by Leslie North
Ah, but he was not going to think of Talia. He focused back on Tori. Was she really such a hard rocker girl or was she just working hard to project the image of one?
“Wait here,” she told him. She pushed through a split vinyl curtain.
Kostya raised his brow at being dismissed. He followed behind her anyway. When the curtain rustled again, she rounded on him. “Do you not know how to follow directions?”
Kostya kept coming towards her, invading her space until they were inches apart. “It would be best if you would learn your place here.” He stood toe-to-toe with the little defiant firecracker. As he looked into her eyes, he couldn’t help but smile as they narrowed and darkened with anger. He kept his own blood cold—the man who lost his temper lost everything.
“Best for whom, you?” She backed up a step.
He followed her. He wasn’t about to let her get away from him. He pursued her, step for step until her back hit a wall. “Things will work differently around here now.”
Tori dodged away from him hurried down an aisle, calling back, “We’ll see what Raul has to say about that.”
She pushed through another door, this time an ornate wooden one.
Lips pressed tight, Kostya followed her again. Inside the other room, he stopped, amazed by the luxury and extravagance that surrounded him. He looked up. A false, glass ceiling had been installed to create a building with the warehouse. Around a huge pool and Jacuzzi, sculptures of men and women in various stages of undress stood, as if they were getting ready to cavort in the water. Fountains flowed into the pools and a tiled floor of sandstone surrounded the water.
All the comforts of home, and then some, Kos thought.
He pushed past large potted ferns and small trees. Classical music that filtered softly through the air irritating Kos even more than the blare of rock from the warehouse. Tori threw out a hand. “We call this the Retreat. There’s a two-bedroom suite through there.” She waved to the left. “Kitchen, dining room.”
Kos gave a low whistle. It looked as if Raul Cordoba had insisted on the best of everything. He wondered why the man chose to live here, and not on some mountain estate with a view. Was the man that paranoid about losing his business? Or all too secretive?
He glanced to the left and caught a glimpse of what looked to be an office with a flat screen TV and a well-stocked bar. Kos wondered if Terrance Barlow had also lived here.
He had heard rumors that Terrence had had a thing for one of the workers, a young girl from Mexico. Kos wondered if perhaps Terrance had chosen the wrong girl to play with—that might account for the man’s being called to Mexico.
And what was he to make of this Tori Graystone?
Kos decided he needed to find out how she fit into things before he took any actions.
***
Tori led the Russian—the hot Russian—to where she knew Raul would be lounging, her mind spinning fast.
Was he really here to replace Raul? Was he the new boss? What was that going to do to her plans?
The living quarters here had offered her perfect solution. Raul had named this part of the warehouse the Retreat, which was exactly what it had become for her. A retreat from her reality and a retreat that would allow her to reach her goal faster.
Three months prior, her apartment complex had been condemned by the city and scheduled for demolition. She’d not been able to find another place to stay for a price she could afford.
The warehouse wasn’t exactly located in a residential neighborhood, and the closest apartments were full of prostitutes and druggies. But since she was always the first one at the warehouse, and the last one to leave, it had been easy enough to stow her belongings in a storage unit and stash her clothing in the closet behind her desk.
She had enjoyed the luxurious bathrooms and had even been able to do her laundry onsite. But where would she stay now?
Raul had arrived earlier this morning and informed her that he would be offering the use of the living quarters to the Russian thst would be arriving for an inspection. She didn’t understand why Raul was hooking up with the Russians. Hopefully it would all be revealed soon. That is if she could get the guy following closely at her heels to open up a little. So far he was making her sweat a lot more than anything else. She could feel his stare on her. She bit her bottom lip and kept her eyes facing forward. So far she’d let him get to her—but she wasn’t done with him.. Not yet.
Stopping in the second suite, she nodded at the older Hispanic man sitting at the dining table, drinking a cup of coffee. “Raul, Molikov’s here.” She stepped to the side and crossed her arms.
