"She asked to see me tonight."
"So you're bringing her to the fucking fights? Kaz, what the fuck is wrong with you?"
"It's a fight night, Stepan. She's gonna sit next to me and watch."
He acts like she's planting a bomb in our building or stealing our betting money. It can't be more straightforward. Lots of people go to our fights, and we can't possibly vet everyone who showsup. They pay their way in and we take their money. It's that simple. Zora is just another woman wanting to watch men beat the shit out of each other.
I push past him and hear him call after me, "Roman won't like this, Kaz."
"Yeah, well Roman can focus on his wedding. I'm taking a woman on a date to a fight ring, not planning mutiny."
My hand slams into the exit door and I burst out of the building under grey skies and a chance of rain, but I don't let his comment slow me down. I get to see Zora again and I can't wait to see what she thinks of what I do. If she likes it, maybe she can watch me spar sometime.
God, I really like this woman.
10
ZORA
The crowd is louder than I expected, roaring this deep, feral sound that comes from the chest of every man pressed against the barriers around the ring. I've been to fights before but never one this energized. I can see why the Kuzin fights are surpassing our family ring in popularity. It isn't just the skill of the fighters. It's the atmosphere, and this place really sells the craft.
Kazimir sits beside me watching every movement inside that ring like his life depends on it. When we went out before, he was so locked on me, tuned in even, but here I can see another side of him. This is his business, and one he apparently takes very seriously. It's sort of a turn-on to see how focused he is.
"Who's fighting next?" I ask, leaning closer so my shoulder bumps his. I don’t want to be the annoying girl who asks too many questions. Besides, I know all about fighters and how these things run. But I don't know about his particular club and how he works things. Being my first time here, I know my brothers will expect me to have juicy details.
"Rostik…" When turns to look at me, the determined look on his face fades into a smile. It's so noticeable, I'm sure every person around us can see how attracted to me he is. "He's one of ours. Shaved head, big guy, hits harder than anyone on the card tonight."
"And the other one?"
"Out of Yekaterinburg. He's a good fighter, but Rostik's been training for this for six weeks." He rests his hand on my thigh and squeezes once. "You're about to see something special."
"So, you run this?" I ask, pushing the envelope slightly, but not enough to make his senses rise. I'm just a woman asking a man she likes about what he does for a living, and I have to play that card well or he'll get suspicious. "How many fights do you run a month?"
"Depends on the season. Right now, we're doing two or three cards a week, but the boss will be out of town soon for his honeymoon. It might change then." He leans back in his chair and relaxes. His chest puffs out a little like he's proud of himself. "I'm running the whole operation while he's gone." I definitely detect a hint of smugness in his tone too.
"That's a lot of responsibility." I smile at him, resting my hand on his bicep as a physical gesture of my feigned emotion. If I convince him I'm impressed, he gets a rise out of it.
"It is." He grins. "But I'm good at it."
He's bragging and he doesn't care because he wants me to see him this way—in charge, capable, trusted with everything. And the thing I wasn't prepared for is that it's actually working.
I blush and bat my eyelashes instinctively, really working the moment and milking it, but it isn't hard to fake. I didn't realize when I walked into that hallway at the gala that I'd run into the second in command. Makar wasn't wrong for pushing me toward Kazimir. If we can't get to Roman, Kaz really is the next best thing.
I think he's going to say something to me, but Rostik enters the ring and the crowd loses its mind. The man is enormous—shaved head, thick neck, hands wrapped tightly, and when the bell rings and he starts fighting, it's impressive. He pounds the opponent so many times, so fast, I think he may win in under a minute. Kazimir leans forward and his hand tightens on my thigh, and I can't help but feel warmth spreading up my leg.
"He's incredible," I tell him, but I'm not watching the fight. I'm watching him.
"He's the best we've got." Kazimir looks at me and his eyes drop to my mouth for a second before coming back up. "But it's hard to focus on this fight when you're distracting me so badly." His grin makes me blush.
"Am I?" He's a smooth talker, trying to flirt with me. Once again, it's working. I'm a weak woman. I didn't realize this job would require so much self-control. I really like this guy, and I find myself being unfocused and worrying more about what he's thinking about me than I am the task I'm supposed to be doing, gathering information.
"You know you are." His thumb traces a line on my thigh, and the heat from his hand spreads up through my hip and into my stomach. "It's those goddamn legs…." His eyes sparkle as he locks gazes with me, and I wonder if he's feeling as turned on as I am.
"Maybe I like distracting you." I lean in and press my lips against his ear. "Maybe I've been thinking about what we'll do after the fights since you asked me to come with you earlier today." And I have. After last time, my body is ready for him, aching to feel that incredible again. Kazimir knows just how to get me worked up and then how to quench that thirst too.
He turns his head and his mouth is an inch from my ear when he growls, "You're making it very hard to concentrate on my job right now."
"Then finish your job and take me home," I mutter, but the ache between my legs doesn't want to wait for his job to be over. I want to sneak away somewhere right now. Still, I have to respect this is his job, and I have to try to focus on gleaning information I can report back to my brothers safely.
