Mia, please call me. I’ve tried to spare you the details. Obviously, that was a poor decision on my part. He is not a good man, Mia. I mean it. Call me, and I’ll fill you in.
He took in an exaggerated breath before continuing.
Alex informed me that Drake showed up last night, but this isn’t a game. His family . . .
He let out a sigh.
Just call me.
Before I chickened out and Luke sent Alex to show up at my door, I dialed my brother’s phone. He picked up instantly.
“Hey,” I spoke into the speakerphone. “I’m not exactly thrilled that you’ve got Alex spying on me.”
“If you didn’t do things that warranted it . . .” He paused. “Is he there with you now?”
“Of course not,” I huffed. “So why don’t you finish telling me what it is about Drake that is so bad?”
“Most would’ve been turned off at arms dealer.” Luke cleared his throat.
“Well, I’m not most.”
“Obviously. His family is old school. Their connections to the Russian mafia go back decades. You name it, they’ve done it. Running arms, cyber hacking, calling hits on rivals, illegal gambling, loansharking, kidnapping, smuggling. The list is endless. They essentially run the streets of NYC.”
“Impossible. No one family has that much power.” Other than confusion, I didn’t know what I was feeling inside. “What’s Wolf Industries?”
“That’s their cover to clean their dirty money, and believe me. One family can have that much power, and they do.”
“Why haven’t they been shut down if it’s this big, this known?”
“You, of all people, understand how our government uses people for their benefit. They will get caught. They will go down. It’s just a matter of when and where. Could be thirty years from now.”
“Drake too?” I asked. “He’s done some of the things you’re talking about?”
“Mia, he’s killed people. He murdered my client’s brother.”
My stomach knotted, and I couldn’t breathe.
“In cold blood.”
“Was there a reason?” I whispered.
“Are you serious?” Luke shouted into the phone, causing it to buzz. Luke never lost his cool. “A reason to kill someone?”
“I just . . . I can’t reconcile what you’re saying with the man I know. Was Drake’s life in danger?” I didn’t want to say the words. I knew Luke had killed, and it didn’t make him less of a brother or a man, but he had a reason. Drake might have one too.
“We all have different sides. You think he’s going to whip out a photo album and show you all the families he’s destroyed?”
Hannah was in the background telling him to calm down, and I felt extremely guilty for getting my brother this riled up before his nuptials.
“What about his sister?” I asked. I was met with a few seconds of silence. I always believed Luke, and even with all my displays of defiance over the years, I listened to him. But this wasn’t as simple as he wanted it to be.
“I have no idea about a sister. The client is fairly new, and my focus is the Wolf brothers. They’re the ones who do the real damage. They’re the ones after my client. And the mother. She’s a real piece of work.”
Something wasn’t sitting right.
“Mia, I’m your brother, and we’ve always been honest with each other. I get it. He’s attractive, but you can have your pick. Why him? Just let it go.”
“It’s not about that,” I said flatly. “I’m not that shallow.”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t implying you were. Just promise me you’ll put this guy behind you once and for all. No sneaking around no—”
“I’m supposed to spend the day with him. I need to see that through or he might think something’s off.”
“And after that, you’ll stop seeing him?” It wasn’t really a question, even though it sounded like one.
“If you say he’s killed people—”
“My client’s brother,” Luke interrupted.
“Then I’ve obviously gotten involved with someone I shouldn’t have. I just thought it would be harmless fun, and I was wrong.”
“I’m sorry to even interfere. I swear to God, I always turn the other direction when it comes to—”
“I know. I’ll just see it through today to not raise suspicion, and maybe I’ll even go home to California early after the wedding. There’s really no point in sticking around.”
Just saying the words left a pit in my stomach. I didn’t want to leave, and it had nothing to do with location and everything to do with Drake. There was something underneath his tough exterior, and bit by bit, he was letting me see it.
“I’m going to have Alex keep an eye on you,” Luke said. “I’d be surprised, but maybe Drake’s onto me, which means you. Regardless, I don’t want to take that chance.”
I let out a deep sigh. There was no point in arguing. Luke’s mind was made up, and maybe if Drake was as bad as my brother thought, it would be a good idea.
A knock sounded at my door, and I took the phone off speaker.
“I’ve gotta go, and Luke, I’m sorry. I honestly don’t know what came over me. I’ll make it right. Love ya, and I’ll see ya tomorrow.”
“Be careful, and I’ll have my phone on me at all times if you need anything.”
Drake knocked again.
“One more thing. Why wolf?” I whispered to my brother.
“Volk is Russian for wolf. The V Mafia has earned a place in American history for some of the most ruthless crimes the authorities have ever seen, but they always stay one step ahead, which is why they’re still running things.”
My thoughts flashed back to my parents, and my blood chilled. Life had never been black and white for my family. We tended to hang out in the grey area more often than not, my brother included.
“See ya tomorrow,” I whispered, ending the call, making it to the door just as Drake turned around.
