Owning Vic

Phillip Bura sat at his father’s extravagant desk in the overstuffed chair tapping his expertly manicured fingers against the arm rest, as a dark looming figure sat silent and still across from him. Phillip tried not to sweat as the old analog clock his father insisted on keeping made every second sound off with an ominous tick. “I assure you Mr. Volkov, my sister is usually very punctual. The passing of our father has taken quite a toll on her.” he began to explain, while fidgeting in the dark red leather chair he was perched in, like a rigid child waiting to be disciplined. The man across from Phillip only gave a slow nod and continued to sit in silence, making Phillip swallow his anxiety as he tried to hide the constant wiping of his clammy hands on his pressed slacks. Phillip licked his dry, thin lips and continued to fill in the silence. “You know how sensitive these women can be. I tried to explain to her that business needs to continue, but as you can see-.” Phillip let the sta

Vic had been hiding in her apartment for almost a full week, since the day she had called the number, the receptionist had given her. Plenty of people had tried contacting her, including Phillip, but the news that came through the phone the moment she heard Volkov’s voice dug a hole in her stomach she was still trying to recover from. He simply told her that either “The Ghost” would work for him, or Phillip would, and she would know when he wanted his answer.“The Ghost” was the code name Vic’s father had insisted on when she first told him she wanted to help with the family business. At first, he was more than apprehensive about her involvement because, although their family had specialized in using brute force to extract information where others could not for generations, Phillip Bura Senior had others plans for his oldest and only daughter.When she was about sixteen Vic heard her father having a hushed argument with their mother one night, before she had gotten too sick to speak.

Vic jumped up from the chair, dove behind Max and out the door, stopping just a few feet away and placing her hands on the hood of the car. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths as the sound of scuffling feet behind her almost caused her to turn and throw a right hook, but Max’s sweet soft voice rumbled behind her. “I'm supposed to tell you that if you run, the boss says I can stick a bullet in that ass, but it’s such a nice ass I would hate to damage it that badly.” he purred, and Vic let a breathless laugh loose as she shook her head. “Is that supposed to be a compliment or something?” she asked. Max appeared next to her shrugging, still in his undershirt. “That’s the best I can do, sweetheart. I’m gonna flirt hard because baby you make my blood boil. I would rock your world if you let me.” he said with a smile that stretched all the way across his face and Vic didn't even try to hide her blush as she spun around and hopped up on the hood of the car. Vic locked eyes with

As Vic chased Rocco back down the hall, they met up with Madelena and Rowan, who had two of Vic’s bags slung on one shoulder. “Rowan, you have to do what I say.” the small woman spat fiercely, and Vic watched with silent amusement as the oversized grinch seemed to soften just enough to speak to her. “Yes ma’am, I understand that, but boss says she goes in the bunk house like the others.” he almost pled with her just before Rocco cleared his throat and Max came walking into grand foyer with a rolling suitcase Vic also recognized as her own. “She can’t sleep in the bunkhouse Rowan! You guys don’t even sleep there. I hear stuff about what they do in there and I don’t think it’s right for her.” Madelena barked as Rocco put his hands out in surrender. “Whoa Maddie, take it easy, nothing is gonna happen to Vic. She’s one of the team now, you heard the boss.” he said, and Madelena just pursed her lips and began tapping her foot on the floor. “Unacceptable Roc, I want her to have the room next

The feeling of warm breath against the back of her neck and a cinching arm around her waist brought Vic out of her unusually restful sleep. “I could wake up like this every morning.” Max whispered with a sleepy crackle to his voice and although Vic’s body became instantly rigid as she sucked air in through her nose she didn’t move. “Max.” she whispered, as her eyes began to adjust to the dim light of the early morning. Max pressed his nose into the back of her neck and grumbled something as Vic slowly rolled to her back so she could look at him. “Max.” she repeated, with a little more seriousness in her voice. He made a sound that reminded Vic of a grumpy puppy as his nose traveled from the back of her neck to the soft flesh of her ear lobe. “Vic.” he whispered back, and her body immediately responded in an eruption of goosebumps and promising trembles, no matter how hard she tried to remain still. Max’s nose moved from its playful nuzzle against her ear and he slowly drug the soft ti