Shirley
As Evgenii walks toward the bathrooms, I turn and walk toward
Alessandro, Katya, and Arianna, who are sitting at a table. I sit beside
Arianna and smile. “Having fun, guys?”
“What are you doing, Shirls?” Alessandro asks me suddenly. “This isn’t a good idea.”
I reassure him because I don’t want to cause a scene. “Don’t worry,
Alessandro. I know what I’m doing and have everything under control.”
I can see he wants to say more, that he doubts me, but thankfully, Katya nudges him and gives him a reproachful look.
I glance around the room and recognize the tall, lithe man walking straight toward us. Despite being rivals, he is from a family that has a truce with Evgenii’s family. He’s looking straight at me with his dark eyes, and I feel my breath catch in my chest. I don’t need more complications, but he is delicious to look at.
He approaches Alessandro and smiles. “Don Sorvino. Such a pleasure to meet you. I am Mikhail Golubev.”
Alessandro nods, but he doesn’t return the smile. “A pleasure indeed. How can I help you, Mikhail?”
“I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful young lady sitting alone and was hoping I could steal her away for a dance?” He’s a charmer and oozes it, holding his hand out for me.
Alessandro looks skeptical, but I take Mikhail’s hand and stand. “It’s just a dance.”
He sweeps me onto the dance floor and holds my waist higher than Evgenni did, his other hand holding mine. We waltz around the dance floor, and he grins. “I am so lucky a beautiful woman like you would grace me with a dance. Hopefully, another one after. I haven’t seen you around before, and I make it my job to know everyone.”
I return his charming smile as we move about the dance floor. “You can call me Shirley, and I work for Don Sorvino in another region.”
“What could you possibly be doing for Don Sorvino?” he asks, seeming genuinely curious. I’m not a teenager anymore, so I shake my head. “I’m not important in the greater scheme of things.”
“Well, it is a pity you’re from another area because your beauty is breathtaking. How long are you here for? Perhaps I can tempt you to join me at my family’s cabin up north. We can spend the rest of the weekend getting to know each other more intimately.” He twirls me around, I move away and then back toward him, and he holds my waist again.
I smile up at him, maintaining a friendly disposition. Mikhail starts comparing my beauty to nature, and I realize that Evgenii is standing to the side of the dance floor, with Ivan, watching me with an angry expression on his face.
I won’t lie, that makes dancing with Mikhail and his cheesy analogies worth it. Evgenii can’t say anything because I’m not doing anything wrong, technically.
I turn my attention back to Mikhail as he pauses between analogies. “You haven’t said much about yourself. Why don’t you tell me more about who you are?”
Mikhail tries to appear shy, but it comes across more as a smirk. “There isn’t much to tell. I’m just a man who wants what’s best for his family. I like cars and beautiful women, and I love to ride them both.”
If he’s expecting me to be embarrassed, it doesn’t work. I look him in the eyes and smirk back. “Your family is Bratva, the Golubevs, and I know they have been putting pressure on the Volkovs for better areas.”
“I guess you know more about me than I expected. You’re smarter than you let on, which is good for someone who runs the West Coast operations for the Sorvino family,” he pulls me slightly closer so he can talk more quietly.
I raise an eyebrow. “I’m not the only one who knows more than they’re letting on.”
He rests the side of his head against mine. “We could be great together.”
It’s a murmur in my ear, but I withdraw, giving him a confident smile. “I already work with the greatest family.”
The song ends, and I incline my head. “Thanks for the dance, but I should get back to my people.”
He gives a slight bow, and I walk from the dance floor. I see Evgenii make his way toward me, and we meet on the edge of the dance floor. He takes my arm, gently but determined, to escort me to the side of the room, where he glares at me.
“What the hell are you doing?”
I look up at him, slightly taken aback by his aggressive tone. It gets my defenses up, and I wrench my arm from his grasp.
“I do not belong to you.” If he’s clever, he’ll back off because I’m not playing this fucking game with him.
Evgenii doesn’t touch me again, but he stands close to me. “We agreed to come to this event together. It’s rude to go dancing with someone else,” he says quietly, angrily, as he glances around.
“Afraid of embarrassing yourself?” I hiss, glaring at him. “You don’t own me, Evgenii. I can dance with anyone I like, and there’s nothing you can do about that.”
Evgenii can’t seem to let it go. “What did Mikhail want? Did you give him any information about operations?”
I clench my fists. “You really won’t get over using me like that, will you?”
“I didn’t mean it….”
I cut him off, “Excuse me, they’re serving the food.”
I storm off to Alessandro, who raises his eyebrows at me. I try to smile at him and sit between Arianna and Katya so I’m surrounded. Evgenii goes to the table next to ours where Ivan and Tori are.
The food smells and tastes delicious, but my argument with Evgenii has left me without an appetite. I pick at my food, lost in my thoughts, until Katya touches my arm. “Shirls?”
I smile at her instantly. “Yes, sorry. Thinking of work as usual.”
She gives a small smile and nods. “I was just saying that it’s a pity Pierce couldn’t be here. To have the family all together would have been amazing.”