“Sorry. It took me longer than I realized to get this beautiful.” I rolled my eyes and felt the wet mess of a ponytail with my fingers, and he smiled.
I hated lying to him.
“You look perfect.” He pulled my body into his and held me. “I’ve missed you.”
“I made that much of an impression?” I teased, wishing I’d never put myself in this position.
I was torn.
I believed what Luke told me.
I did.
I also believed there could be a cause for certain actions.
He placed his fingertip on my chin and raised it slightly. His blue eyes focused on mine, filled with kindness and concern.
“Everything okay?”
I didn’t expect that, and my gaze dropped to the ground.
“You seem distant.” He leaned down so our eyes connected, which brought an unexpected smile to my lips. This wasn’t the action of a killer or a psychopath. He was too astute. “If it’s because of that text from earlier, I promise not to let my brothers or work or anything interrupt our day together.”
I had to step up my game. But my God, he was so charming.
Maybe that was all it was.
Charm.
My smile widened, and he placed a quick kiss on my cheek as I wiggled into him.
“So where are you taking me first?” I asked, reaching for my purse on the hall table.
“My favorite breakfast spot. You’ll be here for a couple more weeks, right?” His eyes glinted with excitement, and disappointment sank low to my belly.
“Yeah, but I’m thinking since my show sold out and I miss the beach and my house, I might just head back early.”
“Really?”
I nodded.
The disappointment in his eyes couldn’t be missed, but I tugged on his hand and we made our way to the elevator.
The moment the doors shut, I felt the familiar pull between us. The physical need to be with him was outweighing all common sense.
It wasn’t like Drake was going to
confess his past sins where we could hash out prior motives and make things all better. As far as he was concerned, I knew nothing, and it had to stay that way.
His hand touched the small of my back as the elevator doors opened. A current flooded through me as we silently exited through the small foyer to the street.
I glanced around expecting to see his driver, but the street was clear. I also didn’t see Alex, which meant he was doing a good job.
“On foot is the best way to feel the energy of the city.” Drake’s voice brought me back to reality. “The breakfast place is just a few blocks away. We’re going to need our stamina.”
There was no room for error. This was simply our last time together.
Yet his words, tinged with hopefulness and unsaid expectation, tore at my heart and brought an onslaught of guilt sliding through me that I never expected.
“Well, after last night, I’m starving.” I looked into his eyes and saw the same kindness I’d seen so many times before.
He slipped his hand around mine, and I took in a heavy breath of disappointment. I’d done this to myself, to him.
“You know, I’ve been thinking.”
“Yeah? Does that not happen often?” I teased, and he shot a wicked glance in my direction before his laughter erupted into the city streets.
“It happens plenty.” His smile was still firmly anchored in place. “I haven’t been to California in ages.”
My heart sank with twisted emotion. He was imagining a future, even if it was nothing more than once or twice more.
“It’s a special place.”
He stopped in front of a café with a smattering of tables and chairs on the sidewalk. I glanced up and saw a sign with toast wearing a hat and winking at me. The piece of bread had on a pair of cowboy boots and a piece of butter sliding off.
I chuckled as he pulled on the door, and the smell of cinnamon wafted over me.
“I’ve never seen cowboy toast before, and I certainly didn’t expect to see one in the city.”
“I’ll never lead you astray.” He held the door open for me, and the hostess immediately recognized Drake. She had several brow piercings and a Bettie Page haircut.
“Nice to see you again.” Her brow arched, and she tossed a glance in my direction, surprise surfacing.
“Nice to see you, Erin.”
Erin pressed her lips together and grabbed two menus without a response.
“So I take it . . .” I whispered, not finishing my sentence.
Drake shrugged as she wound us through the busy tables to a booth in the corner.
“This will do?” She turned to glare at Drake, and I slid into the booth without waiting for his confirmation.
“That was awkward.” I laughed, and his lip curled slightly.
“Yes, it was. I didn’t expect her to be here.” He cleared his throat.
“So I take it you never called her back?”
“I never call anyone back, but those are the rules and they know it.” He bit his lip and studied me. “Until you.”
The server brought over water and asked if we needed some time, which we did.
“Nothing has gone according to plan since meeting you.” His gaze was piercing.
“What was the plan?” I asked, curious.
Even though it shouldn’t matter, it did.
“Seeing you walk up those stairs to the ball made me lose my mind. I wanted you right then. I usually have more control. It was unsettling.”
Hearing that filled my body with a flutter of excitement, and I felt like a worse person for it. How could I get so turned on so easily around him?
“I didn’t expect you to have such fire behind your eyes when I came up behind you.” He took in a deep breath. “I also didn’t expect you to know Ginger.”
“Wasn’t the highlight for me either. It certainly added complication,” I acknowledged, feeling even worse hearing him talk about us as if there were a possibility of us.
I was only feeding into the delusion, but it was the safe thing to do.
