Page 10 of Claim Me (Dmitriyev Bratva #2)

K azimir

Marissa was deaf.

The realization had hit me hard. Maybe she still had partial hearing given her voice was a sweet melody of inflections.

However, I’d caught the way she’d watched my lips instead of my eyes, reading the words instead of hearing every syllable.

I leaned against the wall, unfastening my coat jacket and shoving my hands into my pockets.

I tapped the back of my head against the hard surface several times.

What in the fuck was going on?

Until I managed to get into Charlie’s house and into his safe, the picture painted in my mind was only partially accurate.

Either Charlie, his father, or both had established a business relationship with Popov, which could never have ended well.

But it had obviously gone south. What had happened to Charlie’s parents?

Had they really been murdered? I knew enough about Popov’s reputation he expected obedience from anyone he came into contact with.

Between my instincts and the fear in Charlie’s eyes, I had no doubt Marissa was in danger. She’d confirmed it by telling me someone had been following her.

That person hadn’t been me.

Yes, I’d had more than a normal number of filthy thoughts over the last few months; however, I hadn’t followed her around in an attempt to terrorize or keep her under control.

Jesus Christ, she was my buddy’s sister.

A sharp exhale left my system. I’d stepped into a shitshow that could quickly have me tumbling into quicksand if I didn’t handle the situation with kid gloves.

My thoughts continuously shifted to the incredible pianist.

She was entirely different than I’d pictured in my mind even though she remained in a black dress, obviously returning to Seattle directly after the concert.

While there was a vulnerability about her, she also had a resiliency that few would be able to match in a situation of such great tragedy.

She had nothing with her but a small purse that couldn’t contain more than her identification and possibly some makeup.

I was watching her entire world collapse.

She had no one to turn to.

Except for a man she didn’t know.

I wasn’t prone to shock any longer. I’d seen way too many things in my life, many of which would make the typical person’s stomach turn.

Not all of which included acts performed by myself or a member of my family either. Dangerous people were everywhere, hiding behind cloaks of finely tailored clothes and Fortune 100 companies.

However, seeing Marissa standing only a few inches from me had me in a moment of disbelief.

I’d never fixated on a single person before.

Or at least I hadn’t done so in a long time and that hadn’t ended well.

Cut to a decade later. I’d accidentally caught one of her performances that hadn’t been intended to be an incredible highlight of her virtuoso talent.

I’d gone to a bar far removed from Genesis, the resort and casino I operated, to try to relax. That had been months before. There’d been a jazz quartet with a pianist and suddenly, an audience member had been asked to perform a single song with the band in accompaniment.

Marissa had seemed flustered by the request, but with the audience’s encouragement had finally taken the stage performing a single song.

I’d waited in the shadows, the moment of awe from her talent and beauty something I would never forget.

On that night she’d worn her hair long, her signature black dress exchanged for a short skirt and soft red cashmere sweater.

She’d been so expressive, so entirely full of passion that not a soul inside the bar had taken a sip of their drink or had continued to engage in their previous conversations. Only after she’d left the club while I’d taken a phone call had I learned her name.

Marissa Valentine.

I’d been so fucking blinded I hadn’t realized the devil had been playing games with me, forcing me to relive my past for kicks and giggles.

She’d performed with the orchestra at another resort, leaving early the next morning.

I’d debated contacting her then, but certain requirements had prevented me from doing so.

Still, thoughts of her had lingered long after she’d disappeared.

I’d seen her several times since then, the last in Los Angeles where I’d taken a few days off.

Shit. I’d even thought about approaching the symphony director with an offer he couldn’t refuse, simply to have her spend several weeks in Las Vegas. Yeah, I’d clearly moved into stalker territory. A single word popped into my mind: Mine. Insane and troubling.

She’d caught the Russian’s eye. While Vladimir Popov was a savage by any standard, he had to be at retirement age if not older. I doubted he’d stood outside her window pining away. Then who? A son? I made mental note to learn everything I could about the family.

Her instincts were spot on, her distrust of me understandable, but she’d need to learn I could be her only chance of survival. Plus, I had a feeling Marissa would fight me every step of the way, insisting on staying with her brother until the end. In order to keep her protected, I’d need backup.

