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“I don’t know how long I’ll be staying,” I blurted out, right as Sophia said, “We’d love to come dancing!”
James slid a calculating glance between us. There wasn’t a smile on his lips, but his eyes sparkled. “The Nautical Deck has a new DJ tonight; I’ll put you on the list. Text Lia, Sophy, if you can come.”
“Is that something your brother will let us do?” I scoffed, unintentionally airing the drama without thinking.Shit! And I was doing so well with this whole Bratva-secrecy thing.
“Oh, right, the Serbs are out for blood,” James said, nodding sagely. “Never mind. Lia will have to come to you and have a private dance party at your pool instead.”
Sophia choked on a laugh. “Yeah, that might not have been my finest idea on a random Monday night over Christmas break.”
I couldn’t keep the smile back. I didn’t have to know the details of the story to know what had happened. Classic Soph.
“There’s a fight tonight,” James offered, pinning his gaze on mine.
Sophia gagged, dramatically showing her disapproval.
However, I stilled. “What sort of fight?”
“Underground. Large purses. The sort my old pal, Viktor Markovich, can’t resist.”
My blood chilled. Images of Viktor’s bruised knuckles and face on the island filtered through my mind. “Where and when?” I demanded, pulling myself together.
James knew. The spark in his eye told me as much. Lawyers weren’t only skilled writers and powerful reasoners, they read people. And while James was shrouded in mystery, danger, and probably nightmares that should have broken him, I read loud and clear that he wanted me at that fight.
“Mission of the Valley. First round is at eleven, but Markovich doesn’t go on until after two most nights.”
“We’ll be there,” I vowed, ignoring Sophia’s pointed look.
James nodded, bid us goodbye, and left.
Holding up a finger to Sophia’s protests, I pinned her with a glare. “You owe me. Get me to that fight.”
~*~
Icouldn’t explainthe inner drive to see Viktor’s fight. It was as though I was possessed. Ineededto see him in that environment, and the darkness inside me had a worse reason.
Sophia arranged for us to have an elegant dinner out late, then made the driver stop by her uncle’s house. When I looked at her with a raised brow, she said with a sigh, “I owe you, I deliver. We’re here because my uncle will get us in to see Viktor’s fight. I’m allowed to visit my uncle, and the guards will text this update to Viktor, but by the time we leave here with Igor, Viktor won’t get the update from our escort.” Sophia’s explanation was as simple as it was brilliant.
“Igor watches the fights?” I guessed.
Sophia snorted. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
Igor lived in a high, nine-figure mansion. Marble, cold and dominating, greeted us as we stepped into the foyer.
“Belli donni!” Igor boomed, extending both arms as he appeared from one of the many halls leading off the foyer.
He totally has the grammar of that wrong.But my inner critic kept that to herself. We embraced. Igor had been one of Sophia’s many visitors over the course of her college career. He held me a moment longer than he would a female relative. I pulled away and tried not to think badly of his gross, old man behavior.
The evening turned into one long cocktail hour. I sipped my single beverage and smiled at his numerous offers for a refill.
“So, Miss Briana, what brings you to the west coast?” Igor didn’t slur, but his accent was becoming thicker with each drink.
I set my half empty glass down and clasped my folded hands over my crossed knee. “I missed my Sophia.”
The person mentioned gave me a huge smile and moaned an“Ahhh.”
Instead of sympathizing, Igor narrowed his eyes. “Seven years you’ve been friends and not once did you make a trip here. Why now?”
Well, shit.“There was no need until we were separated. Soph always wanted to bring me west, and I’ve finally given in.”
