I’d met Blue when we looked for weapons in Kapotnya. She’d been posted in Boris’s cousins’ basement—skin the color of dark honey, no make-up, high cheekbones. Gorgeous. Spectacular dark eyes with long lashes.
I figured her nickname dealt with her hair. Sky blue braids hung in the center of her head like a long mohawk. Her hair had been shaved on both sides.
When we came to buy more weapons, Blue had broken down each weapon with a skill that reminded me of Xavier. And like him, her second hobby was hacking and security attacks. I grabbed her instantly, offered her money, and told her to come to the property the next day.
Boris had appeared uncomfortable.
Lemon was the other woman I was slowly thinking I could trust, and the only full-blooded white girl on the crew. Again, these were all gut feelings. My brain had no real assessments yet, but my gut said these were my inner circle. The ones I could take on my journey in Russia.
Lemon was my nickname for her. Her real name was Lemonotsky, but I’d asked politely if I could call her Lemon. She’d smiled and gave me a wink of approval.
Although the name was ripe and sweet, Lemon was not. She had cold, pale skin. A bald head. She towered over most of my men at 6’7. Her birth home was Siberia. Lemon looked like she’d learned to hold a gun since she was three and had probably stabbed someone at four, maybe even choked a man to death at seven. With her bare hands. Possibly buried the body after.
Maxwell will love Lemon. She’s got character.
I didn’t know her age, but her whole head of hair was a silvery gray. I wondered if it was real or if she’d dyed it. Something had happened to her right eye. A yellow leather eye patch covered it.
Lemon was a bad bitch who made me nervous at times. She’d be hard to knock down. If her and I had to go at it, I didn’t know who would make it out alive. I think that was why I liked her. She was a mountain of a woman, and I was glad to have her on my side.
She’d been in the back of a kitchen in some dusty restaurant in the downtown Moscow as the place’s dishwasher. Boris had brought me to her. Apparently, many hadn’t taken her seriously but his crew. From time to time, she helped them do odd jobs.
New men or new strangers. I need them to help me with this monkey guy, but can I trust them? Will they have my back?
That was where Kazimir’s logic poked at me the most. He trusted none of the new men and women around me. He didn’t care about our bond or strife. They were strangers regardless of their background and color. And, because of that, he wanted me to have minimal contact with them.
I can’t believe Kazimir just walked into my office and hit Anton. I’ll have to stop that. But how?
In the shower, I ran my fingers through my wet hair.
Maybe...Kaz is right. I’m moving too fast, surrounding myself around all these people. But some of these finds are good. Right?
I thought of how easily Kazimir had manhandled Anton when it had taken all my energy to fight the big guy. Kazimir had fought with a fluid ease. Stripped to the waist, his muscles and skin gleamed in the basement’s light. I didn’t like the way all my newly hired women drooled over him. Even Lemon practically had her tongue out.
He has to stop hitting my men and getting half-naked in front of my women.
I shut off the shower, ready to face Kazimir. I’d been mad earlier. How dare he march into my office and stop the fight? How dare he start his own? And then all his yelling.
I was showing them what I’m capable of. I was letting them know the lion is with me because I can kick a motherfucker’s ass. Not just because the pussy is awesome.
I grinned.
And it is awesome.
Feeling better, I laughed at myself and stepped out of the shower.
To my shock, Kazimir was standing by the sink, leaning against it. He only wore gray boxer briefs. Steam swirled around his muscular legs. I followed the path up to his thighs and noticed his erection pushing against his briefs.
It looks like you’ve calmed down too.
Something grew in the space between us, and it wasn’t tension. It was lust mingling with love. Arousal rising with passion. It tightened the muscles in my stomach and at the base of my throat. I swallowed as my anger began to dissolve.
I forced myself to move my attention away from that thick cock, up past his layered abs, and well beyond that sculpted chest. I directed my view to that gorgeous face.
The heat in Kaz’s gaze swept over me, almost leaving me shaking. Trembling, if I was honest.
“How long have you been there?” I asked.
“Long enough.” His tone was calm. “How was your shower?”
“It was good.” I reached out for my towel.
He moved my hand away. “You won’t need that. I like it when you’re wet.”
I curled my lips into a smile. “And I like it when you’re naked. Why didn’t you come into the shower?”
“Because I’m still mad.”
I rolled my eyes, grabbed the towel, and walked off. “Then, I’m still mad too.”
A dark chuckle left him as he grabbed me from behind, stopping my exit from the bathroom. Slowly, he brushed his lips along my cheek and pressed his hard cock against my ass.
He whispered, “It’s time for our discussion.”
“Maybe we should fuck first.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because you might not like what I have to say.”
He yanked the towel off and turned me around. “Slow down.”
“Slow down?”
“With your men. With whatever your plans are.”
“Fine, but you could’ve said that without punching my men.”
“I only punched one this time. Be happy.”
I stepped back. “There won’t be another time.”
No traces of humor lay on his face. “There will be another time. I love you. I want you safe. If that means punching your men occasionally, I will.”
His words made me feel invincible, beautiful, and adored. But he could not go around knocking out my men.
Damn you, Kaz. You’re not fighting fair.
I tried to continue to stand my ground. “But—”
“That’s final.” He lowered his head and kissed the sensitive spot on my neck.
Against my will, my breath rushed out. Kazimir had learned all the ways to pleasure me. He could do so with ease, whether I was angry or not.
I inched away.
He prowled forward. “Any more questions?”
“No, but I do have concerns.” I rushed off and opened the door, needing to escape him. If I let him touch me any more, he’d get his way with no problem.
He fell into step behind me. Annoyance laced his voice. “Concerns?”
I turned around and gave us some space, but I was naked and vulnerable, and he was inches in front of me, giving me no room.
Intensity blazed in his eyes. Inhaling me, he whispered. “What are your concerns, mysh?”
“If you can hit my men, then surely I can hit yours.”
He leaned closer. His warm breath touched my collarbone.
Staring at him, being bound by his gaze, twisted me. With the way he studied me, it was like Kaz had full access to my inner thoughts. Like there would be no outmaneuvering him. Those eyes said, “Give up! Why fight it?”
“You hitting my men? Hmmm.” His mouth curved and laughter glittered in his eyes. “Is that a question?”