Page 3 of The Bratva's Bounty

Volkov Inc. offered a plethora of services, from simple things like accounting help to loans to more gray area matters like hits, kidnappings, and shipments. I had a tendency to stick to the more high-risk assignments, but sometimes I liked to relax with simple tasks like this seek and retrieve assignment, especially if the target was easy on the eyes.

I couldn't help but let my eyes linger on a candid photo of Nicole where she laughed at something off-screen. Her small figure was accentuated nicely in an Asian dress; I think it was some Vietnamese dress because it looked like something my sister-in-law would wear to fancy events from time to time. Either way, Nicole looked divine in the black dress adorned with gold floral embroidery.

The more I studied her, the more I engraved her into my mind. Her long but slender face had the perfect set of upturned almond-shaped eyes, a soft nose bridge to a somewhat tall and small nose, and those brownish amber eyes of hers captivated me so much because of how they popped with her glasses. I couldn't help but wonder if they'd look as shiny and glimmering in real life when I'dhave her face in my hands. God, those plush little lips of hers would probably feel so soft too, so nicely sized and reddish pink.

Ugh, get a grip, Lev, she's your target, and you can't form attachments with the target.

I reminded myself with an internal and audible groan as I ran my hands down my face after tossing the picture back down on my desk.

Shoving my own thoughts and feelings aside into the fire, I recollected myself enough to focus on digging around Nicole's life, or at least whatever life the internet offered. At least she was pretty active on social media until she went missing. Countless posts gave me an insight into the young woman, along with a quick search through records by not-so-legal means.

Nicole Le seemed like a simple, successful woman who had it all in life. She had a job at her family's business as the C.O.O. right under her younger brother and father, who were the C.E.O.s. She had rich little friends, from what her posts showed. She was smiley, happy, and living the life. Yet, looking deeper, she didn't seem so simple.

Her smiles in pictures that weren't candid shots were empty, almost flat, and forced for the sake of keeping her image up.

Then her eyes, those sad, empty eyes, cried out to me.

Chapter 2

Nicole

Life was good.

Too good.

It felt like the calm before the storm, and I didn't like that one bit.

Just like how I didn't like this stupid rat tailing me.

I had to give him props, though, because if I weren't so paranoid and overly observant, he could have gone unnoticed. Or if I had been carefree like before, he would have slipped by. Too bad I lived my life on an anxious edge.

Even though it was a no-brainer to cut myself from my family six months ago, it didn't make living my life any easier because of their persistence. I'd let my parents run my life for too long, and I was stupid to let them get away with it for as long as they did. At least I learned to open my eyes before it was too late.

Too bad them letting me go wouldn't be easy. They had so many deals lined up, expansion opportunities, a shit load of stuff, all dependent on me marrying some creepy old man to form an alliance. Yeah, no, fuck that. Especially after they fucked me over by stealing my own cybersecurity company from right under my nose. I already played the role of the good and obedient daughter growing up, even going as far as throwing out my dream ofbeing an engineer with my parents' constant nagging and pushing for me to go into business. I lived my life for them, and obviously, that was a huge mistake. So, now it was time to take everything back and live the life I always wanted.

After I get rid of this stupid idiot tailing me.

Yes, I did have a person following me. No, I wasn't imagining things, nor was it some coincidence that he was going in the same direction as me. This handsome man has been following me for the past week, no mistake about it. If he wasn't so darn good-looking, then he could have faded into the background to me.

Go ahead, sue me for thinking my stalker is handsome. I was no idiot, nor was I blind. This man, whoever he is, though I was willing to place my bet on him being someone my parents hired, was handsome as hell. Gotta love myself a tall and buff man, especially one with striking blue eyes because, fuck me, I was such a sucker for colored eyes. Honestly, those lovely pair of sky-blue orbs were what snatched my attention and made me zone in on him. Damn man be looking like a damn model out of a magazine. Maybe that's why he looked familiar to me.

Huffing to myself, I shook my head and shook away my little infatuation with the stud. Falling for some hired body by my parents? No thanks. If he wasn't, then, well, falling for my stalker didn't sound or seem any better either.

Actually, now that I think about it, maybe he wasn't some hired muscle from my parents. He could just damn well be some fanboy stalker. It definitely wouldn't be the first time I had fans cross the line and try to get real close and personal to me. Being a young, rich, good-looking, and available woman in this day and age slapped a huge target on my back. I've had my fair share of suitors, all of whom my parents rejected or I rejected personally. I didn't want some run-of-the-mill business tycoon as a husband, nor someone boring. Most of the men who've propositioned me were either dull, rich assholes, too posh with their heads up their asses, or were complete idiots who I couldn't stand.

I wanted someone with an actual personality, a soul made of fire. I wanted someone who would bring me excitement and true love, and someone who wouldn't stunt me as a person. I might have been a little tamer while under my parents, but I was still an outspoken and independent woman who definitelywasn't afraid to speak her own mind; apparently, not many guys I've come across like this. I wanted an equal, not to be lower or higher than anyone.

Shit. Handsome stalker guy.

Need to get my mind out of the clouds if I want to keep my pretty little ass free. Fanboy or hired man, I needed to shake him. It shouldn't be too hard of a task since the streets were pretty busy right now with the lunchtime rush.

Pulling my phone out, I snuck a quick picture of the man for later. For research, of course! I needed to find out more about my little tail. I was growing bored, so if he was hired by my parents, then I could use this opportunity to fuck around with them. If he wasn't, then, well, I'd still get some entertainment from messing around with him. This would probably bite me in the ass after the fact because I was supposed to keep a low profile, being 'in hiding' and all, but if anything went too astray, then I could call Angel for help.

Just some harmless fun with the handsome man, that's all this would be. Then again, to be fair, he's the one following me and got caught.

Smirking to myself, I dipped into my last stop of the day, a small little café for my fix of caffeine. "Hey Nicki! Your usual, along with a to-go?" The owner, a nice middle-aged woman, greeted me with a smile.

"That would be great Lia. Thank you! Oh! And I'll take a little slice of tiramisu this time, too, to go." I returned her welcoming smile with a warm one of my own before sitting at the window bar.