Roman sinks into his leather armchair situated at the head of his conference table in the fight club offices. Every eye is on him as he goes over the latest figures. We've pulled in a million dollars in the last quarter, with more cash flow than we know what to do with at this point. Things are looking up as we enter into the new arrangement with the Radin organization to expand into other ventures.
"So with the wedding approaching," he says, making eye contact with each of us seated around his table, "things have to shift for a while." He looks directly at his brother, Timur, our tech man, and nods. "Tim, you'll be heading things up while I'm in Italy." Then he turns to me and says, "And Kaz, I'm depending on you to ensure our fights run smoothly."
I feel a little tense that his focus is on me to lead this. Ro never leaves town. As Pakhan, everything hinges around his leadership and choices, so trusting me with this is huge. It's a chance I've been waiting for to prove myself, and if things go right, he may let me take full control as he moves into leading his bride-to-be's family’s empire.
"I got you," I tell him, jerking my chin up, but the reassurance doesn't land. His lips purse and his eyes narrow, causing me to sit a big straighter and tug the collar of my shirt into place.
We're raking in more cash than ever, and things are wildly successful with the police major-general in our back pocket following some excitement last week at the fundraiser. I know, more than anyone, how important it is that I not mess this up.
"Kazimir, you're a good man and a good leader. I've watched you grow and mature over the past several years and really come into your own. But I'm telling you if you drop the ball on this, it could cost us everything." Roman leans forward and drums his fingers on the table as Stepan snickers under his breath, hiding behind a hand. With all eyes on me, Roman and Timur don't notice it, but they do notice my scowl.
"You think this is a joke?" Timur asks, lifting one eyebrow. It's all fun and games while we're bored running security, but I know this is no place for screwing off. He's giving me a chance to show the world how well our organization functions even if the leader is away.
And Ro deserves his honeymoon too. He's worked hard building everything his father handed down to him, and his father before that. I won't let anything derail me from following those footsteps.
"No, I get it, okay? It's not a joke, and I won't fuck it up." My throat constricts as my family all stares at me, though Stepan still has a stupid smirk on his face. His constant reminder of my past eats away at me. I did some pretty fucked up shit when I was younger, but that was then. I'm a different man now.
"Good…" Roman sits back and looks more at ease with my reassurance. "The American will arrive on the fourteenth for the fight later that week. You'll have to provide travel and security for him, though he may come with a few of his own men. Then the fight will have to run smoothly, no room for surprises."
I listen intently as Roman details the entire plan for me, but I feel my phone buzz, trying to distract me from where it hides in my pocket. I'm meeting Zora tonight for some drinks and dancing, though dinner would've been my preference as I suggested that night we met. Still, it is facetime with her and I won't pass that up. God knows, I need a little relaxation with the new responsibility being put on my shoulders.
The meeting wraps up with all of us knowing the plan for a few weeks from now when Roman marries and leaves town. And I'm already halfway to the door when Stepan falls into step beside me, nudging me with his elbow.
"Hot date tonight, huh?"
I scowl at him and ignore his playful side. He likes to make everything funny. I want this to go right. Seeing my uncle fall in love and plan a wedding with the new woman in his life has made me crave more too. It's not enough to have success, power, and money. What's the point of any of those things without someone to share them with? Stepan thinks life is one big game to play and he's winning.
"Shut up," I grunt as I jam the elevator button.
"She's hot, Kazzy. Gonna take her home?"
I turn on him with a glower and shove him with both hands in his chest. "I said, shut up. Don't talk about her like that." Stepan gets my point, backing away while laughing like he proved hispoint, and the elevator doors open. I step in and press the button for the ground floor and descend.
Twenty minutes later, I'm walking through the doors of the Pulse nightclub. Music pounds loud enough that it's hard to think and strobe lights flash wildly from several different places around the room. A large crowd of bodies gyrates in beat to the music, forcing me to weave between them to search for her.
I find Zora at the bar already, half a drink in, with one elbow on the counter and her body angled toward the room like she's been people-watching. She's wearing a black top that fits snug over her tits and she looks like she belongs here more than I do, which is saying something because I've had a stool at this club since I was twenty-two.
She spots me before I reach her and her mouth pulls into a grin that makes my chest twist. God, she's beautiful.
"You're late," she says playfully, sipping her drink through the thin black straw.
"You're early," I tell her, and I take the stool beside her and signal the bartender. "How's the drink?"
"Better than the wine I wore last time you saw me." She takes another sip and sets the glass down then turns her body toward me. When her knee brushes the outside of my thigh, I feel my dick twitch. "I figured I'd get a head start so I'd be relaxed by the time you showed up."
"Were you nervous?"
"I was thirsty," she says, and the grin stays put. "Don't flatter yourself."
I chuckle at her and admire how good she smells, like she bathes in perfume or something. And the way she's looking at me with interest says she's as into me as I am to her. It's a good feeling.
My drink arrives and I take a sip, and her green eyes track the movement of my hand, then return to my face without any hurry. I like that she's checking me out, probably noticing the ink on my skin, which I don't try to hide.
"So, what do you do when you're not saving damsels at hospital galas?" she asks.
"I run a gym," I tell her, which is true enough for a first date. "Fighters, training, events. Family business." She doesn't need to know it's a new position for me or that I am part of an illegal underground fight ring. Those details may never come out if this doesn't go well.
"Family business," she repeats, then her lips wrap around that straw and suck. God, it's erotic watching her do that. "That sounds like a lot of early mornings."
