Vince heaves his shoulders and starts to walk out. Before the door closes behind us, Mateo runs out to join us.
Chapter Three
———————-
Mia
I don’t think I’ve taken a deep breath the entire night. I’m too on edge. Anything can happen. I’m in a room full of drunken psychopaths, with numerous weapons casually lying around, so yeah, I’m a little nervous. Or, one of the them could turn their eyes on me, and decide they want to do more with my body than just stare at my ass.
I stay close to the edges or room, avoiding everyone’s attention as best I can. It seems to work for the most part. The men are too engaged in drinking and cards to notice me skirting around, and most of them already have a girl in their laps to fondle. That leaves only me to serve the drinks that they never stop demanding, and I’m fine with that arrangement.
The only one who notices me is Pill Crusher, who’s name I’ve learned is Anton Nabatov. From the way the other guys act around him, I can tell he’s a boss, maybe even the boss. I feel him watching me as I walk back and forth to the bar. I furiously hope that he doesn’t grab me again, and this time, pull me into his lap and not let me go.
But he doesn’t. All he does is watch. I worry that’s he’s keeping tabs on me. If he is, he’s definitely displeased with my service. The other girls are flaunting their bodies, and tempting his guys to take them into the backroom. What if he decides not to pay me for the night? Or what if he decides to do something worse?
My paranoia starts to catch up with me. I start to tremble, which makes it even harder to balance in these skyscraper heels. I rush down a dark hallway and into the bathroom. I close and lock the door behind me. For the first time that night, I take a deep, cleansing breath.
“You can do this, you can do this,” I repeat under my breath, telling myself to get back out there. “You’re just working yourself up.”
I splash cold water on my face, not worried about messing up my makeup. The thick eyeliner Dani applied to my face is already starting to run, and the bright cherry lipstick has vanished, leaving only the borders of my lips stained.
“One night. One month’s rent.”
But I’m still not convinced. I can’t bring myself to walk out of that door. Not yet. I walk over to the window and look out. This part of the warehouse is partially underground, so my eyes are level with the street. It’s quiet and dark out there, since no one in their right mind would be here at night.
I see headlights approaching up the street. I assume someone’s lost, or is taking a shortcut. I hope it’s not more Russian men, hungry for vodka and desperate young women like me.
The car stops on the street in front of the window. The doors open, and two tall, very handsome men get out. Seriously, they look like they could be in a jean ad. They don’t look Russian. With their olive complexions and thick dark hair, I’d guess Italian. As they get out, the interior is illuminated briefly. There’s another man in the back seat. He looks like the others, and I assume they’re brothers. The man in the car is so tall, his head is hunched slightly forward. His shoulders so broad, he seems to fill the entire space in the back of the car.
The doors close and the car goes dark, but I can still make out the outline of the man in the back. The other two walk to the entrance of the warehouse. One of them is carrying a black briefcase.
A chill runs up my spine. What are they doing here? Is a fight going to break out? Why did they leave one behind? Is he going to surprise the Nabatovs with an attack?
I definitely don’t want to leave the bathroom now. Not until those guys leave. My legs are frozen as I cower below the window, looking out. I can’t take my eyes off of the man in the car. There’s something about him, his posture, or his aura, that gives off a sense of danger. Now, after the company I’ve been keeping, this should frighten me. But with him, I’m drawn to it.
I hear the front doors of the warehouse open. Everyone immediately goes quiet. I can feel the tension, even all the way in the bathroom. I hear Anton’s voice, and another man’s, probably one of the Italians. I can’t make out what they’re saying, but the exchange is polite, if not strained.
I continue to watch the man. My eyes have adjusted to the darkness, and I’m just beginning to make out his strong jawline that’s offset by heavy cheekbones. His hair is short, probably shaved. Every angle of his face, neck, and shoulders is perfectly symmetrical. The lines come to together to make a figure that’s powerfully strong.
I wish it was him in here, and not these monsters, I think. I wouldn’t mind him grabbing my ass.
