Page 3 of Niko's Printsessa
“You do know we’re talking about Becca Sokolov, right?”
Sergei jokes, “Are you, The Butcher, frightened of Becca?”
Growing up, I had no idea I was a Petrova, let alone connected to a Russian Bratva, but once I discovered the truth I embraced it. Most would run, but it was the missing piece of the puzzle for me. I enjoy slicing our enemies and making them suffer, and we all have our weapon of choice. Sergei prefers to shoot his opponent, point blank, and Andrei prefers others get their hands dirty while he orchestrates from the sidelines. We’re all cold, dark and dangerous, but I’m one of those sick fucks psychiatrists love to dissect.
My mother raised me the best she could, but we struggled. I was always big for my age and farm work sculpted my muscles, so when I heard about underground fighting I didn’t thinktwice. I’ve always had anger issues, and fighting became my outlet. Bare-knuckle boxing is exactly how it sounds. It’s raw and brutal, and just what I needed at the time. If I wasn’t on the farm or in school, I was in an old, dirty gym training. I had no one to mentor me, so I watched the older experienced fighters. I watched, mimicked, trained hard, and with each win my reputation grew, until I was invited to the big money events. I was able to provide for us while not only satisfying the beast growing inside me, but also nurturing the monster I am today.
I love the sound and feel of broken bones crushing under my bare hands, and shooting a bullet between someone’s eyes is satisfying, but the feeling I get when slicing a knife across my enemy’s skin or seeing the spray of blood when I plunge my weapon into their throat, is euphoric. Their dimming eyes stare at me, their executioner, and my face is the last they see as they take their final breath. Each time I picture Boris Sokolov.
Some might even say it’s cathartic.
I’m well aware I’m not normal, but just like my cousins, I do have a sliver of morality. We only gut well-deserving pieces of shit and there’s plenty to keep us busy. We may be ruthless criminals, with our hands in illegal betting, money laundering, and weapons, but as long as we don’t go around hurting innocent civilians, the Las Vegas Police Department doesn’t bother us.
Ignoring Sergei’s jab I ask, “Could it be retaliation from Netti?”
“I reached out to Dante and he’s given us his word he’s not behind it. If he discovers anything nefarious amongst his men, we’ll be the first to know.”
Just recently, Sergei rescued the love of his life from being trafficked. As much as we love a good war, the Netti family has been an ally, but after his father’s death, Rocco Netti tookover and began selling woman and children. If that wasn’t bad enough, he encroached onto our territory, expecting us to turn a blind eye to his crimes.
We made it clear to Rocco we weren’t interested in human trafficking and we would never allow it in our city. Andrei contacted Rocco’s cousin, Dante, who was next in line and very much against selling humans. The plan was to kill Rocco, and Dante would take over. A time and date hadn’t been set yet, but after he tried to blow up Andrei’s wedding reception, Rocco’s fate was sealed.
We saved a lot of women that night and Becca was an intricate part. She contacted the family doctor and brought in an interpreter, and her and Oni worked tirelessly to locate the girls’ family members. The ones who had nowhere to go weren’t sent back to the streets. Instead, Becca helped set them up in one of our apartments, purchasing everything they needed, and once they were healed, she found them jobs at our casinos. She even helped some with college enrollment.
“Why can’t she stay here?”
“I have a pregnant wife, and Sergei has Natalia. Your home is in the middle of nowhere, away from all the trouble she likes to instigate. She’s safer there,” Andrei explains.
“Are you going to tell the girls?”
“Of course. If not before, we’ll discuss it at family dinner with Mom and Leo. Everyone will be there minus you and Becca.”
“I hope Aunt Zoya forgives me for my absence.”
Sergei snorts, “That’s the least of your worries.”
“She won’t go quietly.”
Andrei nods adamantly. “You’re allowed to use any means necessary. Whatever it takes to keep Becca safe.”
“What do you want me to do? Kidnap her and keep her as my prisoner?” I say it as a joke but Sergei nods.
“If you need to, yes.”
My dick twitches at the thought of tying a naked Becca to my bed.
Chapter Two
Becca
Niko and Sergei are still in Andrei’s office, while I sit here studying my cold coffee and pretend I’m not waiting to catch another glimpse of Niko’s beautiful body.
He’s the epitome of a modern Russian God. Sharp features, dark, thick hair and a perfectly trimmed beard.Zero percent body fat, and every inch of those sexy muscles are covered with intimidating tattoos. The way his black eyes drill into me, while maintaining that don’t-give-a-fuck expression. I’ve gone through many vibrators while imagining his most important muscle railing me.
I hate myself for pining after him. Ever since the day I met him, I’ve placed him on a pedestal, and who would blame me? The man is larger than life. On the outside he looked like a normal college kid, but even as a hormonal teenager, I knew there was more.Hewas more. He’s always had this intensity and dangerous air about him, and once he found his rightful place in the Bratva, he morphed into the beast he was meant to be. An utterly, magnificently, terrifying beast.
My beast, if only in my fantasies. Sane people would run from him, but I want all the terrifying parts that make up Niko Petrova. But he’ll always think of me as an awkward teenager orworse, his kid sister. Fuck if he doesn’t soak my panties every time he walks into a room. It’s wrong in so many ways, which just makes me want him more.
He runs so hot and cold, I never know what he’s truly thinking, a good attribute for a cold-hearted killer.