I had to admit I did well under the circumstances. Some of the clothing I chose were slightly big on me, but I planned to put on a few pounds and fill out the weight I had lost over the past year. I settled on a few retro t-shirts, a pair of blue jeans, a pair of black jeans, a pinstriped black pencil skirt, a white blouse that smelled a little like a grandma’s closet but looked classy and feminine, a black shirt, an off-white sweater (also too big), and a pair of bright yellow pajamas, which still had tags on them.
After we left with bags in hand and Nastasia in a considerably better mood, I asked her to take me to a local superstore where I could get underwear, socks, a few cheap pairs of heels, flip-flops and sneakers, and a toothbrush. Nas helped me pick bras in my size, and after looking at the sorry state of my body, she vowed to put some meat on my bones, assigning Ada to keep me fed. As we were leaving, we passed the cosmetics counter, and Nas told me to choose the basics, asking me if I knew how to do my own makeup.
I smiled to myself. “There was a mall a few blocks away from my alley. Every now and again I’d go down there. There was a sweet lady working cosmetics, and she must’ve known I didn’t have the money to spend, because she would sit me down and teach me how to apply my own makeup, telling me I could come in anytime to use the testers. So eventually, I learned.”
Choosing the appropriate shade of foundation proved difficult, as I was so pale, but Nas helped, picking out a light blush, black eyeliner and mascara, a palette of eye shadows, and assorted colors of lip gloss.
I was done.
As we walked to the car, I asked, careful not to gloat, “How much did we spend all together?”
Nas attempted to glare at me, but her eyes were amused. “Just over a hundred eighty dollars, smart ass.”
A hundred and eighty dollars.
I would pay it all back. It didn’t matter how long it took me.
As we drove, Nas caught me yawning. She nudged my shoulder. “Hey. Don’t you dare fall asleep. There’s one more stop we need to make.”
Mid-yawn, I croaked out, “I’m so tired.”
“You can have a nap when you get back to the house. You’ll probably need it. Your shift will likely finish around two a.m.”
I would need a nap. I wouldn’t make it until two a.m. without sleep.
“Where are we going?”
She smiled slyly. “You’ll see.”
Chapter Nine
Lev
What was taking them so long?
I checked my clock. It read three thirty-six in the afternoon. Not surprisingly, only five minutes had passed since the last time I checked.
Pulling out my cell, I punched in Nastasia’s phone number and hit dial just as I saw her silver Mercedes-Benz E400 Cabriolet pull into the driveway. The car was a recent gift from me for her thirtieth birthday. From the way she drove it, you would’ve thought she hated it.
My hand was on the door handle before either of the girls had opened theirs. I hesitated, not wanting to come across as hovering. Nastasia opened her door first, and my brows rose at the sound of her laughter. My sister only had one female friend in Anika. Nastasia did not like women. To see her openly laughing with another female confused me.
Out stepped Mina, and my breath left me in a fast whoosh. She looked beautiful. Dressed in skintight blue jeans and a loose white blouse, unbuttoned one button too many, her tiny feet parading around in black pumps, caused my mind to act erratic.
Her long wavy hair had been freshly trimmed and straightened, the shiny locks cascading down her back. Mascara had been lightly applied to her lashes, framing her big green eyes. Her lips glittered in the sunshine and were heavily glossed.
She was still far too thin, but as I told her the night before, she couldn’t hide from me.
I stepped back as the door flew open. Nastasia grinned. “Hey, bro.” She moved aside, her arms out toward Mina. “Ta-da!” She waited. And waited. But all I could do was stare.
Finally, my sister gave in to irritation. “Well? You just gonna stand there?” She huffed out a breath. “How does she look, Lev?”
Mina looked up at me through lowered lashes, biting the inside of her lip. She wrung her fingers together, and I wondered how it would feel to have those fingers run through my hair.
How did she look?
“Like art,” I responded sincerely.
Mina blinked, releasing the inside of her lip. Her mouth gaped slightly. Those full lips calling me to taste them.
