Russian's Innocent Love (Drobilka Family Series #1) (3 page)

He didn’t anticipate his response to her when he attempted to adjust her uniform. He hadn’t even touched her skin, but it felt as though she had scorched his very being. That look of surprise she gave him, clearly she had been affected, too. But those scars…that, too, he did not anticipate, as it was all he could do to keep from demanding the name of the bastard who did that to her.

She would have to be more comfortable in her own skin if she was going to handle working at the Rubicon. Shaking his head, he watched as she headed to her car, motioning to one of his men to follow her. This one wanted to know more about.

###

Bethany woke to the insistent ringing of her phone. Reaching groggily for it, she answered, “Hello?”

“It’s after ten, why are you still sleeping?” demanded a male voice.

Looking at the blocked ID, she asked, “Who the hell is this?”

“Sanderson.”

“I worked until four and I’m not due to see my handler until Monday.”

“Go to your window.” Curious, Bethany did as she was told as she flipped the curtains to look out.

“What am I looking at?”

“Across the street, blue car, pile of cigarette butts.” Tapping her camera app, she took a few pictures of the car, driver, and butts before getting back to her boss.

“One of ours?”

“Nope. Thought you should know that you have generated some interest. Keep up the good work.” Bethany stared at the phone before rubbing her head to wake herself up. Making up her mind, she slipped on her flip-flops and headed downstairs. When she got to the entrance to her building, she peeked out to see if the car was still there. Sure enough, there was smoke coming from yet another cigarette. She took a few more pictures before opening the door and storming outside. She waved madly at the driver and started yelling at him as he quickly started the car and drove away. Getting a wild idea, she grabbed an errant grocery bag lying tucked against a car and scooped up all the butts. Tying the bag in a knot, she turned to go back into her apartment.

Later that evening, on her way into work, she stopped at a drug store to use their photo booth. Printing out the photos of the car and driver, she went into the club. The same group of men was sitting at the same table as she walked by. Dropping the photos and bag of cigarette butts on the table in front of Vadim, “The next time you have someone follow me, tell him to clean up his own damn trash,” she demanded as she kept walking to the locker room.

Bethany wasn’t sure what to expect when she pulled that stunt, but she wasn’t expecting the men at the table to roar with laughter as she pushed the door open. As she grabbed her uniform and prepared to get dressed, she was surprised to see Vadim standing there.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what? Having me followed or that you got caught?”

Smiling at her response, “For offending you,” he answered. “He wasn’t supposed to be seen.”

“Do you regularly have your employees followed?

“Nyet,” he replied as he enjoyed her outrage. “But you aren’t a
typical
employee.” Bethany was about to respond, but he turned and left the locker room as the other girls came walking in. Shaking her head, she continued to fume as she got dressed, although she had to admit that it was a good thing that there was no evidence of her
real job
anywhere accessible. At least she hoped.

Since she would have the next two days off, Bethany redoubled her efforts to get to know everyone who sat in her station. While it was mostly the same men from last night, there was a new party. When she attempted to speak Russian with them, they told her they preferred English, although she could detect Russian when she walked up to check on them. Smiling brightly, she tried not to be too intrusive while sticking close by, but they seemed continually aware of where she was at all times. Deciding that it was best to back off, she spent more of her time with other customers.

As she was leaving that night, she saw Vadim standing in the hall handing out envelopes as the girls were all leaving. Stopping in front of him, she crossed her arms and looked up at him, “I’m heading straight home and am going out tomorrow night, in case you have plans to follow me again.”

“Duly noted,” he replied, as he smirked at her.

Vadim watched as she exited the building. A search of her locker, two days in a row, produced nothing out of the ordinary, and her cell phone only seemed to have personal contacts and pictures. Nothing to call attention to herself as anything other than a graduate student. And he had to admit that he liked it when she was pissed off.

Her eyes lit up, and he imagined what she might be like in bed when aroused. But judging from the way she covered her body and acted around him, he doubted if she had any experience around men. Scars had a way of isolating people.

