My fingers still ache, wanting to touch more of her.
But Nikolai’s text was urgent.
I should have kissed her. But I want the next time I claim her lips to not be a goodbye.
Mikhail’s office is packed when I get there.
Nikolai gives me a slight frown and points to the clock over his head.
Yeah, I know. Vegas streets are packed in the evenings. I had to take my motorcycle onto the sidewalk a couple of times to bypass lines of cars.
Mikhail stands behind his desk, his large hands spread over the oak surface. “This is the third club where they have harassed the owners and demanded payment. They have pushed us too far. It is time to shove the Reapers back into their hole.” His fist slams hard enough the papers drift away.
“Which club?” Alexei pipes up from the far corner.
I can’t see Mikhail’s mouth beneath his balaclava, but his eyes narrow without turning. “El Coño.”
Shit. It’s one of the biggest dance bars in the city.
He raises his muscular arms towards the ceiling. “Don’t kill. We don’t have a cleanup team big enough for that place. But, boys—” He drops his gaze to where it feels like it’s burning into me. “—fight like your father is watching.”
Abruptly, Mikhail turns on his heel and disappears through a side door.
Nikolai steps forward and begins pairing us up.
Alexei is my beat-up bro tonight.
“Aw, looks like we’re a couple. Hotty and Toddy. What do you think?” He loops his lanky arm over my shoulder and grins. He points his thumb towards his chest. “I’m the hotty. That makes you a stiff drink. What do you Americans call it, a Shirley Temple?”
“What? That’s a virgin drink, man. No alcohol.” My curls fall in my eyes as I shake my head.
I never know when Alexei is being serious or fucking with me.
“Ah, yes. Virgin. Like you?” His silver tooth flashes as he ducks my half-hearted punch.
“Like your asshole before I throw you to the Reapers?” I chase him down the hall and we both jump into his Maserati.
Our mood grows more serious as the cars gather in the dark parking lot.
“This place is packed.” There’s a line out the door of people looking to gain entrance.
One of the bouncers touches my shoulder as we push past the line. “They’re tearing hell, man. I’m glad you and your boys are here.”
Alexei and I exchange a look before stepping into the dark room filled with dancing bodies and pounding music.
It’s hard to see anything wrong through the gyrating crowds and the fog machines expelling mist in a thick layer.
A tiny waitress wearing a g string and silver stickers over her nipples pushes closer to us. “They’re in the back. They have Roscoe trapped until his brother gets back with the payment.” Her eyes are nearly black in the dim light.
The large shape of Nikolai and several more of our guys appear around us. We push our way through mostly naked women dancing against hordes of college aged guys who have no idea they’re being hustled.
Two Reapers stand outside of the office. Their foreheads glisten with sweat.
It isn’t overly warm in here. The air conditioning is keeping up.
Watching their eyes and their twitchy hands, I think I know what’s going on.
“They’re high as fuck,” Alexei yells over the deep bass of the music.
“So we can hit them twice as hard.” I ball my fists, and we both launch together.
I land four solid blows before the tank even realizes that he’s been hit.
Alexei launches himself to kick his guard squarely in the head.
They both drop, but Alexei bounces up and stomps the fallen guy’s face.
We leave the two unconscious men and push through into an expansive room.
That’s completely trashed.
Papers and books cover the floor. The desk has been flipped and thrown against the far wall. A throng of leather vested Reapers gather around the back.
Every head turns to face us as we bust in.
“Time to teach some lessons,” Nikolai grumbles behind me before charging forward.
Everyone erupts into limbs flailing, yells, and cussing.
Wading through, my knuckles bleed from beating the shit out of every one that stands in my way.
Alexei and I regroup and find Knox in the center. He’s holding a long blade to the throat of the very battered club owner, Roscoe.
“Put down the knife.” I don’t want to get any closer. Blood is already dripping from where the blade is pushing into the skin.
“Fuck no. You don’t own this town. Not anymore.” Knox’s beard is coated with spittle as he talks, matching the glisten of sweat on his bald head.
“You’re wrong there, asshole. We beat your pack down.” I gesture to the room of brawling men around us. Mikhail’s guys are prevailing.
Knox points the knife at me as he talks. “Your days are numbered. We have the funds coming to shut you down.” He tilts his head back and yells, “Boys!”
The door in the back flies open and a new throng of Reapers rush into the crowded space.
Brody leads them and freezes when he sees me.
His shiny vest betrays his loyalties.
“Well, brother. Seems we have a situation.” He raises his fists and stalks towards me.
Is he kidding? Does he know what the fuck I do?
A loud hiss fills the room, and the smell of gunpowder permeates the air.
Nikolai stands with a silenced smoking pistol while a red stain spreads across Knox’s shoulder.
“The next one hits your heart.” Nikolai waves the barrel at Knox to back away from the beaten owner.
Brody stops, his brows knit as he looks from Knox, slumping to the floor, and back to me. “You don’t know what you’ve done,” he growls before jumping to his father’s side.
His hand juts out, finger pointing at me. “You and the people you care about are going to pay for this, brother.”
All the standing enemies drag their battered friends out through the back.
My stomach tightens.
Why did it feel like it wasn’t just a threat against me?
Sofia.
Shit. He knows I’ve been there. And now he knows I work for Mikhail.
“Niki, I need to go.” Panic races through my body.
This urge to protect her consumes my thoughts.
Nikolai looks at me with his expressionless face. “Is it more important than this?” He gestures to the room full of groaning and unconscious men from both sides scattered around.
“Yea, I’m sorry.” Most of the injured are getting help.
But, none of them matter as much as her.
“Alexei, please. I have to go.” I grab his arm and tug him to follow me.
Pushing through the front of the club, we jump in his car and ride in silence.
“She must be something.” His accent is thicker when he isn’t talking smack. “Nikolai always says women are a distraction. But—” He pauses and turns to me, wagging his finger. “—don’t forget he married first.”
Blood is spattered over his neck and jaw, yet he’s giving me relationship advice.
He slams the brakes, lurching us both forward.
“I’ll cover your rounds this week. That waitress in Vox is hot as fuck, anyway.” His hand sticks out of the driver’s window and flips me off as he speeds away.
Crazy ass, but he means well.
My phone pinpoints her location.
Getting to Sofia is all I can think about as I wind my way through the streets of Vegas.
I just hope Brody hasn’t gotten to her first.
