The Volkov Brothers Series: The Complete Series

by Leslie North

  He’d not been disappointed.

  His mother had embraced Allie like the daughter she’d never had, and his half-brothers’ wives had taken Allie into their group and the trio had become fast friends—even going out together every couple of weeks without the guys to commiserate over what they called “those Volkov boys.”

  And after a delicious dinner where they’d all eaten too much and laughed too often, Kaz had gotten down on one knee and asked the woman of his dreams—a woman who was everything he’d ever wanted and nothing he deserved—to marry him. Allie was smart and funny and so beautiful his heart ached every time he thought of her. There was no one else he wanted to spend the rest of life with more than her.

  Thankfully, she’d said yes.

  They’d been planning a spring wedding downtown at one of the fancy hotels on the Magnificent Mile. Allie was designing her own wedding dress and Kaz was glad to let her take charge and remain on the fringes to pay for it all.

  But first, they had this new deal with Neiman-Marcus and the upcoming Fashion Week show at the Merchandise Mart for the next year’s Fall collections to contend with. Allie had been looking a tad pale lately and he didn’t want her stressing herself out too much about things. That was one reason he’d taken the position with the company, to keep her from getting overworked. The other reason he’d taken it was because he loved the job. At last he felt like he’d found his place, the spot where he belonged, and he loved getting up each morning and coming to work with Allie and Danny and building their company into one of the hottest designer labels in the country.

  “I need to have the rest of my collection done by next Thursday so I can start bringing in the models to fit them before the holidays,” Allie said, pointing to a box filled with scribbles on the calendar. “But we were supposed to have dinner with your mother that night and I’m not sure I can do both at this point. I’ve still got patterns to cut and pieces to sew and—”

  “And don’t worry about it, kotenok.” He took her hand and kissed it before releasing her as more customers stepped up to Danny’s register. “She’ll understand. Besides, we’ll see her at Christmas, so it’s no big deal.” He frowned at the slight shadows marring the delicate skin beneath her pretty green eyes. “Are you feeling all right?”

  She sighed and ran a shaky hand over her forehead. “Let’s go into the back. We need to talk.”

  His heart nosedived to his toes. The flatness of her tone and the slight gray tinge to her skin knotted tight into a sudden ball of tension in his gut. Was she seriously ill? She’d been to the doctor a week or so ago, but had told him everything was normal. Was she trying to protect him from something? His mind immediately went to the way his mother had looked when she’d first told him about her diagnosis.

  Kaz straightened and whispered to Danny as they passed that he and Allie would be in the back, if needed, then led his soon-to-be-wife through the black curtain at the end of the long showroom and into her small, tidy office area in the corner. He closed the door behind them then placed his hands on Allie’s slim shoulders, turning her to face him. Whatever was wrong, they’d face it together. She was his world, his life, and he’d be damned if he’d let illness or injury or anything else take her away from him now.

  The pale green sheath dress she wore hung loosely on her, as if she’d lost weight. Allie’s clothes were always tailored impeccably by her own hand. To see her with even one wrinkle or a hair out of place these days was unusual. He’d kidded her about her perfectionist tendencies when they’d first moved in together, saying she was perfect to him all the time, no matter how she looked and she didn’t have to try so hard. Allie had disagreed, stating that her appearance was part of her brand. People bought her clothing from Charmante because of the image she portrayed and she intended to make it a good one.

  “Please, kotenok.” He cupped her cheeks, not liking her paleness or the fact her cheekbones seemed even more pronounced than earlier. Or was that his imagination? Either way, he refused to be kept in the dark when it came to his beloved Allie’s well-being. “Tell me what’s wrong. Whatever the problem, we’ll find a solution. Whatever the foe, I will fight to the death for you.”

  Allie looked up at him, her eyes wide as if she were a bit startled by his vehement tone. Then she tilted her head slightly to kiss the side of his thumb before pulling away. “Perhaps you better sit down first.”

