Kole walked through the doors of the exclusive club, owned by his rival, Pavel ‘Pasha’ Petrovna. His men followed behind him, on high alert through the throng of partygoers. Laughter and music filled the air.

The crowd parted for him. People’s eyes widened as they moved out his way, recognizing the danger in him as he walked toward the private part of the club where he was told Pasha would be. This was a first for the other boss to extend an invitation to him for a meeting.

The Tokhan may be one of the most powerful organized crime organizations in New York, but it was time for them to move to the side.

Kole Bozovic was coming for that top spot.

A few of his men disappeared into the crowd so they could spread out around the club to secure it. Kole didn’t trust Pasha at all. He and his men were packing. He could feel the weight of his weapon underneath his jacket in the holster. There was no way he would have entered the lion’s den without some form of protection.

A large meathead in a suit approached them. Kole stopped in his tracks as the man stood in front of him. He could feel his trusted bodyguard, Denis, on his left.

Denis was about the same size of the meathead. Denis had been with him for years, and Kole knew his bodyguard’s loyalty knew no boundaries.

“Mr. Bozovic. Mr. Petrovna is waiting for you. Please, allow me to escort you to him,” he said.

“Thank you.” Kole nodded, adjusting his suit jacket as he followed the meathead.

This meeting better be worth it. It pissed him off that he couldn’t have continued with the little piece of ass that he’d had in his office. But this was business, and business would always come before pussy.

Meathead led them to a private balcony off the side of the club. Another guard opened the door for them as they stepped through it.

Kole’s eyes instantly took in the balcony and found it to empty, aside from the guards and a few men placed around the open area. The Tokhan boss sure had excellent taste when it came to his club. His eyes stopped on the lone female in the private section.

Mila Petrovna.

One of the most dangerous females in all of New York. The sister of the boss had a reputation that left many men keeping their guard up around her. She could hang with the best of men—better yet, most men had a hard time keeping up with her. It was known that her position was right below her brother, and it was she who was in charge of her brother’s foot soldiers. She was known as the Kollektor.

He could appreciate a woman with power. Someone who could wield a weapon and kick ass while still remaining a woman. His eyes took her in as he made his way to the table.

She dripped pure fucking sex.

Her leather encased legs were crossed, displaying her fuck-me heels. Her dark hair was left flowing down around her shoulders. Her bright blue eyes met his and his cock hardened.

He cursed underneath his breath. This was his rival’s sister.

Off. Fucking. Limits.

Yes, maybe he should have had a second round with the whore in the office before coming here. Kole had seen pictures of Mila, and they didn’t hold a candle to Mila in the flesh.

He arrived at the table as the men stood to their feet.

“Welcome to my establishment,” Pasha Petrovna said in greeting, in his thick Russian accent. He extended his hand.

Kole took his hand in a firm grip. Pasha and Mila favored each other. One could instantly tell that they were related. Pasha’s eyes were dark and intense as he took Kole in, studying him.

“Thank you for having me,” he said, looking around the group.

“Please, have a seat.” Pasha motioned to the chair across from him. Denis stood behind him as he unbuttoned his suit jacket and took his seat. He knew that his bodyguard wouldn’t be leaving his side. Pasha and his two men sat down as well. “Let me introduce my associates. These are my captains, Mila Petrovna, Boris Rokossovsky, and Yulian Nazarov.”

Kole murmured a greeting to them, his eyes lingering on the beautiful siren who returned his nod. She had yet to say anything, but her eyes didn’t miss a thing. She glanced behind him at Denis, as if sizing him up. She may be a badass, but Denis would definitely give her a run for her money. Denis was an ex-Navy Seal who was more than capable of taking care of himself.

“The head of my security, Denis Miklos,” Kole announced, motioning to his guard.

“Let’s just get to the point of the meeting. I’m a busy man, and I’m sure you are as well,” Pasha started, leaning back in his chair. Kole nodded, interested in what the Tokhan boss wanted to discuss with him. “I’ve had my eye on you and your organization.”

“Is that right?” Kole murmured. He wasn’t surprised that Pasha had been paying attention. His organization was making big moves in the city. Kole was proud of his brotherhood.

“Yes. I like the way you work. It is well known that the Belotov’s handle their business. Your shipping and receiving business is what really interests me. We are expanding our operations along the entire Eastern seaboard.”

“So, you want a partnership?” Kole interjected, his eyes narrowing on the man across the table from him. “Get to the point. What do you really want?”

His gut did a familiar flip, telling him that something was off. There was no way that Pasha would invite him out late in the night to try to strike up a business deal to make them partners.

“Pledge your allegiance to me,” Pasha demanded, his cold eyes locked on Kole. “You and your whole organization, pledge allegiance to the Tokhan Bratva.”

