LOGINVladIt's been a long night already, and there's still far more to come. But I just want to fucking go to sleep. Between Krissy and the old man, I'm not sure how much more I can take tonight. How did my father deal with this stress for so long? Everyone wanting things from me, all the time. I'm not even thirty and I'm looking forward to retiring."You okay, boss?" Eitan asks."Yeah. Krissy gives me a headache." I plop down into my chair and rub my temples.Eitan laughs. "Girl's tough. One day, she might be running the business."I snort. "She's too quick-tempered. She'd do something stupid and have the cops crawling all over the place."Eitan nods solemnly in agreement. "Always start with diplomacy," he intones. My father's words. "So, to business. We need to discuss the auction."The auction. Flesh trafficking. A highlight of the yearly calendar for the criminal elements in the city, and a hefty paycheck for the ones in charge—namely, me. When I was a younger man, I used to look forw
VladThe nights are always the same.The thump of the bass from the DJ's music rattles the walls, even in the back of the club, much to my annoyance. But a club is the best way to do business. Or a butcher shop, for the old-school types. But the stench of uncooked meat and blood makes my stomach sour. I'd much prefer to be surrounded by scantily clad woman than lamb ribs and pork chops."Boss, we got a situation," one of the bouncers says, standing in the doorway.With a low growl that rumbles from deep within my chest, I stand up from my desk and make my way to the main room. The blue neon lights, the thumping of the newest pop hit, and half naked girls who can barely hold their drinks crowd the room. When one of the drunken girls invades my space, I use my forearm to guide her away. These reckless college girls are not to my liking. Not in the slightest.The bouncer leads me over to the bar where the lead bartender, Krissy, is mouthing off to a customer. My gaze travels to the man o
NinaDiana and Beck are ready five minutes before the Uber is supposed to arrive. A miracle. Normally, the driver has to wait at least fifteen minutes for them.“Start-of-the-night selfie,” Diana chirps. We pose so she can take a picture.We head downstairs and jump into the car. About thirty minutes later we’re standing on the longest line I’ve ever seen as we wait to get into Club Exposito. The thumping music is so loud, no one really needs to go inside to dance. Of course, there aren’t any drinks out here, but at least the music makes the wait less boring.“Nina, the cover is on me,” Diana says.“No, no, no. I don’t want you paying. Look how pretty you both made me tonight. I’m paying the cover for both of you,” I say.They both stare at me, hips cocked and lips puckered. But they know better than to argue with me. I’ll win. So, with a dismissive wave of their hands, they turn and hand their IDs to the bouncer who allows us to enter. I gulp as I offer the cash to the cashier just i
Nina is losing hope. A night of drinks, partying and fun at a trendy club downtown ends with her getting kidnapped and put up for a sex-trafficking auction.Her only savior? The devilishly handsome and incredibly sexy mob boss who hasn't taken his eyes off her since he walked into the room.She's just finished her finals and looks forward to taking on the whole world. But all can go to shit in just a second. Unless he saves her.Yaroslav Baturin is smitten by the pretty girl looking desperate and forlorn on the auction stage. He's a man who's hard to impress, but something about Nina stands out to him with just a glance. Nina says he can't own her. Nina challenges himFine, he'll bite, by making Nina his.She's his to break, and his to mend.------------------------NinaFinals are over. Thank God.I wrap my hair up in a messy bun, sling my bag over my arm, and head out the glass door of the math building.But I’m not as relieved as I’d expected. I’m not sure if that’s because this la
ArtyomAfter the meeting, I have a few hours before I need to meet up with Nadezhda and Alek, so I drive the familiar highway north out of town.I don't get out to the old estate very often. After everything that happened there, my memories of the place are tainted, but the property has remained one of the Paplov holdings and it is a nice place to house recruits and guests of the family.I drive down the long gravel road and through the wrought iron gates, passing the tiny cottage where Nadezhda spent her entire childhood. The new groundskeeper lives in the main house, so the cottage has been empty for the last few years and the neglect definitely shows.The rest of the property, however, is well maintained. Not quite to the same standard Dominic insisted upon, but I don't mind. Even when Dominic lived here, he never spent any time out in the gardens or walking the paths, so that level of upkeep was an unnecessary expense. One of many such expenses he required that put a strain on the
ArtyomNadezhda curls her legs around mine when we are finished, clinging to me. "That was incredible."I kiss the top of her head and roll onto my side. Her chest is still heaving, and I run my finger across her ribcage. "Another tick in the column against spending money on pajamas, don't you think?"She nods. "Yes, absolutely. I'll stop buying negligee and maybe use some of that money on toys.""Oh, Nadezhda," I growl, nuzzling her neck. "Don't tease me."She throws her head back and laughs, her hands resting on her stomach. "I didn't mean toys for us. I meant toys for Alek.""Oh." I frown, and then lean over and check the clock by the bed. "He should be getting up soon."Nadezhda stretches her arms over her head, arching her back and once again testing my dedication to my meeting. I kiss her stomach, pinning her to the bed, and work my way up to her breasts. "I need to get moving. Once he's awake, I won't have a moment to myself until I take him to visit his grandmas."I swirl my t