Standing, Raul smiled. “Ah, good. Tori, my dear. Won’t you join us?” Tori pasted a smile upon her face. “Are you sure? I have so many things that need…”
“I’m sure they will wait for a later time. Come, sit.” He waved at the chair next to him. "It will be helpful for me to have you here to answer any questions Mr. Molikov might have.”
Tori let her arms fall to her sides and sauntered over to the table. Fine! Raul wants me to answer questions for the new boss. Anything to get him on the first plane out of here.
Raul held out the chair for her. She sat down, her skirt rode up her thighs. She made no effort to pull it down. Raul looked—so did the Russian.
Tori folded her hands primly on top of the table and smiled. And if he wants more of me, he’s going to have to work for it!
Chapter 4
Tori could see Kostya resist the urge to clench his hand. He sat stiff in his chair, the coffee Raul had served him going cold, his palm flat on the table but with his fingers twitching. Tori knew she had given him nothing but empty words and smug smiles. Raul smiled and nodded at her, and seemed to enjoy the conversation immensely. Kostya’s mouth twitched and she wondered if he was wishing he could pull her across his lap and spank her like the unpleasant child she was being. Heat warmed her cheeks at the idea. She wasn’t aiming for that from him, but she didn’t mind working to drive him out of here.
Every time he asked a question, she answered him in a patronizing tone of voice as if he was an idiot. She offered no insights, nothing but smug looks and short, unrevealing answers that he could have gotten just by looking around. At last the Russian stood up, as if he’d had enough of her. “Raul, I think I’ve heard enough to get a good feel for how things run around here. Why don’t we find ourselves a nice club to finish the night?”
Raul smiled. “Ahhh. You like girls? I know just the spot. It’s a little bit of a drive, but the girls are friendly and the drinks are not watered.”
Lips pressed tight, Tori couldn’t believe she had been dismissed like this.
Okay, so maybe she’d gone a bit overboard with Kostya. He definitely hadn’t liked being talked down to, but it was obvious he didn’t know the first thing about anything. Especially marijuana plants! Left in his incapable hands, her entire warehouse would be dead in a week!
It also hadn’t helped that while he was devouring her with his hooded eyes, Raul was getting frisky. He’d even slipped his hand onto her thigh. She’d dropped her cell phone at that point, making sure she scooted her chair back during the retrieval so Raul would be unable to slip a quick grope. Bad enough that the Russian already thought she was Raul’s pet.
But Raul did not like being made to look like a fool. He’d started to get a little pouty, and his smile had started to drag. Tori had watched him long enough to know that if she even hinted that she didn’t like his attentions, she wouldn’t like the consequences. Gloria had done that and she had disappeared the next day.
That day Tori had changed from naïve to careful. She watched her back and watched her front even closer, and never voiced her true opinions about anything. She was pushing it tonight, but Raul didn’t mind others being made to look foolish. But if the Russian took over, what would happen to her?
Heading into the warehouse, she spoke with Juan and Miguel. They did a lot of the day-to-day care of the plants. Juan worked anothe
r job in a nursery, and Miguel knew more about marijuana than anyone else in the state. After talking with them, she started going over her harvesting calendar when she heard Raul and the Russian. She looked up to see the two men standing in the doorway of her office.
She avoided Kostya’s dark, hooded gaze and smiled at Raul. “Heading out?”
“Yes, Tori. Just wanted to let you know I will be returning to Mexico in the morning, so I will stay at an airport hotel tonight. Kostya will be making his own arrangements.”
Really? Score one for me. I don’t have to find another place to sleep tonight! She bit back the smile at this news. Kostya was the boss already? She nodded. “Whatever Mr. Molikov wishes.” She spared a small smile for him and turned to Raul. “When will you return?”
Raul gave a sigh and shook his head. “I have much to keep my attention in Mexico. Kostya will see to the business. But, Tori, I know you do much of the work I’ve spoken with Kostya here and he will be making sure you get the credit you deserve.”