“Never,” Kole growled without hesitation.

He should have known that Pasha would want Kole to submit to him. He had a reputation of breaking the strongest of men. The Tokhan didn’t come into power by being soft. Kole knew that the Petrovna’s were cold, ruthless men who would stop at nothing to get what they wanted.

Well, Kole Bozovic wasn’t a bitch of a man who would just roll over.

He could feel Denis shift behind him. The motion was done on purpose to reassure Kole that his guard was still there. But Kole wasn’t worried.

“You could be made into our organization,” Pasha continued, as if Kole hadn’t already turned him down. “I’ll give you rank, and you can still run your business.”

“Fuck no,” Kole repeated forcefully. Pasha tried to ignore him, and Kole wouldn’t stand for it. There was no way in hell he would kiss the ring of another man.

A dangerous glint appeared in the Pasha’s eyes. Kole was sure the same look was in his eyes as well as he glared back at the man across from him.

“You wouldn’t want me as an enemy, Mr. Bozovic,” Pasha warned in a low voice.

“Is that a threat?” Kole snapped, shifting forward in his seat. He wanted to make sure that Pasha could see his eyes. He wasn’t a bitch, and wouldn’t be threatened. He could care less that they were in Pasha’s establishment. He wouldn’t be disrespected like a common punk.

The tension in the air became so thick, it could be sliced with a knife. His eyes didn’t waiver from the mafia boss. Kole was not a man to be intimidated. He didn’t get to where he was by cowering to opponents.

A tense silence filled the air as the music abruptly stopped. Out of the corner of his eye, Kole could see the DJ, bartender, and waitress being escorted from the balcony.

His fingers itched to pull his weapon from his holster hidden beneath his jacket. But in doing so, it would be a direct declaration of war and the battle would start on this night.

“Now, boys, this isn’t a dick measuring contest.” Mila’s accented voice broke the silence. “Mr. Bozovic, can I interest you in a drink?” she asked, standing from the table.

Hell the fuck yeah, he thought to himself. He needed a drink.

He nodded, finally breaking the stare down with her brother. She motioned for him to follow her, so he stood from the table, shooting off a glare to Pasha before he moved to her side.

“Let me show you the finest spirits collection that is kept for my brother and his special guests.” She led the way around the pool and toward the abandoned bar.

As he followed her, his eyes traveling down to her leather encased ass and held back a growl. He knew he wanted her. He couldn’t, nor would he, deny it.

She turned to him as she walked behind the bar and smiled. Her eyes narrowed on him, as if she was aware of the path of his thoughts.

“See anything you like?” she asked with her perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised.

His eyes took her in from her place behind the bar. He couldn’t have heard her right.

“Excuse me?” he asked.

“The alcohol.” She pointed at the selection behind her. “Do you see anything you like?” she repeated.

Oh, he did, and the object of his desires was waiting on an answer from him. Mila Petrovna would be his. Come hell or high water, the mafia mistress would be his.

“Which vodka would you recommend?” he inquired in a low voice. He glanced behind him and took in his men spread out around the private section.

He could care less about the others. He turned back to her and watched the pulse at the base of her neck speed up. She was affected by him too.

Good.

“Here.” She reached for a glass bottle from the top shelf. It was a flashy bottle that Kole didn’t recognize. “This is one of my favorites, imported from the motherland.”

He was captivated by her accent and the way she poured his drink in a short clean glass, just how he liked his vodka.

He reached for the glass as she handed it to him. Their fingers brushed, and Kole felt the jolt of electricity between them.

Yes. She would be his.

“Is this where you and your brother play good gangster, bad gangster?” he asked with the glass paused against his lips. She smiled and leaned forward against the countertop toward him.

“This is no game, Mr. Bozovic,” she murmured. She knocked back her shot of the clear liquid and sat her glass down. “There’s nothing good about either of us. Especially me.”

“Is that so?” His eyes locked on hers and he couldn’t look away. Slowly, everyone else on the balcony seemed to disappear.

She smirked and shrugged her tattoo covered shoulder.

“What could be so bad about joining the Tokhan family? You would still run your business, and wouldn’t have to worry about the organization. We would take care of you.”

“That’s a very nice gesture, but as I just told your brother, the answer is no.” He was done with this conversation. He pushed off the counter and turned to walk away. He paused and glanced back at her. “Thanks for the drink.”

He signaled for his men. A Bozovic didn’t bow down to no one. He nodded to Pasha as he left the balcony. There was nothing else left to be said to the head of the Tokhan Bratva. This wouldn’t be the last they saw of him, especially Mila. She would definitely see him again. He would make sure of it.