Mina
My eyes fluttered open and I was greeted by Lev’s handsome face. I smiled, stretching. “Don’t you ever sleep?”
His lip twitched. “On occasion.” He smiled softly and it gave me chills. I would never be desensitized to Lev’s gorgeous smile. “You’re beautiful.” Then he frowned at his compliment. “I’m sure you get told that a lot.”
I laid my hand against his rough cheek. “Not the way you say it.” I ran my thumb over his lips. “Never the way you say it.”
He reached up to hold my hand, biting the pad of my thumb. “You’re important to me, Mina.”
I blinked. This was a little deep for first thing. “And you’re important to me, sweetie.”
“I want to go with you to meet your brother.”
Everything stopped.
I had been trying for a solid week to get Lev to speak to me about my brother. Every time I brought it up, I was shut down before the conversation even began. I was desperate to meet my brother, but I needed Lev to be okay with it too. I gave him time and space away from the subject. And it looked like my patience had paid off. “Really?”
“Really.” He stroked my shoulder, trailing down my arm. “We’ll organize a dinner with Laredo. It’s not like Sasha will miss us for one night, not with the way the club’s going.”
It was harsh but true. “Okay. I’ll call today.” I grinned.
“No.” He shook his head. “I’ll call today. I don’t want you speaking to Laredo without me.” At my defiant look, he added a placating, “It’s not because of you, mouse. He can be rather manipulative.”
Did I even care? Um, no. Now was not the time to be indignant.
I was going to meet my brother.
I grinned. “Set it up.”
I lay my head back in the passenger seat of the Camaro, listening to the radio as Lev drove. I tried not to hyperventilate, but it was hard to breathe regardless. I was on the way to meet my brother for the very first time.
I had so many questions—about my mother, about my father. I was in Laredo’s debt. I was pretty sure that was a situation not many people wanted to find themselves in.
We drove for a long while before Lev pulled up to a house big enough to rival the Leokov complex. With giant wrought iron gates, intricately designed to look as if black vines and golden leaves covered them, I sat up straighter as my heart skipped a beat.
Whelp…no backing out now.
Nas helped me dress for the momentous occasion. We settled for something understated, with high-waisted black pants and a loose white shirt tucked in. I wanted to wear heels, but Nas objected. She said it was no use wearing heels when your face would be planted firmly on the ground.
The bitch.
I found my black ballet slippers and slid them on while Nas straightened my hair before putting on my makeup. My long lashes held four coats of mascara, and with my lips glossed, I deemed that was enough. I didn’t want to look like I was going to a club. I wanted to look like I was making my way to a casual family dinner.
I managed to talk Lev into wearing his jeans—Hooray!—with a white shirt under his black V-neck cashmere sweater. He rolled his sleeves up his forearms and I was ready to call the night off, almost preferring to undress him slowly and devour his body with my glossed mouth. But my brain reminded me there would be time for sexy fun later.
Lev pressed a button and his window descended. He leaned outside and pressed the button on the small speaker box. A loud buzz sounded before a man spoke through the speaker, “Yes?”
“Mina Harris and Lev Leokov.”
The speaker buzzed again. “Of course, sir. Come right in.”
The gates rattled before they parted in the middle and slowly opened wide, allowing us entry. I swallowed hard. “How rich is Laredo?”
Lev clicked his tongue before shooting me a look. “Richer than me.”
Well, that was just great. Now I’d never get comfortable here.
It took us five minutes to arrive at the house. I wondered if we’d ever get there. It looked as if Laredo owned the entire block. I felt faint. The house was enormous. It made me wonder how one person could live in something so large. My brow furrowed. “Does Laredo live alone?”
Lev tilted his head to the side. “I’m not sure. When we were children, he always had people staying with him. When one went, another came. But he doesn’t have a significant other, no.”
Lev helped me out the car, and as we walked, the front door opened and out came a smiling Laredo. He was followed by five other men. And four of those five men smiled at me. The other did not smile, and he had scars all across the right half of his face.
I immediately knew who that man was. That man had to be Alessio, Laredo’s son. The man who lost his wife to Sasha’s bed then was made to bear the scars for life, all for loving a woman.
With his near-black hair and soft green eyes, his cheekbones high and a full mouth, it didn’t take much to see that Alessio had been an attractive man. Perhaps, even stunning. But all that had changed.
My heart hurt for him. I didn’t take it personally that he didn’t want to smile in greeting. Why would he? I was part of the enemy’s side. One thing was evident. He scared the bejeezus out of me.
The closer we got, the bigger Laredo’s smile got. We walked up the stairs and Laredo held his hand out to Lev. He hesitated only a moment before he took it, shaking it. “Laredo.”
“Lev,” he sighed. “I had doubts. I figured this meeting would never happen.” He looked down at me, releasing Lev’s hand and taking mine in both of his. “I’m glad you changed your mind, Mina dearest.”
I smiled gently. “I,” then I peered at Lev, “we just needed time for all this to sink in. Thank you for having us.”
His smile fell as he held my hands tightly. “You look so much like her. It still gives me chills.” He held my eyes a short while before he took my hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow. “Come, meet my boys.” He lowered his voice. “They insisted on being here tonight.”
His boys?
