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“Thank you.”
A music band in one corner of the casino playedAnne Marieinstrumental. The dim lights, stoic-looking bodyguards standing in every corner and dangerous-looking men in suits sitting on each table made my stomach roll with unease.
I peered around for a glimpse of Vlad.
“Looking for someone?”
I flinched, startled as I turned around to see who whispered into my ears. My eyes met two sparkling blue globes, tall and muscled body frame and sharp jaws. He reminded me of Vlad, only he looked a little older, his hair was short. And he didn’t have inked viper and roses staining his tanned skin.
But he was handsome. Really handsome.
“Um… I’m here for the poker…” Game. Event. Whatever. It was Vlad I came here for anyway. “I need to see the owner of this casino. You’re one of the Vadim brothers.” I dared to guess.
“Maxim Vadim.” He flashed a warm smile at me, his eyes softening a little. “My brother’s in his office. I’m on my way there, mind if we go together?”
Oh. Despite their uncanny resemblance, how could Vlad and this guy be brothers? He was a gentleman and though he still had that dangerous look I assumed was common with the Vadim brothers, I didn’t feel uneasy around him.
“Forgive my manners. I’m Mariana Lopez. I actually don’t mind going with you.”
“This way.” He led me the way to Vlad’s office, opening the door and letting me walk in first.
If only Vlad was half the gentleman his brother was.
Once I stepped inside, three pairs of blue eyes shot in my direction. I froze for a bit, not knowing how to react to the view in front of me.
The eldest Vadim brother, Sergey, sat on Vlad’s chair. The other one, I think Nikolai was his name, sat on a mesh chair across from him. I mustered a smile at them but it faded when my gaze met Vlad’s on the plush leather couch behind Nikolai.
Asshole.
“Who are you?”
I nearly flinched at the thickness of Sergey’s voice. I’d heard him speak on TV many times, but I guessed knowing he was the head of the Russian mafia made his voice suddenly sound too rough and terrifying.”
My heartbeat quickened, my hands growing clammy by the second. “I’m Mariana.”
He sat back, skimming me with his eyes like a middle-aged politician looking at an artwork he was about to purchaseand trying to determine if it was worth the price. “One of Vlad’s latest flavors?”
My cheeks reddened with embarrassment. “I’m nobody’s flavor.”
Maxim chuckled behind me, dropping next to Vlad on the couch. “What are you, sweet one?”
I glanced at Vlad, my eyes begging for him to say something. But rather than coming to my defense, his lips twitched.
I was going to kick him in the balls later, but I needed to get myself out of this mess for now. Crazy how I’d always admired Sergey, but was terrified of him now that I got a chance to meet him.
“Well…” I swallowed. “Vlad and I are acquaintances.”
“Acquaintances that fuck?” Nikolai asked, his arms crossed over his chest and his expression very unbothered. Vlad tilted his head in my direction, definitely waiting to hear my answer.
“It’s not your business what your brother and I do with our private parts.”
The deep frown on Nikolai’s face contrasted the smirk on Vlad’s. My legs were trembling, threatening to give out. “No one talks to me that way.”
“If you want to be respected then it’s only fair you respect other people, don’t you think so?” I wanted to add that being a mobster and murderer didn’t give him a one-way ticket to talk down on women, but I didn’t say that.
Rather than scowling like I expected, a smile broke on Nikolai’s face. “You’re a smart one, with a sharp mouth too.” He looked at Vlad. “I like her.”
I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until he said that. “I like you too.” Daring a glance at Sergey, I politely asked, “Would you mind if I stole your brother for a minute.”
