Bratva Boss' Baby (Kotov Bratva Book 1) Read online

  Rain pelted the windows. He couldn’t make out his surroundings clearly. Viktor thought he spotted a figure fleeing inside the alleyway. Viktor stopped touching his gun and drummed his fingers on his wheel instead.

  He could give chase or order one of his men to go after the stranger. Then again, the figure might only be a figment of his imagination.

  As the Kotov Bratva gained more territory in the city, Viktor was becoming paranoid one of the crime families would send an assassin after him. Then again, only a fool would enter his territory and spy on him.

  Viktor made a mental note to tighten the security in the area. He checked his phone and looked for a nearby bar where he could get drunk. A place where no one would recognize him or bother him.

  It was a reckless move, Viktor knew. He didn’t go anywhere without guards. If he died, Pavel would run the Bratva to the ground. All the blood, sweat, and the trail of bodies, Viktor, his father, grandfather, and ancestors left behind to climb to the top would be wasted.

  “I just need one night to myself,” he muttered.

  Viktor started the engine and headed for the Rum and Monkey bar.

  ****

  Viktor’s mood remained grim as he drank his second beer of the evening. He took an empty seat by the bar. A few bold women had already asked him if he wanted to buy them a drink. One glare from him sent them running. Viktor could lose himself in a woman tonight, but none of the women at the bar interested him.

  A curvy blonde and her friend took the remaining seats on the bar. Viktor studied them with interest. The blonde’s face looked pinched, as if she was trying too hard to look cheerful but was failing spectacularly.

  Viktor took a sip of his beer. Maybe she’d had a shitty day, just like him. He definitely liked how her dress fit her sexy body like a second skin. Viktor didn’t miss the fact her dress matched the color of her eyes. Sky blue.

  He couldn’t keep his gaze off her face. Her plump lips. He wondered what she’d taste like as he speared his fingers through her blonde curls. How would she react if he cornered her against the wall and trapped her? Would she struggle like a prey animal or would she fight him off, only to realize she preferred to submit?

  God. It had been ages since a woman intrigued him. Viktor met her gaze. She couldn’t hold it. She ducked her head and pretended to be interested in whatever her friend was telling her. Viktor was so used to women throwing themselves at him. He didn’t even need to lift a single finger.

  This woman seemed shy—which only fueled his hunger for the hunt. He bet all that shyness was just a mask. Underneath, who knew? She might be a wildcat in bed. Someone who hungered for a man like him to take control and bend her to his whims.

  By the time he left her in the morning, she’d be craving him. Too bad he didn’t do commitments. Women were distractions men like Viktor couldn’t afford. She’d make for a wonderful memory though.

  A man in his late thirties stopped in front of the blonde’s friend and flashed her a smile. That annoyed Viktor. No one would get between him and his prize. Viktor stood from his seat and made his way to his potential conquest.

  Chapter Three

  “Why don’t you let me buy you a drink, beautiful?” the handsome dark-haired guy in the tailored suit asked.

  He looked at Ava, then focused on Gina. What a dick. It was like he couldn’t decide if he wanted Ava or Gina. Gina and she traded knowing looks.

  “Sorry, pal. You’re barking up the wrong tree,” Gina said. She put her arm around Ava’s shoulders. “Me and my girlfriend here want some time alone.”

  Ava prevented a giggle. This wasn’t the first time Gina and she pretended to be a couple to fend off assholes who didn’t know how to take a hint. The guy looked surprised. Ava thought they’d finally get rid of him, but he flashed them both a creepy smile.

  “Then why don’t you and your girlfriend come over to my place? We can have some fun.” The guy winked at them suggestively, as if that would persuade them to consider his ridiculous proposition.

  “No thanks,” Ava said firmly.

  She’d had it with this asshole. He was ruining her night. Ava wanted to have some fun. To drink and dance. She didn’t want to think about losing her job and eventually losing everything else—like her apartment, tonight. “There are plenty of fish in the pool. Why don’t you try using those cheesy lines on someone else?”