She blurted out, “Nas took me to a fancy beauty salon. They did my hair and makeup.” She threw out her hands to show me her polished nails. “I had a manicure and pedicure too. Then I got my brows shaped and they waxed my le—” Realizing she was rambling, her cheeks turned pink and she finished quietly with, “But you don’t want to know about that.”
And still, I stared.
Taking a handful of bags, she slid past me, her upper arm brushing my chest. “I’ll take these upstairs.” I watched her make her way up the stairs in her heels.
She walked like a newborn calf.
Nastasia whispered, “We’re working on that. Give her time. This is all so new to her.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
My sister laughed. “You didn’t need to, Lev. You never need to.” She waved a hand over my face. “It’s all written there, plain and simple, for the world to see.”
I followed her into the family room, where Lidiya played with her dolls. “I gather today went well.”
“Not at first, but,” she smiled, “I had fun. It was fun. We went shopping, did girlie things, stopped for something to eat, and then…” She paused. “Okay, so we finished what we were doing, and I asked Mina if she’d show me where she lived.” Her face darkened. “I don’t know how anyone could’ve lived like that for seven years.”
Seven years? She lived like that for seven fucking years?
I fumed in silence, wanting to beat to death the person who put her in this position, and I would find out who.
“We’re passing through the area, and suddenly she yells out ‘Stop!’ so, of course, I freak the fuck out and pull over. She jumps out the car with her lunch and chases down this little teenage thug. He was just a kid, Lev.” She shook her head. “So I’m watching in the rearview and, finally, the kid stops. Looks about ready to smash heads. But then, he recognizes her. They talk. She hands him her sandwich. He smiles at her. She waves, walks back to the car, gets in, and acts like the whole thing never happened.”
“I see.” I saw from the very beginning. This girl was no thief. I was right about her.
Nastasia looked me dead in the eye and uttered, “I like her, Lev. She’s good people, you know?”
“No. I don’t know. Not yet.”
But I intended to find out.
Chapter Ten
Mina
“Mina?” I heard vaguely.
I wasn’t interested. Instead, I burrowed farther into the covers, desperately wanting them to merge with me so I’d never have to leave.
“It’s time to wake up, mouse.”
Pulling my chin under the quilt, I groaned long and pained. “Five more minutes.”
“You might recall that you said the same thing the last three times I’ve tried to wake you.”
Oh. That’s right.
It all came back to me.
Lev had been trying to wake me for the good part of twenty minutes, but every time I swore I was awake and fine to be left to get ready, I fell back asleep.
I peered up at him. He stood by the bed, looking and smelling freshly showered. His jaw was dark with stubble, and his light cologne smelled edible. My reply was muffled by bedding. “Okay, I’m up. Give me five minutes.”
“I’d leave you to it, but you’ve proven to be quite the fibber on that front,” he accused lightly.
I tried to scowl, but my sleepy eyes kept blinking, ruining the effect. His eyes, the color of warm honey, crinkled in the corners as he looked down at me.
I knew
there was only one thing to do. In one fell swoop, the covers flew off me and I sat up, shaking my head to clear it of sleep. “Okay,” I chirped. “Yep. That did it. I’m awake.” But as my eyes began to droop again, I mumbled, “I’m sort of awake.”
“What are you wearing?” he asked, his disgust clear.
“My new pajamas,” I looked down at the canary yellow jammies and returned a little defensively.
He looked me up and down, and not in a good way. “They’re hideous.”
My nose bunched. “I didn’t choose them for the way they looked. They’re comfortable.”
I did not dare tell him that they were the bargain price of $4—new in pack, I might add.
My eyes had closed on me again, gosh darn it.
Lev had obviously never had an issue getting up in his life, because his large, warm hand was suddenly on my forehead. “Are you sure you’re all right? You seem lethargic.”
Lifting my hand, I pushed his away gently, and snorted. “I’m fine. It’s this bed. It’s magical. I never want to leave it. If I could, I would have all my meals served in this bed. This magical bed.”
