Page 21 of His Smile
The tension in the room thickened to an unbearable degree,creating a distinct polarity between the private room and the club below.Neither man turned to look at Roman’s reaction to Rahina’s presence. Theydidn’t have to; they could feel the man’s anger rolling off his silent figurein waves.
“We’re so fucked,” Dimitri mumbled low enough for Mosca tohear before knocking back the whiskey he was holding.
For over an hour, Roman stood unmoving at the window as theparty pulse beneath them. Rahina was all over the club, never stopping as shelaughed, talked, and danced through her party. Having taken it upon himself,Mosca had researched every social media account, call log, and GPS logassociated to Rahina. For the most part, he could identify the familiar facesof her core group of friends. Slowly, she and Mario made their way to the bar.Tilting their heads, all three men watched as Rahina got the bartender’sattention. Pushing herself up onto the bar, Rahina leaned boldly over as shespoke directly into the bartender’s ear through the loud music, inadvertentlycausing her ass to poke out as she leaned over the wide bar. It was theequivalent of throwing steak into a cage of starving dogs, Mosca thought.Around her men automatically turned to visually feast on the provocative sight.Nodding, the bartender finally acknowledged whatever request made allowing herto hop back down to the floor. Curious, Mosca leaned forward a little furthertowards the glass and watched the bartender’s movements. Setting out a row oftwenty shot glasses, he filled them all with the familiar clear liquid. Moscarestrained another groan. It was becoming very apparent he was going to have togo down there and shadow the girl himself. There was no way he was taking anychances with this size crowd and her now drinking.
A chuckle from Roman refocused his attention. Roman smirkedas he watched the bartender take four separate shot glasses and fill themdiscreetly with water behind the counter, adding tiny wedges of lime to thembefore placing them with the rest of the glasses. Her group of friends cheeredas they grabbed the liquor while Rahina and her friend Mario grinned knowinglyat each other as they downed the fake vodka.
“Clever,” Dimitri said with evident relief.
The party went on beneath them, and Roman finally turnedfrom his observation spot to pour himself a drink. Occasionally, the sound ofthe radio feed would interrupt the stillness of the room as Nico and the restof Mikhail’s crew relayed info back-and-forth regarding the overall status ofthe party: a few drunk falls, arguments that nearly turned into brawls,uninvited guest angry that they weren’t allowed admittance, and far more. Theoverall mood of the club was becoming tired, drunk, and a little disorderly. Bynow Mikhail had made it back upstairs and sat in the leather chair next toRoman, both now talking in low tones. Although he was still unsmiling, Romanappeared relaxed as he watched the security feeds while occasionally looking toMikhail.
Mosca spotted the man first. His body tensed at the sight ofthe familiar face, a face Mosca had only ever seen either on TV or plasteredall over social media. It only took a simple web search with the basketballplayer’s name to see Rahina’s name next to his as previously dated and numerousposts on gossip blogs speculating on the reason for their breakup. The tallplayer made his way through the crowd easily. His target destination was clearas he glanced up to the golden figure leaning on the balcony railing with herback to the crowd.
Standing next to him in front of the window, Dimitri pausedmid-drink in glared at the scene. “Are you fucking kidding me?” He whisperedloud enough for only Mosca to hear. “Mosca,” Dimitri hardly turned from thewindow, but Mosca could see the grim determination in his captain’s eyes. “Gotake care of it before it becomes an issue.”
Nodding, Mosca moved quietly and quickly to the door.
“Let it play out,” Roman’s lethally soft command stilledhim.
Dimitri shot Roman a perplexed look, wondering what the manwas playing at. Roman gave no indication to his thoughts, while Mikhail who satat his left shared a weary look with Dimitri.
“But do let in our guest, Mosca,” and for the first time inweeks, a small smile graced Roman’s lips.
Confused, but knowing better to question, Mosca reached forthe door handle just as a quick knock sounded from the other side. Opening thedoor, Mosca felt his body tighten at the sight of the woman Nico escortedthrough the threshold. Mosca had only seen pictures of her when he collecteddata on Rahina, and he had heard only bits and pieces of the conversation shehad with Roman the night of their family dinner. Stepping back to allow her topass, Mosca watched her with a sense of awareness that felt like napalmentering his bloodstream. If Mosca considered Rahina beautiful than that surelymeant her older sister Rubina was utterly devastating.
He could do nothing but stare at the woman, her sharp eyestook in the room with shrewd assessment briefly landing her dark gaze on eachman like a gunshot, or at least that was how it felt to Mosca. The gold slinkydress she was wearing fit her in a way that made him want to readjust his dickand straighten his hair at the same damn time.
Turning, she cast Nico a withering look that only made theman smile. “You were supposed to be escorting me to my sister, not to him,” shepointed in Roman’s direction as if she was referring to a pile of trash.
Dimitri and Mosca flinched simultaneously while Roman’s eyeslit up with actual delight.
Holding up his hands in mock surrender, Nico took a stepback shaking his head in amusement. “I was just following orders.”
Crossing her arms, Rubina glared at Roman. “What do youwant? Why am I here?”
Setting his glass on the table with a clink, Roman stood tohis full height and slowly walked towards long viewing window of the club.
“Simply to present you a choice?”
Pulling her head back with skepticism, Rubina tightened herarms defensively. “What kind of choice and why?”
Turning from the window, Roman fixed her with a look sointense and a smile so devious it stilled every man in the room. “Because Iknow how much Rahina values your opinion and I realized that I would prefer tohave you on my side instead of against me.”
Rubina snorted, and Mikhail smiled at her boldness. “Wellit’s too late for that, the damage is done because you’re an asshole,”apparently done with the conversation she turned to leave. “I’m going to find…”
“You don’t want to hear my offer?”
“No,” she snapped over her shoulder as she reached for thedoor handle.
Picking up the remote to the monitor, Roman pointed andpressed the button staring at the screen with a cold smile as he spoke. “So,you’re okay with Rahina going back to Calvin Masters?”
Rubina froze, her body going rigid at the sound of theCeltic’s point-guard’s name. Turning around, her gaze looked up to see alleight monitors now showing the same feed. The room was quiet as she walkedcloser to the monitors staring at the feed with growing irritation. Standing onthe balcony above the crowded dance floor, Rahina faced the giant basketballplayer with her hands folded across her chest as she spoke angrily to Calvin.Tall, athletic, rich, and good-looking Calvin was the focal point of nearlyevery woman’s stare. Even without the sound, the argument waseasy-to-understand: Calvin was pleading his case. With well-placed smiles and aslow advance, they all watched as he ignored Rahina’s angry scowls and pushedhimself into her space until he was close enough to place his hands on to herexposed hips.
Having seen enough, Rubina whipped around towards Roman.“Well,” she yelled. Thrusting a hand towards the screen. “Are you going to dosomething or just stand and watch him sweet talk her into another worthless fiascoof a relationship?”
Turning towards her, Roman gave her awaiting look. “I maynot look it, but I am a very strategic man, Rubina. And my first plan of attackis to take down Rahina’s only outside defense, which is you.”
“What? Why?” She exclaimed clearly shocked at his honesty.
