Underboss (With Me in Seattle Mafia 1)

“Ready.”

* * *

“A toast,” Igor Tarenkov says as he raises his glass and gets the attention of the roughly three hundred people at the reception. “To my niece, Annika. My little firefly. You make a lovely bride, my darling. And to Richard. If you fail to take care of my girl, you’ll swim with the fishes. Cheers.”

We laugh and raise our glasses as Igor sits at the table with his brother—Annika’s dad—and Richard’s parents, who look a little worse for wear.

“I don’t think Rich’s parents are used to people like us,” I murmur to Nadia, who chuckles and sips her champagne.

“You’d be right. Annika said they’re doctors from the suburbs.”

“Just like her,” I point out as the bride approaches our table.

“I’m so happy to see you,” Annika says to Nadia as she leans in to kiss her cousin’s cheek. “Are you all having a good time?”

“What’s not to like?” Rocco asks.

“Hello, Rafe.”

My brother’s expression turns to a scowl. “I’ve told you a million times to call me Rocco.”

“I will never do that,” Annika replies with a straight face. “Your name is Rafe. That’s what your mother calls you.”

“You’re not my mother,” my brother reminds her.

“Isn’t that fortunate?” Annika replies without missing a beat.

I always liked Annika. Like my cousin Elena, Annika has no interest in the family business. She’s a doctor with a business in Denver. Her new husband, Rich, is also a physician.

They’ll live a quiet life, making a good living from their jobs, even if Igor uses them from time to time to clean up a mess or two.

Having a doctor in the family is incredibly helpful.

Rocco narrows his eyes on Annika, but she just smiles at us. “Oh, I want you to meet someone. Ivie, come here.”

I recognize the maid of honor as she hurries over to our table and offers us all a smile.

“Everyone, this is my best friend since we were six. Ivie Roberts.”

“Hi.” Ivie waves and flashes a shy smile. She’s pretty but not beautiful. Not extraordinary like the other women in the room. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” Shane says as he takes her hand and kisses her knuckles. “You’re lovely, aren’t you?”

Rocco and I share a surprised look.

“Oh, it’s just the dress,” Ivie says, glancing down at the blood-red gown that fits her curvy body like a glove.

“No, I think it’s the woman wearing it.”

“How charming,” Nadia says. “Ladies, let’s make a trip to the champagne table.”

Nadia loops her arms through Annika’s and Ivie’s and leads them away. Ivie glances back and gives Shane a sassy wink.

“Really?” I say to Shane, who just stares back at me blankly.

“What?”

“What do you mean what?” Rocco says with a laugh. “You were totally mooning over that girl. And she’s not your type. She’s not any of our types.”

“What does that mean?” Elena demands, and Archer suddenly seems fascinated with the silverware on the table.

Smart man.

“She’s fucking amazing,” Shane replies with a scowl. “Did you see her?”

“Yeah.” I nod slowly. “We saw her.”

Without another word, Shane stands and goes in search of the woman, and Rocco lets out a laugh.

“What’s wrong with her?” Elena demands again. “She’s pretty.”

“She’s not ugly,” I agree. “But she’s hardly Shane’s type. He goes for the cold, supermodel types.”

“Like Nadia?” Elena asks with a cocked brow.

My eyes narrow on her. I don’t know why I suddenly feel so defensive of the Bratva princess. I can’t stand her.

“You don’t understand.” The words are clipped. Short.

But Elena doesn’t back down.

“You know how I feel about this.”

She thinks my mission’s futile—is sure that Nadia doesn’t have the answers, and that I’m wasting my time.

I think she’s wrong.

“Let’s dance,” Nadia says, suddenly at my side. I take her hand, kiss the palm, and stand at her request.

“That would be a pleasure.”

She leads me out to the dance floor. As the Goo Goo Dolls sing Iris, I pull Nadia to me, flush against me, and we move around the space.

Her lean body is a temptation that I never stop longing for. It’ll be a pity that I won’t get to fuck her anymore once all of this is said and done. I don’t know that I’ve met a woman I’ve been so sexually compatible with before. I may not find one ever again.

The fire in her eyes as she gazes up at me tells me that she’s just as fired up as I am.

Without another word, I take her hand and lead her off the floor, down a hallway, and to an empty storeroom that must be used as a maid’s closet for the hotel.

I lock the door behind us and yank her against me.

“Did you do that on purpose?” I growl against her neck. “Seduce me on the dance floor so I’d be hard and wanting you?”

“Maybe.” Her voice is breathy as her hands immediately reach for my slacks, pulling them open so she can plunge her hand inside to cup me. “Probably.”