I smiled sleepily up at him, but all I could focus on was his hard frown. He shook his head. “No, I don’t think you’re okay to work tonight. Perhaps next week.”
I stilled. “Wait, what?” Well, that had the desired effect. I shot out of bed. “I’m good. I’m fine. I just need…” My brain had yet to awaken with my body. “I don’t know. I need something.”
“Coffee,” he supplied.
I could have kissed him. “Yes.” This came out in a long whisper.
“Already have a pot brewing. Maybe a shower would help.”
He was right, of course.
Opening my eyes as wide as I could, I dragged my feet toward the bathroom. He called after me, “I’ll be downstairs.” As I shut the door, he reminded, “Don’t lock the door, mouse. I’d hate for you to fall asleep and drown in there.”
I scoffed, but didn’t bother bringing the sass. Rather, I rolled my eyes, clipped my newly straightened hair up, and jumped under the warm spray, careful not to wet my face. Once I was awake, I soaped up, rinsed off, and stepped out.
This house was like one giant, warm hug.
The bed was snug. The shower was toasty. The bathroom lights heated my naked body, drying me as a stood there, soaking it up like sunlight. It was like a five-star hotel. Or so I imagined one would be like. I’d never actually stayed at a hotel before, let alone one that was five stars.
As I stood there naked, I thought about Lev and why he brought me here. I had yet to figure him out. He seemed genuine in his gesture, but my history had told me that you never got something for nothing.
I was mentally ready for the ball to drop.
Having placed my clothes in the bathroom that afternoon before my nap, I dressed in what I had on when I returned from my shopping expedition with Nas. Taking the clip out of my hair, I brushed it gently, as per the instructions of the hairdresser; otherwise, I was destined for frizz. Apparently. Whatever the heck that meant.
My makeup still looked good. I was surprised by how much makeup was applied to my face to get the ‘natural’ look. I laughed to myself. It really was silly.
As we’d left the beauty salon and made it back to the car, Nas had handed me a small bag. With my brow furrowed, I peeked inside.
All the expensive makeup that had been used on my face by the beautician was neatly stacked at the bottom.
“Wha—” I gaped at her. “Why?”
She shrugged. “It looks good on you, and you’re not going to be able to get the same effect with the cheap stuff we bought earlier.” She spotted my obvious discomfort and tried to ease it. “You don’t have to use it, but I can’t return it. I’d like for you to use it.”
I was still unsure.
She tried another route and attempted to look bored. “Besides, the club has a reputation for some of the most beautiful faces in the country.” She side-eyed me. “You’ll pull down that standard with your shitty makeup.”
I smiled then. “Thank you, Nastasia.”
She returned it. “You’re welcome, Mina.”
Holding my heels in my hand, I came down the stairs and found Lev holding Lidiya on his hip as he poured two cups of coffee. She babbled, gripping his lapel in her tiny fist, and he kissed the top of her head.
I cleared my throat at the door, not wanting to interrupt. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Mirella will be here in a few minutes.” He answered my unasked question, “Lidiya’s nanny. You’ll be seeing a lot of her.” He handed me one of the coffee cups. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know how you took it.”
“Straight up black,” I uttered, taking the cup with a smile of thanks. I sipped at it slowly and it was wonderful. I couldn’t help watching the chubby, long-lashed little girl. My chest tightened in awe. “She’s adorable, Lev.”
He pulled back to look down at his daughter. His soft response nearly had me swooning in a dead faint. “She is my life.”
Warmth flooded me, leaving me in a haze of wonder. What had I done so well in my life that I’d come across Lev Leokov? Whatever it was, I was thankful for it.
The little girl turned and, finally spotting me, gabbed. “Zhena. Zhena. Zhena.”
My nose bunched with my smile. “What is she saying?”
Lev watched me closely. “She doesn’t know your name. She’s calling you her version of ‘lady’ in Russian.”
“Oh, so you’re Russian then?” I asked stupidly.
Patiently, Lev responded, and I commended him on not calling me a dumbass. “Yes, from both my father and mother’s sides.”
