Until the End (Volkov Bratva #2)(40)

Seeming satisfied, Naomi gingerly stood, making a show of fixing her skirt. “You know where I’ll be,” she said with a wave of her hand, blowing him a kiss.

Lauren watched her the entire time she took to exit his office. Without another word, Lauren walked over to his desk, rifling through the drawers, probably in search of the binder she’d left at his apartment.

“Lauren.”

She didn’t even acknowledge that he had spoken, at least until he touched her.

“Get off of me!”

“It wasn’t what it looked like.”

Laughing through gritted teeth, she looked him up and down. “And how many girls have you said that to?”

“Not as many as you would think,” Luka chimed in happily, looking far too amused.

“Luka.” His name was enough of a warning. “I would never do anything to hurt you.”

“I think I heard him say that once or twice,” Luka added.

“Otvyazhis’!—Fuck off!” Mishca shouted back at him, feeling the violent urge to shoot him.

“I need your keys. I have homework and I really don’t have time for this.”

“You’re not leaving.”

He didn’t want her stewing in her anger with him, that would only make it harder for him to fix later on.

“Oh really?” She asked sarcastically. “Watch me.”

“You want to be angry with me? Fine, ponyatnyy—understandable. But you’re going to be pissed here.”

“And you think you can tell me what to do?”

He arched a brow as if to say, ‘why not?’

Luka’s phone rang. Loudly. He apologized, and this time, Mishca looked back at him. The only times Luka was serious was when Mikhail was involved...or if he needed to kill someone.

After answering and listening to what Mikhail had to say, Luka looked at Mishca. “Pakhan wants you.”

He didn’t have time for this, not when so much was at stake. “Tell him I’ll be there when I’m able,” Mishca told him in Russian.

“There’s no point in trying to keep me here,” Lauren said when he was looking back at her. “You’ll have to go to your father eventually.”

Narrowing his eyes on her, he might not have wanted to admit it, but he liked the challenge he saw in her eyes, as though at any minute she would defy him.

“Just know I will drag your ass back.”

“Weren’t too concerned about my ass when you were looking up Naomi’s skirt.”

That drained some of his frustration away because despite her best efforts, the hurt she felt leaked through her voice.

“I didn’t. I swear on my stars.”

She knew he would never make that proclamation easily. “How about I grab my book later, when you’re not preoccupied?”

It was as much as he was going to get from her. Kissing her cheek, he allowed her to leave, finally snatching the phone from a grinning Luka.



When Lauren walked in and saw Mishca with Naomi, she was about to blow. It didn’t help that her die hadn’t gone well either, partly her fault since she hadn’t studied for that quiz. She just wanted a little peace. Was that too much to ask for?

“I was hoping you would be gone by now, seems I was wrong?”

“I bet that wasn’t the first time.”

If she thought Lauren was backing down from her, she was sorely mistaken. She refused to take this girl’s shit.

“He will grow tired of you, you know. I’ve watched it happen to countless girls before you.”

“Was that before or after he left you?”

Naomi laughed lightly, clapping her hands. “Is that what you think? Mishca didn’t leave me, I left him. I’d grown bored of him and needed a change.”

“And yet here you are, going after him when he doesn’t want you.”

“He will always want me, that was the kind of relationship we had. Love is cute, but it is for children. What do I need with love when there is lust? That’s what Mishca needs, not a pretty little girl that’s gotten way over her head.”

Lauren propped her hands on her hips. She didn’t want to believe Naomi’s words, but she couldn’t help but think that maybe she needed to do more. She doubted she had nearly the amount of experience Naomi had, but...no, it didn’t matter.

Mishca loved her and she wouldn’t doubt that.

“If you’re done, I’ll be going now,” Lauren said jerking her thumb over her shoulder, pointing at the staircase.

“I have one last question for you,” Naomi said. “Do you know what these mean?”

She turned, lifting her blouse to show off the tan length of her back, but Lauren’s eyes zeroed in on the twin stars on either side of the girl’s spine that were all too familiar.

“I don’t,” Lauren lied, swallowing, “but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“Do you know what these mean?” Naomi asked showing Lauren the twin stars on her back that were all too familiar.

“I don’t,” Lauren said closing her book, “but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“It seems there are many things Mishca never mentioned. These, my dear, are a message to everyone that I’m his. In the world we live in, these are what people would kill to possess. But I haven’t told you the best bit yet” Naomi whispered, curling a finger beneath Lauren’s chin to force her gaze up.