  Over the past six months, Allie had squared off against some of the biggest companies in the fashion world—not to mention the mess with her brother and the Bratva—yet none of those meetings had made her more nervous than she was right now.

  She smoothed her hands down the front of her pastel green sheath dress, part of her new Spring collection for the next year, and leaned back against the edge of her desk. Her stomach cramped, but she wasn’t sure if that was from nerves or the fact she hadn’t eaten more than saltine crackers or something else.

  Kaz sat in front of her, looking far more concerned than she’d ever seen him, even when he’d been taking on Salko. He reached out and took her chilled hands in his, warming her skin with his. “Please, kotenok. Whatever is wrong, tell me. We can fix it.”

  Her heart melted at the sincerity and love in his warm green eyes. She forced a tremulous smile. “No, no. It’s nothing like that. I’m fine. Well, I mean there is something, but—”

  A string of what sounded like Russian curse words left his mouth and he pushed to his feet, agitatedly pacing the small office space as he jammed his fingers through his hair, leaving it adorably disheveled. “I knew it. You’ve been acting strangely since you saw the doctor last week. It’s cancer, isn’t it? You’re dying and you’re afraid to tell me. I won’t let you. I won’t let the illness have you. You’re my woman, my everything. I will take you to the finest doctors Chicago has to offer and if they can’t help then we’ll go nationwide. Worldwide. I don’t care.”

  Allie couldn’t suppress her laughter.

  He halted in his tracks, his gaze narrowed. “What is so funny?”

  “You.” She smiled through her tears. Happy tears. “I’m not sick, sweetheart. I’m pregnant.”

  For a moment, all Kaz could do was blink at her, his expression blank. Then he rushed over and knelt on the floor in front of her, placing shaky hands over her still-flat tummy. “You’re… We’re…having a baby? My baby?”

  She threaded her fingers through his soft, dark hair, tenderness blooming like flowers inside her. “Yes. We’re having a baby.”

  With a growl, Kaz stood and swept her up into his arms kissing her soundly. “I love you, Allison Charman. More than I ever thought possible.”

  “I love you too, Kazimir Volkov. With all my heart.” She leaned in to kiss him again, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

  “Is this a bad time?” Danny asked, sticking his head inside the office without waiting for an answer. Over Kaz’s shoulder, Allie saw his eyes go wide as he took in the sight of Kaz holding his sister and Danny quickly lowered his gaze, his cheeks turning red. “Sorry. Yeah, I guess it is, huh?”

  “What is it?” Kaz snapped, his face buried in Allie’s throat.

  “I was just going to ask if anyone wanted lunch. A couple of us are going to order out to the Chinese place down the street and have it delivered.”

  Allie giggled and squeezed Kaz’s arm to indicate he should put her down. “I think lunch sounds great, but first can you come in here for a second. There’s something we need to tell you.”

  Danny did as she asked, his expression wary. “I’m not getting fired, am I?”

  “No.” Kaz kept hold of Allie’s hand, his thumb rubbing reassuring circles on her palm. “Your sister is having my baby.”

  “What?” Danny’s astonished smile slowly widened. “Seriously, sis? That’s fantastic.”

  The siblings embraced and Allie couldn’t remember a time when she’d ever felt happier. At last she had a life she loved with the man she loved and her family was safe and secure. Eve
n she and Danny had been getting along better than they ever had before. They’d sat down with their parents and had a nice talk about how unequal the dynamic in the Charman household was, with Danny always getting the lion’s share of attention and Allie hovering in the background. Her parents had promised to do better and had done their best to make Kaz feel welcome and included. Her mom was even actively participating in the planning of the wedding.

  “So, I’m guessing Chinese is out then?” Danny said at last, pulling away from Allie. “I’ve heard spicy foods don’t always agree with expectant moms.”

  “No. You guys order whatever you want. I’m sure I can find something on the takeout menu.”