“Oh, cool,” I said. And what followed was a long, awkward silence.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, Lev asked, “Where is your family, Mina?”
My response was curt. “Dead. I’m an orphan. I didn’t know my father. My mother died when I was twelve. My grandmother didn’t want me, and so I went into foster care. I ran away when I was seventeen.”
Affected by my sudden change of manner, Lev whispered, “Okay,” and it sounded off. Almost childlike.
The door opened suddenly, and a gaggle of people came through it, conversing loudly and openly.
Nastasia came in first, face red, lips tight, arguing with the man behind her. “I don’t give a shit who she was, Vik.”
The man, who I easily guessed was Viktor, came in behind her, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Sure you do, baby.”
Nas turned and her lip curled. “She was kind of pretty in that ‘I hope you don’t mind STDs’ kind of way.”
Viktor was tall, brawny, and wore a pair of dress pants, a white shirt rolled up at the sleeves to reveal a bunch of colorful tattoos, and had a toothpick sticking out the side of his mouth. His blue eyes popped in a way that made you want to stare into them for days, and he wasn’t at all fazed by Nastasia’s wrath. “You know me. No jimmy, no hanky.”
A beautiful redhead came in behind Viktor. I immediately noticed she had the same eyes that Viktor did. From the way she smiled, she only had eyes for Lev, and when she looked to me, her smile fell fast.
Lev winked at her, a tender look in his eye. “Anika.”
My stomach churned violently at the way Lev looked at her. I didn’t understand it.
I mean, I understood it. She was pretty in a way that I just couldn’t compete with.
“Well, hey there, princess.” Anika held out her hands, smiling once more, and Lev handed over Lidiya as if this were a regular occurrence.
My gut rolled. Again.
What the hell was going on here? Stop it, stomach!
She bounced Lidiya on her hip, kissing her cheek. Lidiya showed no signs of discomfort with the woman. She looked to me and spoke softly, her voice melodic. “Hi. I’m Anika.”
I opened my mouth to respond, already reaching out with my hand when Lev straightened. “This is Mina. The new bargirl.”
I smiled at her
. “Yeah, what he said.”
At his explanation, Anika’s tension visibly faded and she warmed up toward me. She shook my hand lightly. “Oh. That’s great. We’ll be working together.”
Viktor looked at me then, and seemed surprised, as if he’d just noticed another person in the room. “What’s up? I’m Viktor.” He looked me up and down appreciatively before turning to Lev and smiling slyly. “Where’d you find this one?”
His eyes on me, Lev responded without emotion, “Stealing Sasha’s wallet.”
My heart stuttered before it started to race. Everyone had gone silent apart from Viktor, who blinked at me a solid ten seconds before erupting in laughter.
My cheeks heated, but my body turned cold. I felt the stares of everyone in the room and the tension became too much.
I got it. I stole his brother’s wallet. It was a shitty move. If I weren’t desperate, I wouldn’t have done it. Was I going to be punished for it forever?
Under my breath, I muttered, “Asshole,” before slipping on my heels and clomping out the kitchen door. I almost fell ass-over-tit in those damn heels, but Nas told me I needed to get used to walking in them.
Ten minutes passed, and down the path, I spied a mature woman with dark curly hair and kind eyes coming up toward the house. She slowed when she saw me, so I smiled. “You must be Mirella.”
“I am,” she stated carefully.
I took a step forward. “I’m Mina.” I pointed back to the house with my thumb. “I’m living here temporarily. Lev told me that I’d be seeing a lot of you.”
Her eyes widened and her jaw nearly dropped. “You’re staying…here? In the house…with Mister Lev?”
My nod was slow. She seemed beyond surprised. More like astonished. What was with that reaction?
Catching herself, she attempted a smile, but it was uncomfortable. “Nice to meet you, Mina,” she said, moving toward the kitchen door.
“You too,” I returned just as she closed the door behind her.
I waited out in the cool breeze for another few minutes before the door opened and everyone, sans Mirella and Lidiya, came outside. I felt Lev’s eyes on me, but I didn’t give him the satisfaction of looking up.