Part 35 (2/2)

Gage grabbed my hand before I could walk for the front door.

”When we get in there, dont leave my side. No matter what happens, what they say, were not splitting up in there. Do you understand?” He spoke low and urgent, tightening his grip on my hand.

I nodded and stepped closer to his side. This is where Id stay.

He dipped down, lips covering mine, and his hand gripped my head. The intensity of the kiss froze me in place but caused my knees to melt as heat radiated from our kiss, from his grip in my hair, from his hand still gripping mine. His tongue swept into my mouth, the swirl of it felt between my thighs. My hand slid up his chest, to the collar of his s.h.i.+rt, trying to steady myself. But for all the chaos of feeling the kiss caused, it stripped me of my fears and filled me with the security of him.

He pulled back ever so slightly, his smile brus.h.i.+ng over my lips and hand hovering over my skin. His eyes looked straight into me as he spoke, ”Okay. Im ready now.”

I tugged on his collar, keeping him near. ”Did that help?”

He nodded and his nose slid against mine. ”Mmm hmm.” He was as reluctant to let go as I was. ”Did it make you want to listen to me?”

”Mmm hmm.” I smiled, nodding my head as I raised up on my toes to meet his kiss one last time, stretching out the taste of him on my lips.

”Hmm.” The vibration of his purr only enhanced the moment, but he broke away, tugging me to the door that was being held open for us. ”Come on, lets get this over with.”

”Mr. Lawson, your party is waiting for you.” A pretty girl in a black dress stepped from behind a host stand and walked us through a restaurant that glowed with gold lighting and accents.

The food smelled rich, and the people dinning looked wealthy in their suites and furs. We were in our jeans as we followed the host up a wide staircase in the back. At the top, she held open a door to a private room on the second floor.

”Enjoy your evening,” she spoke soft as we pa.s.sed into a long private room with a bar along the back wall, tables to the side and a couch and lounge chairs at the front. Thats where Anatoli and Alessandra sat. He was on the sofa, and she was on a chair to the side. A few others sat with them.

Rusnak looked up from his conversation and smiled our way as we walked into the room. ”Ah,” he leaned back in his seat and crooked his fingers towards us, calling us over. ”Come join us, just the man we needed to talk with.” His smile stretched as he looked towards me. ”And look who you brought with you.” He rose to his feet. ”Sweetheart, its a pleasure to see you again. How was...” He paused thinking, but it seemed contrived, like he was putting on a show for someone.

My heartbeat pulsed in my chest, and I stepped closer to Gage as we approached the table.

”Louisiana, youve been in some small town in Louisiana, right?”

Gage gripped my hand and stepped in front of me when Anatoli reached out as if to hug me in greeting. ”What do we do about Ian and his inventory?”

”Always count on you to get straight to business.” He clasped Gage on the shoulder and gestured to an open chair. ”Have a seat. Do you want a drink first? You need to relax some.” He nodded towards his wife. ”Alessandra, take Regan on a tour while we talk.”

Alessandra sat up but I stepped forward, next to Gage. ”Thats all right, Im staying.”

”No. No drink and Regan stays,” Gage spoke at the same time I did.

The smile slipped from Rusnaks lips, replaced with a curious gaze in my direction. ”Well all right then, have a seat, sweetheart. Have you met Yuri and Marat?” He gestured to the two men sitting back with cigars.

They nodded to me but turned their attention to Gage as he sat. Their greeting was spoken in Russian and sounded rough, but Gage responded in the same way, and then their faces cracked into smiles as they nodded with sounds of agreement.

I took a seat, pretending that I didnt feel like crawling out of my skin. Every inch tingled with nerves, only made worse by Rusnaks eyes that never seemed to leave me, but maybe that was paranoia.

I wasnt imagining Alessandras smirk as she sat back with her cigarette, watching me.

”Well, if were all set then...Marat will take over for Ians role, but theyve also picked up Kane and Lev, who are you going to replace them with?”

Gage scratched his chin, about to respond when Alessandra spoke up.

”Are we sure we should have this conversation with her present?” She pointed her cigarette at me. ”She never wanted to be part of this before, and this may not be the best time to start including her.”

”The lady has a point.” Rusnak looked around the circle but then cracked a smile. ”Although, Regans proven herself in the past. If Gage is willing to take the risk, this is his operation.”

One of the men grumbled something too low to hear and the other blew thick smoke into the air as he eyed Gage.

”You dont even need to f.u.c.king mention it. I brought her. Thats enough.” He looked around the circle, challenging anyone to say otherwise, but they didnt.

”Fine. But what about Cherry? She usually keeps the schedule tight.” Alessandra leaned forward, snapping her fingers. ”Shes still going to be involved, right?”

”Before we plan this out, we need to square away the bigger problem. A chunk of the goods were taken when they dropped on the club,” Gage said.

”Dont worry about that. Weve got that covered, were getting it back. Itll be there when its needed.” Gage and the two men looked towards Alessandra with shock, but she continued smoking like it was no big deal. ”Thats on my end, and itll be taken care of. Thats all you need to know.”

”At the docks on Monday?” Gage questioned and she nodded. ”We should push this back, with the feds around, we need to be cautious.”

”Always cautious boy.” The shorter man next to Gage laughed, rubbing his tattooed fingers over his chin.

”This is the perfect time. They have their bellies full with their latest takedown. Nows the time for action.” Rusnak s.h.i.+fted his gaze from Gage to me. ”Hes always so careful. But its what makes him good at this. Its why he doesnt fail. Isnt that right?” But the edge in his voice didnt sound like a compliment.

”That and his eye for detail.” The other mans voice was heavy with an accent as he tapped on the corner of his eye.

”Weve got three key players missing, the plans have to change.” Gage shook his head, but I could see the wheels turning behind his eyes.

”Then change the plans. But the date stays the same. Do what has to be done.” Rusnak sat back with his drink, not leaving room for discussion on the topic.

Gage tapped on the table, ”Yuri, you and Des will handle the drop in the north.”

”Only two?” Yuri, the one with the finger tattoos questioned.

”Why not your typical teams of three. If youre short men, get your brother.”

Gage snapped his head to Alessandra. ”No.”

”Thats not a bad idea. You could put him on the Costa s.h.i.+pment.”

Gage narrowed his eyes at Rusnak. ”I said no. Well be fine without a third.”

”But think about it. Hes already running for Magnally, and part of that s.h.i.+pment goes to him anyways. Why let him be a mule for someone else when he could work for you?”

Gages fingers sc.r.a.ped ever so slightly against his pants leg at my side, his only tell that he was shook, otherwise his face was blank. But my heart was in overdrive.

”Youd think youd want to help him out. Hes never going to pay off Salvo with as little as Magnally pays.”

The lines in Gages jaw were throbbing under his skin and I sat forward, intervening before he exploded.

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