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“They are not bratva,” Maksim stated simply. “He will not be able to withstand what is coming for him. He’ll talk.”
“It’s never wise to be overconfident, Maksim.”
“I speak facts, Avgust,” he replied. “One cannot overstate facts.”
Changing the subject, I asked, “Did you hear that Noah Murphy’s wife is also pregnant now?”
Maksim nodded. “I did hear that.”
“We’re running out of time.”
“I think you misspoke, Pakhan,” he replied smoothly. “I think that you mean that you are running out of time.”
Once upon a time, a wife and children had been in my future to the point that I couldn’t imagine my life without them in it. I’d had a plan, and it’d been outlined to the last detail. Nowadays, the very thought of marriage turned my blood cold. While I did need children, I didn’t need a wife for that. However, Nero Sartori hadn’t been mistaken when he’d said that it would help that your children were legitimate if power was ever up for grabs. Though we were a brotherhood of loyalty, blood was also considered when it was time to pass down the reins.
“I have no desire to get married.”
“Which is understandable,” he replied, knowing why. “However, with power come sacrifice, and unless you plan on passing your legacy down to one of your nephews, it will make things a lot easier if your children are not bastards.”
“I wouldn’t be the first,” I pointed out.
“No, you would not,” Maksim agreed. “However, we are in America, not Russia, Pakhan. Inheritances are a lot more complicated here than they are back in the homeland.”
Though our generation were all American-born, our heritage was rooted deeply in each one of us, and we could all live easily and comfortably in Russia as we did here. Native or not, Russian blood flowed through our veins, and that’s who we were, no matter what.
“I’ll think about it,” I semi-lied, and Maksim just smirked because he knew it.
Chapter 4
Samara~
“A thousand dollars to wrap those gorgeous legs around my waist, darlin’.”
Ignoring the asshole, I leaned over to pick up the empty glasses off the table, and I constantly had to remind myself that I had voluntarily signed up for this. While Huckabee’s was considered upscale and the clientele were usually more civilized, it was still a bar, and you still got drunk assholes that liked to believe that their money could buy them anything. Sadly, that was often the case, but not with me. If I slept with a man, then it was because I was actually interested or attracted to him. While it was none of my business what other women did, I didn’t sleep with men for money, though tempting as it may be.
In all actuality, I was a bit of a hypocrite in that regard if I was being honest. After all, I worked in a place that made their waitresses wear skirts too short to cover their asses and shirts that showcased miles and miles of cleavage if you had an ample chest, which I did. In my work outfit, my curves made me look like a pin-up centerfold, and every time that I put on my uniform, my self-respect wisely kept its mouth shut because the tips that I made helped to keep me and Masha fed. So, while I might not be screwing guys for money, I was giving them an eyeful for it, so I really had no room to talk.
“With a body like that, I bet she could take on all three of us,” the second guy drawled out like a sleaze. “Talk about a fucking playground of tits and ass.”
Choosing to ignore him as well, I asked, “Would you like another round of drinks?’
“Yes, please,” the third guy answered, and I wasn’t sure if he had tacked on the please to make up for his dipshit friends, but I still appreciated it.
“Not a problem.”
I turned to leave, but then the first guy reached out to grab my knee. “Whoa, wait,” he said, chuckling. “How about three thousand? One thousand for each one of us.”
“Let go of my leg,” I ordered. “Now.”
“Oooh, feisty,” he said as he winked at me, though he did let go of my leg. “I like a woman with a little fire in her.”
Ignoring him once again, I glanced at all three men. “I’ll be back with your drinks.”
Turning from the table, I bit my lip, doing my best to keep myself from getting fired. Most nights, I was able to ignore the entitlement that went on in this place, but on the nights that I couldn’t ignore it, it was everything that I could do to keep from losing my job. I constantly had to remind myself that I chose to work here, and I’d made that choice with all the facts in hand at the time. I’d known what this place was like, and I’d chosen to work here anyway because it paid better than most jobs. Plus, cash tips always came in handy for last-minute emergencies.
“Is it just me, or are these idiots more aggressive tonight than usual?” Laurel Ming asked as she saddled up next to me at the bar.
“No, it’s not just you,” I assured her. “I just got offered three thousand dollars to engage in a foursome.”
