“Bruno decided to deliver a gift to Dushku along with the product. There is a girl on that truck.”
“Are you shitting me? Dushku is not into that kind of stuff.”
“It was meant to be a surprise.”
“Your father-in-law is one sick bastard.”
“Yeah. Now what?”
“Put someone on their tail. When they stop for the night, get the girl out and then blow the thing up.”
“Okay.”
I put the phone back in my pocket, get into the car, and start the engine.
“I don’t like clubs, Bianca.”
“Please. I promised Milene.” I make a sad expression. “And you said you would take me dancing, remember?”
Milene’s friend, Caterina, wanted to go out somewhere for her birthday. My sister proposed Ural, one of the Bratva's clubs. I told her it’s not wise, even with the truce between the two sides. But she insisted, saying that if Mikhail and I come along, nothing would happen. If Father finds out, she’s toast.
“I said, we’ll see,” he says and passes his hand through my hair. “When?”
“Tonight.” I smile. “I already arranged with Sisi to look after Lena. She will be here any moment.”
“So, you were sure I would say yes.” He bends until our heads are at the same level. “Roman was right. You did wrap me around your little finger.”
“Is that bad?” I ask and watch as he takes my hand in his and places the tip of my pinkie to his lips.
“Nope.” He kisses my finger. “Who else is coming?”
“Milene and Caterina. And Andrea, the don’s granddaughter. Maybe her sister, Isabella, as well.”
“Rossi’s new wife?” He lifts his eyebrow. “I’ll call Pavel to let him know. We’ll need more security.”
Too loud music, too many people, too much alcohol. I never liked clubs when I was younger, and now I just loath them. Everybody knows that, and when Pavel spreads the news of me coming to Ural with Bianca, I will never hear the end of it.
I lead the girls to the table in the corner and turn around, making sure all four security guards Pavel set up are in their places. Combined with Andrea’s and Isabella’s bodyguards, that makes seven men watching over four girls. Deeming it more than enough, I take Bianca’s hand and pull her to the side near the end of the bar where there is more light.
“So, what do you think?”
“I love it.” She beams at me. “Very posh.”
“Pavel likes to overdo stuff.” I place my hand at the back of her neck and tilt her head up. “The only reason I would come to a club is because you asked me to. I hate them. And that loathing is becoming exponentially stronger with every second.”
Bianca narrows her eyes at me as her hand lifts to trace the shape of a question mark on my chest. I love when she does that.
“Because I notice every man who looks at you, and there are at least fifty of them here,” I say, then bend my head to whisper in her ear. “I’m afraid that someone may try to take you from me, and I have this compulsion to kill them all before they have a chance to give it a go.”
Sighing, Bianca climbs onto the barstool behind her, takes my face between her palms, and pulls me toward her until I’m standing between her legs. She touches her nose to mine and starts caressing my face with her hands while holding my gaze, unblinking. She starts with my chin, tenderly moves over my cheeks, then buries her fingers into my hair. I close my eyes and let myself drown in the warmth of her touch, forgetting about the people around us. A kiss lands at the right side of my chin, just over the thickest scar. I still find it unexpected, the way she touches my ruined face, with so much affection. Another kiss, at the tip of my nose this time, and I feel my lips curve into a smile. The next kiss lands at the corner of my mouth, then on my left cheek. I keep my eyes closed, waiting for what will be next. The left eyebrow. Then my right cheek. Tip of my nose again. My mouth widens even more.
“You are . . .” a soft whisper right next to my ear, “so beautiful . . . when you smile.”
I squeeze my arms tighter around her and brush my cheek against hers. My silly little sunray.
“No one . . .” another whisper, “compares to . . .you.”
Her hands wrap around my neck, and I feel her breath near my ear as she moves her mouth even closer. “I love you . . . Mikhail.”
I press my face into Bianca’s neck and take a deep breath, inhaling her scent. She has no idea what hearing her say my name does to me. It breaks me and puts me back together every single time. Each touch from her melts my insides.