  The guy’s face turned red as a tomato. He balled his hands into fists. “Who the hell do you fat bitches think you are?”

  Ava froze and desperately looked for the bartender. They knew Eric, the bartender and owner of the Rum and Monkey. Eric was ex-military, and they could rely on him to throw out jerks like this one. Too bad Eric was busy making drinks. Shit.

  “The ladies said they weren’t interested,” said a deep, unfamiliar voice.

  Ava blinked. It was the huge, quiet, and dark-haired Russian sitting in the corner. Ava thought he was Russian because she heard him talking to another guy. She’d taken a beginner class in Russian but eventually dropped the course.

  Gina said the guy had been checking her out all evening, but she didn’t quite believe her. Gina kept pushing her to go up to him, but her shyness got in the way. Ava never approached guys. She was terrified she’d say the wrong thing. Besides, he intimidated her a little. Standing a few feet from her, Gina, and the annoying prick, the new stranger towered over everyone else.

  Ava would’ve called him a bruiser, except he looked like a cross between an escaped convict and a billionaire. He had miles and miles of muscle. Black ink peeked from his neck and hands. The suit he wore looked tailored to fit his ridiculously massive frame.

  “Hey buddy, I got here—” The prick harassing them took one look at the stranger and paled.

  “Leave now,” the stranger said. His black eyes bore into the prick’s.

  “Okay, I don’t want a fight.” The guy finally slunk away.

  “Thanks for that,” Ava said. “We weren’t sure how to get rid of him.”

  “My pleasure.” The guy’s deep and sexy voice sent shivers down her spine. “You look rattled. Maybe a drink would calm you down?”

  This guy was definitely looking at her and her alone. It was like Ava was the only thing he could see, like the rest of the people in the bar didn’t matter.

  She was about to refuse him, to tell him she wasn’t interested, but Gina cut her off.

  “Ava would like a drink. You also haven’t introduced yourself,” Gina said.

  “Viktor,” he said, emphasizing the hard k.

  Viktor offered his hand to Ava. She hesitated, then shook it. Every inch of Viktor screamed danger. Her mother always told Ava to avoid bad boys when she was growing up. She’d always dated boring vanilla guys. Viktor wasn’t her type at all, but something about Viktor drew her to him.

  “Nice to meet you, Viktor,” she said.

  “Ava, I forgot I had an emergency at home.” Gina winked at her.

  Ava shot her a wide-eyed stare. Gina gave her a thumbs-up sign before leaving her alone with Viktor.

  “More beer?” he asked, taking the stool Gina had occupied.

  “Sure.” Ava nervously twiddled her thumbs as Viktor ordered her and himself more beers. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t come here to meet anyone. I just wanted to go somewhere where I can forget my problems for a little.”

  Viktor seemed so big and intimidating, and yet she couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like if he kissed her. Took her home. She bet a man like Viktor wouldn’t, couldn’t be gentle. Would he be able to give her the kind of sex she secretly craved?

  Ava always harbored dark desires. She’d always been too shy, too busy to act on them. She pictured Viktor pinning her wrists to the wall, ripping her dress off her, and putting that mouth to her most intimate places.

  She could feel her cheeks heating up and hoped Viktor wouldn’t make a comment about her blushing. Ava sipped her beer.

  “What happened?” he asked.

  “
You want to hear about my problems?” she asked.

  That was strange. The men and women who wandered in here only wanted one thing. To hook up with complete strangers.

  “I’m not having a good day either.” Viktor paused, took a pull of his beer. “I’m having a problem with one of my employees.”

  “What do you do?” she asked, curious.

  Now that Gina was gone, she had no one to talk to. Maybe Viktor wasn’t interested in sex. Maybe he only needed a friend, or at the very least, someone to listen to his problems.

  “I run a couple of businesses,” he replied rather cryptically. “What about you?”

  What the hell? It wasn’t like she would see this guy again. “I thought I was being promoted, but I ended up being let go instead.”

