Inside Danger (Outside The Ropes Book 2) (24 page)

“Elana, I thought you flew back yesterday.”

She gave him a pointed look, with a no bullshit smile. “You never finalized your decision. No way I could go back to my grandfather with a maybe.” Her bright blue eyes paused on me for a moment before traveling around the room. “Plus, I didn’t want to miss one of your famous poker nights.” She smiled sweetly at him. “I don’t suppose you’ve decided yet?”

“I’m still considering.” He put his hand on her bare shoulder and pointed to the bar in the corner. “Our bar is stocked with the Vysokiy Vodka tonight. I’ll give you a definitive answer Monday.”

I tuned out their conversation, shuffling on my feet. I could see beyond her now and was looking at him again. He was in a soft black t-shirt, with dark denim pants and a grey belt. He looked damn good, too good. It hurt to look at him, especially when he looked up and spotted me.

The small smile dropped from him, his eyes like daggers as they met mine. I snapped my eyes back to Rusnak and the blonde. The tips of her fingers drug over his shirt as she teased him about something. The scene made me want to laugh. If this girl stuck around tonight, and it looked like she was, then I would be off the hook.

Rusnak surprised me by grabbing my wrist as I stepped away, stopping me. “Where are you going?”

I glanced between him and her. “To get a drink.”

“Excuse me a moment.” He said to Elana and then guided me to a table with a hand on my back. “Sit here, I’ll get your drink.” He returned moments later with the same vodka tonic I had been sipping all night. I couldn’t taste the alcohol anymore, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t there.

“We’re going to begin soon.” He patted my shoulder and then walked back to the tall blonde.

People filled the tables as girls in black, tight dresses began setting out poker chips and shuffling cards. A large biker with a full beard sat to my right. I spotted Nick on another table and was about to laugh at the sour face he gave me, but stopped when Gage sat next to him, not even acknowledging me.

Rusnak sat next to me, Elana to his left. The games began and I hung in for a while, but the alcohol blocked all strategy, I bet when I felt like it and folded when I felt like it, barely letting the numbers on my cards dictate anything. I loved the look on the men’s faces when I would pull my winning chips into my pile, especially when I knew my hand had been shit. It didn’t last long though, soon I was called on all my bullshit and after that my chips disappeared quickly. Since it wasn’t real money to me, I didn’t care. My drink kept being replenished, even when it seemed that all of Rusnak’s attention was on that blonde.

After a while they combined the winners down to one table. Rusnak was one of the winners, so was Gage, and the bearded man sitting next to me.

Rusnak followed me as I walked away from the table, gripping my elbow to turn me back around. “Are you having fun?” He leaned into my ear to ask.

I smiled at him with a shrug. “Doesn’t matter.”

He gave me a curious look. “Elana, she’s just business, you understand right?”

I laughed out loud, I couldn’t contain it. “Doesn’t matter.” I meant it.

His smile was hesitant. “Good. Because she wasn’t supposed to be here.”

“It’s fine.” I looked past him to where she sat. She was talking to the bearded man but watching us. “She’s waiting for you though.”

His smile grew. “You’re something else. So secure in your place.”

I sucked down my laughter, not sure if he didn’t get it or if I was the one missing the point. “Yup, my place. Right where you put me.” I poked him in the chest, but it held too much truth to be the joke I had intended.

But he liked it. His grin spread and he winked as he walked away.

I sat on the couch along the wall and watched the game, trying, but failing, to avoid looking at Gage as he played. He didn’t even seem to notice I was there, and I hated the way the female dealer’s eyes kept raking over him and the way he acknowledged her.

He was picking up chips from the table when the bikers gruff voice began rising. “That’s bullshit. You don’t fucking call with a crap hand like that.”

Gage met his red face with a cool look. “I did and I won.”

“Well who the fuck are you anyways? A fucking idiot? That’s bullshit, I should have won.” The biker rose to his feet.

“Sit back down.” Gage barely glanced at him as he straightened his chips.

The man reached over and slapped the chips across the table. “I said who the fuck are you? You’ve been pulling this bullshit all night. I think you’re a fucking cheat.”

Gage stood up and my chest tightened as the other man stepped around the table, some of his friends falling in line behind him.