I bury my face in my hands, wondering why in the hell I’d be lusting after some mystery man after the night I’ve had. I peek back out of the window. His head is turned towards me. But there’s no way he can see me. There’s very little light outside, and a leafy bush stands between him and me.
He makes a sudden movement, making me yelp. He’s getting out of the car. My heart pounds in panic, but I remind myself that he couldn’t possibly see me here. I watch as he hurriedly walks across the sidewalk, and suddenly, this huge, hulking man is crouching right in front of the window.
I seem to leave my body at this point. All I can focus on is his eyes. They’re dark, with two focused points in the middle that are laser focused on me.
Blood rushes in my ears. I try to snap myself out of this trance. Run, I yell at myself, run!
But I’m trapped in his intense, focused gaze, and can’t help feeling a little like prey. When he flashes a brilliant smile, revealing his perfect teeth and dimples in his cheeks, I don’t want to run from him. I want to give myself to him, or better yet, let him take me.
He raps his knuckles against the window pane, and glances down at the lock. Inwardly, I scream at myself not to do it, but I have no control over my arms. I unlock the window, then thrust it up. Cool air rushes in, making me shiver. The man leans further inside.
“Hi, there,” he says.
His smile is so intoxicating, and his face so handsome, I almost forget that I should be afraid. I’m comforted by the fact that he’ll never be able to squeeze his huge body through the window.
“Are you in trouble?” he asks.
I try to speak, but it comes out croaked. I realize my throat is dry, and my mouth has been hanging open. I shake my head quickly.
“I’m Leo.” He extends his hand through the window. I shake it, feeling the rough callouses on his palm. His hand is so big, it envelops mine completely. “And what’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Mia,” I say in barely a whisper. “Mia Clemons.” I give him my last name not for his information, but to ground myself in reality. I glance towards the door. I should get out. Now.
Leo tightens his grip on my hand, and pulls me closer to him. My breasts smash against the windowsill, spilling my cleavage in this low-cut dress. Leo directs his intense gaze to my chest. It feels like fingers running in between my breasts. I break out in goosebumps.
“Don’t be scared of me,” Leo says. He looks to the door. “You should be scared of the guys out there. Listen, climb out of this window. I’ll take care of you. Get you away from here.”
I pull my hand out of his grasp, blinking rapidly. What scares me the most is that I’m tempted to take him up on his offer.
“I’m fine, thanks,” I say, mustering a defiant tone.
Leo studies me more closely, like he’s searching my soul, looking for an opening he can manipulate into doing whatever he says. He’s so fucking cocky, and it’s obvious he has experience tempting women into his bed. Hell, with his looks, he’s probably good at it.
“What’s a girl like you doing in a place like this?” he asks.
I summon my confidence, and stand up straight. “Working. What does it look like?”
The muscles in his jaws clench. His pupils expand. I must be wrong, but he looks a little jealous. It gives me a small thrill.
“How many of those reds have you let sample your wares?�
� he spits.
My jaw drops, and I scoff at him. “I’m serving drinks. That’s it. Not that it’s any of your business what I do.”
His face scrunches, and he looks almost offended. It’s the reaction I’d expect from a possessive boyfriend. Leo seems to realize the absurdity of this, and his face relaxes into a smile.
“You seem smart,” he says. “So let me ask you something? Why would you open a window for a guy like me?” He cocks his head to side, then reaches for my arm. Against my better judgement, I let him take it. He draws me closer to the window where he can get a better view of my breasts. I don’t recoil. It feels good to have him look at me. An icy chill runs through me as he pushes the hair from my ear and whispers, “Maybe you crave a little danger?”
I respond with a sharp gasp. Leo’s smile deepens, like I’ve confirmed what he said. Before I can tell him that I have no desire for danger, his head snaps to the left. I hear voices coming up the sidewalk, probably his brothers. He brings my hand to his lips and gives it a quick kiss, then disappears into the night.
Chapter Four
———————-
Leo
What’s wrong with you, soldier?
I stare out of the window at the misty blackness. The smell of her shampoo still lingers in my nostrils. I close my eyes, breathing it in, and conjuring the image of her.
