Page 24
Story: One of Them
“Hey,” I greeted him with a kiss on both cheeks and signaled the bartender for my usual. One thing I never had to worry about was my alcohol tolerance.
I faced the room, turning on the back of my heel. “What did I miss? Any good action?” I asked Enzo.
“It’s been surprisingly uneventful.”
My face scrunched at his words. With a group of gangsters with big egos in the same room, something was bound to happen eventually. With alcohol involved, the chances increased. Somehow, we always managed to resolve conflicts without serious consequences. So far. After the first few times, it quickly became more of a laughing matter.
Fine, we occasionally bet on the chances.
“Maybe they’re saving it for the wedding,” Enzo teased.
“I hope not. I’ll be in the direct line of fire.”
A slight gasp escaped him. “He didn’t.”
I turned to him, amused by the reaction. After-work Enzo was in full swing, and I was here for it.
“You’re looking at the maid of honor.” I twirled for dramatic effect, not caring about the childish display.
“Who else?” Enzo asked, spinning his glass in his hand.
“Maxim Galkin,” I said, speaking his name for the first time.
Enzo narrowed his gaze at the man in question, now seated on the couch, chatting with his younger brother Luka.
His legs spread wide, his dress shirt unbuttoned. I had yet to see him in a suit jacket, and though he had the missing piece around, it was never on.
A drink occupied his hand, the transparent liquid invisible in the glass, making the chunky rings on his fingers stand out. He made the rough look appealing in the most delicious way. A thick silver chain hung from his neck. For a brief moment, I imagined what it would feel like to wrap my hand around it and pull, or to hold onto the cold metal.
His eyes followed the thoughts, and he sported a knowing smile when they registered. Pissed at him for catching me, or at myself for not resisting him, I stuck out my tongue. I wasn’t one to back down, and neither was he, since he returned it right back.
Cocky bastard.
When I zoned back in on Enzo, he wore a strange look.
I pointed to his face, circling my finger. “What’s that look?”
“I had a quick chat with him at the bar,” Enzo said, tilting his head toward Maxim. “He seemed… interested.”
“Interested in what?”
“You,” Enzo breathed out the word.
I let out an unhitched laugh. Shared thoughts. They all led to the same resolution.
But I played it cool. “No thank you,” I whistled. “After Malek’s antics, I’m swearing off gangsters for the foreseeable future. They’re all clingy and possessive.”
I shrugged, but Enzo was quick to call me out, nudging me in the shoulder. “Stop lying. You love that shit.”
Did I enjoy giving up control and being possessed in bed? Hell yeah.
Outside? In front of other people? Not so much.
“Maybe,” I admitted. “Ilya certainly didn’t enjoy it. Not a good first impression.”
“What crawled up his ass?” Enzo glanced at Ilya, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“I wish I knew,” I puffed out a breath. “He completely shut me out.” Very unlike him, which worried me about what was coming our way.
I faced the room, turning on the back of my heel. “What did I miss? Any good action?” I asked Enzo.
“It’s been surprisingly uneventful.”
My face scrunched at his words. With a group of gangsters with big egos in the same room, something was bound to happen eventually. With alcohol involved, the chances increased. Somehow, we always managed to resolve conflicts without serious consequences. So far. After the first few times, it quickly became more of a laughing matter.
Fine, we occasionally bet on the chances.
“Maybe they’re saving it for the wedding,” Enzo teased.
“I hope not. I’ll be in the direct line of fire.”
A slight gasp escaped him. “He didn’t.”
I turned to him, amused by the reaction. After-work Enzo was in full swing, and I was here for it.
“You’re looking at the maid of honor.” I twirled for dramatic effect, not caring about the childish display.
“Who else?” Enzo asked, spinning his glass in his hand.
“Maxim Galkin,” I said, speaking his name for the first time.
Enzo narrowed his gaze at the man in question, now seated on the couch, chatting with his younger brother Luka.
His legs spread wide, his dress shirt unbuttoned. I had yet to see him in a suit jacket, and though he had the missing piece around, it was never on.
A drink occupied his hand, the transparent liquid invisible in the glass, making the chunky rings on his fingers stand out. He made the rough look appealing in the most delicious way. A thick silver chain hung from his neck. For a brief moment, I imagined what it would feel like to wrap my hand around it and pull, or to hold onto the cold metal.
His eyes followed the thoughts, and he sported a knowing smile when they registered. Pissed at him for catching me, or at myself for not resisting him, I stuck out my tongue. I wasn’t one to back down, and neither was he, since he returned it right back.
Cocky bastard.
When I zoned back in on Enzo, he wore a strange look.
I pointed to his face, circling my finger. “What’s that look?”
“I had a quick chat with him at the bar,” Enzo said, tilting his head toward Maxim. “He seemed… interested.”
“Interested in what?”
“You,” Enzo breathed out the word.
I let out an unhitched laugh. Shared thoughts. They all led to the same resolution.
But I played it cool. “No thank you,” I whistled. “After Malek’s antics, I’m swearing off gangsters for the foreseeable future. They’re all clingy and possessive.”
I shrugged, but Enzo was quick to call me out, nudging me in the shoulder. “Stop lying. You love that shit.”
Did I enjoy giving up control and being possessed in bed? Hell yeah.
Outside? In front of other people? Not so much.
“Maybe,” I admitted. “Ilya certainly didn’t enjoy it. Not a good first impression.”
“What crawled up his ass?” Enzo glanced at Ilya, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“I wish I knew,” I puffed out a breath. “He completely shut me out.” Very unlike him, which worried me about what was coming our way.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104