More like his smoking hot men.
They were all as tall as each other. The solid walls of their bodies had me mentally laughing. No, they were definitely not boys. Those smiling men made my stomach dip in a bad, bad way. I was half glad Lev didn’t read cues too well or he might’ve seen my sudden blush.
The first man, blond-haired and dressed in a light grey suit, his shirt open at the collar, I’d already met, but Laredo introduced us anyways. “I believe you’ve met Philippe Neige.”
Philippe took my free hand, planting a swift kiss to my knuckles. His French accent was delightful. “‘Allo, Mina. Nice to see you again.”
The next man had light brown hair and hazel eyes, and a smile that stunned. It was bright and wide, and when he spoke, his rough tone had me swallowing hard. “Howzit, liefie?” If his accent wasn’t enough to shock the words right out of me, the fact that I hadn’t understood a word of what he said sure would have. He wore dark jeans, a white V-neck tee, and a black blazer. He grinned harder. “That was my native tongue, Afrikaans. I just said ‘how are you doing, lovely?’”
“Oh,” I uttered, flushing. “I’m doing just fine, thank you.”
He shook my hand like a man would another man. “Nicolas Van Eden.”
“Nice to meet you, Nicolas.” He seemed fun.
“The pleasure is all mine, bokkie.” He leaned forward and told me, “That means doe. And with eyes like yours, I think I’ll be calling you bokkie, little one.”
It took everything I had not to burst into laughter. He was funny without meaning to be, and super sweet. I very much liked Nicolas Van Eden.
The third man shoved his friend out of the way. “My turn.” He had short dark hair and green smiling eyes, and he took my hand, shaking it lightly. “Mina, we’ve heard so much about you.” He looked gorgeous in his tailored black suit. He only had a slight accent, but it was hard to miss. “Roman Vlasic, at your service.”
“Hello,” I said kindly as I shook his hand.
The fourth man stood patiently, awaiting our arrival. He had skin an olive skin tone, dark hair long enough to curl behind his ears, and green eyes framed with dark lashes. The gunmetal grey suit he wore fit him nicely. He looked as though he’d made an effort to look nice. His smile was secretive. Laredo led me to him, and he held out both hands to take both of mine. “Mina,” was all he said. And he said this softly, almost sweetly.
This man, I felt, could have been my brother.
Laredo made introductions. “Davi Lobo. Mina Harris.”
Davi lifted both my hands and held them to his mouth, pressing the softest of kisses to them. He released my hands, smiled down at me, and motioned to the person standing behind me.
Lev took my hand, entwining our fingers.
Oh, that’s right.
My boyfriend was here, and although this gaggle of men had my mind abuzz, Lev’s touch soothed the tension right out of me in the way only he could.
Alessio stood in the doorway, his eyes searching me in a way that felt intrusive. I don’t think he meant it. I don’t even think he knew he was doing it. Laredo looked to his son and made introductions from afar. “Alessio Scarfo. My son.”
“Hi,” I breathed, trying my hardest not to hide behind Lev.
Alessio jerked his chin at me with indifference.
I turned back to look at Davi, who winked at me. I smiled in return. Oh yeah. I had a strong feeling about Davi. He was the one I felt most familiar with. It was kind of strange.
Laredo clapped his hands together. “Come. Dinner will be served in half an hour. We have some time to talk and get to know each other.”
We followed Laredo into the foyer and two staff members waited for us to approach. The second we were close enough, they opened the double door simultaneously and held them open with straight, emotionless faces. Laredo swept his arm out to allow Lev and me entry first. Lev helped me sit to the left of the head of the table, where Laredo sat, and took a place next to me.
Davi sat across from me and I grinned like a schoolgirl. I was this close to my brother. All I needed was for Laredo to confirm my suspicion. I wanted to ask right this second, but told myself to be patient. All would be revealed in due time.
For twenty-four years, I didn’t know I had a brother. What was another hour’s wait compared to quarter of a lifetime?
The rest of the men seated themselves around the table and Lev spoke first, addressing Alessio, who took a seat at the end of the table, away from the rest of us. “Are we going to have a problem?”
Alessio grinned cruelly at my man, his face distorting as his scars pulled and stretched with the movement. “I don’t know, Leokov. Are we?”
Lev’s brows narrowed. “Don’t do that. Don’t hold me accountable for something my brother did.”
Laredo raised a hand. “Now, boys. This is not the time nor the place.”
Lev shook his head. “No. You’re right. I’m here for Mina. We’re going to be civil. But we need to get this out of the way before your son decides to attack the wrong brother.”
Alessio leaned forward and growled, “Civil?” He stood and hissed. “Look at my fucking face. That look civil to you?” His hard eyes landed on me. “Your woman can’t even look at me. She’s fucking scared of me.”
My eyes turned down to look at the table, my face paling. So he’d noticed that, huh? Crap.
Laredo stood slowly. “Sit down, Alessio.”
Alessio snarled, “I’m not done yet, old man.”
Laredo spoke quietly but firmly, “Yes, you are.” His eyes gazed at me sympathetically before turning on his son. “Your face doesn’t frighten Mina. It’s your temper that upsets her.” Then he finished tiredly with, “Sit down, Alessio. You’re scaring your sister.”