Chapter 78: Chapter Twenty-Three

Andrei

I drove like hell back to the club, pissed that she saw it, the slip, for one brief second she’d shocked the hell out of me, and she knew it too.

Well played, six thirty-two, well played.

I got out of the car and made my way into the bar, waving Ax over. “Any changes with the girls today?”

He sighed and jerked his head to the right. “New batch came in around two a.m., same blacked out plates, same make and model of the car.

“With so many people living in this area, hell people living outside it, we still can’t place the car, but…” He shifted on his feet a bit. “We did get some intel from one of the girls…”

“What?” I crossed my arms. “Other than screaming, what did she offer?”

Ax paled a bit and then whispered, “She said she’s known your father since she was seventeen.”

I didn’t move. Didn’t flinch, even though somewhere, deep down, I knew who it was, I knew she would have bright blond hair and a pretty smile, I knew she would have icy blue eyes.

I knew she would be older. I knew she would look like Andi, and I knew why.

“Tell no one,” I snapped. “And take me to her now.”

“Already have her waiting in the purple lounge by herself, Boss.”

“This is why you’re my favorite,” I muttered under my breath. “You don’t wait to get told shit.”

“Waiting gets you killed, Drei. You know this, I know this, and you’d start a war with my family if you killed me. I’m sorta fucking useful.”

I rolled my eyes. “And there’s that Abandonato arrogance.”

“One of our best traits.” He grinned. “You want the cameras on?”

I bit my lip. “Not this time.”

He gave me a funny look. “If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure you should go take a break.”

“You’re not gonna kill her?”

“Why would I kill someone valuable?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Drei, because you’ve lost your temper over a fucking french fry before.”

I rolled my eyes. “That was a year ago, and I was hungry.”

He sighed. “Let me call one of the guys.”

He was being rational.

Then again, he hadn’t just been kissed and played by a woman who should be dead. Who had a giant target on her back.

I exhaled through my lips. “Fine, call Phoenix.”

“I call Phoenix, Phoenix calls Tex…”

I pinched the bridge of my nose with my fingertips. “Call them all, but tell them I won’t wait. They have twelve minutes.”

I heard a sound behind me and went still.

“I may have already told them.” Ax grinned. “See? I’m needed.”

“Go be arrogant somewhere else where I’m not tempted to strangle you, mmkay?”

“Good talk.” He slapped me on the back just as all the Italian bosses walked in with a few of their men and captains.

My bartender looked ready to duck under the table.

It was rare to have all of them here at once.

Then again, we’d been trying to take down the ring for a decade. So, it was necessary, especially if we had information.

“How was school?” Tex asked, wrapping an arm around me tight, as he pulled a toothpick out of his mouth and grinned.

“How’s the tiny dick?” I snapped right back.

Dante strolled up. “It could be there, but nobody has seen it, kind of like bed bugs… you wake up with a bite, but if you can’t see them, are they really there?”

Chase smirked. “Dante comparing Tex’s dick to bed bugs, I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of my protégé.”

“Except that one time when he killed two people with one bullet.” Nixon held out his hand.

“Ax called us right away figured we should do this as a team, since that’s what we are… right Andrei?” He narrowed his eyes. “A team… that shares information? Regardless of how damning?”

He knew threatening me only made me more indifferent. I raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Someone not getting any?”

Sergio and Phoenix were talking about something in hushed tones before giving me equally blank stares.

Where Sergio had a man bun and was wearing black slacks and a dress shirt, Phoenix was in ripped jeans and a black tank top that matched the black tattoos on his arms.

His hair was a little longer than usual and he looked just as cold and callous as ever. “We all here?”

“Vic’s got the front.” Phoenix crossed his arms. “Who’s asking questions?”

“Me,” I barked. “My club, my rules, and try to keep your guns in your pants, we’re a bit more civilized.”

Tex bit out a curse. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

I shoved the metal door open.

And there she was.

Looking every bit as pretty as she had when I saw her the first time, when she forced me to watch. Two. Hours.

“Son,” Alexander Petrov wasn’t a small man. “One day you’ll do the honors, one day you’ll get to feel how tight this is, how ready this woman is for me, see her face? You see it son?

She held me there for my own father, made me watch the way he made her watch. Like if she was going to be punished, so was I.

I learned how to see without seeing that day.

How to stare at something and see nothing at all.

Feel nothing at all.

She was seventeen.

And I was ten. I watched it while I was ten.

And all I remember thinking after it was done… Would he someday get angry enough to do that to me too?

I prayed that very night for God to take my soul.

And woke up completely crushed that I was still breathing.

She had cuts on her face, dirt marred the red streaks of the blood that had dried against her skin, her ice blue dress looked more like a slip than a dress making it painfully aware that she was pulled from bed.

“Elena.” I said her name like the curse it was. The curse it had been to my life.

Her head lolled forward, a tired smile crossed her face. “Is that any way to talk to someone who used to hold you tight?”

I flexed my hands into fists. “Why are you here?”

“Does it look like I volunteered?” She spat blood on the concrete floor. “Ever since your father died, I’ve been in hiding, thanks for that by the way.”