Mia. Her name, simple and sweet, just like her. But that’s just first impressions, and I know it. Looking into her eyes, I saw a complex web I’d love to unravel, bit by bit. My cock stirs when I think about her luscious curves in that dress, and the way her breath slowed when I stared at her tits. Then, I think about the Ruskies staring at her, and fresh hot rage rises from my belly.
So what the fuck is wrong with me? I saw a hot girl, another potential notch on my belt, and I didn’t seal the deal? With a little more charm, and a little more convincing, she’d be wriggling out of that window and into my arms. Picking up women is an art form, and due to my extensive experience, I’m a expert. I haven’t fucked since before my last tour, and I’m itching to sink my cock between a pair of soft thighs. And the creamy thighs I glimpsed through that window would definitely do.
“What the fuck are you smiling about?” Vince looks back at me through the rearview mirror.
“It’s just good to be back,” I say.
We’re speeding further away from Mia, and I want to punch myself for letting her go so easily. I have an overwhelming urge to wrap my hands around her tight little waist, and hear her scream my name as I make her come over and over.
“Yo, Vince,” I say. “Let me off right here.”
Vince stares at me through the mirror. “What for, bro?” he asks, trying unsuccessfully to be unassuming.
I hold my hands up, showing my palms. “I swear to you, I’m not looking to start trouble.”
Vince turns back to the road. He doesn’t believe me, but he doesn’t want to show that he doesn’t believe me.
“Leo, you just got back. Let’s go home, let Ma cook you a nice meal.” He turns around to look at me. “Have you even seen her yet?”
“It’s late. She’s probably asleep.”
Vince swats his hand, dismissing this. “She’ll wake up for you.”
I watch the street signs pass rapidly out of the window. Soon, we’d be out of the Ruskie territory. “I’m not going to start anything. I swear it on Nico’s grave. The truth is, I saw a nice piece of tail back there.”
“Yeah, that’s right, bro,” Mateo says, clapping his hands. Vince shoots him an icy glare.
“You shouldn’t be messing with any tail down there,” Vince says. “How do you know she’s not a kept woman?”
“Nah,” I say. “Just one of their hired tarts.” Now that Vince mentioned it, I’m not so sure. Mia’s not like the other girls doing that job. She’s special, and I wouldn’t doubt one of the bosses would want to keep her as their own. But that would be even better. I’ll enjoy dominating her body even more knowing she belongs to one of the reds. I reach forward and jokingly massage Vince’s shoulders. “Come on, bro. It’s been a long three months in the desert.”
“You shouldn’t worry, Vince,” Mateo says. “Leo fucks them and leaves them so fast the Nabatovs will never know.”
I gesture towards Mateo like that’s the only evidence anyone needs. “You see?” I tell Vince.
Vince drives back a few blocks and drops me off. When I bend down to thank him, he’s not even looking at me. Mateo, however, is pumping his fist, cheering me on.
I post up at a corner where I have a clear view of three bus stops, all going in different directions. Odds are, Mia is going to take one of those busses home tonight. I lean against the brick building with my hands in my pockets, and my hoodie pulled down. When the rare person walks by, they eye me leerily. I realize how intimidating I look, huge and foreboding, half covered by shadows. People give a little jump when they walk by and see me. They don’t know how accurate their instincts are. If they knew who I was, they’d turn and run.
The breath clouds in front of my face. It’s cold as shit out here. I have no idea how long I’ll have to wait. Could be a long night if one of the Ruskies decide they want to fuck Mia. Or worse, if several do at the same time. I’ve heard stories of their gang bangs, which are as much about violence as they are about sex. They’ve sent plenty of girls to the hospital, bloody and banged up, but also tight lipped about who their attackers are.
I curl my hands into tight fists, thinking about them doing that to Mia. A voice in the back of my head tells me I shouldn’t care that much. This is about fucking, plain and simple. But the adrenaline rushes so quickly through my veins, I can’t hear it. I think to the gun strapped to my ankle, the gun on my hip, and the knife on my other hip. I think about busting into the warehouse and dragging Mia out before they can touch her.