  “I’ve got a better idea,” Kaz said, pulling Allie into his arms again. “Why don’t we close the shop for a few hours and I’ll treat everyone to a special holiday lunch to celebrate our miracle news?”

  Allie glanced at Danny then Kaz. “Are you sure? Business has been pretty steady out there all day. We might miss some sales if we close the doors, even for a few hours.”

  “No sales could compare to the joyous news of our first child.” He kissed her quickly then tugged her toward the door. “C’mon. Danny, you let the others know while I lock the front doors.”

  “You got it,” Danny said and raced out ahead of them.

  “Hey.” Allie squeezed Kaz’s hand to get him to stop. Once he’d turned to face her again, she cupped his cheek and smiled. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For loving me, for being a part of my life. For everything.” Tears stung her eyes again, but this time she made no move to hold them back. “I love you.”

  “And I love you, kotenok.” He kissed her deeply then rested his forehead against hers, his arms around her waist. “You are my life and my everything. Forever.”

  End of Her Russian Mobster

  The Volkov Brothers Series Book Three

  PS: Do you love hot-blooded bad-boys? Then keep reading for exclusive extracts from Her Ruthless Russian.

  Thank you!

  Thank you so much for purchasing my book. It’s hard for me to put into words how much I appreciate my readers. If you enjoyed this book, please remember to leave a review. Reviews are crucial for an author’s success and I would greatly appreciate it if you took the time to review the book. I love hearing from you!

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  BLURB

  Born into a Russian Mafia family, Vlad Karev is no stranger to violence…but this time it’s personal. Someone has murdered his father and Vlad can’t rest until he finds the killer. When the trail leads to an art gallery, Vlad wants to dig deeper, but he needs help from the owner’s daughter. The pretty redhead is far too innocent for a man like Vlad, but he’ll do what it takes to get the information he needs. His obligations are to the family, even if that means using the fiery woman.

  Madison O’Connor works hard to keep her family’s gallery going, although secretly she has little interest in art. But when she discovers her father’s been laundering money for the Russian Mafia, she’ll do everything she can to keep him out of jail. She hates to lie, but she has a plan…seduce the Russian bad boy to learn the mob’s secrets. Never mind his dangerous exterior or icy blue eyes, Madison’s going to get her family free of the mob, even if she has to use Vlad Karev to do it.

  As the killer gets closer, so do Vlad and Madison. But is their connection just the means to an end, or could their romance be real?

  Grab your copy of Her Ruthless Russian from www.LeslieNorthBooks.com

  SNEAK PEEK

  Vlad Karev sipped his morning coffee as he leaned lazily against the bus stop shelter across from the O’Connor Fine Arts Gallery. He certainly wasn't expecting the first exhibition he saw to be going on outside of the building.

  “And I'm telling you I want to speak to your supervisor," a very feminine voice insisted. Even from where he stood, she sounded at the limits of her patience. Vlad guessed the dispute had been going on long before he arrived.

  "I am the supervisor!" the man returned vehemently. "I drive, and I supervise! Anything you have to say, you say to me!"

  A moving van was parked in the Gallery’s loading bay with the ramp down. Two men were in the process of unloading a large, bubble-wrapped frame from the trailer. A third man stood in the alley arguing with the redheaded woman carrying a clipboard. Vlad watched as the woman took a tentative step back when the man arguing with her leaned toward her.

  "I've been saying it all morning! You absolutely cannot ship these frames with one layer of bubble wrap and some packing tape. This is completely unprofessional! I… oh, my God," the woman interrupted herself as one of the two men coming down the platform dropped the end of his frame. It hit the metal ramp with a loud crack of splintering wood. The movers halted to look to their supervisor for instruction. The latter waved them on without a second thought.

  "I'm sorry, but are these wood frames?" the woman exclaimed. "Are you trying to ship me broken wood frames?"

  "Five percent discount," the supervisor said pulling out a cigarette and popping one end into his mouth.