It would appear I was remaining in Seattle for an extended period.

I moved in front of the window, studying the two of them together. It was easy to see the resemblance, but it had been too long since I’d seen Charlie to notice it when she’d been on stage. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I scanned the busy corridor to ensure no one was paying undue attention.

“Mikhail,” I gritted out when he answered.

“What did you find?”

“A brewing storm.”

“Meaning?” he asked.

“Meaning Charlie managed to get himself involved with the Russian mafia out here. You’ve heard of Vladimir Popov.”

“What the hell?” Mikhail grumbled. “Yeah, I know of the asshole. I thought the old man was dead.”

“Evidently not. You need to find out everything you can about him and his family. I still have my hands full. I have another problem.”

“You always do.”

I rubbed my eyes. Darkness had finally fallen, the heavy blanket of shadows from the open blind along with the dim light located over Charlie’s hospital bed casting an eerie glow. She was sitting in a chair next to him, hunkered over with his hand in hers.

He wasn’t moving nor were his eyes open. I had a terrible feeling this was going to be a very long night. “I need soldiers, boots on the ground since I’ll be here for a while. Charlie likely won’t make it and I’ll need to make some arrangements.”

“My gut told me you’d need some backup. Six men are on their way. They should land within the hour. Text me the address of the hospital. Just so you know, Alexsey is watching Genesis while you’re gone.” Genesis was my baby, a billion-dollar resort with attitude.

“Good.” Alexsey was my younger brother, both he and our two sisters still yet to understand the power and influence of the Bratva. Their lives had been designed that way.

“Why are you staying? Doesn’t he have family?”

“A sister, Marissa.”

“And?” he asked. “I can hear a glitch in your voice.”

“And it’s complicated. She’s the musician I’ve been… fascinated with.”

He coughed. “What the fuck? Are you kidding me?”

“Afraid not. She certainly doesn’t trust me or anyone at this point. Given what little Charlie told me, it’s obvious he was in way over his head. See if you can discover what happened to their parents. They’re both dead. He said murdered.”

“What are you thinking, an assassination by Popov?”

“Yeah, I am. Charlie wants me to protect her at all costs.”

“Fabulous. I thought I’d woven a complicated relationship.”

Scoffing, I watched as she lowered her head into her hand, her back rising and falling as she sobbed.

The urge to protect her was even stronger than before.

“Trust me. She’s not going to want any protection.

She’s still in shock and Charlie is hanging on, but I need to get her the hell out of here.

There’s something else. It appears she has a hearing impediment. ”

“Wait,” he started. “The musician?”

“Yes. I don’t know a thing about her including her backstory, but I need to find out.”

“Her disability could be used against her. Did he tell you Popov was responsible?”

The thought of some Russian prick attempting to hurt her made my blood boil more than before. “He did, along with leaving me clues as to the reason. However, they’re located in his safe in his house. My main concern is protecting Marissa.”

“Be careful with Popov. From what I remember, he has no respect for other syndicates.”

“Do me a favor and find out what you can about the Popov Bratva and check your sources regarding the Valentine Corporation and the Marengo Resort and Casino. I need to know how far into bed Charlie or his father had gotten with Popov.”

While on the plane, I’d researched the resort. While not nearly as large as those we’d built in Vegas, from the pictures, the resort itself was stunning. Built in the fifties and meant as a getaway for the rich and famous from LA, the entire facility had recently gone under extensive renovation.

At what cost?

Millions. If I had to guess, I’d say money Charlie’s father had needed to borrow. With what collateral? Ice chilled my blood into something else entirely. The need for brutal, vicious, and swift retaliation.

“I’ll see what I can find. Give me a call when you can. Just don’t start a war. It’s not our playing field.”

She appeared exhausted, her body still shaking. “Yeah, I know. Pakhan.” As soon as I was finished with the conversation, I noticed a small waiting area with eyesight of Charlie’s room. Maybe we both needed a cup of coffee.

Without knowing anything about her, I selected a medium roast, following my gut that she took cream. French vanilla. What the hell. After pouring a strong cup of black for myself, I headed to the room, only briefly hesitating outside the door before walking in.