Leveled: A Novella (Saints of Denver #0.5)(44)

There was no being inconspicuous with Lev. It was all or nothing. I finally blurted out, “I really want to talk to Nas.”

His brow furrowed. “Why didn’t you just say so?”

“Because I’m grounded,” I muttered and slumped lower into my chair.

He snuffled, and I liked to believe it was Lev’s version of a laugh. He nodded to the bar. “I can still see you from there. Stay in sight.”

I perked up, leaning over my chair and showing my enthusiasm. “Really, Pop? No foolin’?”

“Go,” he murmured in a bored manner, but his eyes were laughing.

“Neat-o!” I cheered as I rushed over to the bar. I wanted to f*ck with Nas. I’d been planning it for days. Tonight’s episode with Vik fit in perfectly with my devious plan.

Strolling up to the bar, I sat in the hidden corner and waited. When she approached, she mumbled, “What a shit night. Not even worth having full staff for this measly crowd.”

“Yeah, I know.” I got right into it. “So, what can you tell me about Vik?”

She turned to me, her eyes narrowed. “Why do you want to know about Vik?”

“I don’t know.” I purposefully acted aloof. “He’s hot, no doubt.” Then I planted the bomb. “And there was that thing tonight. I don’t know, but I think we’ve got a bit of chemistry going on.” I leaned forward and grinned. “I think he’s into me.”

I wanted to burst into laughter at the way Nas’ face turned bright red. She gritted her teeth and spoke through them, “He’s not all he’s cracked up to be, Mina.”

I shrugged. “Who am I to judge?” I pointed to myself. “Homeless girl…hello!”

Her nostrils flared. “He’s not your type.”

“Who’s to say what’s my type? Besides, we don’t need to be each other’s type to scratch an itch.” I used my elbow to nudge her and finished off with a lewd wink. “Know what I mean?”

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Nas planted her palms on the bar, leaned forward, and snapped, “You stay away from Viktor!”

My mission complete, I quickly got out of character, threw my head back, and hooted with laughter. Nas stared at me, confused for a second before she caught on.

Looking mildly pissed off with herself, she shook her head slowly. “Who told you?”

I smiled victoriously. “It doesn’t matter who told me. The question is, why didn’t you tell me?”

Her face fell. She looked sad. “It’s complicated, Mina.”

“Complicated in the the-guy-I-love-sleeps-with-other-women way? Or complicated in the the-guy-I-love-has-issues-with-commitment way?”

“Neither,” she hushed, her eyes shining. “In the the-guy-I-love-doesn’t-love-me-back kind of way.”

My smile fell. That sucked.

“That sucks,” I told her, my heartbreak apparent.

She smiled sadly. “That’s life, my dear.”





Chapter Nineteen

Mina



Saturday morning brought a shock to us all.

Lidiya was summoned back to her mother, Irina. What was surprising about it was that Lev let her go.

I didn’t want her to leave. The thought of her staying with a horrible woman who didn’t even want her drove me crazy. It quickly hit me that if this was the way I, an outsider, was feeling, Lev must have already crossed the border of Crazytown. He hid his sadness so well, but I didn’t miss the way he snapped at Sasha when his brother suggested moving Irina close by so Lidiya would at least live in the same state.

The awful woman had already booked flights for Mirella and Lidiya leaving just after midday, and her warning had been that if the two of them weren’t at arrivals at the designated time, she would be catching the next flight down and raising hell at the club.

Frankly, I thought the woman was full of shit, and I aired that view. Nas sent me a look advising me that her threat would likely be seen through. I was stunned. Who was this woman that she had the Leokov family becoming yes men?

As I sat cross-legged on the floor of the living room, Lidiya made a home in my lap, playing with little Mina, unaware that she was about to be thrust away from us in a most rude way. The arm I held her with tightened around her. I found myself mighty protective of this little peanut.

I watched in silence as Mirella’s face fell a degree. She covered it quickly, standing and heading over to Lidiya’s room to pack their things.

“No,” I muttered angrily. I turned to Lev, hugging Lidiya with everything I had. “You’re just going to sit down and let that bitch take her away from us?”

He looked as if he’d aged ten years in ten minutes. He looked haggard and worn. He spoke calmly, “What would you have me do, Mina?”

I blinked at him. This attitude was not going to get us anywhere. “Fight for her, Lev. Tell Irina she can’t have her. Let her come here. What’s she going to do? Show everyone how screwed up in the head she really is?”

“I’ll lose the partial custody I have and be charged with kidnapping my own daughter.” He looked at me, pinning me down with a single glance. “Does that sound like a good plan to you?”

Well, no. It didn’t. But there had to be something we could do.