“Tragic, you should have just ended your misery and drank poison.”

Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits as she nodded to the men behind me. “Friends of yours, traitor?”

“Traitor?” I barked out a laugh. “I have over a billion dollars at my fingertips, enough manpower to take you down without doing so much as sneezing, and you call me traitor?

“I can see it now, Alexander Petrov’s paramour, sleeping her way through the brotherhood in order to survive. I hope they’ve been wearing a condom.”

“Enough,” she snapped. “I can’t go to the FBI, so I came here.”

“Because you think they hold me in such high esteem?”

“Don’t patronize me. I know you have pull.” She sniffled as blood dripped down her chin. “I want protection.”

“You can buy condoms at the store. We done?”

“Don’t be a smart ass. I remember when you used to kiss me with that mouth—”

“Only out of respect. I preferred your lips to his knife. Don’t flatter yourself.”

She glared up at me. “I know who’s bringing in the girls, but I want protection. I want you to swear you’ll give me protection.

“I’m sure you do.” I grinned. “But they’ll have to come through me, and since none of them have the balls to even stand in the same room, it looks like I’m safe…”

“Offer me protection, damn it!” she roared.

I could feel the restlessness behind me. The guys liked to speak with their guns. Typically, I wouldn’t tell them not to.

A gun wouldn’t faze her.

Blood was almost like her natural color.

And as much as I wanted to lie and say I would offer her protection, my word was everything.

Besides, I didn’t want her near me.

I turned and gave the guys a curious look. “Did you know that the Bullet Ant gained its name because the pain is so severe it feels like you’ve been shot?

Four glass cases stood waiting.

“Naturally, some men prefer extreme pain when they’re having sex, so I like to keep some of the best around, just in case.” I sighed and put on the leather gloves next to the case.

“Twenty-four hours, that’s how long you suffer, and the best part, really the best part of the bite?” I reached into the cage and grabbed one tiny ant and held it between my thumb and forefinger.

“It’s hardly noticeable and what police officer would believe you anyway? Oh, I got bit by an ant, the Russians are coming.” My voice was detached, my emotions gone.

Every time I asked her to pick me up and she said I was dirty.

Every time I froze in my room and she refused to give me an extra blanket.

My father created me.

She molded the clay.

The guys all backed up against the wall, equal parts amused and curious as I held the ant out to Elena. “Who’s dropping off the girls?”

“Give me protection.”

I sighed and stood. “You had to have known I wouldn’t just let you make demands in my club, on my turf. I’m the fucking boss of the Petrov Family, I make the demands, the decisions.

“You…” I leaned in and whispered in her blood-caked ear. “Are lucky I’m even speaking to you without cutting off a finger first.” I leaned back and tilted my head. “Who?”

“Protection!” she screamed.

I reared back and placed the ant on her leg.

And then I watched.

She went completely still.

“It won’t bite unless provoked.” I grinned. “Must be hard since you like to scream at things, hit them.” I examined my gloves and shrugged. “Just try not to be yourself and you should be just fine.”

“GO TO HELL!” she roared.

And then she let out an ear-piercing scream so loud that I was suddenly thankful the room was noise proof.

“It BIT ME!”

“I warned you.” I smiled at the guys. “I’ll let you know how things progress.”

I shoved the door open and waited for everyone to walk out, then I turned and locked it, leaning my body against it while the guys all faced me. “What?”

“The hell?” Tex roared. “You just keep those things? Like pets?”

I snorted. “Hardly. Sometimes customers use them.”

Nixon made a face. “I’m almost afraid to ask this.”

“Mary’s the grandma tarantula we keep behind the bar when we want to scare away the wrong customer so the right one walks up and spends more money than they should on alcohol.” I checked my phone.

Chase whistled. “Well, now that I’m completely creeped out by all the creepy things you have here—”

“Say creep one more time,” Dante teased.

Chase gave him the finger. “You don’t have any... tigers or shit in here do you?”

“Oh, I’m sorry did you want a tour?” I asked in a bored tone. “Or can I get back to work?”

“The club doesn’t open for another few hours,” Phoenix pointed out, damn it.

“I’m aware of that. I’m still busy.” I clenched my teeth. “Go.”

The guys slowly filtered out. Tex rubbed his arms like he had ants on him, and Dante grazed his finger down Tex’s neck earning a hard shove and a reach for his Glock.

And then I was left with Phoenix.

“I don’t buy it.” He crossed his arms. “You and I both know you like to read in the mornings so you don’t kill anyone at night.”

I swore violently. “That was private information.”

“Nothing’s private between us, you ass. Now tell me what you’re going to go do. Better yet—” He put his hand on my shoulder pissing me off more. “Show me.”

“Make me.”

“I’m not afraid of ants. Furthermore, I’d fight to the death before you got near those or Mary.

“So help me God, let me in or I’m just going to keep fighting until you have no choice but to surrender, and we both know that word isn’t in our vocabulary. Don’t make my wife a widow.

