He scoffs, shaking his head.
Outside, he opens the door for me, and I climb in, still smiling. Bardil is smiling too. Amused. I like it when he smiles. His face is gorgeous. I mean, it's always gorgeous, but when he smiles, and I'm the reason for that smile, it makes me feel triumphant in strange ways.
He drives us to a beach bar not too far from his place.
He opens the door for me, and when I step out of the car, he's holding his hand out for me. My heart flutters when I place my hand in his, and he leads me toward the entrance. Music is spilling from the bar out into the street.
This is going to be fun. A great chance to unwind and maybe dance.
Chapter 13 - Bardil
She looks gorgeous in that little dress with her sneakers on. It reminds me of the night I took her. She was wearing a black dress then, too. The same sneakers.
Except tonight she's different. Or maybe it's just my perception of her that's different. I've gotten to know her, and she's not just a tool.
She is just the means to an end, Bardil. Don't let your thoughts get away with you.
Inside the bar, the music is pulsing and thick. Bass throbs in my chest. It feels good.
I shouldn't be here. It's risky. But after the fight with Simon, I needed to unwind.
Besides, I promised her adventures, and if this is what she wants, then whatever… It's what I need now, too.
Nikita is grinning happily. Her face is bright with excitement when I hand her a shot of tequila.
She downs it and scrunches her nose. I laugh, and she sticks her tongue out at me.
"If you don't like it, why did you drink it?" I ask, amused.
"Because you only live once, Bardil. And in all honesty, the more you say no, the less chance you have of experiencing everything life has to offer." She winks at me, then takes my hand and pulls me to the dance floor.
At first, I hesitate, but her energy and outlook on life have my feet following her before my mind can think of any logical reason not to.
She slips against me, wrapping her arms around my waist and moving her body in slow, seductive ways as the music moves through us. There are many things in life that seem too good to be true because they are too good to be true. She's one of those things. I can't let myself get lost in her. This can't be real. An act to wear me down, maybe? No one is this fun and this carefree. No one is this relaxed and ready to let go and enjoy themselves.
Or maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm the stuck-up one in this moment, and I need to let go for a while.
I keep a close eye on her, struggling with the way she's dancing. Her body is rubbing against mine, and every fiber of my being is on fire. I'm fighting urges Ihaveto control.
Nothing about her seems fake, and it isn't long before I'm caught up in her personality and enjoying myself too.
Besides, she's fucking gorgeous and almost every guy in here is dying with jealousy to see her dancing with me.And she's mine. She's here with me. Dancing in my arms.
Nikita's face is glittering with a shine of perspiration when she pulls me off the dance floor and back toward the bar. "We need another shot," she shouts over the music.
"Let's go upstairs. We can sit in VIP for a while," I tell her, pulling her in the opposite direction.
The VIP area is busy, but quieter. The music isn't as loud in here, so we can hear each other speak. I order a bottle of champagne, and we sit on the sofa near the wall beneath a red light that makes her seem more mysterious and beautiful than ever.
Nikita is happy and relaxed. She sips her champagne and sits with her leg against mine, talking about life in a way thatmakes me want to show her the world. She's the type of person who makes everything seem more magical than it really is.
Around her, I don't feel like a Bratva boss. I don't feel burdened or worried. All I feel is her incredible energy, pulling me out into the world and making me see everything in a positive way.
I sigh, shaking my head. "I was grumpy tonight," I confess, chuckling.
"I know. You don't exactly hide it very well. Your face was like a thunder cloud," she giggles.
"I've been going through a lot of shit recently, and I can't get anyone in my family to take the time to hear me out. It's frustrating, you know."
