Page 20 of Baby for the Bratva

I slice the end of my cigar with a polished silver cigar cutter, puffing on it dry a few times before lighting it. The taste of the tobacco is sweet and rich, with a hint of the ocean air running through it as I open the little oval window that faces the water.

I light up my cigar, not bothering to lean out much and hide the smoke. These days, the only people I’m truly afraid of aren’t the people who are out to reprimand me for smoking, or even the ones trying to kill me. The people who I have to watch out for are the sadistic ones who’d like to hang me by my balls and torture me until I lose my mind and eventually die.

Considering that very real possibility, I’ll have my cigar and I’ll smoke it too. What’s the worst that can happen?

I release a few rings of smoke out the window, watching as they’re caught in the wind and blown past me. It’s already so dark outside that I can barely see the water, but I can still taste it in my mouth when I inhale.

Five minutes into my session, and there’s a knock on the door. Chekhov has a copy of my master keycard, so it wouldn’t be him unless he lost it. It must be room service with the beer.

I leave my cigar on a small saucer on the table by the window, walking to the door carefully and opening it just a crack. I’m surprised to see Stella standing out in the hallway, but I’m not surprised by the scowl on her face. She hates me now for some reason.

“Couldn’t stay away from me,” I say with a smirk, opening the door some more.

She’s wearing the cutest little dress I’ve seen. It’s blue and barely even reaches her thighs. I figure if she bends over, it’ll probably show her entire ass.

“Um, no. I was with Molly. She said you’re too ugly for a threesome.”

I have to cover my mouth before I spit on her from laughing so hard. She has a sharp tongue and a quick wit. Talking to her will never grow dull.

“That wasn’t meant to be funny,” she says dryly. “We were trying to enjoy a movie when we smelled smoke. Cigarette smoke, to be precise, and I knew it would be you.”

I’m surprised she can smell it from two rooms over, but maybe Molly has her window open.

“I’m not smoking cigarettes,” I say with a diabolical grin. I can be just as witty as she is.

She leans in, sniffing at me and wrinkling her nose. “You definitely have been.”

“Nope,” I chirp. “I’d never do something like that. Those cause cancer.”

She rolls her eyes, crossing her arms tightly across her chest. “Don’t make me call security on you.”

“Cute, but I think they have more important things to worry about than someone getting ready for bed.”

“You were smoking!”

“Listen,” I begin, leaning against the doorframe and looking her over. That blue dress is insane. I’m certain she wore it on purpose just to play with my mind. “If you can find a cigarette in my room, I’ll admit I was smoking and stop.”

“Great,” she blurts, attempting to move past me.

I leap in front of her, blocking the way. “Hold on, I’m not finished.”

She glares at me, tapping her foot on the floor impatiently.

“I was about to say, I will stop if you can find a cigarette, but if you don’t, I want to see what’s under that little dress.”

Her cheeks flush the brightest pink I’ve seen from her yet, and the scowl melts off her face like hot wax. She opens her mouth, but closes it again when she realizes she doesn’t know what to say.

“Or, I’ll just keep smoking. I don’t mind either way,” I say, starting to close the door.

“No!” She jumps toward me, grabbing the door and pulling it open with surprising strength. “I know you’re smoking in here. You’ve admitted it.”

A victorious smile tugging at the corners of my mouth threatens to ruin my little game, but she doesn’t notice it as she rushes past me toward the obvious smoke by the window. She plucks my cigar from the saucer and holds it up in the air, a clump of ash falling onto the floor.

I let the door close behind me, and I stand in front of it. “What’s that?” I ask.

“Your cigar,” she says with a venomous twinkle in her eye.

“Right, so you can admit defeat now and take off your dress,” I reply calmly.

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