“Yes. The family business.”
“You tried a different path.”
“I did. I knew technology was the future. It made sense to seek a path with less violence and criminal activity.”
“And you had to win. You wanted to show your father that you could be a millionaire without using a gun?”
“You should have been a psychiatrist, Ava.”
She laughed. “I do love psychology.”
“Why?”
“With my parents gone, I wondered if I was missing something other people weren’t.”
Stunned, I studied her. “I completely understand. When my mother passed, I often thought that I was missing something. Perhaps, other men who had their mothers in their lives had a bigger heart or. . .were more capable of love than me.”
“No.”
“They had that feminine guidance to give them balance. All I had was a masculine influence.” I shrugged. “Well, I did have my cousin’s mother, but many would say she was more of a man than most.”
Ava reached her hand out and held mine. “Trust me when I say this, Misha. You are not missing anything. Your heart is not smaller than other men. Your love is huge and all-encompassing.”
“And so is yours. There is nothing wrong with you.”
She squeezed my hand. “I believe that now.”
“Never forget.”
The wall slipped open. Several waiters came in to get our orders. When Ava and I gave them ours, she turned her attention my way. There was nothing in this world more important than her gaze on me. How could Kazimir think I would leave St Petersburg to talk to him? Wasn’t he in the rapture of new love—new passion? Didn’t he understand that nothing else could distract a man from a woman’s devotion?
Ava sipped her champagne. “How many times have you been here?”
Surprised she asked, I held up two fingers.
“And how did you find this place?”
“My cousin came to visit Olesya and when he was done. . .”
“Sleeping with her.” Ava rolled her eyes.
“Yes. I took Kazimir out for drinks. Like me, he enjoys peculiar places.”
“Because you two have seen so many?”
“Maybe.”
Her expression shifted to a sad one. “Do you think you bore easily?”
I smirked. “Are you wondering if you will bore me?”
“How many girlfriends have you had?”
“And how many of those girlfriends have bored me?”
She shrugged.
“After meeting you, I can’t even think about any other women.”
“Nice statement, but that’s not an answer.”
“There were other lovers.”
She leaned forward. “And?”
“They were easily forgotten.”
She blinked.
“You will never be forgotten. You’re. . .” I searched for the words. “You captivated me the moment I first met you. A year ago. And for those twelve torturous months, I waited to be with you. I hoped for the right moment.”
“And now?”
“Now you are more than I could have ever imagined. And every day with you has ended too fast. Every moment I’m with you is too short. Every sensual session of our bodies entwined is never enough.” I slipped my finger along her palm. “My fear is not that I’ll be bored, Ava. What terrifies me is that I may never get enough of you, that I’ll always be addicted and needy.”
“I know how you feel.” She bit her bottom lip.
Our waiters brought out appetizers and placed them on the table for everyone. Conversation roared over the music. Weed smoke danced circles around perfumed ballerinas and gangsters smelling of blood and death. And the scent of food rose as more dishes came in. And lovely wine glasses clinked among the laughter.
And the whole time, Ava and I gazed at each other in a delicious silence—one that only new lovers would understand. We spoke with eyes, enthralling and charming each other. We passed messages with our hands, our fingers slipping and sliding.
I tilted forward and brushed my lips along her ear.
She stirred in her seat.
I licked my lips and whispered, “After we’re done eating, I want to take you on a private tour and show you another part of this club. A quiet section, hidden away.”
Her eyes dilated with lust. “No.”
“No?”
Wickedness laced her next words. “Show me now.”
We rose.
Maxwell raised his glass my way and winked, knowing just what we would be going to do.Chapter 6
Ava
Misha took my hand and guided me away from our seats. I thought we would be going out of the wall that we’d entered. Instead, he led me in the opposite direction and stopped at the wall behind Maxwell. I studied the surface, nothing was there but white paint.
Misha pressed his flat hand on the wall. Pink light glowed under his hand as if a sensor were checking his fingerprints. The door slid open.
Maxwell called after us. “Make sure you do everything I would do and more.”
Several people laughed.
Misha guided me into a small hallway. The white wall closed behind us. In the hallway, a shiny red paint covered the walls and floor.
He led the way.
Where are we going?
Adrenaline pumped through my body.