“If another one of you suggests we give her to the Lionettis, I won’t be so nice about it next time,” he said, staring around like he wanted someone to step out of line.
My breath came fast and shallow, and I backed up until I bumped against the bar. A drink appeared at my elbow—something brown in a glass. I looked back and the old woman bartender winked at me and gave me a smile full of yellow, crooked teeth.
I took the drink and tossed half of it back. The stuff burned on the way down.
“We get you, boss,” Yuri said. “Girl’s safe with us, even if Marvin’s an asshole.”
“He’s right, we will keep the girl protected, if that’s what you want,” Vlad said, muscles rippling. The guy was like a pit bull, shredded beyond imagining.
“What about you?” Luke asked, narrowing his eyes at Anton.
“You know me, boss. I go along to get along.” He shrugged and held up his hands. “Besides, I don’t love getting kicked around like Marvin does.”
“Come on, boss,” Marvin groaned. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry, I open my fat mouth and dumb shit comes out, you know me, I got a good heart but a dumb brain. I’m sorry, boss.”
Luke stepped off Marvin, who slowly climbed to his feet, rubbing his head.
“No more bullshit,” Luke said. “I want you all figuring out how we’re going to help her without turning her over to the Lionettis and without them getting whatever they’re looking for.”
Yuri cleared his throat. “So basically, we’re trying to screw the Lionettis?”
“Without putting it that way, yes, we are.” Luke glanced back at me and I stared at the drink in my hands. “Something’s going on and I want to know exactly what. You guys all understand?”
“Got it, boss.” Anton stood up and stretched. “I got some guys I can go talk to. It’s probably a good time, before they get too fucked up and can’t think straight.”
“I’ll come with.” Vlad followed Anton to the door. “Crack skulls, if needed.”
Anton draped an arm across Vlad’s shoulders. “That’s all you’re good for, isn’t it, you muscle-headed monster?”
Vlad grunted. “All I like doing anyway.”
Anton laughed and the pair disappeared outside. Marvin sat in another chair and leaned over his glass of vodka, staring at it sullenly.
“I know a guy in the Lionetti family,” Yuri said. “I’ll talk to him, see what he says.”
“Don’t let him know that I have Cara with me. I think they know already, but deny it for now.”
Yuri nodded, though he looked worried, and stood up. He grabbed Marvin by the scruff of his neck and dragged him along. “God damn it,” Marvin said. “I just want to get drunk.”
“We’re working instead, you lazy asshole.” Yuri dragged him to the door and they disappeared outside.
Luke joined me at the bar, glaring down at the bottle for a long moment before reaching over and grabbing some cheap vodka. He slugged it back and the bartender rolled her eyes before she disappeared into the back. I sat down on a stool and leaned forward on my elbows.
“They seem nice,” I offered.
He laughed long and loud like I’d said the funniest thing in the world.
I watched him, not sure what to make of any of this. It was obvious his guys didn’t want to be involved in my problems, but Luke didn’t seem to care about that. They listened to him, or at least they were too afraid to go against him, but I didn’t know how far that would get us. If the Lionettis were as strong and dangerous as Luke seemed to think, then I needed all the help I could get—but I wasn’t so sure his men wouldn’t turn me in the first chance they got.
“Honestly, they’re not so bad,” he said. “I know they come off a little rough, but they’re good people. Marvin means well, even though he’s an idiot.”
“How long have you known them?”
“I took over this crew five years back, but I knew them all before that. We’ve been running in the same circles for a while.”
“The Morozov family.”
He shrugged and offered me the vodka. I held up my hand and shook my head, preferring whatever the bartender had poured for me.
“It’s a good crew. Money’s solid, protection’s there, but the Morozov are still small.” He put the vodka bottle back. “I want to change all that.”
“I’m not sure getting tangled up with me is going to help you grow your mafia.”
He eyed me curiously for a moment. “You never know. Opportunities are everywhere.”
“Is that why you’re helping me? I’m some opportunity?”
He didn’t answer at first. I was intensely aware of his leg inches from my own, of his hulking frame, of his handsome lips—of his hands pinning me back against the bed—
“I’m not sure what you are,” he said softly, looking at the bar then back at me. “I’m fascinated by you, and if I let you go now, you’re fucked. I figure I can see this through for a while.”