Roman sighs through his nose and watches the new fighters take the ring. His eyes dance around the mat, probably as he's thinking about the stress bringing on a new enterprise has been for us. We stick to fighting. It's what we're good at. But the gun smuggling promises new wealth we all want to dip our fingers into. We just have to defend it.
"Mila's been hearing things too," he says. "Her people still talk to the old Radin networks. Word is the Orlovs have been moving product through Yekaterinburg faster than usual. Stockpiling."
"They're getting ready for something," I agree. And I know the wedding is what pulls the trigger, but short of murdering one or both of them, I can't see how we stop a wedding in its tracks. And Roman definitely won't let me go kill them all in cold blood... Though my fingers are itching to get dirty.
Kazimir glances between us. "So, what are we talking about? We hit the Orlovs before the deal is done?"
"We don't hit anyone," Roman says. "If we go to war with the Orlovs and the Belovas, it costs us six months, a hundred men, and half the territory we picked up from the Radins. I didn't marry Mila and expand so we'd all burn."
"We just rebuilt this place too," I point out. "You want investigators up our asses again?"
Roman's mouth twitches as he chuckles. He's showing his pride in training me so well. Kazimir is still too green, too ready to go out and blow everyone up. We have to hold him back at every turn, just like Roman and Timur used to do for me. They'veknocked some sense into me now, but I still have a temper. At least I know enough to know not to run out there half-cocked.
"Then what?" Kazimir asks.
"I want to ruin her for Orlov..." I say, now focusing on the girl. She's watching me too, seeming flustered. I talk out the side of my mouth just so I can try to get in her head and know what she's thinking. "Get close to her, compromise her, make it public enough that Maksim can't pretend it didn't happen. He's old-school—very proud. If he finds out his bride's been with another man, he'll probably walk and not a single bullet will be spent."
Roman turns his head and looks at me fully as he says, "You're going to seduce Sergei Belova's daughter." Then he starts to chuckle, a deep rumble that makes me almost smile, though my eyes are still locked on Marina. She really is beautiful, but her beauty isn't why I stare.
"I'm going to make sure that wedding doesn't happen. Seduction may be the cleanest option we have."
She holds my gaze for a second, maybe two. Then she drops her eyes back to the pit and I see the color rise in her neck even from this distance. I'm not sure what sort of game I'll have to play to make this happen, but I have to make it happen.
"Is she the one?" Kaz asks me, nudging my rib with his elbow, and I nod.
"Tempting, huh?" I ask him, but I already know his answer. That man is too far up Zora Volyn's ass to see anything but her. He doesn't even dignify it with a response.
"Whatever you do, make it fast and keep it clean." Roman slaps my shoulder as he pulls away, turning toward the betting office,and I notice Filipp pull away from his niece. He stalks across the floor and I see my opening, which I fully intend to take.
"That's my window," I tell Kazimir as I push off the wall and straighten my jacket. He says nothing as I walk away, cutting through the crowd.
The crowd parts for me as I move through, and though Ms. Belova isn't watching me, I still feel the swirl of anticipation. This isn't a normal mark. Usually, I'm hunting someone who owes us money or needs to be taught a lesson. Today I'm stalking much more delicious prey I may very well enjoy serving up on a platter. And when I'm in her radius and I smell the hints of her floral perfume, I feel my body start to respond, being sucked into her gravity.
"You look like you're having the worst night of your life," I say.
She turns her head, and I get the full impact of those blue eyes up close. They're startling, almost too blue, and her green top makes them pop.
"Top five, maybe," she says with a smile. "Not the worst."
"You don’t seem to fit in here..."
Something happens in the ring behind me, but my focus is entirely on her. She's even prettier up close, perfect complexion, subtle auburn hints in her dark hair. And those lips look delectable, probably feel perfect wrapped around my dick leaving red lipstick smears on my length.
"First time here?" I ask her, trying to seem relaxed but not overly casual. I realize I'm a bit older than her, at least a decade, but not so old that it would make either of us a pariah.
"That obvious?" She bites her lip and smiles through her lashes, and I realize she’s flirting. This woman thinks I'm attractive too. It bumps my ego a little, maybe too much, honestly.
"Little bit," I say, winking at her. So far, so good. She's reacting to me, so that's a good thing, but it doesn’t mean she's going to ditch her family alliance to be whisked off her feet. I have to play every single card correctly.
She almost smiles. "My uncle dragged me. He has a flair for dramatic educational experiences."
"What's the lesson?"
"That the world is bigger and scarier than I think it is." My God, when she smiles, it's breathtaking. Something drills into my chest and I have to look away for a second, almost like she's casting a spell over me. I'm not the type of man to let a woman get to me, but I have a feeling if I let my guard down, she might just do that.
"Is it working?"
"Not sure what I’m learning other than sweaty men smell like hogs, and drunk men seem to shout louder than the sober ones." Her laughter is sweet too, the way she tosses her head back and touches my arm briefly. I let myself admire that for a moment.