"In my country, wine is for breakfast," he said, offering an actual laugh.
"How long have you been here?"
Aleksei plopped two cubes into the glass, pulling a bottle of bottle of vodka from what had to be a refrigerator before answering. "Since I was fourteen."
"Then you are more American."
The bottle still in his hand, he lifted a single eyebrow. "Interesting but yes. I have been here more than half my life."
"Why did your parents move here? I assume your mother is still living." I watched his long and rugged fingers as they poured the crisp liquid almost to the rim.
"My mother is very much alive, likely enjoying dinner with my father this evening at one of their favorite restaurants. She rules the household. What she says goes, I believe Americans would say." He swished the drink as he walked around the bar, moving in my direction.
Even from where I stood, I gathered a whiff of his cologne. Different from the night before. More provocative in every manner. My skin was instantly on fire. I hated my body's constant betrayal, the way my nipples felt against the silky material, the style preventing me from wearing a bra. I'd been playing with a blowtorch when selecting the damn dress.
"Is she a part of the business?"
Aleksei gave me a surprised look as he flanked my side, still keeping his distance. "Do not try and pretend, sweet Willow. You are very intelligent. I daresay you know more about Bratva, the Irish mob, and the various Italian kingpins than the majority of people in the world. Our women never enter business. They can do what they like in certain manners. Attend school. Own a business. Teach. Whatever they desire, but they will never touch the organization. They are too precious to bring into the fold, bearers of our children."
"Is that what you'd like, to have a family and children?" I heard the whispered question coming from my mouth and almost dropped my wineglass.
His look of surprise returned then his facial expression changed, becoming harder, untrusting. "A family? Family is the most important aspect of our lives. Money and power mean nothing without family. I would kill any person, male or female, who attempted to harm them. Why do you ask, Willow? I want to know the truth."
He almost frightened me with his vehemence, but I could see the intoxicating amount of love he had for those he cared for. "I honestly was asking a simple question, getting to know you for some crazy reason. Maybe that's wrong. I don't know everything about you, Aleksei. I didn't have the time to study you and your family to any degree. Whether you want to believe me or not, that's your prerogative." I walked toward the table, easing the wine stem down on the coffee table, pouring the glass close to the rim. I might as well get drunk. What the hell?
The silence behind me was deafening.
He was gauging me, trying to figure out if or why I was lying. Was he worried I'd intended to go after his parents?
I took a sip and left the wine, folding my arms as I walked toward him once again. As I passed by, I could feel the heat of his body resonating, the scent of him even more intoxicating. I couldn't think this way. I had to gather additional information. That was the prime goal.
If only I wasn't quivering all over.
I casually tilted my head, mesmerizing every inch of his face. What I hadn't noticed before was the tattoo crawling out from the open neck of his shirt. Ornate in design, the all black ink seemed befitting for a man of his nature.
And God help me, but I wanted to see the rest of the intricate work.
Every inch of his chiseled body.
His hand was steady as a rock as he took a sip of his drink, no doubt buying time. "I meant what I said, Willow. I do not tolerate liars. I understand what you think of me and my business and I can appreciate that but lying will not help you achieve the freedom you so desperately seek."
"Freedom. I'm not certain I've ever had any." I glanced back at the pool, allowing the mesmerizing effects of the lights to pull me out of a moment of insanity. The man didn't care about me, only his precious business.
"Why would you not consider yourself free?"
"We all have our issues in life; fears and worries. They're a condition of living."
"Hmmm..." he mused. "That sounds very much like you remain in debt to someone."
I turned away, wanting to go back to my room so I could find some solace. "Does it really matter? You're going to get exactly what you want. My cooperation."
"I... desire to learn more about you."
A chuckle slipped past my lips. "Really? What would you like to know? You already broke into my apartment."
"And my soldier found it ransacked." Aleksei's voice was tinged with anger.
"What?" I hadn't been prepared for the news. "No, why?"
"As I told you, the men working for your brother are much like my soldiers. They were no doubt checking for information since I appeared at the Newark port. Wasn't I supposed to be dead by that point?"
"I..." I honestly hadn't given Peter a timeframe. Had I? Had I been so stupid to do that? I racked my brain, trying to remember the last conversation I'd had with my brother.
"You have forty-eight hours to complete your task or someone will be sent to do it for you. And you know what that means." Peter snickered as he slammed the drawer, pushing back from his desk.
"Why do you say things like that to me? Have I ever let you down? Haven't I paid enough for my sins?" I threw back at him.
"There's always a first time, baby sister. You have no idea what's at stake. None." He grabbed his briefcase and keys, heading for the door. "As far as your sins. Only I will say when enough is enough. Remember. You are very much a killer."
He was tossing me out, using the same words I'd heard time and time again, goading me. God, I hated the man, loathed everything he stood for. I didn't even know him any longer, greed and lust for power snatching away whatever small portion of him that had been decent.
"Why don't you tell me what's really going on here?" I demanded.
Peter cocked his head, giving me that same condescending look I'd always gotten from the time I was a child asking for extra money. "You have no place in my business. You are well aware of that."
I held my ground for a few seconds before heading for the door. "Your business. One day you might be surprised when someone else is running the operation, brother."
I'd bullied him, something I'd never done before. Fuck. Me.