my time?
Hell, no.
I haven’t just been desperate to get out of that safe house. I have been dying to get some fresh air. I don’t care where we go. It can be the ballet for all I care. All I want to do is enjoy myself. Do things that an ordinary person does, like have a drink or a decent meal. Getting to do something with Leonid is a bonus. I’ll share the experience with him and get to know him a little better. Win-win.
I choose a red mini dress and low heels, wishing I had my makeup with me. I want to look my best for him, but I just can’t do that. I would have asked his men to buy me a simple set, had I been expecting this. Truth be told, I hadn’t. The situation between him and Ivan hadn’t been clear, so the notion of me worrying about secondary things like makeup and perfume was a little trivial. Striking a pose in the mirror in the corner, I realize I have to ask Leonid about that. It’s obvious that something has changed.
“Wow,” he says, the moment I emerge from the room. “Definition of a knockout.”
“Oh, come on,” I giggle, waving my hand in front of my face. “You’re exaggerating. Anyway, you said you’d talk with Ivan about our little situation. I take it you did.”
“That’s true,” he confirms with a nod. “We came to an understanding. We both want to date you, but it’s all up to you. I’ll understand if you want to choose one of us, even if that’s not me.”
Aren’t you sweet...?
These words are on the tip of my tongue. They’re about to spill out; yet I keep them in at the last second. My brain is stuck at what he said before that.
“We both want to date you.”
Huge waves of excitement wash over me. My whole body is tingling with anticipation, waves of arousal rolling over me.
I don’t have to choose.
I repeat that a few times in my head, trying to believe it.
I can have them both?
And they won’t bite each other’s head off?
I must be the luckiest woman in the world.
I squeeze my lips together and draw in a sharp breath. Try as I might, however, I just can’t hide my feelings. I grin from ear to ear and clutch his wrist as I lean in. Kissing him on the cheek, I pull back, my heart pounding in my chest.
“First of all, let me say I’m glad you and Ivan didn’t end up fighting over me,” I say in a steady tone. “Second? Dating you both sounds nice. I never wanted to choose between you two. I’ll let you know if anything changes, but I doubt it. I guess I like you guys too much.”
“Fair enough,” he says, taking me by the hand. “You asked me where to. You still want to know?”
“Yeah.”
“To the beach,” he reveals. “No loud venues tonight. Just you, me and the ocean.”
“To the beach, then.” I smile as the two of us pass by his two men at the entrance. We leave the property, my eyes spotting a silver BMW M3 a few yards down the street. Having had a soft spot for sports cars for years, it would have been impossible for me not to recognize one of my favorite ones.
“She’s beautiful,” I tell him, approaching the fancy vehicle.
“I’m glad you like her,” he says, pressing the unlock button on his key fob. “You’ll be seeing her—”
Leonid doesn’t get the time to finish his sentence. In an instant, the ground vibrates beneath my feet. A tremendous blast roars through the neighborhood, a blinding flash forcing me to thrust my arm up to shield my eyes. A huge fireball erupts from the vehicle, sending its roof high into the air. Windows and windscreens alike shatter into millions of pieces as shockwaves throw my body backwards. My arms flailing in mid-air, my eyes open wide.
My back slams into a hard surface, stars filling my vision. My body tumbles to the ground, the world around me fading into darkness. Leonid’s cries storm through my ears, and I come to a stop just inches from the side of a white pickup truck. I blink one last time, watching the flames consume the frame of the car.