Click, click, click.
The sound snaps me from my violent fantasies. It’s high heels clicking across the sidewalk. I turn to my left and see Mia walking up towards me. She hugs herself, shivering against the cold. She walks quickly, stumbling awkwardly on her heels. She looks straight ahead, not seeing me.
I don’t want to give her a heart attack, so when she’s near, I clear my throat to let her know I’m there. Her head snaps towards me. When she takes in my dark figure, she walks faster ahead.
“Hey, Mia, wait,” I call after her. “It’s me, Leo.”
“I know,” she yells over her shoulder, then breaks into a full fledged run.
I’m not letting her fucking slip through my fingertips again. I jog after her. My legs are a lot longer than hers, so I catch up with her easily.
“You don’t have to run,” I say, reaching for her arm.
She jerks away from me. The heel of her shoe catches in a crack in the sidewalk, and she tumbles forward. I reach out and grab her before she hits the ground. Her back is to me, my arms wrapped around her waist. She feels small against my chest, and she’s ice cold. For a brief moment, she’s still, and I think I feel her relax. Maybe it’s shock, and it wears off quickly. Mia suddenly shrinks from me, then hobbles a few steps away. She holds her arms out and shakes her head.
“What do you want?” she asks.
Now that’s a question. What I want, sweetheart, is to drag you into that alley and find out what your pussy tastes like. So why aren’t I doing it?
Her body is served up deliciously in that tight, short dress. It clings to every curve. Her long, wavy dark hair is nestled in the crease between her tits, right where I want to drag my tongue. I could flash her my irresistible, Romano smile, flatter her a little, but for some reason I don’t do that.
“You need an escort?” I say. “This is a bad part of town.”
She places her hands defiantly on her hips, but when a cold wind blows through, she goes back to hugging herself. “I’m well aware of that.”
I take a slow step towards her, careful not to scare her away. She doesn’t flinch, so I take another.
Soon, I’m standing right in front of her. She looks up at me, and I can’t help imagining she’s looking up from her knees, my cock in her mouth.
“Wouldn’t you feel safer with a guy like me by your side?” I ask.
She blinks, licking her lips. Her brows scrunch as she considers her answer. “I’m not sure.”
This makes me laugh, probably because she’s right. She shouldn’t be sure about me. No one should. Mia relaxes her shoulders, and laughs too.
“You look cold. Here, take this.” I unzip my hoodie and slide it off of my arms. I’m only wearing a wife beater underneath. Mia’s eyes widen when she sees my jacked arms covered in tattoos. I smirk, flexing my muscles for her. Mia narrows her eyes in offense, but in the next second, begins to laugh.
“Thank you,” she says with relief. After slipping the hoodie on, she closes her eyes, sighing. “I don’t know what those guys did with my coat. And I didn’t want to ask.” She looks at me with a pursed smile. “I like that look better.”
“Oh yeah?” I say, hulking out my arms.
Mia nods. “I can see your face.”
I feel my face drop. After a so many years of hiding in the shadows, I feel suddenly exposed. But with Mia, it doesn’t make me want to retreat.
“So, you going to take me up on my offer? You want my protection for the night?”
Mia looks up at me through her lashes. “Okay. But I’m not going far.”
We stop at the bus stop on the next block. I spot a few shady characters skirting around the side streets, and I’m glad Mia isn’t out here by herself.
You’d think that since Mia’s skimpy outfit is hidden by my hoodie that I’d stop thinking dirty thoughts about her. It actually has the opposite effect. I keep staring at the fabric lumped around her. I’m dying to unwrap what’s inside. Her pale, toned legs are still on display. Soon, my cock is twitching urgently, begging me to do something. And this time, I can’t resist.
She’s startled when I quickly stand in front of her, and walk her back up against the plexiglass of the bus stop. She bites her bottom lip. I feel her tremble with a spark of excitement.
Hostage: A Dark Mafia Romance (Romano Brothers Book 1) Page 2