Tori bit the inside of her lip. Great. She’d just spend the evening working to piss off the new boss. She forced out a smile. Terrence was a jerk with a nasty drug habit. But he’d been easy enough to keep pushed to the side. With the Russian—how was she going to work with him? Especially when she’d just spent the last hour insulting him.
She glanced at her new boss.
His face seemed made of stone. He’d smoothed his short, dark hair, so not a curl was out of place. His eyes seemed bland, almost boring, but she knew how they could light up—they’d done so when she’d leaned into him.
The corner of his mouth lifted, and she knew he was going to leave her wondering if she had screwed up. He was going to leave her hanging, and maybe tomorrow he’d drop the ax on her, or maybe he’d just enjoy forcing her to grovel and beg for her job. Or maybe he’d use this to get whatever it was that he really wanted from her. Her cheeks heated.
“I’m sure we’ll get along just fine,” she told Raul. She tried to interject some confidence into her words. She was pretty sure she failed.
“I can always be reached at my private number. Do not hesitate to call me if you ever need anything, but I can already tell Kostya will be able to handle anything.” Turning to Kostya, Raul slapped the Russian’s back. “Ready?”
Kostya nodded. “Anytime. Tori, I look forward to learning more about you and this operation tomorrow.”
She pressed her lips tight. Was that a threat hidden in his words? A promise that she should behave better tomorrow. She gave him a nod.
Kostya started for the exit, but Raul hesitated and asked, “Tori? Do you still frequent that bar you like—the one with the women who file their teeth to points and the men who dress all in black?”
“The Cellar?” she asked. It was one of the few Goth clubs in the city with live music, a fantastic bar, and a variety of small business offering tattoos and piercing. With a large dance floor and low cover charges, it had become one of Tori’s regular spots.
Raul nodded. “Might I suggest you find alternate entertainment this evening?” He gave her a wink.
Tori nodded. Raul had connections in the city and it wouldn’t be the first time the cops had raided the club. I could do with a night in, I guess.
Raul stepped closer. He took her hand and kissed her palm. “I would hate to see you in prison. Until I see you again.” He kissed her hand again, his lips wet and lingering. He swiped his tongue over the pulse in her wrist. Turning, he walked away.
She wiped her hand on her skirt. And she knew Raul was getting tired of her pushing away his hands. Next time he came back to Denver, he would be expecting her to jump in his bed.
Sinking back into her chair, she wondered what she was going to do—caught between a cranky Russian and a sex-fiend drug lord.
Chapter 6
Kostya had never been so glad to leave a nightclub containing so many barely dressed women in his life. What a complete waste of time! Come to think of it, Raul Cordoba is a waste of humanity!
Turning onto the freeway, he speed dialed Nikolai’s private cell number.
Nik’s voice came on at once, but he man sounded tired. Kos shifted in his seat and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing to trouble you. I must meet with Grigori—Danil’s deception must be dealt with, and we are having troubles with that. The Yakuza connection is still an issue.”
Frowning, Kos asked, “Do you need my help?”
“What—trying to come back already?”
Kos changed lanes and glanced behind him. This time of night the freeway seemed mostly empty. “Raul is not a problem. In fact, he is an idiot. The only thing he did right is to build a house in the middle of a warehouse—it will make a perfect safe house someday. But you didn’t mention he wasn’t really doing any of the work.”
“And who is?”
Kos thought about mentioning Tori—the black-haired girl with a body built for sin and the nature of a demon. He decided against it. Tori was his personal problem and he would deal with her once he had decided what was best. Raul had made it clear that he viewed Tori as his personal property, but Kos could also see that Tori did not share that idea. But Kos was unsure yet if the girl was worth keeping—tomorrow would decide more. Changing the subject, he asked, “Is Val back?”
“Yes, and he tells me that he has not had a minute to spend alone with Chelsea since they arrived in Vegas. But his little Darya started school today. Already she is making friends—ah, that one will break hearts someday. Val will be with me tomorrow when I take Katya to meet the rest of the Pakhans tomorrow.”
