In the Beginning (Volkov Bratva #1)(32)

“Don’t worry,” Amber whispered as though they could hear them. “I’ll help you bury the body later.”

Lauren bit back a laugh, shaking her head as Amber held her hands out, pretending to triangle the girl.

“You know, you’re pretty violent when you want to be.”

Mishca’s guard stood off to the side, looking entirely out of place as he waited stoically.

“Vlad,” Lauren called with a wave, watching his stony expression melt for just a second as he nodded at her. “Mishca’s bodyguard,” she explained at the confused looks from Piper and Amber.

Amber frowned. “Why does he need security?”

Lauren had often wondered the same thing, but never commented on it. Maybe all successful club owners had one. “No idea.”

The sound of Lauren’s voice brought Mishca’s attention around to them, and she was pleased that he didn’t have that guilty look on his face that most guys wore when they were caught doing something they shouldn’t. Instead he looked pleased, and her momentary doubt was wiped away as he turned his back on the associate, striding forward to kiss her cheek.

“Hello love.” He turned pale eyes to her roommate. “Always a pleasure to see you, Amber. Piper.”

Piper smirked, like she had never been so casually dismissed by a man in all of her life. Lauren was inclined to believe that. Amber, on the other hand, batted her eyelashes—just as the associate had done not too long ago.

“Does he always sound so—” she imitated his accent. “—Throaty?”

Mishca laughed in good humor. “Only on Thursdays.”

Realizing that Mishca was off the market—or at least not bold enough to make a move with Lauren there—the associate cleared her throat, making her presence known. “Mr. Volkov, I’ll go and get your selections ready.” She walked away in a hurry, not nearly as flirty as she had been when they first arrived.

“What are you doing here?”

“We’re dress hunting for the gala and saw you through the window.”

Amber was gazing at a row of pastel men’s dress shirts when she chimed in. “We thought we’d save you from the succubus.”

“Thank you for protecting my virtue.” He said with a smile. “Have you found anything?”

“Not yet.”

Piper leaned a hip against the display case, twirling a loose curl between her fingers. “What are you wearing?”

“Gray.” He didn’t take his eyes off Lauren. “Do you like gray?”

“Yea.”

The associate came back out carrying a large black container with a glass face. Displaying it in front of Mishca, she lifted the lid, gesturing to the assortment of bow ties inside.

He looked to Lauren. “Ladies’ choice.”

She looked at the different colors, trying to match it together with the gray of his suit. She pointed at the navy one.

Mishca nodded. “I’ll take that one.”

“Of course, Mr. Volkov. Your items will be delivered tomorrow morning.”

With his business completed, Mishca looked back at Lauren. “I know a place my sister likes to shop, if you don’t mind the extra company.”

She intertwined their fingers. “I would love your company.”

***

Ten dresses, six pairs of shoes, and a number of stores later, Lauren was surprised Mishca was still sitting out in the lobby, waiting to see her in Piper’s latest selection.

To be honest, Lauren had never gone dress shopping in her life, having skipped all of the major dances in high school. She really hated small towns.

But she did enjoy Mishca’s reactions. He would be staring down at his Blackberry, his eyebrows pinched in concentration as he typed, but as soon as she stepped out, his expression cleared, replaced with a soft smile that made Lauren feel warm all over.

“Come on, L. We’re dying out here,” Amber called from the other side of the curtain.

Smiling, Lauren held the dress to her chest with one hand as she swept the curtain to the side, stepping out. Mishca was waiting and at the sight of her, he scrubbed a hand down his face.

“Want me to zip you?” He asked although he was already moving towards her.

Giving him her back, she faced the trio of mirrors, watching him draw the zipper up with ease.

“I like this one,” he murmured next to her ear.

The dress was form fitting, a shimmering shade of silver. It was rather simple in design with long sleeves, the skirt pooling at her feet, trailing behind her. It had a modest neckline, but what made the gown truly special was the plunging back, stopping at the center of her spine.

Even without Mishca’s approval, she was sold.

Mishca glanced down at his watch. “I have to get to a meeting. I’ll call you later, yes?”

She nodded. “Of course. I’ll see you soon.”

He kissed her just beneath her ear and hurried out of the store.

Lauren redressed quickly, taking the dress out to the register to hold while she went up to the shoe department. With all the selections, Amber’s eyes lit up. She was a shoe person.

“I’m kind of glad you moved in with me,” Amber said sitting on one of the suede chairs, rolling up the legs of her jeans. “Now, I can justify buying shoes because of the gala.”