Any of my other men would cower, but not Misha. He raises a brow at me and smirks, daring me to continue with my attitude, knowing how much I hate to lose my composure. I roll my eyes, pulling a laugh from him before continuing, this time with a softer tone.
“Go ahead, tell me what you think of it all.”
He sets his tea down and leans forward to prop his elbows on his knees. “I think we’ve got our work cut out for us, and I don’t think we should let our guard down.ButI also think you can do it. Ivan ran this place well, or as well as he could after inheriting his brother’s mess. From what I’ve gathered, his men are loyal to him, which means he’s a good leader. Not so different from you and your father. I think you’ll inspire them in a similar way as your predecessor. And if they give you any trouble, I’ll kill them.”
“We’ve talked about this. You can’t do that,” I laugh, but I know he means it. He’s protected me since, well, for decades now. Through thick and thin.
“I can and Iwill, moya tsaritsa.”
“Whatever you say, moya sila. What did you think of the house?” I laugh again as Misha chokes on his tea.
“It’s fine. I think the house is the least of your worries right now.”
“Yeah, you’re just saying that because you got the pretty blue room that seems to have gone untouched by whatever red latex demon threw up on the rest of the place,” I grumble.
Misha reaches out to grab my hand, pulling my gaze to his. “We can do this.Youcan do this. If you could make it out of Russia all those years ago, you can do anything.”
He’s right. This is paperwork. It’s clinical and administrative, and while yes, it can be annoying, it’s not a big deal in the long run. It’s not life and death; it’s just stepping up once more to become the leader I was born to be. I’ll prove myself, regardless of what it takes.
Chapter 4
“Jesus, Sunshine, we’vebeen looking for you.”
“Yeah, man, how big is this place? We had no ideathiswas what you got up to in the offseason.”
Shit. It’s one of our rookies and an equipment guy, and I’m too drunk,and high,to remember either of their names right now.
“Hey, guys, I’m glad you made it! Everyone is usually off on their own vacations as soon as the season ends.”
“Well, you clearly have plenty of friends who love to party even without the team, man. Listen, we’re gonna head outside. I think I heard something about a wet T-shirt contest. We’ll catch up before the night’s over, yeah?”
A nod and a fist bump are all it takes to send them on their way. I must be more fucked up than I meant to be if I can’t even remember a guy’s name after playing an entire season of hockeywith him. Although I have had some traumatic experiences recently. My best friend got traded off my team, we lost in the NHL playoffs, the same best friend inherited a Russian Mafia and almost got killed, and now he’s in love and knocked a girl up.
There’s a word for it. Not Mafia…Plucking another champagne flute off a passing tray, I admire my handiwork. Everyone is shiny in metallic fabrics tonight, and you can smell the hedonism in the air. My postseason Hamptons parties are legendary, even if my teammates usually don’t show. Not even Teddy would show, usually skipping them to go hiking with his grandma.It’s fine. It’s not everyone’s scene.
“Hey, Thatcher, thanks for inviting us.”
Squinting, I can make out blonde twins in skimpy metallic bikinis. They do seem very thankful, based on the hard nipples showing off through the fabric. I don’t remember inviting them, though. If only their faces weren’t so blurry.
“You’re very welcome, ladies. I’ll see you soon. Excuse me.”
Moving through the sea of people enjoying the DJ, I head for my favorite escape. The second-floor balcony overlooks the pool and the ocean, and since it’s off-limits to party-goers, it’s the perfect place to take a quick break. Sometimes, I’ll bring whoever’s caught my eye for the night up here, but tonight, maybe I can use it to take a better look at the crowd and find someone. Nobody’s struck my fancy yet.
Fuck, life is good.The twinkle lights glisten as people splash in the water, the DJ is playing a mix I requested, and every inch of my parents’ Hamptons house is filled with luxury and pretty people enjoying themselves. I’m not sure where my parents are, not that it matters. They never liked this house anyway, and I’ve never heard a peep from them about any of the parties. One year, every chandelier got shattered, and when I came back a week later, it was like the party had never happened.
They literally couldn’t care less.
“There’s our fearless leader! Captain Prescott, please grace us with your presence, oh great one!”
Another person I don’t know has grabbed the mic for the outdoor area and spied me on my balcony. He’s a fat fucker, maybe some Wall Street wannabe from the city, and I wish he hadn’t seen me. As I move to the railing to smile and wave at my adoring public, I notice the woman by his side. Tall and with a toned back, black hair braided down her back.No way.
“Cannonball! Cannonball!”
She turns, revealing that she’s just another stranger, and I shrug off my blazer and slacks to reveal the neon pink Speedo I custom-ordered just for tonight. It takes every ounce of awareness I have, but I manage to step onto the railing and balance, toes hanging on for dear life as I stand above the pool.
“Hear ye, hear ye. Who summons your Lord Prescott?”
The crowd goes wild. I’ve never jumped from here to the pool before, but it’s not too far. I think. Before I have a chance to lose my balance, I leap for the pool, and the warm water welcomes me without injury.