“Yes, Pierce wanted so badly to come, but there were some deals I was waiting for deliberation on, and he needed to finalize them,” I explain. “Always work, as I said.” We both giggle to ourselves.
I can feel Evgenii’s eyes drilling into me as I eat, but I don’t look in his direction. Instead, I listen to the ladies at our table chat about the various charity pieces they want to bid on, and one specifically Katya wants interests me.
“It’s a beautiful white gold tiara with sapphires and emeralds,” she explains. “It looks stunning.”
I nod my head. I used to love flashy jewelry once upon a time, but I prefer a minimalist look now. Still, I know the ladies like to be spoiled, even if they only wear it at events like these.
Once the empty plates are whisked away, the music starts again. I don’t feel much like celebrating, and I’m not going to bid on anything tonight. I’ve been here long enough to justify leaving.
I lean over to Katya. “I have a lot of work to do tomorrow. I’m going to call it a night.”
“Are you sure?” Katya asks, inclining her head. Alessandro looks at us, unsure of what our exchange is about.
“Yes, it’s fine. I’m not really in the mood to bid on anything anyway,” I explain. “And I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer or anything just because I’m tired and grumpy.”
Katya smiles and squeezes my hand resting on the table. “You could never be a Debbie Downer. But I understand your discomfort. I saw your argument and can only imagine the words exchanged.”
I sigh and shake my head. “He has no hold over me. He needs to learn that hard and fast, and although he doesn’t bother me, I don’t want him harassing me all night.”
“If you need anything, or if you need an escort, just let me know.” Katya leans over and kisses both of my cheeks.
“I will. Have a fun night.”
I stand while Katya leans over to tell Alessandro what’s going on. I don’t miss the fact that Evgenii gets up shortly after I start walking along the outside of the dance hall.
He is a few steps behind me and quickly catches up. “Shirley.”
I slow down but don’t stop. “I’m afraid I have work tomorrow. I’m calling it a night.”
“At least let me escort you home and make sure you get there safely.” He steps in front of me as he speaks, forcing me to a stop. “I’m sorry if I upset you. Let me make it up to you.”
I look at him stiffly. “I don’t need an escort. I’m not a helpless damsel in distress. Now, please move out of my way.”
He reluctantly steps aside, and I know his eyes don’t leave me as I
stride out of the hall, through the various throngs of people mingling, to a car waiting outside for me.
I climbed into the car, and the driver shuts the door for me. Knowing the windows are tinted so no one can look in, I finally look back at the event hall door, where I see Evgenii standing. He looks forlorn and miserable, and I thought this would satisfy me, but instead, I feel sorry for him. Something I wish I didn’t feel at all.
Evgenii
As I cruise through the streets the following morning, my mind is thinking of Shirley. My heart ached so much when I upset her, yet I don’t regret it. I was protecting her from that hyena, Mikhail. I don’t understand why she feels I think she’s just going to spill secrets. She wouldn’t do it on purpose, but Mikhail is a slimy snake who will coerce the details out of her.
I pull through the gates and up to Ivan’s house. I shake my head. Women are so difficult to please. I have tons of experience with them, yet I can never seem to get it right.
I walk into the house and down the hall. Just through a door to my right, I see Anastasia checking her makeup in a mirror, so I pause. “Where are you going, little lady?”
She smiles brightly as she smacks her lips and looks at me. “Just going out with a friend.” She slips her lip gloss into her handbag and swings it over her shoulder.
“Is it a male friend?” I ask teasingly.
As she walks past me, she smacks my arm. “No details for you.
You’ll run off to my father. See you later.”
I wave her off as I walk to Ivan’s office. Ivan has mainly been working from home because it’s safer and easier to protect. It’s an environment he has more control over. He also doesn’t like missing milestones in his son’s life.
I stroll into Ivan’s office. He’s concentrating on his laptop, so I go to his mini bar and pour myself a drink, sitting down in front of him.
Ivan finishes what he’s doing and settles back away from his desk.
“Hello, Cousin.”
“Pakhan,” I say respectfully. “Having a productive morning, I see.”
“Sort of.” He seems worried about something, but I leave it alone. If he wanted me to know, he’d tell me. Instead, his eyes search mine, and he asks, “What happened with Shirley?”
I scoff, “I don’t know what you mean.”
“The charity ball last night. We saw the two of you arguing, and then she left straight after the meal, and you were a grumpy drunk the rest of the night.” Ivan straightens his tie slightly and tilts his head to the side. “It was rather obvious.”
I shake my head. “She was being childish, and she left.”
I don’t want to go into the details, but I know there is something I must bring up. “I mean, did you see how Mikhail just approached her like that? It certainly raises a lot of questions.”
Ivan shakes his head. He knows I’m deflecting, but he doesn’t push the issue, and I’m thankful for that.
“Mikhail will always look for an opportunity to strike, he will always go for who he perceives as the weakest link, and he’s dead wrong this time. Many people tell me Shirley is not someone to be crossed if you like to live.”
I snort, “Unlikely, but I’d like to know what he’s after.”
