Page 4 of Caged

I’m pretty sure it’s because Svetlana is so much older, and unable to play the games her previous sitters were able to play.

She’s much more like the women of our town in Russia growing up.

Serious. Stoic. Very much about taking care of business and no fluff.

That’s probably why I like her. She reminds me of my mother.

“Mr. Volkov.” Her voice doesn’t change as she acknowledges me and walks straight past me into my house.

Alexei climbs into the passenger side and drops the seat as flat as it will go.

“What are you doing?” I ask him as the engine roars to life.

Maybe I shouldn’t know. He’s so unpredictable.

“I was up late last night. Sheila wouldn’t swallow her fishes.” He arches his hips up far enough his belly tattoos block my rear view mirror.

I shake my head trying to work out if this is his broken English or something else today.

“Lay down.”

His butt drops to the leather and he shields his eyes against the Vegas sun with his palm. “You just don’t know what it’s like having a life depend on you. It’s enhancing.” His face twists around as he looks at me. “No. Not the right English. Exhausting. That’s it.”

My jaw flexes with my fist on my steering wheel. “Yes. I have no idea what that’s like. A child is so much easier than a fucking bird.”

“You don’t get it, Niki. If she doesn’t eat good, she loses her pink.” He settles his head against the back and drapes his elbow over his nose. “A flamingo shouldn’t fade.”

Only Alexei would think a bird is harder than a human.

Pulling up in front of Jax’s place, I hit the horn.

Jax probably already knows I am here. His place is covered with motion detecting cameras.

The loud noise was simply for my own amusement watching Alexei jump and curse from his nap.

“What the hell, Alexei? Move your seat, man.” Jax stands outside and jiggles him by the shoulder.

“Why? Sit behind Niki.” Alexei lets out a dramatic groan with another languid stretch.

“He’s too fucking tall. This isn’t exactly a minivan.” Jax crosses his arm and clicks his tongue bar against his teeth.

“Alexei. Sleep in the back.” My patience is running short. “Or, I can boot you out and you can jog to Mikhail’s.”

It’s only eight kilometers. Wait. Miles. How far is that?

Shaking my head, I let the other two argue it out as I slip the car in reverse and let it start rolling backwards out of the driveway.

Alexei squawks before he dives into the rear. “I was getting in!” He slumps against the leather as the door clicks shut at his feet and Jax jumps in the passenger seat.

“You two are worse than infants.”

Jax laughs. “Well, I see you’re both in moods. Someone didn’t get laid last night.”

Alexei snorts past his elbow. “I do every night.”

Jax turns around to look at him between our seats. “What? Since when do you have a woman? No one would be crazy enough to be with you.”

I catch Alexei’s arm move in the mirror as I navigate the crowded streets on the way to the casino.

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