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“Watch your tongue, Priest,” I said, voice low, menacing.
I couldn’t say why, but I didn’t like him talking about Fawn that way. It reminded me of how Ashmore had treated her and made me want to forget my obligations and go make him regret doing so. That desire should have unnerved me, but it didn’t, and I didn’t have time to question why.
“No offense, Vasile. I’m only asking,” he said.
“I don’t answer to you, Priest,” I responded.
“No you don’t, but if this gets out of hand, you will have to answer to much worse,” he said.
“So be it,” I said.
“God, you Petrans. So stubborn.”
I let out a quick smile and then turned serious. “And this is my opportunity,” I said.
“How?”
“You think I don’t hear the whispers, don’t know how their minds work? They are itching to try me, see if I’m as tough as my father. And if I back down now, you know it won’t be long until someone else tries to take advantage.”
Priest nodded.
“So forget the other clans, the Peruvians, the Sicilians, the street gangs, Ashmore. I’m keeping her.”
SIX
Vasile
As I did most days, I’d stayed at Familie to handle business and later that afternoon, I sat in the private back room where Clan Petran met. Natasha Florescu walked toward me, drawing the appreciative gazes of the men who watched wherever she went. I understood why; her long black hair, slim yet shapely figure, flawless features, and wide blue eyes made her an attention-grabbing package. And that she was clan, the daughter of a respected soldier, one who had ultimately died rather than snitch, only enhanced her appeal.
When she reached me, she settled atop my lap, the small curves of her ass pressing against my knee. She also didn’t mind using her looks and status to take liberties that others wouldn’t be allowed, something I wasn’t in the mood to indulge today, at least not too much.
“Whatever will you do with your new toy?” she asked.
It wasn’t at all surprising that she, and everyone else in the room probably, knew what had happened just hours ago. I gave her a lot of leeway out of respect to her father, but not even Natasha’s looks, nor her ties to my brother gave her the freedom to test me so.
“Natasha…” I said, letting the warning hang.
Her little smile dropped, but she recovered quickly, laying a hand on my chest. “Vasile, you know I worry about you,” she said.
“Don’t. And get off me,” I said, dismissing her.
“Some men would pay a fortune, give their lives for the pleasure of me sitting on their lap,” she said, eyes sparkling, completely undeterred and instead tossed a huge smile, one that had broken more hearts than she could probably count.
“I’m not some men,” I said, and I wasn’t. But I wasn’t dead either, and recognized Natasha’s beauty. In the past, I had respected her father and my brother too much to go there, and today, I couldn’t shake the thought of how Fawn would feel this close to me, how her fuller curves would fill my arms, and I needed to keep those thoughts at bay.
I’d kept my voice flat, my gaze on hers, and with a final slight nod, she stood.
“Wait for me. I have something for you to do,” I said.
“Fine,” she said.
Then she walked away, her heels clicking against the wood floor. I usually paid such things no attention, but watching Natasha again reminded me of Fawn, of how she’d managed to move so gracefully on those high heels. Natasha paused momentarily and tossed a mysterious smile at my brother as he entered and then continued.
“Salut, frate,” Sorin said as he came to stand in front of me, giving me a somewhat formal greeting, though his expression showed the underlying depth of our relationship.
“You seem in a good mood,” I said.
“I had a good night’s work,” he said, and then he sat next to me and waved a hundred dollar bill at the waitress, who soon returned with a single glass and full bottle.