I looked to Rusnak and Nick, both sat back in their chairs with matching smiles, watching the drama unfold.

“This is your last fucking chance to sit back down and shut up.” Gage’s voice was calm, his clenched jaw the only give away.

The man stepped closer. He was about the same height as Gage, but bigger, although not with muscle. Both of his hands shot out, reaching for Gages head, but Gage’s fist slammed into his stomach and then face, making the large biker fall back.

His friends jumped in and one had Gage’s arm as another attempted to hit him. Gage dodged the punch and threw his own.

I was standing now, looking around. Rusnak and Nick were still sitting as Gage was surrounded. The original man was on his feet with a broken bottle in his hand, rage in his bloody face. Before I knew it, without thought, I was there and my fist connected with his face, sliding across the already bloodied skin and spongy beard. My arm vibrated with the impact. I gripped the bottle with my other hand, yanking it from him as he stumbled back, shocked. Then his eyes locked on mine and I knew he was about to hit me back.

Hands grabbed my shoulders and pulled me away. A bouncer from the club stood between the man and me. My breaths strained as I looked around. Two other bouncers had arrived, breaking up the entire thing.

Gage stood on his own, only a couple feet away, one hand rubbing over his bloody fist. His gaze locked on me. His lip tugged up, eyes lit bright, and my heart nearly exploded at the way I inflated, laughter spilling from me. My mind was finally catching up with my actions.

“What the hell was that?” He asked, wavering between disapproval and amusement.

I flexed my hand, enjoying the pain after a bare-knuckled punch, and shrugged. “Fun?” It never failed, punching always gave me a high and mixed with the alcohol, I felt great.

Gage’s smile disappeared fast as Rusnak pulled on my arm, leading me away.

“I think it’s time for you to go.” Rusnak’s voice was level, but sharp. His hand gripped my upper arm, dragging me to the door.

The bouncers pulled the four bikers who fought Gage out of the room as well.

“Let go.” I attempted to pull my arm free, but his firm grasp wouldn’t break.

His grip tightened as he pulled me closer to him. “Shut up,” he hissed in a threatening whisper.

Then Boris was in front of us and Rusnak released my arm. “Take her to the car,” his voice was back to normal.

Rusnak’s easily in control mask was in place as he walked back into the room, to where Gage stood with one hand covering his fist. Nick leaned towards him, talking in his ear, but Gage’s eyes were on Rusnak, watching him approach with an unreadable, quiet look. I could see the storm in his eyes though, or maybe that was the alcohol in me.

“Come.” Boris nodded his head to the door.

When I didn’t budge, Boris pushed me with a hand on my back through the doorway, effectively killing my view of Gage nodding at whatever Rusnak said.

“Walk,” Boris demanded with another nudge as we made our way out of the club.

As much as I wanted to be sober right now to process what the hell was happening, my blood wouldn’t clear. I had to trail my hand along the hall wall to keep my balance while I walked, but it still wasn’t straight.

I welcomed the night air, it was cool and refreshing after the smoke-filled room. It cleared my head some, but I stumbled when I stepped off the landing. Boris grabbed my arm to keep me up right.

“Am I in trouble?” I asked Boris, my silent stalker.

He snorted. “Sit in the car.” He opened the door to the backseat. “Anatoli wants us to wait for him.”

That deflated me and I flopped in the back, leaving the door open. I had thought he was going to take me back to the apartment.

“Are you sure?” I looked up at Boris after a moment of silence. I didn’t remember Rusnak saying that.

He sucked in on his cigarette and blew the smoke towards me. “Yeah.”

And like magic, the back door opened and out popped the man. He glanced at Boris, and then his eyes drilled into me.

Boris flicked his cigarette and walked away, disappearing around the side of the building. That started waves crashing in my stomach.

I stood up, adrenaline kicking in and giving me some strength, but I still had to lean on the car for support and I hated how wobbly I was on my feet.

He stepped close to me, his body flush with mine. “Why did you get involved in there?” his low voice was curious, but held a challenge.

I met his eyes, not backing down. “Why didn’t you?” it came out too slow and sloppy.

He caged me in, his palms braced on either side of me. “I didn’t have to. Neither did you. I have ways of dealing with those people, without tarnishing my reputation.” One hand slid to my neck, fingers spreading to hold the side of my face as well. The touch was light, but the look that flashed in his eyes made it clear it was meant to intimidate. “Now answer me, why did you get involved?”

