“Better.”
Doing another side, then front, and side view again in the mirror, I blew out a heavy sigh, hoping my stomach would stop doing somersaults.
“Okay, let’s go meet our future husband.”
Chapter 8
Hawk
Once Ma and Penny met me downstairs, I escorted them to the parlor, but couldn’t stop thinking of the petite blonde that nearly dropped Jackal’s bike.It was her. It was my soon to be wife. The pictures were somewhat different, and certainly didn’t do her justice, but it had to be her.
She was addressed as Miss Petrov, and shared some features with Petrov, Sr. and Jr. Her eyes were dark, unlike either Petrov. And her appearance didn’t strike me as a mafia princess, but her attitude did. Although, after having so many women around lately that weren’t bunnies, I wondered if they all were full of piss and vinegar unless they were a bunny vyingfor a property patch. And Ma had one, and she certainly wasn’t timid.
Even so, I didn’t mind a challenge. Plus, this wasn’t exactly a whirlwind romance. To be set up with her, I couldn’t complain. She was short, but not thin; thick in a muscular way, not that I had a problem with extra meat. I was a big guy and needed something to hold onto. While she didn’t seem to be particularly soft, she did have some nice curves and a plump ass. Her blonde hair was just a touch lighter than her brother’s but her eyes were dark and intense. And her cheeks and lips were much fuller, her pout rosier.
Wondering to myself if they matched her nipples, my hands itched to find out. Broken from my thoughts when Petrov, Sr. asked me to join him outside, I sipped the smooth whiskey I was presented with to try to scratch that itch.
Following him outside, I took in the grounds. “Nice place,” I told him. The cool night air and change of scenery helped me get my thoughts back on business and away from my bride.
“I’m glad you like it. You’ll be family soon,” he said as he lit a cigar. His Russian accent was heavier than his son’s.
We walked closer to the inground pool with an attached hot tub, slide, and water fall that fell over strategically placed rocks.
“I’m glad you mentioned that,” I said as I sipped my drink. “This is great, by the way.”
He puffed on his cigar, his other hand tucked into his pocket. “Niko told me you like Crown Royal. So I stocked a case of Premium Selection Crown Royal 31. I will send some with youas well, as a wedding gift.”
“Very gracious of you, sir,” I replied. “So, I understand my father made a deal with you. But he’s dead.”
He took a long pull on his cigar as the edge of his lip turned up. “You wouldn’t break an oath of your father. So spit it out, son. What do you want?”
Stepping closer to the pool, I took a cigarette from my pocket and lit it. Blowing a plume of smoke, I asked, “Why did he make this deal?”
He let out a hearty laugh. “I doubt that’s what you really want. The why isn’t important right now. A deal is a deal.”
“If I’m taking responsibility for another life, I want to know why.”
He took two small puffs on his cigar, then said, “I made the deal because the other families were foaming at the mouth to move into my territory and would use my children to do it. But I’m not interested in sharing my empire. And after meeting the heirs to their thrones, I’m glad I made a deal with your father.” He walked closer, his free hand moving from his pocket to my shoulder. “I don’t know another man I’d trust with myKatushka.”
“My parents raised me right,” I answered confidently. “She’ll be safe with me. But I still don’t understand why Pops agreed to this or why you felt it was needed.”
Smiling warmly, he asked, “Hawk, what is it you want from me?”
Puffing my cigarette, smoke billowed from my nose asI said, “If I take her, you can’t make deals with anyone else for guns. We’re the only buyers and runners from here on out.”
“Son–”
Cutting him off, I went on. “I know you made a deal with Pops, but he’s gone. It’s my club now.” After one last drag, I flipped the tip off my cigarette. “I like doing business with you, but this union has to benefit us both. You won’t tell me why he signed me away, so I need assurance that I’m not getting fucked.”
His hand fell from my shoulder, back into his pocket. “We’ve had a wonderful partnership for a long time. I wouldn’t cross you.”
“Well, just to be sure, I need your word. And I need your word that itisa partnership. Partners don’t do business with competitors.”
“You ask too much, Hawk. And you speak as if you don’t know your place,” he said, his tone much less jovial than a minute ago.
“If that’s the case, maybe we should just take off. You may be the boss up here, but you’re not the boss of me.” Now I was gambling.
I had connections around the country, but by far we had the best hookup with Petrov and it’s the smoothest running operation we had. They’d been holding favors over our head, which in light of the deal Pops made pissed me off. He wouldn’t keep acting like he owned us if I went through with this. And I didn’t bluff. It would set us back a little if he got so offended he told me to fuck off, but we had a nice cushion. I’d been approached many a time by other families that he rightfullydidn’t want to hand his daughter over to. But that didn’t mean they’d make bad business partners.