  "Five percent?"

  The man reached out to seize her clipboard. The woman cried out, but when she reached to wrestle it back again, the supervisor shoved her roughly away.

  Vlad took that as his cue to intervene. Raising his hand, he signaled to his bodyguards to remain in the car before crossing the street without even looking for traffic, his attention solely focused on the scene in the alley. His long strides devolved into a more casual stroll as he came up beside the woman; she turned to regard his arrival with a stricken expression, unwittingly opening up her private exchange with the mover to encompass him as well.

  "Fifty percent discount, and she gets to keep the clipboard," Vlad said.

  The self-described supervisor looked him up and down. He had to look much more up than down. "Why do I give a fuck what you think?" the man demanded. "Mind your own business and keep walking!"

  The look Vlad was getting from the woman wasn't much more encouraging. Up close, she was as beautiful and harassed as he had guessed from across the street. Thick, red hair blazed like a firestorm around her neck and shoulders, giving the impression that she had wrestled with it that morning before ultimately deciding to take it down from its restraints. The color of her mane contrasted with the starched monochrome of her white blouse, which was just translucent enough to betray the dark impression of the brazier she wore beneath it. A smattering of freckles across her high cheeks and button nose filled Vlad with an immediate and unexpected desire to see just how far the constellation extended. Did they cover the rest of her body; her neck, her shoulders…? Did her lovers count them before going to sleep on them?

  Those were the tamest of the thoughts he entertained while looking at her. Even though his eyes were concealed behind his sunglasses, he thought she felt the suggestive weight of his gaze. He watched with interest as a mute flush rose up beneath the freckles whose full territory he was considering.

  "Hey! You listening to me, pal?" the driver demanded. The two movers had returned from inside the gallery, their hands freed from carting the broken frame. They flanked their supervisor, although they eyed Vlad with a good deal more wariness.

  Vlad turned his attention away from the beautiful woman to eye the three movers with far less interest. The accumulation of their upper body strength was something worth considering, at least. These weren't meatheads who zealously pumped iron at the gym—these were men who made their living hauling heavy objects, and they had the practical strength to show for it.

  "Move whatever remains inside," Vlad instructed, "and apply the zero to your offered discount. I won't repeat myself."

  "Sir, I can take care of this," the woman said uncertainly. Her tone made it clear she was uncomfortable with his easy command of the proceedings. He thought it likely her discomfort stemmed fro
m the fact that she hadn't been able to tighten the leash on these men herself. "There's no need for you to get involved," she added.

  "Why don't you tell the fire-crotch to learn how to handle her own business?" the supervisor demanded.

  The woman gasped, as if all the wind had been knocked out of her by the crass insult. A meditative moment passed, and then Vlad put his coffee on a nearby ledge and struck out with the flat of his palm.

  His single-handed shove sent the driver flying backward against the truck trailer. The container rang hollowly at the impact, and the man's shoulder gave a sharp crack to rival the shattered wood frame from earlier, although Vlad was confident he hadn't used enough force to break any bones. The two movers sprang out of the way, and the woman's hand flew to her mouth.

  "Oh!" she exclaimed. "I—"

  "Get a move on," Vlad advised the three men. "Be glad I didn't spill my coffee."

  The threat in his tone was thinly veiled, and the movers collaborated to unload the items much more expediently after that. A thorough apology from the stricken supervisor preceded a complete refund, and it wasn't long before Vlad and the woman found themselves standing alone in the alley amid a cloud of dispersing exhaust. The truck was gone, carrying with it the three stooges who had given her such a hard time.

  "Terminate your contract with them," Vlad advised.

  "You don't have to tell me twice," the woman agreed.

  Generously, he held out his coffee to her. The woman accepted his offer without a second thought as to what she was doing, exhaling a long sigh, she raised the paper cup to her lips. In the next moment, she spat its contents out onto the ground.