Kos sucked in a breath. He had thought he would be with Nik for that. “You will announce Katya’s parentage? You are still set that you will share the leadership of the San Moreno family from here on out with her?”
“And more if all goes well.”
Kos could hear the satisfaction in Nik’s voice. It was good he’d found Katya—she was good for him. Kos’ heart tightened. He had lost such a thing from his life and he would never know it again. He forced a lighter tone. “You spoil that woman of yours.”
Nik laughed. “Yes, pampering Katya could become habit forming. A lifelong habit, I hope. And now, I am going in search of my woman. Katya invited Chelsea to join her at the spa this morning. I believe they were going to get the full treatment. Now, what of the rest of the operation?”
Quickly, Kos filled in Nic about the basics. Raul and taken him to another, southern warehouse. A fungus had contaminated most of the plants due to over watering. Raul had recommended the place be burned and the insurance claimed. Kos didn’t want anything so high profile. Better to simply shut it down. Nic agreed.
Taking the freeway exit, Kos said, “I’m going to focus on the biggest warehouse. If the books don’t show a hefty profit, someone’s skimming. I’ll know more later this week.” That is if a certain violet-eyed girl opens the books to me.
He shook his head. Tori would either prove to be no problem tomorrow—or he would deal with her.
Nik told him to check in later and hung up.
Kostya pocketed his phone and glancing at the dash clock. Already after ten on a Friday night. In Vegas, his night would be just starting.
He thought to check into a hotel for the night in downtown Denver. A good meal would be welcome. He touched the pocket of his leather jacket and felt the hard metal of keys. Raul had tossed them at him as they had left the nightclub. The living quarters had seemed luxurious, with a full kitchen. Kos had not had a home cooked meal in far too long, and he could avoid the trouble of checking into a hotel. I can’t see myself living there for long, but it will serve for tonight.
Twenty minutes later he pulled up outside the warehouse. Raul had told him of a garage at the back. Kostya drove around until he found it.
He pulled in and turned off the engine.
Next to his Mercedes, an old Volkswagen crouched in the darkness.
Grabbing his overnight bag from the backseat, Kos p
ocketed his keys and headed toward the door that he hoped would lead him into the living quarters. Tomorrow he would ask for a complete tour.
Thinking of following that tight ass of hers brought a smile to his lips. He shook his head. That was one girl he did not want in his bed. She was far too pushy, too…too everything. But he couldn’t stop thinking about the dark haired beauty… her violet eyes and her guts. She hadn’t been shy about challenging him, and that both irritated him and left him admiring her..
He stepped inside.
Nightlights illuminated a hallway. He followed it and stepped into an area that looked to be a kitchen. A fridge, stove and sink stood to his right. The marble counters gleamed in the faint light. Lifting his head, he listened. He could hear soft sounds and knew immediately that he was not alone in the building. Had someone stayed late—or had someone broken in?
He set his bag on the floor, reached back and pulled out his Sig from his belt holster. Stepping forward, he noticed an open bottle of wine and a half-full glass on the counter. Next to them sat a plate and a fork. He sniffed. Pasta—clam sauce.
Had one of the employees made use of the kitchen? Raul hadn’t said anything about if the workers had access to this area or not.
Holding still, he cocked his head. The sound of water running carried to him. He could hear it along with the splash of the fountains. Slow and careful, he made his way to the next door. A light gleamed underneath in a thin strip. He pushed open the door. He found the bedroom empty and the bed made. The light next to the bed had been turned on. Clothing had been strewn over the end of the bed—jeans and what looked like a sweatshirt. A pair of bright pink hi-top tennis shoes sat on the floor.
The sound of running water stopped. Kostya listened for a moment. He heard a splash and raised his eyebrows. A thief would not be taking a bath.
He weighed his options for a moment, but he knew he must find out just who was here.
Stepping up to the bathroom door, he glanced inside. Steam curled in the air, warm and moist, and…flowery. The mirror had fogged over.