“He’s probably after the same thing you are: Shirley’s proposal.” Ivan sighs and stretches, his neck clicking into place with a loud, satisfying crack.
I won’t admit to him that I’d love more than Shirley’s proposal. I always put the family first in every way, but why can’t I have Staten Island and Shirley? Why can’t we have our toxic ever-after?
Ivan’s phone rings, and as he answers it, mine does as well. His eyes open wide as one of my soldiers speaks quickly in my ear, “Sir, there’s been an explosion in Lower Manhattan. It’s one of our office spaces that’s been blown apart.”
I look at Ivan, who is frantically pacing up and down now, “Tori…
Tori…. Answer…”
“I’ll call you back.” I stand up. “Where is Tori?”
“She’s supposed to be near there with Roman, Kira, and Bella,” he says, his face filled with anguish.
“Oh, thank fucking God, where the fucking hell are you?” he demands, putting her on speakerphone so I can hear.
“Calm down,” she snips, “we’re at Central Park. Why?”
Ivan sits down on an armchair, his hand shaking. “You said you were going to lower Manhattan today.”
“It was a beautiful day, so we changed our minds,” she sounds confused and worried. “Why? Is everything okay?”
Ivan lets out another deep breath, and his hands stop shaking. “Stay clear of there. There was an attack, and one of our buildings was blown up.
I’d prefer you get home soon.”
“Kira has guards with her,” Tori says quickly. “I’ll ask them to escort us home.”
“Do that. Keep me posted every step.” Ivan hangs up and glowers at me, his face tight. “I want to know who did this.”
This is the side of Ivan that not many get to see. They always see him as mature and wise, but they don’t realize how deadly he can be when under threat.
While Ivan goes to pour himself another drink, I start making calls from one soldier to the next and through the ranks of our family. No one has any clues, and the cops on the scene aren’t on our payroll.
I turn to Ivan. “I’ll find out who this is, and they will pay. I’ll be in touch.”
Ivan waves me off. I know he has his way of dealing with things. It’s now just a case of who finds the culprit first.
I speed through the streets to La Club and park haphazardly outside the doors. The bouncers are about to say something when I flash them a look, and they back off, recognizing me.
As I walk toward the office, I see two women sitting at a booth, drinking. It’s Shirley and Arianna, and I pause at their booth. “Afternoon, ladies.”
My heart is beating hard in my chest, and I’m not sure if it’s the adrenaline from our territory being attacked or just from being in the vicinity of the woman who is driving me wild.
They both give me quiet hellos, and I lean against the booth. “Shirley, I’d love to get together soon. To make up for what happened at the event.”
Shirley swirls her glass and sips it. “Is that what you drove here to say?”
“No… No, I… I wanted to see Frankie.”
Shirley and Arianna both look up at me, puzzled.
“Is everything okay?” Arianna asks, starting to stand up.
Frankie comes out of his office. “Evgenii, come in.”
I glance at Shirley again. “Let me know.” I hurry into Frankie’s office, and he shuts the door.
“Did you hear about the explosion in Lower Manhattan?” I ask.
“That’s a territory we share with you, so of course I have,” Frankie says. “I assumed that’s what you are here to discuss.”
“Who do you think it could be? Do you think the Golubevs or
Pachecos are playing a game with us?”
“Why would you assume the Golubevs are involved?” He pours us each a glass of whiskey. “I doubt it’s the Pachecos. They’re trying to get out of New York.”
“Mikhail. He was targeting Shirley the other night.” I take the whiskey.
“For what? I doubt that, after you, Shirley will ever share so much as the memory of a dream with anyone,” he sits in his chair and watches me. “So if that was Mikhail’s plan, it was a piss poor one.” I grunt. Talk about a low blow.
Frankie crosses his arms. “I think it’s in everyone’s interests if you and Shirley stay apart.”
“I didn’t know she had a keeper,” I retort, and I can see the muscles in his jaw flex with irritation.
“She’s my younger sister in every way, bar blood. Our alliance won’t stop me from whooping your ass.”
I hold my hands out. “From what I’ve heard, she can more than handle herself. And I’m not looking for a fight. Both our families have been affected by this bombing, so if you hear anything, keep me in the loop, okay?”
Frankie relaxes slightly and nods. “You do the same. They’re starting to report the deaths, and we’ve lost a lot of good people there.”
I finish my drink and set my glass down before standing up. “I should get going. I want to see the site myself and see what I can find out about the type of bomb used.”
Frankie nods but doesn’t stand. “I’ll be in touch.”
I leave the office and notice Arianna and Shirley are still nursing their drinks. I walk toward their booth, but Arianna holds up a hand. “This is a private conversation. You know the way out, right?”
I chuckle. “I can take a hint.” I look into Shirley’s eyes. “Call me, so
I can apologize properly for being a dick.”
She shrugs, and I leave because I don’t know how Frankie will feel if I linger too long near the girls.
I jump into my car and rev the engine to life before pulling into traffic and heading straight toward lower Manhattan. I want to concentrate on what’s going on, but I just keep thinking about how Shirley shrugged me off.