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“Nothing like that, if you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking. It was more like they taught me several card games. One prospect who became a brother when I was a little older taught me how to count cards. To this day, I could never go to Vegas because I know I’d get kicked out and banned for counting cards.”
“I taught Roman how to as well. It’s come in handy for me.” Alexie grinned.
I frowned in return. “Don’t you think Roman should be in school with kids his own age or something?”
Alexie shook his head. “He goes to school online and did that. No changing the subject,malishka.”
Caught, I kept indulging him. “My dad was a wreck after my mom died. He got into some of the harder drugs just to cope, and I saw him with different women every night. Hell, some nights I saw him with multiple women. But that was club life, and I learned to adapt. It wasn’t so bad. Not until my dad died.” I drew in a deep breath.
“What happened after he died?”
“I was the one who became a wreck. The one who started using harder drugs. I wasn’t safe, and eventually it caught up to me in a big way.”
“Is that why the Devils treated you poorly?”
“No. It was because I betrayed their president. I publicly made a fool out of him in front of other club leaders.”
“I won’t ask you what you did, or why you would do it. Not today. But I hope one day you will tell me,” Alexie said quietly.
I gulped and nodded. I could sense the shift in his mood as it grew pensive and guarded. I understood why he wasn’t asking me. Because loyalty and respect meant a lot to a man like Alexie, and betrayal and humiliation were serious offenses in the world that these men navigated. And I had just admitted to a crime greater than murder.
“He asked me to marry him. I said no.”
Alexie met my eyes, and his grew hard. Did possession override loyalty? Because had I been loyal to my president, then me and Alexie would not be. I could see that Alexie realized this.
“Come here,malishka.” Alexie motioned and I climbed into his lap once more.
I cuddled into him, seeking his warmth after a chill had taken hold of my body. It wasn’t easy remembering my past, and I had some deep scars that went along with it that I hadn’t even revealed to him. But the scariest part was that I was willing to give a piece of myself to Alexie anyway, even though I should know better than to set myself up like that. No one had ever come through for me or put me first. Why would he be any different?
Alexie moved some of the scrabble pieces on the board, but I didn’t recognize the word. I glanced at him questioningly, but all he did was kiss my cheek.
He shot me a funny look before masking it. “If you can remember that, look it up.”
It’s clearly Russian.
We sat like that in each other’s arms for a long time, until the sun was high in the sky, then Alexie helped me to my feet.
“Let’s go inside before you get sunburned,malishka.”
I scoffed, “I’ve never had sunburn a day in my life.”
“Dehydration then,” he reminded me.
“I don’t want to go inside.”
“We’re going inside.”
I stomped my foot. “No.”
“Keep pushing and I’ll turn you over my knee right here, right now for everyone to see.”
“Ugh. Fine.” Not wanting to argue, I rolled my eyes and reluctantly trudged toward the house.
“Brat,” he tsk’d, then stormed over and lifted me into his powerful arms. I squealed and laughed as he carried me inside.
Maybe Alexie had the potential of being a good father. I mean he took good care of me as it stood now. I think it would only be fair if I gave him a real shot at being my partner. Someone I could rely on once the baby was born…
Partner?