Chapter 7

Bethany woke the next morning to a bunch of text messages from Charlotte reminding her that they had plans to meet tonight. She groaned, rolled over, and pulled the blanket back over her head, glad that was several hours away. Realizing that she couldn’t sleep, she rolled over onto her back and thought about Vadim.

She would have to check the database of known members of the cartel, but she didn’t recall seeing his face in any of the files, and his name wasn’t familiar. Perhaps he was new or maybe he used an alias. It wouldn’t be the first time.

As she thought about him, she blushed.
Why did he have to be so good looking?
While her experience with men was, well, non-existent, he was her male fantasy. From his chiseled looks to his, oh so touchable, body, Vadim Sannikoff, had already been the subject of at least two fantasies. Well, three, if she counted the one she was about to have.

Closing her eyes, she pictured him leaning over her, his hands freely roaming over her body as she writhed beneath him. As his warm hand slid up her leg, he reached for the hem of her t-shirt and began to raise it up as she arched her back up to help. As she waited for him to touch her, she stole a glance up at him, only to see that look of horror on his face when he saw the scars marring her body.

Sitting up, Bethany pulled her shirt over her knees as she hugged herself.
Why can’t I at least be scar free in my own damn fantasies?
Sighing, she got up to take a shower. Not even in her fantasies could she seem to get laid. Would she always be a virgin?

###

Arriving at the bar, Bethany was surprised that the parking lot was already full. Glad she had arrived early, she circled around, hoping to find a parking space not too far away. While it wasn’t a terrible neighborhood, there were enough alleys and dark areas that she wished she at least had pepper spray with her. Finding a spot two blocks away, she parked under a streetlight and hopped out. When she got to the bar, Susan and Charlotte were already waiting for her, and they squealed in delight before dragging her inside.

“You are going to love this place,” Charlotte declared as they settled at a pub table. “It is quintessential Texas.” Looking around, Bethany had to agree, at least on a stereotypical level. From the large dance floor to the rodeo motifs – this was definitely a cowboy bar. As the waitress came around to take their order, the girls ordered margaritas while Bethany chose orange juice. She had not had a drink since that night she had celebrated her graduation, and she didn’t want a repeat of her actions because it was clear that she couldn’t hold her alcohol.

Once their drinks were delivered, Susan looked around the bar before elbowing Bethany. “Check out those yummy morsels,” she told her as she indicated a group of college guys staring at them.

“You did not just call them yummy morsels,” Bethany replied as she peeked at the guys. “Okay, so maybe they are good looking, but I don’t have time to date.”

“Who doesn’t have time to date?” Charlotte interjected. “Heck, it’s cheaper than buying our own drinks and a good way to take the edge off, if you know what I mean.”

Twisting the glass in her hands, Bethany sighed, “Between school and work, and those hours, I…I just don’t have time. Besides, I work in a strip club. I see the worst side of men, which doesn’t exactly endear the rest of the population to me,” she added as the girls laughed.

“Fair point,” Susan replied, “But you really should give it a try. Not every guy is an asshole.”

Nodding her head, Bethany swallowed hard. She wasn’t going to that place in her head. Not now. Not tonight. While logically, she knew that not every male was cruel or abusive, it didn’t help that the few times she did get close to someone, they would find a reason to end the relationship. In high school, she had gone to great lengths to hide her scars from her classmates, but some girls from gym class saw them and rumors spread quickly that she was damaged goods.

None of the boys would look at her after that. She concentrated on her studies and was able to get a scholarship that covered most of her education, so she got the hell out of Texas as quickly as possible. She wasn’t thrilled about returning as it dredged up a lot of bad memories for her, even if it was to work undercover.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when a waitress dropped off drinks at their table. “Um, we didn’t order these,” she told her.

Pointing to the table with the college guys, “Nope, they did.”

Staring at the drinks, “Maybe we should send them back,” Bethany began.

“Not on your life,” Charlotte answered. “If you don’t want yours, I’ll drink it,” she told her as she lifted her new drink up. “Come on, girls, a toast to renewed friendships.” As Bethany lifted her almost empty glass, she clinked glasses before setting it down.