  “You were fired?”

  She turned to him, a little ticked off. “Being fired implied I did something wrong.”

  He looked intrigued by her little outburst.

  Ava coughed and continued, “I did everything right. They said the company had to do some budget cuts, but in the end, they told me the real reason. It was because I didn’t fit in with the company culture.”

  “Huh? What the hell does that mean?”

  “I know, right? It’s because I came from a different background than anyone else. I didn’t graduate from a good university like my other colleagues.”

  Viktor scoffed. “What a stupid reason to let someone go. I don’t know the details, but it sounds like someone had a hard-on for you.”

  “What?” Ava admittedly had also considered that option.

  She just didn’t voice her concerns to Gina, and they didn’t hide secrets from each other. Ava was pretty sure Gina would just laugh and tell her she was imagining things.

  “Anyway.” She stared gloomily at her bottle. “Who was I kidding? Maybe they were right. I worked harder than everyone else to prove I was just like them. In the end, where did that get me? I lost my job. I lost everything.”

  Viktor laughed, and that definitely got on her nerves.

  Seeing her expression, he sighed. “It’s not the end of the world. There are other jobs.”

  “But Green and Hills Accounting is the best firm in the city,” she said. “Without my generous salary, I won’t be able to pay for my apartment or keep sending money to my mom.”

  Viktor said nothing for a few moments. Then Ava realized she just told her life story to a complete stranger she just met. God. How embarrassing. She must be really off her game.

  Viktor probably thought she was a mess. A screwup. Ava should’ve stayed at home and buried herself in her blankets. Feeling sorry for herself in front of the TV while stroking her cat seemed a lot better than embarrassing herself.

  “I’m so sorry,” she blurted. “I didn’t mean to rant.”

  “You’re an accountant?” His question completely threw her off.

  “Uh. Yeah.”

  “And you’re good at your job?” he pressed. Viktor closed his big hand over her wrist. Her pulse leaped. His fingers were warm, covered in calluses. This was a man who wasn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty.

  Damn it. It had been so long for her. She wasn’t a virgin, but she couldn’t even remember the last time she’d been intimate with a man. She distrusted the way her body reacted to Viktor. Her nipples were already tightening beneath her dress. And her panties—no.

  Ava seriously needed to get her mind out of the gutter. Viktor might not even be interested in her that way, but if he was, she’d definitely hit that. Him.

  Viktor was seriously hot. Who cared if he looked like some kind of gangster? He said he ran his own business. Businesses. Plural. Not that she cared about what he did or if he was rich. She wasn’t her mom.

  “Ava?” Viktor gave her arm a gentle squeeze.

  He let her go, probably realizing it was inappropriate. What did he ask her? Everything about him was so intriguing. Distracting might be a better adjective.

  “Are you a good accountant?”

  “Oh. I guess I’m all right.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short.”

  “Fine.” She straightened her spine and looked him in the eye. “I’m freaking amazing. There was even this one project I practically did all on my own. A senior accountant was supposed to be in charge, but he was just plain lazy. I did everything. The assessment. The reports. I even dealt with the clients.”

  Tears stung her eyes. She couldn’t believe she was crying in front of a stranger. Viktor must think her weak. He took her by surprise when he reached out and used his thumb to rub her tears away. She stilled, slightly unsure of the unexpectedly tender gesture.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Hush.” He put two fingers under her chin, making her look up at him. Her heart hammered as Viktor leaned in close and took her lips. He didn’t kiss. Viktor plundered like a thirsty man in the desert.

  Heat pooled between her legs. Her sensitive nipples grazed the fabric of her dress. Ava bet Viktor could see the buds. When he pulled away, she panted. She wanted so much more and almost begged him not to stop.

  This was insane. Ava had never been the kind of girl who frequented bars and let strangers take her home. Right now, she would’ve let him do anything to her. It should frighten her how easily this stranger could play her body like a familiar instrument, but she wasn’t afraid.

  “Come with me, and I’ll help you forget all your troubles tonight,” Viktor said.

