Page 59 of Lord of Vice
I’d decided to park the vehicle myself instead of using a valet, rolling into the underground garage while continuously checking the area. Fortunately, there’d been no incidents during the drive back, no sense that we were being followed. In truth, the fact that all was quiet didn’t bode well for my mood. My instincts had been excellent over the years, honed by incidents and training. But right now, everything felt a little off.
As I rolled across the concrete path leading toward the security parking area, I noticed Penny was staring at me intently. Perhaps she’d been wondering why I’d paid more attention to the rearview mirror than I had to the traffic in front of me.
“What’s wrong?” she finally asked when I rolled into a spot with a hard stop. “Did you see something?”
“Who said anything is wrong?”
“Because you’ve been tense since the dog park.”
“In my business, it pays to be tense.”
“So you really are mafia. Yes?”
I cut the engine, throwing her a look. “I thought you already knew and had accepted my profession. Russian Bratva to be exact, or at least if you asked my dead father that’s what he’d tell you we were.”
“Your title?”
“Pakhan.”
“But you don’t want to be called that. I can tell by the disdain in your voice.”
I unbuckled the seatbelt, trying not to sweep the garage. One of the vehicles with my two soldiers pulled up behind us, merely waiting until we were safely secured in the elevator. “I’ve worked very hard to build the casinos and resorts into legitimate businesses, Penny. However, that doesn’t mean my roots aren’t firmly placed in the old ways, built from a heritage that is almost unrecognizable to me today. Brutality unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Extortion. Money laundering. Blackmail. They were merely tools of the trade and the industry. I’d learned over the years that enemies never forgot a tragedy or a loss, memories shifting from one generation to another. It’s the way of things, a rite of passage to some and a burden to others. It’s what I know and what I can’t walk away from. At least not in its entirety.”
The slight smile she had faded. I could see the light understanding flowing in when she’d tried very hard to shove aside the thought that her heroic actions had placed her indanger. While the afternoon had been incredible, it simply wasn’t the norm and never could be.
And for the first time in as long as I could remember, the comprehension made me somewhat sad.
“It must be difficult not to be allowed to control your own destiny.”
“Look around you, Penny. What do I have to complain about? Come on. Let’s go to the suite where you can freshen up.”
“What are you going to be doing?” she asked softly as she unfastened her seatbelt, immediately opening the door. Remington hopped out first, remaining close. He’d been a sweetheart the entire day. Now, I could almost see myself getting a dog.
“I have a short meeting, but I won’t keep you alone for long.”
“You’re worried what happened isn’t over.”
I pressed my hand against the small of her back, taking another scan of the parking garage. “As I said before, it’s part of the job.”
“How can you live this way?”
“Because it’s all I know. Come on.” I wasn’t going to tell her that the bloodshed and violence were akin to the air I breathed, the need to kill firmly implanted in my DNA. Nor was I going to provide her with any details about the life I’d been brought up in or the stories I’d been told. I was surprised I’d told her so much already. Not that she could do anything with it should she decide to go to a member of law enforcement.
Sadly, what I knew was that telling her any gritty details would force a reaction including running far away. I couldn’t allow thatto happen. No, I refused to allow that to happen. The possessive side of me was working in full force.
I kept my hand pressed against her, reaching around me to ensure the weapon I’d tucked into my trousers was still firmly secured in place.
“It’s still there,” she said more in passing.
“What?”
“I might seem sweet and innocent to you, Mr. Sokolov, but I know my weapons. You forget. I grew up in the country.”
She had a way of disarming me that would forever be a delight. “You have me curious again since you have so many hidden talents. Can you shoot?”
“Hell, yes. I’m a crack shot at hitting empty Diet Coke cans.” She peered back at the two men. “Do you ever go anywhere without your soldiers?”
“Well, it’s apparent they don’t take a shower with me if that’s what you mean.”