Page 19 of Claim Me

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, butcertain 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?”