The Final Hour (Volkov Bratva #3)(11)

“I prefer not to ask questions. Take Luka.”

“But it’s only Brighton Beach.”

That did make him look at her, making sure she saw the seriousness of his expression. “Precisely. It’s because it’s Brighton Beach that I want you to take him.”

“You’re the boss.”

He scowled at her as she left but she merely blew him a kiss, Luka trailing behind her.

“Want me to drive?” Luka asked, already reaching for the keys in Lauren’s hand, but she snatched it back, pressing the button to unlock the doors.

“Of course not.”

He eyed her nervously, reluctantly climbing into the passenger seat, reaching to pull his seatbelt on. “Should I be nervous?”

Starting the car and putting the truck into drive, she smiled though she didn’t look at him. “Not at all.”



When she was finally parked near the pier, Luka snatched the keys from the ignition before she even had her seatbelt off.

“Oh come on, Luka. It wasn’t that bad.”

It was only made worse because Luka was a terrible passenger, and made it a point to voice his opinion on her driving the entire way there. She might not have helped matters when she had tried to imitate his driving.

He grumbled something below his breath as he climbed out, already heading towards the brick building where Alex was supposed to be waiting for them. Judging from his expression, she wasn’t the only one wondering what Alex was doing out here.

She and Alex had hung out a few times over the last couple of months, and normally the were relegated to Manhattan or the Village. Alex had expensive tastes, but Lauren didn’t fault her for that. She doubted Mishca would have sent Alex to do a job for him, and she really doubted he would have let her come here alone which made her even more curious.

Before they even reached the entrance, Alex came hurrying out, a tote bag thrown over one shoulder, reflective sunglasses in place, dressed in a shimmery dress that clung to her body. If Lauren had to guess, she was still wearing the clothes from a night out.

Unlike her older brother—who always seemed to carry himself stiffly in public—Alex walked with a dancer’s grace, thanks to a long life of ballet. Her hair was different too. While still blonde, there were several different shades through out it. In Lauren’s opinion, it seemed like she was trying to step out of Anya’s shadow.

“Why’d you bring the brawn?” Alex asked, barely sparing Luka a glance as she sauntered by him, tossing her bag into the trunk.

“Mish’s orders.”

“You should remind him who wears the pants in your relationship.”

“What were you doing in there?” Luka asked as he opened the door for Alex first, then Lauren.

“Nothing you wouldn’t do, Tiger.”

He rolled his eyes at that, like he was used to her calling him by that. Sometimes it seemed like they got on each other’s nerves, but other times, like this, they enjoyed bantering.

Luka forced them both to sit in the back, climbing into the driver’s seat. There was no other experience like being in the car when Luka was driving.

When they were on their way back home, they passed by Mishca’s club, the first time Lauren had seen it since the day she was there with the Albanian hitter. And thoughts of that unwillingly brought back ones of Naomi and what she had shown her. She had been so proud of those stars, blatantly showing them off, knowing the effect they would have on Lauren.

Before her, Lauren would have never known that women in the lives of the men in the Bratva could even possess those stars, and she still didn’t have a clear understanding as to what they meant when they weren’t on Bratva Captains.

It felt too awkward for her to ask Luka about it, and there was no guarantee that he would give her a straight answer. Her only other option—because she didn’t want to ask Mishca—was Alex.

“Alex, can I ask you a question?”—She nodded.—“Did you know Naomi back when she was with Mish?”

“Of course,” Alex said filing one of her fingernails. “Hated her. Why do you ask?”

“She showed me something. The stars.”

They had been on Lauren’s mind for a while. She had never thought to bring it up to Mishca again since the day she found out about them, and knowing him, he would downplay exactly what they meant.

Alex looked at her out the corner of her eye, pausing in her filing. “What about them?”

“What do they mean exactly?”

Alex sighed, dropping her feet down to the ground. “They’re like an order of protection, normally extended to those closest to the Bratva—lets others know that they can’t be touched and if there’s a problem, you go to the person that put the stars there.” Alex shrugged like that wasn’t a big deal. “I can’t say why Mishca gave them to her, not when he knew Naomi’s history.”

“What was her history?” Lauren didn’t mean to sound as desperate as she did, but she wanted to know what happened between the two of them.

“Just so you know, I have a birthday coming up. I want you to remember how helpful I’ve been when I ask you for that dress I’ve been eyeing.”

Laughing at being caught, Lauren nodded. “Sure thing.”

“Naomi is a jewel thief, pretty good from what I’ve heard. Of course no one wanted to tell me anything, being as young as I was, but they also forgot I had ears. Idiots.” She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, they had their little thing—”