Time Stood Still (Volkov Bratva #3.5)(4)

Surprisingly, she left without further argument, snatching up her purse on her way out, making it a point to slam the door behind her. While Mishca was staring at Luka, Luka was focused on the door with a look that said he was only a second away from going after her.

“What was that?” Mishca asked folding his arms across his chest.

“What was what?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. With Alex, that arguing, what was it?”

Luka shrugged, finally turning so that he was facing Mishca, though his face was wiped clean of any emotion. “Friendly disagreement.”

“What you do with those girls at the rooms, I couldn’t give a shit about. My sister is not one of them. I ordered you to watch her, make sure she doesn’t do anything reckless as she’s prone to do. The dark shit that you’re into, do it on your own time. You’re not what Alex needs.”

Luka didn’t make a joke, nor did he make any playful remark to Mishca’s words. The person he was seeing now reminded Mishca of the one that broke his finger.

“I’m not good enough for your sister, got it. We done here, Boss?”

That wasn’t actually what Mishca had meant, but it didn’t look like Luka would believe him even if he explained that.

Looking up at the set of monitors mounted to the wall behind Luka, Mishca saw Lauren—and Klaus?—coming through the entrance.

“You—”

“We done?”

Deciding it was best to let him go, Mishca nodded. Before he was out the door though, Lauren and Klaus entered. Her smile was big and warm, as it always was, at least until she looked between Luka and Mishca.

“What’s happened?”

Luka, at least for her sake, tried to wipe away the tension on his face, giving her a smile as he mussed her hair, though he didn’t offer a response. Even if he was upset with Mishca, he wasn’t going to take it out on her.

“All’s good.”

He opened his arms to Klaus next who scowled and took a step back. “Touch me and—”

“How many times have you threatened to kill me already?” Luka asked, and that playful tone to his voice was back as he forced his arms around the mercenary. In a stage-whisper, Luka asked, “Can you feel it, Red?”

Klaus grumbled something beneath his breath as Luka rested his head on his shoulder. “Get the f*ck off of me.”

“I feel a bromance coming on.”

“I thought you two didn’t like each other,” Lauren said with a frown. “You said Klaus was a bully and he was the reason your face was so beat up a couple of weeks ago.”

Apparently, Luka had disappeared for a night and when he returned the following morning, he’d had a black eye, a bruised face, and bloody knuckles. By the time they saw Klaus again, his hands were mostly healed, but didn’t deny that he and Luka had gotten into an altercation though neither was willing to confess as to why it happened.

“He was a bit resistant, but he’s come around. Right, Red?”

Klaus looked to the ceiling as though it might be able to provide him with an escape. “Sure. Now, get the hell off me.”

Luka did, finally, let him go, but he kept one arm slung around his shoulders. “Red will walk me out.”

They left with very little fuss, leaving Lauren shaking her head in their wake. Mishca went back to his desk, picking up the pen he’d thrown down earlier.

“How was your meeting with Roman?” She asked, coming around his desk, mindful of the papers there before she sat on it.

“He’ll more than likely move on it within the week.”

She was silent after his response, prompting him to look up at her. Reaching out to him, she twined her fingers with his, pulling him to his feet, spreading her legs slightly to bring him closer.

“I missed you today.”

She kissed the underside of his jaw, his own arms going around her to pull her flush against him. Mishca tilted her face up, intending to only kiss her briefly, but as his lips touched hers, he delved deeper, wanting the contact.

His hand slid down her spin, spanning over the curve of her hip, resting there.

In this moment, he enjoyed being lost in her because he finally had her exactly where he wanted her without interference.

…At least until his phone rang.

Sighing, he pulled away, just far enough that he could get his phone from his pocket, checking to see who was calling.

He looked to Lauren.

“Need to take that?”

“I’ll only be a minute.”

Kissing his cheek, she hopped down from his desk, smoothing the front of her dress. “Take your time.”

***

Since it was still early, and Mishca wouldn’t be needed back at the club until later that night, Lauren ordered takeout from one of their favorite restaurants, waiting for Mishca out at the bar. Luka and Alex were already gone from what she could see, leaving only the bartenders and a number of the bottle girls preparing for the night.

Not only them, but there were a few of Mishca’s new security trying to look unassuming as they stood near majority of the entrances.

It was turning out to be a rather unassuming night, at least until there was a commotion near the entrance. Lauren spun around, trying to see what it was all about, but couldn’t see through the crowd forming.

Sliding off the barstool she’d been perched on for the last ten minutes or so, Lauren headed in that direction, a figure immediately appearing in her peripheral. She knew, without having to look, that it was probably Alik.