I shook my head, his hand followed. “I like to fight. It was fun.” I shrugged. “I wasn’t thinking.”

His chest bounced with one laugh and his lips curled as he pressed his weight into me, leaning in close. “That was fun?” His other hand moved to cup the opposite side of my head and neck, all of his weight now pressing me into the car. “It had nothing to do with the man involved?”

“I wouldn’t have jumped in for a stranger.” I admitted with a smile, proud that my alcohol-laced mind was still working.

His eyes narrowed while he considered my words. Then his head dipped closer, lips almost brushing mine and I couldn’t move back any further. “What if it had been me fighting? What would you have done?”

There was a whirlwind of answers I could have given, from the dangerously honest and bold to the safe lie. I didn’t think I could pull off the lie, my poker face was drunk.

“You want to start another fight and find out?” I went with teasing and was rewarded with a laugh or was it only me laughing?

His hands slid over me, down my neck and arms, and then circled my waist. “Maybe another night.” It was definitely him laughing, his hot breath bounced on me and made my skin crawl. “Go home and sleep this off. I’ll call you tomorrow after your interview.” He pecked the corner of my mouth.

Tomorrow was fuzzy to think about. Interview? I had a job interview with a nice restaurant; it shouldn’t have surprised me that he knew about it. But that wasn’t the most pressing question.

“Wait.” I pushed on his chest, keeping him from kissing me further. “I’m still out after Friday, right?” I hoped my fighting hadn’t ruined that.

He nodded. “That was the deal.”

Then I wouldn’t need the job interview, I’d be leaving DC after my fight. I kept my lips sealed on my thoughts, not wanting to get into that with him right now, especially since Boris was walking back around the building. I was ready to leave.

Rusnak pushed off of me with a sigh. “Taken care of?” he asked Boris as bright headlights lit up the back parking lot, passing through, towards the street.

“Yeah, going to drop them off now.” Boris nodded to the taillights of the SUV as it pulled away.

Rusnak nodded towards me. “I told you I take care of things in my own way,” he said cryptically, but I didn’t want to ask what it meant. “Take her home.” He tapped on the roof of the car and nudged me into the back seat, closing the door for me once I was in. His pace was quick as he walked back into the club.

I rode in silence, feeling like a caged squirrel. I couldn’t relax. My stomach cycled and made me want to throw up if I sat back in my seat. I pounded on the partition to get Boris’s attention.

The thick glass slid down and he gave me an annoyed look. “What?”

I paused. I didn’t really have a plan but wanted to talk while I felt bold.

“How often do you follow me? Or watch me? Or track my phone? Or—or what is it you do anyways?” I asked conversationally, without accusation.

“Too often,” was his short, bored response.

Ah, so he admits it, but that didn’t really give me any new information. “Which do you do? And how often?”

He shook his head. “I don’t have to tell you anything.”

That sounded familiar. “Are you related to Demetri?” I was shocked at the way my heart ached thinking about him. I could almost say I was fond of him. At least he talked to me.

“No.” His quick response burst my bubble.

I sat back in my seat. I shouldn’t have thought about Demetri, now I struggled to stop the onslaught of bad thoughts and feelings that were surging just under my drunken calm.

“Have anything to drink Boris?” At the shake of his head I asked, “You want to go get something to drink?” I wasn’t ready to let my heavy reality return.

“No.” He wound back up the partition.

I sulked for a bit, brooding in my own stupor, but at some point, I passed out.

“Get up.” Boris was pulling on my arm. “Can you walk on your own?”

I stood up and pushed away from his grip, almost falling on my ass with the effort.

“Yes.” I stepped back, away from the car and him. “I’m fine. Thanks for the lift.” I saluted as I spun on my feet, turning to face the front door. But the world around me kept turning. When would this end?

I walked past the doorman, to the elevator and Boris followed. He silently followed me all the way to my apartment but got right back on the elevator the moment I unlocked my door.

Dropping my bag and jacket on the floor of my bedroom, I stumbled out of my shoes and clothes. Pulling on my largest t-shirt, I crashed into bed, finding sleep as the room spun at dizzying speeds.