Page 118 of Alexei (Belles & Mobsters 4)

“Whiskey,” I told the bartender. “Straight up.”

This was a bad fucking idea. I knew Vasili often got invites to political fundraisers. Two months without her fucked with my mind. I couldn’t function.

“Do you work here?” An elderly woman with a cane stood next to me, eyeing me like I was scum of the earth. There was nolikein that statement. I was among the worst scum to walk this earth. “I need-”

“No,” I told her icily.

“You look like you work here,” she babbled on when all I wanted her to shut the fuck up.

The bartender saved her by putting my drink in front of me and I downed it in one gulp. I needed a whole bottle. I had never been big on drinking. The need to maintain control was ingrained in me. Yet, since meeting Aurora as a grown woman, my blood pressure constantly skyrocketed, my breathing was ragged and my mind was a scrambled mess. And I needed alcohol.

Control flew out of the elevator the day she walked into it, back in the FBI building.

“I need someone to go get my car,” the old woman demanded. Jesus, did she want to die?

“Mrs. Kennedy, how are you?” A soft voice came from behind me. The scent of chocolate. I stiffened. “This is Alexei, my boyfriend.”

My head snapped her way. Was she making fun? Aurora didn’t look my way, her eyes firmly on the old woman.

“Oh my dear, I don’t think your father will approve.” I knew he wouldn’t. Nobody in their right mind would approve of me. “He looks like a brute.”

Aurora’s hand slipped into mine, though she still didn’t look my way. As if she couldn’t stand to look at me. Though why did she call me her boyfriend.

“Maybe, Mrs. Kennedy.” Aurora’s slim shoulder shrugged and I wanted to bend her over, sink my teeth into her skin and mark her for the whole world to see. “But he’s my brute. Now please apologize to my boyfriend.”

The woman's eyes bulged and an undignified gasp left her. She didn’t find me worthy of the apology. I didn’t care about her opinion nor her apology. All I cared about was that my woman was touching me.

“I’d never,” The old woman scoffed and scurried away, her diamonds glittering under the bright lights of the ballroom and hiding her shallowness.

Aurora pulled her hand out of my grip and took a step backwards then met my eyes. Dark chocolate brown pulled me into a sweet oblivion. I didn’t need a stiff drink when she looked at me like that.

“Why are you here, Alexei?” she asked in a soft, husky voice.

She still had that polite smile on her lips, and I fucking hated it. Because it was the same one she gave everyone else. I wanted her real smile, her real frowns. I wanted the real her.

“You’re mine.” Fuck, the statement slipped out before I could stop it. I should sweet talk her, seduce her. Except, I didn’t know how to do that.

Her eyebrow rose up in question, waiting for me to elaborate. But there was nothing else to say; nothing she would find acceptable.

She exhaled slowly, her eyes darting behind me. I knew Vasili and Isabella approached us.

“Agent Ashford.” Vasili’s voice came behind me. “Nice to see you again.”

“Wish I could say the same,” Aurora responded dryly. Her eyes shifted to Isabella and she nodded. “Mrs. Nikolaev.”

“Please call me Isabella.” My sister hated conflict and disagreements. She just wanted everyone to get along and be happy. “My husband told me y-you helped eliminate a threat to our son.”

Annoyance flashed in Aurora’s eyes. “Ah, so it was for your son?” she scoffed. “It would have been nice if the Nikolaev men would have told me the truth from the get go, you know. Instead of playing me.”

This had to be what being stabbed in the heart felt like. Her words filled the silence, the meaning behind them dancing in this fancy ballroom. Sadness crossed Isabella’s features and Vasili growled, taking a threatening step towards Aurora. I cut him off, getting in front of Aurora.

“Ne.”No.One word but he knew I’d fight him over her. I’d never allow anyone to hurt her. Not my brother, not my sister. Anyone!

“I’m sorry, Aurora.” Isabella took Vasili’s hand and pulled him back. “Vasili, stop acting like a beast,” she scolded him in her soft voice.

“Sister, is everything okay?” I knew her brothers would find their way here. After all, she was their little sister.

“Are these men bothering you?” Winston growled, his eyes darting between Vasili and I. He looked like a perfect gentleman, although taller and bulkier than most other sissy pricks around here. “I thought we told you to stay away,” he hissed at me, resentment in his eyes.

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