That went to hell when West walked in and his nerves got the best of him, causing him to ramble. I never thought I would find it endearing. But I had. What helped was the attraction I felt for the younger man. He wore a suit and even when he seemed uncomfortable in it, he still looked appealing.
He was not much shorter than me, smaller in body, and cuter than I would usually go for. But I liked it. Him. A lot.
It worried me I wanted to spend more time with him. He had walked into my home and charmed me like I had never been before. His looks, his personality, his generosity, everything about him had captured me from the first moment.
“Adrik?”
“If you spent time with him, you would see. He is smart, caring, hardworking….” I shrugged. “Everything about him appeals to me like no other.”
Dimitri whistled. “Sounds like love.” I rolled my eyes. Dimitri went on. “Why do you not chase him then? Why not date him?”
Facing him, I glared. “You know why.”
Dimitri sighed, and as I looked back out the window, his hand dropped to my shoulder. “Your father is in Russia. His associates are there also. I am sure he would want you to be happy. No matter who it is with. I know you also fear that the one you love will only want you for your money and connections, but I do not see that from West.”
I did not either. Still, I said nothing, because I could not find the words. My father loved me. This I knew. As did my mother. But the world around them was complicated. I left because I wanted out. That life did not interest me. The business side of things had, which was why I had my own away from my father and the family name, Mikhaillova. Before I left Russia, I changed my last name to Hail. I could not have people connect me to my father’s business. I never would be a part of the mafiya. That was my father. He was the one in control of the mafia in Russia.
Dimitri groaned. His hand dropped, and he said, “You are just as stubborn as he is. Tell your parents when they visit who you are. You will see, they will still love you.” He made his way toward the door.
Fuck. He had to remind me of their visit. I did want to see them, but my mood had soured ever since that phone call.
“Dimitri—”
“I know, I know. I will make sure the man you want will be watched.”
“Thank you, friend.”
He tapped the doorframe. “You know anything for you,” he said before he left, shutting the door behind him.
Dimitri and I had been friends since we attended school together. I trusted him more than I trusted my own brothers. Brothers who my father would leave the business to. Another reason I’d moved. Not that I cared; they were older and would inherit the business before I did. Where I was vicious and ruthless when I had to be, they were all the time. My parents witnessed this when I wouldn’t kill a man for stealing from me after I’d discovered he had just wanted to feed his family. My “kindness” could have been why they “allowed” me to move to the United States.
I didn’t see the point in killing for the name. To put fear in others. I wanted reasons for it, evidence first.
Instead, I killed if anyone threatened my family and friends. I killed to protect. My hands had been bloody on many occasions. The dirtiness did not bother me when it came to protecting me, mine, and what I’d built for my life.
People here were figuring out I didn’t sit back and take shit. I would fight. I would make blood spray if needed, and what they thought never bothered me, as long as it meant they would leave me alone in the end.
I thought I liked being alone. I had Dimitri, a friend I could not see life without.
I didn’t need a companion—a lover.
I was happy. Content.
Then West walked in, and I second-guessed my choice. I wanted someone by my side. I wanted someone to come home to. And I wanted that someone to be him. It surprised me how quickly he had captured me. With that being said, I hadn’t met anyone like him, so I could not have known I would hold feelings for the man in such a short amount of time.
Usually, I preferred dark-haired men with blue eyes. Yet, I did not care that West had blond hair with topaz eyes. Because they were eyes I wanted to stare into all the time. He had a mouth I wanted to take with mine. And a body that was made for me to touch, to hold, to fuck.
I could fall for you.
He had said it. I did not imagine it. Why would he say something like that and then call off our time together? Had it to do with someone, or was there a possibility West was scared about feeling the same way I did? Consumed by one another?
Khristos. A thrill rolled through my gut at the thought.
The phone on my desk started ringing. I wanted to ignore it, but a distraction could be a good idea, or I would end up on West’s doorstep to his shitty little apartment to demand the reason for dropping me.
I stalked over to the desk and answered sharply with “Da?”
“Moy syn,” my mother said into the phone in Russian before she switched to English to add, “I have been trying to call your mobile.”
Moving around the desk, I picked up my phone. “Sorry, Mama, I had it on silent. Is everything all right?”
“Da, I just wanted to see how my boy is.”
“Good. Work always keeps me busy.”
“Stupid work,” she spat in Russian and continued in our home language. “It always keeps all my boys busy. I’m looking forward to seeing you, Adrik. Tell me, do you have someone to introduce to your mama and papa when we come?”
“No, Mama, no one special. As I said, work keeps me occupied too much to have a life outside of it.”
She fell silent. Which couldn’t be good.
Of course, an image of West dropped into my mind. The one of him standing before the counter where he placed his gift for me while blushing.
My chest ached.
I had wanted to take him into my arms and claim his mouth. No one other than my parents or Dimitri had given me a gift outside of my birthday. It pleased me too much. As did his chocolate muffins.
Shaking my head, I called, “Mama?”
“You sound sad, moy mal’chik.” My boy. Out of her sons, I had been the only one who she called her boy. I never asked and she never explained why.
I tensed. “I am fine, Mama. Tired, maybe.”
“Nyet, there is something else.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Mama. Nothing has happened.”
She huffed, and then I heard her cover the phone and have a muffled conversation. I knew who would be nearby. My parents’ love was strong, and they never strayed far from one another.
There was a shuffle, and then through the line was my father. “Adrik, we’re moving up our trip and will be there next week. Do not bother with a hotel. I know you have some free condos you have not leased out in your building. We will stay in one of those.”
“Papa, tell Mama you do not need to move your trip forward. She worries for nothing.”
“Are you crazy? I cannot tell her that. She worries, I worry. She wants, I give. You will learn this when you find your one.”
Sighing, I scrubbed a hand over my face. “I will see you next week then. Text me when you have the details, and I’ll pick you up at the airport. And Papa—”
“Do not fear, son. No one from here will know we are traveling. No harm will follow. You think I am stupid now? I would not risk my jewel or my son who wants nothing to do with the business.”