  His eyes gleamed like black obsidian under the dim bar lights. They were full of ravenous hunger. A shiver of anticipation crawled down her spine.

  For all she knew, Viktor might be a serial killer. Then again, Gina took men back to her apartment all the time. Worst-case scenario, Ava could use the old pepper spray in her bag.

  “Trust me,” he said, leaning in close to whisper in her ear. His breath was warm, the stubble on his jaw harsh against her skin. “You won’t regret a night with me.”

  “I just met you,” she said with a laugh. “One night?”

  “I don’t do seconds.”

  She stiffened. At least he didn’t mince his words. A blunt man felt like a cool and refreshing drink of water compared to a liar. She made up her mind.

  “Good. I’m not looking for anything long-term either,” she replied.

  Viktor grinned. That gesture momentarily softened the harsh lines of his face. Amusement lingered in his eyes. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Chapter Four

  Ava kept sneaking glances at Viktor the moment they got inside his car. Viktor kept his gaze on the road. He looked focused and intense.

  “Why did you ask me if I was good at my job?” she asked, just to break the silence in the car.

  “Because I’m thinking fate dropped you into my lap for a reason. I’m looking for an accountant to handle my business accounts. My last one—well, let’s just say the fucker stole from me.”

  Ava tried to process the information he just unloaded on her. “Oh, that’s awful, Viktor. How bad was the damage he caused? Did you check his accreditations?”

  “Half a mil.” Viktor grunted.

  She whistled.

  He gripped the wheel so hard, his knuckles turned white. “No, my brother and I hired him because one of our trusted men vouched for him. We should’ve done a thorough check before bringing him onboard.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “What are you apologizing for?” he asked, sounding confused. “You weren’t the one who stole from me. Besides, I’m not worried. That bastard will get his just desserts eventually.”

  The mood in the vehicle turned strange. Tense. Ava wished she hadn’t brought up her job.

  “How about it? You’re looking for a job, aren’t you?”

  His question threw her completely off-guard.

  “First you hit on me, then you want me to be your accountant? I don’t sleep with potential bosses,” Ava said.

  “That’s final?” He didn’t seem bothered by her res
ponse. “Fine.”

  “You’re giving up that easily?” she teased.

  God. Ava was actually flirting. She felt so rusty, but there was something about Viktor that definitely interested her. She just couldn’t put her finger on it yet.

  “I can persuasive when I want to be, but you have a point. Enough talk about work.” Viktor stopped the car.

  She looked out the windows, surprised to find herself in the parking lot of the Crown Dragon. She’d never been here before. It was a newly opened five-star establishment.

  “Why did you take me to a hotel?” she asked.

  It suddenly struck her that he might be married. Was that why he was adamant about telling her he only did one-night-stands? She stared at his finger. No marriage band there. When he slid his hand down her thigh, her heart raced erratically.

  “Things at home are complicated,” Viktor said. He moved his fingers under the hem of her dress. Ava hadn’t met anyone quite like him. He was so presumptuous. Arrogant. Bold. Exactly her opposite. Still, his hand felt so nice and warm on her bare skin.

  She groaned when he finally arrived at the apex between her thighs. He stroked her clit through the lace fabric of her panties. To her shame, she thrust her pussy at his hand. She tugged her dress until it bunched up her thighs to give him easier access.

  “So wet for me already,” he murmured.

  She flushed. Ava didn’t need a mirror to know her cheeks and neck were red by now. What did he expect her to say to that?

  “You’re so responsive, aren’t you?” Viktor asked.

  “What? I-I don’t know. I haven’t exactly been with a lot of guys.”

  The admission shamed her. They were in the parking lot, for crying out loud. Anyone who walked past them could see Ava grinding herself shamelessly against Viktor’s hand.

  “Good.”

  “How is that a good thing?”

  Her breath caught as he peeled her underwear away, exposing her pussy. He pushed two fingers inside her heat. Ava bowed her back, throwing her head upward.