“Since my sister’s death, life hasn’t been the same. Our entire family imploded. My father died from heartbreak, and ever since . . .” He shook his head. “There just hasn’t been much light in my life to look forward to, until you.”
I kept my gaze on his, trying to force away the pain for him.
“I’ve gotten used to living in the darkness. The shadow of her death instructs everything I do.” He shrugged and brought in a deep breath before letting it out. “We quickly realized that the authorities were of no use. We were just a case number, but my sister wasn’t a number.”
I nodded, looking into his eyes, his pain wrapping around my body as if it were my own.
“She wasn’t the one they wanted.” He glanced over my shoulder. “She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“It was random?” I asked.
His blue eyes darkened, and his gaze dropped to the table.
“No, it wasn’t random. Our family was the target. My father was the target. They came into the house and miscounted the doors, went into her room.”
“What was her name?” I whispered.
There was so much I wanted to know, so many questions I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
“Vera. Her name was Vera.” Just mentioning her name brought a smile to his lips, and my chest tightened.
“You were a good brother.”
“We all tried to be great brothers.” His smile widened. “But I’m sure she felt we were too overprotective. I mean, there were four of us always hounding her.”
“I know how that goes.” I nodded and smiled, reaching for his hand. “And I only have one.”
“A brother will do absolutely anything for his sister. I’m sure your relationship is the same?” He bit his lip and sat back in the booth.
“Beyond, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
“I hope Vera felt that way.”
“I know she did.”
“For the first few months, I refused to believe there was a God. A God wouldn’t let that happen to someone so innocent and vulnerable, but I realized I couldn’t keep blaming God for bad people doing bad things. Life is about overcoming. That’s what God wants us to do.”
“What made you change your mind?” I prompted.
“After my dad’s death, my mom did everything in her power to keep our family and our business together. She’s kept us focused on what’s important: family and loyalty, reminding us that we’ve been given the gift of life while others haven’t been so fortunate. The burden of holding these secrets, these hidden privileges.” He shook his head.
“Living for your sister and father’s honor.” I nodded. My brother and I had felt that way for years, constantly reaching for an unattainable way of life in order to make things right for my parents.
I could see it in Drake’s eyes. He was still trying to live someone else’s dreams, achieve their goals. I just wasn’t sure whose.
“When I lost my parents, it completely changed our lives. The path my brother thought he was going to take got taken off the table, but he’s happier than ever now. It took time though. Months turned to years of him searching for something I didn’t think he’d ever find. I suppose things happen the way they’re meant to. Although, I’m not sure I fully believe that.”
He nodded and sat back in the booth.
“Like you going back to California?” His brow quirked.
I nodded.
“Maybe we’re meant to end it while it’s still in that magical phase.” I wasn’t being dishonest. I truly felt that. “No baggage to bog us down.”
“So you think this is magical?” His brow arched.
“What else would you call it?”
Drake leaned over the table, nearly knocking over the water as his hand cupped my face and his lips touched down to mine. This wasn’t the move of a man to be feared.
His kiss silenced all the words I couldn’t say
, and I let myself pretend that this would end in another way.
Chapter Sixteen
Drake
“Good to see you, Mom,” I said, kissing her cheek. Her dark hair was pulled back in a tidy bun, and her blue eyes sparkled with delight that all her sons were coming home for dinner. Since my father’s death, tradition still held preeminence in everything we did.
Except this.
Our weekly family dinners slipped to monthly, which skidded to whenever we could fit them in.
Or muster up the courage to come back to the house in Oyster Cove.
The estate sat outside the city and had provided a retreat for generations of Volkovs. The main residence, a twelve thousand square foot, white-washed brick manor, had been built in 1937, and my family had acquired the property not long after it was built. It had stayed in our hands over the decades, buildings added to house staff and business pursuits while still maintaining a resort feel. All renovations had kept the charm of the original home while adding modern conveniences that were necessary for our line of work.
As kids, we’d spent our summers here and collected amazing memories all through college. Then it all came crashing down, tearing our world apart and never allowing our family peace again.
“You okay?” my mom asked, grabbing my wrist and shaking it slightly.
“Yeah. Sorry. Just have a lot on my mind.”
My mom nodded in misguided understanding. “Jax said we’re close. He wants to discuss the details at dinner.” She looked out the window to see Blake’s car circling the drive. “I’m sure Blake won’t be thrilled, but business first. Someday, he’ll have to realize that.”
I nodded and held in a sigh of frustration. I always prayed coming back would get easier, and that prayer always went unanswered.
“Jax is in the study with Devin.” She gave me another quick hug before turning her attention to the son who always seemed to hold so much silent promise for us all.
A way out.
“Which study?” I asked.
“Sorry . . . the back study. I’ve turned the front one into my own retreat.” She opened the front door and glided down the steps to greet my brother.
Mia: A Standalone Romantic Suspense: A Luke Fletcher and V Mafia Crossover Novel (Luke Fletcher Series Book 4) Page 11