“So, do you drink at all?” Susan asked.

“Sometimes, but it always seems to end in disaster, and since I have class tomorrow…hey, I can have a good time without alcohol.”

Susan got up from her stool and grabbed the empty glass. Sniffing at it, “What is this? OJ?” At Bethany’s nod, “Let me go get you another, and I’ll let the bartender know that if any other drinks are ordered for us not to make yours with alcohol.” As Bethany smiled in appreciation, Susan headed to the bar.

While she was gone, Charlotte asked, “So, have you called your folks to tell them that you’re in town?”

Bethany shook her head, “I have nothing to say to my mother, and my aunt moved to New Mexico where she could grow marijuana somewhat legally.”

Bursting out laughing, Charlotte replied, “You know, you would have been far more popular in high school if you shared your aunt’s stash.”

 “No way. She guarded every plant.”

“And your mom? Is she still here?”

“Last I heard, she had found a place closer to the prison where she could visit her husband. Given everything that’s happened, she chose her side and it wasn’t me or Davis.” Before she could finish, Susan returned to the table and set a fruity drink in front of her decorated with a mini umbrella and a piece of pineapple. “What’s this?”

“Fruit juice that doesn’t look like fruit juice,” Susan replied as she slid back into her seat.

Sniffing at it, Bethany took a careful sip before nodding her head, “It’s good.” But she completely missed the look Charlotte gave Susan.

As the evening progressed, the girls continued to talk and laugh as various men came up to ask them to dance. While Bethany had always shied away from dancing, she found herself out on the dance floor more than once as she attempted some of the simpler line dances. When a slow dance began, she was about to leave when her partner grabbed her hand and swung her in close.

“And where do you think you’re going?” he asked as he pulled her into an embrace and began to move her around the dance floor.

Stumbling, Bethany giggled, “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not very good at this.”

“That’s okay, sweetheart, just let Jack take care of you.”

Giggling, Bethany leaned heavily against him. “I don’t know why I’m so lightheaded; I’ve only been drinking fruit juice. And who is Jack?”

“I’m Jack,” he replied as he swung her around the dance floor before leaning in to sniff her breath. “And from the way you smell, I’d say you’ve been drinking rum.”

“What? No. It was only fruit juice.” As realization hit her, she tried to pull away from Jack, but he had maneuvered her to a quieter area and was attempting to pull her into a section for employees only. “Hey!” Bethany called out as she tried to pull out of his grasp. “Let me go, you big oaf.”

“Oh, I don’t think so. The way you’ve been tossing drinks back and flirting all evening, it’s time for you to pay up.”

Struggling, Bethany tried to pull away. “I said, no!” As she looked frantically around, she realized that no one was paying attention to her and she couldn’t be heard over the music. Jack was dragging her down the hall when he stopped.

“Get out of my way, man. This one is mine.”

“But the lady said no,” came a silky reply.

“They always say no when they mean yes. Now move.”

“Or what?” As Bethany looked up, she was relieved to see Vadim standing there with his arms crossed. He was dressed in his typical dress slacks and white shirt, and she once again noticed how good looking he was. And big. He easily outweighed Jack by fifty or more pounds and it was pure muscle. As she tried to pull her arm free, Jack tightened his grip, and she cried out in pain.

“That’s it!” Vadim stepped forward, and suddenly Jack was dangling from his hand as his feet fought to touch the floor. Slamming him up against the wall, his head made a sickening sound before he slid to the floor.

“Is he…”

“He’s alive. Now, come on, we’re leaving.”

“But my friends…”

“Those are NOT your friends,” Vadim answered through clenched teeth. “Who the hell do you think has been giving you alcohol all night?” As Bethany stared at him in disbelief, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to the exit. Walking out into the night air, her head began to clear as she realized that she had traded one male for another.

Pulling her arm free, he stopped to look at her impatiently, “Where are you taking me?”

“My place.”

“What? No! My car is that way, I’ll just go home-”