Page 15 of Nikolai

"You guys are acting weird."

Bella waves her hand in front of us and changes the subject. "So how are you liking Polson? You get settled into the apartment okay?"

"The apartment is great. I've been meaning to thank the club for all they've done."

"You're family now, "Alba says. "They guys were happy to help."

At the mention of family, I let my mind drift and start thinking about my own. It is not lost on me that The Kings have done more for me in just a matter of weeks than my mother and father have in eighteen years. People who hardly know me have shown me what it is to be a family—like Sam, who dropped everything to move because I needed to escape to someplace safe. Family is people who help you find a safe place to lay your head at night and give you a job with no questions asked. They are the people who accept you just the way you are. I'm blessed enough to have found two of the best friends anyone could ask for.

"You okay, Leah?" Alba's voice fills with concern. "You looked miles away just now."

Shaking my thoughts away, I decide I need a moment to collect myself before letting my emotions get the better of me. "I'm fine," I give my friend a small smile. "I do need to use the restroom, though. Can you point me in the direction?"

"Sure." Alba points to her left. "Down the hall, last door on your right."

"Thanks. I'll be back in a minute."

Standing, I make my way through the common room and past the bar. And though I don't look up from watching each step my feet carry me, I feel a familiar set of eyes watching my every move. It's unnerving yet makes my tummy flutter. Once I reach the bathroom and rush to lock the door, I lean my back against the wall in front of the mirror and take a deep breath. This is why I don't have friends and why I don't like crowds. I'm not good at making small talk or inserting myself into the conversations going on around me. I don't understand when the people around me give each other cryptic looks spoken in secret code. Regardless of those things, I have to admit; it feels good being around my friend again and seeing how happy she is. If anyone deserves to be happy, it's Alba.

Deciding I've hidden in the bathroom long enough, I exit and head back down the hall. I don't make it far when I hear my name called. "Leah?" Jake Delane, the club President, stands in the doorway to his office. Jake is just as big as the rest of the men in the club. Only his presence holds more authority. He has a bushy beard, tattoo-covered arms, a broad chest, and kind eyes. "I'd like a word with you, darlin'."

Not waiting for my response, Jake turns, walks further into his office, and plants himself behind a desk. I follow behind and take a seat in front of him.

Settling in, Jake picks up a pack of cigarettes from his desk, sticks one in his mouth, lights it, and takes a long drag. Out of nervous habit, I stare down at my hands, resting on my lap while waiting for him to speak. "Darlin'," Jake grabs my attention, and I look up. "You got nothin' and no one to be scared of here. You get me?"

"Yes, Sir."

Jake nods. "I only wanted to see how you were settlin' in. See how you're likin' the job."

"I'm settling in okay. I like my job, and everyone has been nice."

"That's good, sweetheart." Jake's face goes soft at his next question. "Now, about your dad. Have you tried talking to him again?"

I shake my head. "No, Sir. Not since before Sam and I moved to Polson." Curious about Jake's line of questioning, I ask, "Do you think he knows I'm here? Have you heard anything?"

Jake takes another drag from his cigarette. "The club is handlin' your dad. We're keepin' tabs, and he hasn't been sniffin' anywhere near my town. If he does, I'll know about it."

I let out a relieved breath.

Jake leans forward, resting his arms on the desk. "The club's got your back, darlin'. Don't you worry. I'll also add, Sam told me what went down with you and your old man. I assure you that the things he told my men and me won't go beyond these walls. You can trust me, and you can trust my club. I want you to know you can come to us for anything. You got me?"

"I got you. Thank you, Mr. Delane. I know you don't know me, but your help means a lot."

"No thanks necessary, sweetheart. Alba vouches for ya and considers you family. If you're Alba's family, you're Kings' family. That's all there is to it. We take care of our own."

7

Nikolai

Present

Another night of restless sleep,although this time, my insomnia has nothing to do with my past. No, I can't seem to get a particular curvy brunette with amber eyes off my mind. I close my eyes, and she's there. Awake, I want nothing but to lay eyes on her. That is a problem. I shouldn't want her the way I do. For starters, she's barely legal, and Leah is not ready for a man like me. I pull a pair of gym shorts from the dresser drawer and slide them on. Needing a distraction, I walk out of my room. It's a few hours before dawn, so I head toward the other side of the house and enter the gym. The one here at my father's estate in Polson is smaller than the one in Russia but offers a much better view during a workout. I step up to the heavy bag and begin pounding my bare knuckles into the black leather. When thoughts of Leah continue to plague me, my strikes become harder and faster until my flesh is raw, and my body is drenched in sweat.

Breathing slowly and frustrated that my workout proved useless in my efforts to concentrate on more than a beautiful young woman, I make my way back to my room. Stripping out of my shorts, I stride into the bathroom and turn the shower on. As I wait for the water to warm, I pause, looking at my nude reflection in the mirror. Twisting, I take in the three large scars on my back. They're hidden—blended almost flawlessly with my tattoos. No matter how I disguise them, they are reminders of my past, and of the man my grandfather was.

My fists tighten at my sides as the memory surfaces. The second time in my life that I defied my grandfather. By this time in my life, there wasn't too much I didn't know about my mafia family. However, I still wasn't privy to all the inner workings. I wasn't killing people or committing crimes, but I was accompanying people here and there to places like restaurants, bars, and strip clubs. No one ever questioned why I always tagged along or was invited to go. At fifteen, I was as tall as I am now, besides, why would they refuse to let me enter? I'm Nikolai Volkov. Cocky to say, but true. There was this one fucker, a real piece of shit by the name of Zavier Minsky, the son of a prominent business associate to the family. The entire meeting went smoothly until I caught the asshole raping an unconscious woman in the men's bathroom at the topless bar, where we were conducting business. Long story short, I beat the shit out of him.

Rolling my shoulders, I take one last look in the mirror before stepping into the shower. Unfortunately for me, Zavier felt disrespected, and my grandfather thought I needed another lesson in respect. I had to endure whatever punishment the Minsky family saw fit, as long as it didn't result in the loss of my life. It turns out; they have strange barbaric customs for such things in their family. I was horsewhipped several times. Some of those strikes left open lacerations across my back. Needless to say, my father wasn't pleased to hear about the incident upon his return. I don't know what transpired between my grandfather and my dad, but I know nothing like what I was put through ever happened again.

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