“Why can’t you just leave it?” I roared stepping up against him until we were chest to chest. “Why?”

“Because I made a promise to a man we both respect and won’t ever admit out loud that we love. That’s why.”

I blew out a tense breath and snapped. “Follow me.”

I went back outside to my car.

And I drove it all the way to Eagle Elite and parked it on the far end of campus, where I knew she would be walking out to her next and final class.

Phoenix looked confused and then he did a double take, from me to the grass and buildings, back to me. “Holy shit, has this turned into a sting operation?”

I pulled out my binoculars. “Hilarious.”

There she was. Walking by herself. A guy tried to come up beside her, she walked faster.

“You have binoculars,” Phoenix pointed out.

“I’m making sure she’s safe. I’m keeping my promise.”

“You could keep your promise by sending Ax, you know.”

“Ax isn’t me. I’m better than Ax, I’m better than every single one of you except Chase because he has more rage.”

Phoenix gave me a murderous stare. “Oh, I think I could conjure up some rage, don’t forget who you’re talking to.”

“Same goes for you.”

“Shit, you’re young,” he muttered like he didn’t want me to hear him. “I always forget that.”

“Because…” I lifted them back up when she stopped walking. “I look so old?”

“No, because you were forced to grow up too fast.”

Pain filled my chest.

I ignored it.

I shoved it away just as a guy wrapped an arm around Alice’s body and pulled her against him.

She put her hands against his chest.

I was already out of the car.

“Don’t kill him!” Phoenix shouted after me.

“No promises,” I yelled right back as I jogged across the lawn and then slowly walked up to his side.

I tapped him on the shoulder.

The minute he turned, I clocked him in the jaw so hard he’d need to call his dentist to replace at least three teeth and if I was really lucky, four.

“Son of a bitch!” he roared from the ground. His looks screamed all-American football, sandy brown hair, a few misplaced freckles, athletic and dimples.

Fuck me.

The kid probably had a nanny growing up, wanted to go to Harvard because his dad went to Harvard but got sent here because it’s harder to get into.

He probably wore white briefs, peed sitting down, and had a pet parrot.

“What the heck was that for?” Grass stained his black slacks as he tried to stand.

White. Tube. Socks.

With black shoes and black pants.

“Let me guess, you dress yourself?” I joked.

“So, you punched me?” He pressed the back of his hand to his mouth. “Is that a tooth?”

“Andrei.” Alice grabbed my arm and pulled me to her side. “What are you doing to my new lab partner?”

I smirked down at her. “Saying hello.”

One minute in Elena’s presence and I questioned things.

She was a menace to my sanity.

“I don’t shake hands.” I turned on my heel as Jackass of the Year got to his feet and swayed a bit. “These are the rules, tiny dick. She’s mine.

“Touch her and I'll cut off the finger that committed the offense, breathe too close and I’ll take a piece of your tongue, and if I ever hear a word against her, I’ll make sure you can’t get a job until you’re forty.

“Who are you? Her father?”

“Do I look old enough to be her father?”

His mouth dropped open, then shut, he shook his head wildly.

“She’s mine,” I barked. “Do we have an understanding?”

“Yes.”

“Sir,” I prompted.

“Sir, yes, sir.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please stop saluting me, you’re embarrassing yourself. Now go.”

He stumbled away. A few of his friends helped him grab his bag and a discarded book, and the remaining students gaped like they’d never seen violence before.

“Why are you here?” Alice said through clenched teeth.

“What?” I tucked her hair behind her ears with both hands. “Not happy to see your husband?”

“You are not…” She leaned in; her eyes furious. “My husband.”

“You have my last name. You’re mine.”

“I didn’t sign anything.”

“That’s cute… your innocence, that is.”

“I haven’t been innocent in a long time, and you know it.” She heaved, her chest rising up and down like it hurt to admit.

Shit.

Without thinking, I reached for her hips and pulled her hard against me, then lowered my mouth to hers.

And she let me take what was mine.

I pulled away, searching her eyes. “Innocent. Trust the man who owns a club like the one I do. That kiss… is innocent. Don’t believe anything other than that.”

Her eyes darted back down to my mouth. “Okay.”

“And don’t let guys grab you.”

“You’re grabbing me.”

“I’m different.”

“You’re awfully protective for a keeper.”

I smirked at that. “Yeah, well, I don’t like people touching my things.”

“Things.” She deflated, “Right.”

I knew I ruined what seemed to be a moment for her, and admittedly for me, and she detached herself from me, putting distance between us. “I’m going to be late for class.”

“I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

“Great, I finally get the father I never had, and he’s the most overprotective human on the planet. Fun!”

I glared. “Call me your father again, and you’ll finally understand what it means to be spanked.”

Her cheeks flushed as she ducked her head and started walking in the opposite direction.

When I finally made it back to the car, it was to see, with utter horror, that Phoenix had his phone up like he was filming the entire thing.

“Please tell me you didn’t record that.”

“I didn’t record it.” His lips twisted into an amused smile. “I went live.”

I grabbed the knife from my boot and threw it at the nearest tree, only to hear him say, “That too.”