She brushes my arm when I walk closer, and I turn away, I can’t see that look in her eye. The one that says disappointment and fear. I would never hurt her. But after tonight, I know she will stay away.
I throw open the door to my changing room, almost ripping it off its hinges, still angry.
“Really? You ripped his head off,” Tim says from the door, keeping some distance from me. I don’t blame him.
“I told you I was going to,” I hiss at him like a feral animal.
“I thought you meant figuratively,” he shrugs, turning to talk to someone and then facing me again with a bottle in his hands.
“Here,” he hands me the bottle, which is the good vodka and I tear the cap off and chug half of it. I relish the burn of it as it slides down my throat, making me feel a little bit calmer.
“Thanks,” I wipe my mouth with my wraps, and then I take them off, tossing them in my gym bag and then stripping down to take a shower.
“Whoa, hey, I don’t need to see that python you got,” he jokes.
“You looked though,” I smirk as I step in the shower.
“Kind of hard to miss,” he states.
“How much did we make tonight?” Changing the subject. I don’t need to measure dicks with Tim, never want to. I’ll always win, I’m cocky like that.
“Numbers are in the millions, not bad for opening night. Father is a little upset, he was hoping for double-digit millions but I think tonight was a success. Also lets the city know that we aren’t to be messed with,” Tim says.
“I won’t be able to go on walks anymore, I’ll be recognized,” I say as I finish up my shower.
“Hard to miss you before tonight. I’m sure you can go on your little adventures, no one will mess with you now,” he replies.
“True. When is my next fight?” I ask as I dress back in my suit, sans tie.
“We can set it up for a week from now. We’re going to open it up to anyone to step up into the cage. I have men out scouting for more fighters. I think we will have a night for people to settle disputes with their fists, but the fights, more so you, will bring in a lot of cash,” he says.
“Send it to my account,” I say, taking another swig at the bottle.
“Always do. You should take a couple of days to yourself, no surveillance or following. Or fighting. Just take some time to yourself.”
“I will try,” I say as we head back out to the casino, “I do think I’m going to go home right now. I want to soak in my tub.”
“Do you fit?” He chuckles.
“My dad had one custom built for me,” I snort.
“Only the best for his son,” he grins.
“Sometimes being the Pakhan’s son has its perks. I’m going to call him on my way. I will talk to you in the morning.”
“You making sausage in the morning?”
“I always do,” I wave as I step into a waiting car that will take me home. As we pull out I see Adelina and two men, I think one is her father, step out the door, keeping under the awning as it’s started to rain. I stare at her until she’s just a dot and then I turn back to my thoughts, before calling my father.
Fourteen
Adelina
I don’t know what I watched. It wasn’t the man who I met in the restaurant, the man who almost smiled at me, who asked my opinion. Then again I don’t know who Ivan is. I saw his eyes, they were haunted like he had hellhounds or devils sucking his soul away. He’s seen some bad things, especially if he’s called a beast. He didn’t get that nickname for shits and giggles, no, he’s seen and done things that are the beginnings of nightmares. And yet when we touched, I felt like he could be saved.
I zoned out the whole ride home, thinking about the man I felt a desire for. I wonder where he is right now. Is he warm and safe? Does he have a roof over his head? That sounds silly since he’s in the Russian mafia. But do they treat him well or do they treat him like he’s their cash cow? I saw the money exchanged before the fight, the briefcases handed over, and then the cashouts afterward. Does he get a cut? Here I am thinking about another guy when I should be pining over the man who I’ll be marrying soon.
“I don’t like it. I think we should still watch them,” I hear my father say.
