Leveled: A Novella (Saints of Denver #0.5)(86)

A glance to my left saw a stern looking man in a black polo shirt, standing behind the bar, mixing drinks.

Okay, so maybe not a setting for a five-year-old, but still amazing.

This pool house was more of a pool mansion, with sofas, a dining setting, and the biggest TV I’d ever seen in my life on the wall, a fully functional bathroom, and an outdoor shower stall. I would’ve happily lived here forever.

“Whoa,” I muttered under my breath.

Nas was in the pool already, wearing a black bikini. Anika lay reclined on a deck chair in a 1950s-style leopard-print bikini with a high waisted bottom, her eyes closed in relaxation. Sasha and Vik stood by the bar, waiting for the bar man to finish mixing drinks. Both of them wore black board shorts that came above the knee.

I would dub this pool house The House of Sexy.

Nas spotted us first, smiling hard. “Wicked. You made it. I thought you’d never leave your bed.”

I choked out, “Nice, Nas. Real nice.”

She feigned complete innocence as I heard a mild, “Hey” from Anika.

I turned to smile at her, but lost my fake smile as her eyes landed on Lev just as he was removing his robe. I wanted to seem inconspicuous, so before his big reveal of Sir Frank and The Twin Beans, I stepped in front of him, standing right in her view. Then I lifted my head and smiled. “Hi, Anika. How are you?”

She watched Lev closely as she responded, “I’m doing well, thanks.”

“Come on in,” Nas called out. “I swear the water’s beautiful. Like a warm bath.”

I wanted to guard my man’s delicate sensibilities, but couldn’t resist the pool calling my name. With a grin, I threw my sundress off over my head, ran as fast as I could, and then jumped, landing in the warm water with a loud splash. Once I reached the surface, I lightly paddled next to Nas. “Oh, God, that’s amazing.”

Lev took the deck chair next to Anika, took off his sunglasses and lay back. She watched him with a keen eye, turning on her side to face him. She smiled and spoke quietly. He didn’t turn to her as he responded, placing his hands behind his head and closing his eyes. She spoke some more, and I couldn’t help but notice how she was holding herself. On her side as she was, her boob was dangerously close to falling out of her bikini.

I was about to open my mouth, when I heard Sasha say, “Ani. You’re tit’s about to say hi to me.” I spun to look at him. His eyes fierce, he handed her a cocktail and said, “You need something to cover up with?”

She blinked up at him, seeming confused. “No. I’m fine. Thanks.”

I had to turn to smile at Nas. She smiled back, rolling her eyes. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who’d had it with Anika’s flirting.

I would hate to make a scene today, but totally would if I needed to. She needed to watch herself around me. I might have been small, but I could be vicious when triggered.

Vik sat on the edge of the pool, handing both Nas and me a fruity cocktail each. I smiled in thanks as he lifted his beer to us. We raised our drinks in cheers and sipped in the relaxing setting.

I was beginning to think I was a major douchebag for not wanting to come here today. Sasha even came across as civil. I was glad to be here.

Nas turned to me. “So,” she started. “You speak to Alessio yet?”

I beamed. “Yes. He messaged me yesterday so I’d have his number, and we’ve been texting ever since.” My smile softened. “He’s actually not a bad guy.”

Sasha snorted as he slipped into the pool. “Yeah, well, you never seen him go at your throat with a f*cking blade the size of King Kong’s dick.”

I turned to scowl at him. “You f*cked his wife.”

Sasha sipped his beer and shrugged. “He shoulda kept her on a closer leash.”

I groaned. “God, you’re a pig.”

He grinned in that slimy way I hated. “You know it, Mina.”

“I seriously pity the girl who ends up with you,” I muttered as I shook my head in sympathy for the poor unknowing girl that would marry Sasha.

His face fell, but he probed. “So, Scar Face Scarfo is your brother. He’s shouting that shit from the rooftops.” He eyed me. “How’d you talk him into claiming you? Said he didn’t want no sister. Now he does. I’m curious. What did you have to do?”

He wanted me to take the bait. He wanted a fight.

He wouldn’t get one.

I sipped my cocktail and shrugged. “He regretted treating me the way he did. He apologized and I got over it. I’m not discussing private details with you, Sash. All you need to know is that my brother and I are working to repair our relationship.”

He titled his head slightly. “You tell him shit about the club?”

My face flushed. I had told him some, but nothing important. “Not really. He asked why we’re shutting down. I told him something big is coming.” I grinned. “I might’ve told him to expect his competition to return with a bang.”

Sasha’s eyes searched me. “Oh yeah? What did he have to say about that?”

I pinned him with a stare. “He wishes us good luck. And he meant it.”

Nas piped in. “That’s nice of him.” She muttered sincerely, “That’s really cool, Mina.”

I smiled. My brother was actually a decent guy. It made my heart warm.