“Fanshmy,” he says around a mouthful of candy.
“Yes, very fancy. There’s also the fact that Ivan has graciously agreed to leave his home and loving family to show us the property and formally introduce us to the leadership team. It would be poor form to refuse just to get hammered in the city the night before. We’ll have plenty of time for that after we settle in.”
Settle in.When my world crashed down around me six months ago, and Teddy arrived to reluctantly abscond with my birthright, it seemed my training toruna Bratva branch wouldgo to waste. Then when my cousin Ivan decided he wanted to step back, along with his heir, Sasha, he asked if I’d be interested in moving to New York and taking over his operation. Sasha helped show Teddy the ropes in Thunder Bay, Ivan helped with the legal aspect and assured me there was no male-only clause in their branch’s bylaws, and the rest moved quickly.
Technically, this is an upward move. Apromotion,if I had a normal career. It’s a bigger area to operate, a larger property, and a much more lucrative investment portfolio. I waited for melancholy to hit when I finalized my move away from the home I’ve known for the past fifteen years, but…nothing.
It’s a job. Something to fill my life until I die. Luckily, in that regard, it’s a pretty damn all-encompassing job. No time to be sad, or anxious, or any of that shit. And no time to wallow in thoughts and memories, which is for the best. I work or work out eighteen hours a day, with every moment accounted for, and that’s the way I like it.
If anything, I should be able to enjoy the weather in New York more than in Florida. I’m not built for the heat, and I stood out like a sore thumb everywhere we went. Jet-black hair, pale skin, broad shoulders, and my favored all-black outfits…not to mention a lot of men in Florida areshort.Nothing says “want to be fuck buddies” like a guy looking up at your double chin from a few inches below.
No, my six-foot-tall pale ass is meant to be hauling lumber in a Siberian winter.
But I’m not going back there. Never.
So New York it is. This should be a relatively quick takeover, including a meet and greet, and then we can get to work. I have Misha to help smooth over any initial bumps in the road, and we’ll do what we’ve always done.Survive and thrive.
Chapter 2
The final hornsounds, and just like that, another hockey season is officially over. We lost in the first round of the playoffs, but after the finals, we always have a few practices before parting ways for the summer. It’s impossible not to join the guys in a cheer of relief at the prospect of some much-needed time off.
“Alright, alright, stop skating around like a bunch of cheerleaders and get your asses in the showers! Dunbar, stop bellyflopping on my ice like a goddamn walrus,” Coach yells. “You sure aren’t acting like you want time off. Where’s all that groaning I heard at the beginning of practice?”
We head to the locker room, but the commotion worsens as the guys talk over each other, telling their plans for the break. For once in my life, I shut the fuck up. Because for once, I don’t have any plans. Instead, I just listen to everyone else.
“We’re going to England for a month. My daughter is convinced that she’s a real princess, so we’re going to show her some castles.”
“Aw man, we went through that phase too. Actually, there are some way better countries in Europe if you’re just wanting to see castles—”
“We had our eyes on an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean, but our kids begged us to go to Disney. Most magical place, my ass. Whoever coined that obviously never went with two preteens in the middle of summer.”
“Hey, you leave the mouse alone. It’s magical, and you know it!”
“Lisa and I are doing a Mediterranean cruise. You know, for someone who keeps trying to convince us to start a family, you sure aren’t making it sound fun. I’ll take my wife all to myself, especially in a bikini by the pool.”
“What about you, Sunshine? Any big plans?”
“Sunshine?”
“Thatcher?”
“Ow, what the—” Something smacks me in the forehead, and the offending item lands at my feet, stench trailing in its wake. “Whose nasty-ass socks are these?”
Bubba Jones cackles like a hyena and wiggles his toes. “Next time I ask you a question, get your head out of the clouds and answer it!”
“What was your question,asshole?”
“What are you doing during the break? Any big plans, playboy?”
“Oh, um, just going to the Hamptons.”
“Hell yeah, I hear the parties there this time of year are insane.”
“They are. I swear the women there are fucking feral in the summer. It’s like they get away for a while and lose their damnminds. You know, I have plenty of extra room if you want to come stay sometime.”
Bubba ruffles my hair and laughs. “I bet it’s wild. Maybe in my last lifetime. Natalie hates all the parties and stuff. We’re going to an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica.”
Oh yeah, I forgot he got married this year.“That sounds nice, too.”
