A glance to my left saw a stern looking man in a black polo shirt, standing behind the bar, mixing drinks.
Okay, so maybe not a setting for a five-year-old, but still amazing.
This pool house was more of a pool mansion, with sofas, a dining setting, and the biggest TV I’d ever seen in my life on the wall, a fully functional bathroom, and an outdoor shower stall. I would’ve happily lived here forever.
“Whoa,” I muttered under my breath.
Nas was in the pool already, wearing a black bikini. Anika lay reclined on a deck chair in a 1950s-style leopard-print bikini with a high waisted bottom, her eyes closed in relaxation. Sasha and Vik stood by the bar, waiting for the bar man to finish mixing drinks. Both of them wore black board shorts that came above the knee.
I would dub this pool house The House of Sexy.
Nas spotted us first, smiling hard. “Wicked. You made it. I thought you’d never leave your bed.”
I choked out, “Nice, Nas. Real nice.”
She feigned complete innocence as I heard a mild, “Hey” from Anika.
I turned to smile at her, but lost my fake smile as her eyes landed on Lev just as he was removing his robe. I wanted to seem inconspicuous, so before his big reveal of Sir Frank and The Twin Beans, I stepped in front of him, standing right in her view. Then I lifted my head and smiled. “Hi, Anika. How are you?”
She watched Lev closely as she responded, “I’m doing well, thanks.”
“Come on in,” Nas called out. “I swear the water’s beautiful. Like a warm bath.”
I wanted to guard my man’s delicate sensibilities, but couldn’t resist the pool calling my name. With a grin, I threw my sundress off over my head, ran as fast as I could, and then jumped, landing in the warm water with a loud splash. Once I reached the surface, I lightly paddled next to Nas. “Oh, God, that’s amazing.”
Lev took the deck chair next to Anika, took off his sunglasses and lay back. She watched him with a keen eye, turning on her side to face him. She smiled and spoke quietly. He didn’t turn to her as he responded, placing his hands behind his head and closing his eyes. She spoke some more, and I couldn’t help but notice how she was holding herself. On her side as she was, her boob was dangerously close to falling out of her bikini.
I was about to open my mouth, when I heard Sasha say, “Ani. You’re tit’s about to say hi to me.” I spun to look at him. His eyes fierce, he handed her a cocktail and said, “You need something to cover up with?”
She blinked up at him, seeming confused. “No. I’m fine. Thanks.”
I had to turn to smile at Nas. She smiled back, rolling her eyes. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who’d had it with Anika’s flirting.
I would hate to make a scene today, but totally would if I needed to. She needed to watch herself around me. I might have been small, but I could be vicious when triggered.
Vik sat on the edge of the pool, handing both Nas and me a fruity cocktail each. I smiled in thanks as he lifted his beer to us. We raised our drinks in cheers and sipped in the relaxing setting.
I was beginning to think I was a major douchebag for not wanting to come here today. Sasha even came across as civil. I was glad to be here.
Nas turned to me. “So,” she started. “You speak to Alessio yet?”
I beamed. “Yes. He messaged me yesterday so I’d have his number, and we’ve been texting ever since.” My smile softened. “He’s actually not a bad guy.”
Sasha snorted as he slipped into the pool. “Yeah, well, you never seen him go at your throat with a fucking blade the size of King Kong’s dick.”
I turned to scowl at him. “You fucked his wife.”
Sasha sipped his beer and shrugged. “He shoulda kept her on a closer leash.”
I groaned. “God, you’re a pig.”
He grinned in that slimy way I hated. “You know it, Mina.”
“I seriously pity the girl who ends up with you,” I muttered as I shook my head in sympathy for the poor unknowing girl that would marry Sasha.
His face fell, but he probed. “So, Scar Face Scarfo is your brother. He’s shouting that shit from the rooftops.” He eyed me. “How’d you talk him into claiming you? Said he didn’t want no sister. Now he does. I’m curious. What did you have to do?”
He wanted me to take the bait. He wanted a fight.
He wouldn’t get one.
I sipped my cocktail and shrugged. “He regretted treating me the way he did. He apologized and I got over it. I’m not discussing private details with you, Sash. All you need to know is that my brother and I are working to repair our relationship.”
He titled his head slightly. “You tell him shit about the club?”
My face flushed. I had told him some, but nothing important. “Not really. He asked why we’re shutting down. I told him something big is coming.” I grinned. “I might’ve told him to expect his competition to return with a bang.”
Sasha’s eyes searched me. “Oh yeah? What did he have to say about that?”
I pinned him with a stare. “He wishes us good luck. And he meant it.”
Nas piped in. “That’s nice of him.” She muttered sincerely, “That’s really cool, Mina.”
I smiled. My brother was actually a decent guy. It made my heart warm.
Vik spoke matter-of-factly, “Yeah, but it’s not like he still doesn’t want to slice Sasha up into chopped liver.”
I was in full agreement. “We haven’t talked about it much, but I’m sure he does.” I glanced at Sasha before turning my eyes away, wanting to make my point in perfect calm. “What Sasha did to his face changed him. He’s a shell of the person he used to be.” I shrugged. “I don’t really blame him for wanting revenge, to be honest.” A shiver went through me. “Can you imagine how that must feel? To have your wife cheat on you with not just another man, but a rival, then to have to wear those scars forever, reminding you daily of something you’d rather not recall?” Silence passed through the group. “He can’t forget it, no matter how hard he tries.” I spoke quietly, “What Sasha did won’t let him.”
The silence encompassed the group for a short while as we sipped our drinks in quiet. But soon enough, Vik had us laughing about something stupid, and when Lev joined me in the pool, carrying me on his back, I was quickly reminded this unlikely group of people meant something to me. I might not have a complete family, but I was a Scarfo by blood and a Leokov in my heart.
I felt safe in the knowledge that I had more family than what I started with.
And Lev was more than that.
He was home.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sasha
She stood by the bar, head down, hiding in plain sight. Her wavy auburn hair trailing down her back in soft waves. Her tall curvy body a living fantasy. One that made my life absolute hell.
She was beautiful. Exquisite. Not like the other girls I’d had in my bed.
Anika Nikulin was elegant.
Anika Nikulin was stunning.
She was graceful.
I made a deal with Viktor when we were teenagers…my sister for his. He had yet to make his move with Nastasia, but I was tired of waiting for Anika.
Making my way to the bar, I stepped in close. Too close. Her near bare body brushing my front. And yet, I leaned in closer, wanting to feel the full heat of her back against my chest.
She turned, eyes wide, glancing down my body. “What are you doing, Sash?”
I couldn’t help myself. My hands came up to rest on either sides of her small waist. “I can make you forget him,” I muttered. My thumb ran over the elastic of her bikini bottoms. “I can make you forget he ever existed, Ani.”
And I meant it too. Lev didn’t want her. He had Mina. Her time to make a move was over. Lev was happy now. She missed out.
She glanced up at me through lowered lashes. Her melodic voice soft, she uttered a regretful, “You were never competition, Sasha. Not next to him.” She glanced over my shoulder, and from the way her eyes turned warm, I fucking knew she was watching him.