I glare at him, but it doesn’t seem to do any good. He just laughs and takes another drink.
“You know, there was a time when that look would’ve had you shitting your pants, little Aleksei.”
He just laughs harder and nods his head in agreement. “You can be intimidating as hell, I’ll admit that, but I think you might be softening with age.”
I let out a disgusted grunt. “It’s because we aren’t doing the underground fights as much anymore. I’m losing my edge now that I don’t have to go out and make sure people pay up when they lose. Dima just had to go and marry the police chief’s daughter,” I say, feigning annoyance.
“And have a baby with her.” Aleksei grins. “No way in hell is he going to do anything to jeopardize that and put them at risk. Plus, we’re doing fine without the extra fighting money.” He gives me a big, cocky grin. “It just so happens your amazing accountant did some truly spectacular investing, so we’re all pretty much set for life.”
“Oh fuck,” I groan, watching Tiffany walk toward us with our plates. She’d been obsessed with Dima, and when she finally realized it wasn’t going to happen with him, she’d set her sights on me.
I hear Aleksei’s muffled laugh but choose to ignore it and instead take another drink of coffee.
“Hey, Nikolai,” she says in that nasally voice of hers that always makes me want to pull my own hair out.
“Hey, Tiffany.” I take the plate of food she hands me and reach for a bottle of ketchup and the salt shaker.
She ignores Aleksei completely since she knows he’s as good as married and keeps trying to catch my eye, but when I keep avoiding her, she rests her hand on my forearm, making me cringe a little and says, “So what have you been up to? I haven’t seen you around in a while.”
“Just been busy,” I say, moving my arm as gently as I can. I’m not trying to hurt the poor girl, but I’m also not interested and don’t want her touching me.
“Maybe we could hang out sometime.” She gives me a big, hopeful smile, and I’d feel sorry for her if I didn’t know how many times she’s thrown herself at all of us.
“He can’t,” Aleksei says, pouring a healthy amount of ketchup on his hash browns. “He’s seeing someone.”
I jerk my eyes to his, and the amused look on his face makes me want to reach across the table and strangle the little jackass.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I ask him in Russian.
“Throwing you a lifeline, you ungrateful ass. Besides, we all know you want to be,” Aleksei says before stuffing his mouth with food.
I resist the urge to throw food at him, barely, and instead look back at Tiffany who looks like she may have had a tiny orgasm while listening to me speak Russian. Her face is flushed and she’s eye-fucking the hell out of me.
Sorry, little girl, it’s not going to happen.
I give her a cold smile, knowing it’s for the best and say, “I’m sorry, Tiffany, but Aleksei’s right.” I can feel the smug grin Aleksei is giving me, but I refuse to look over and give him the satisfaction.
“It’s not fair,” she huffs. “All of you guys are taken.”
Aleksei laughs, but it dies quickly when Tiffany shoots him an angry scowl. “Don’t laugh at me,” she says through gritted teeth, trying to keep her voice down so the families around us don’t hear.
“Look, I’m not laughing at you, but if all you want is to get laid by a Russian, then just swing by the club some night. All our bouncers are Russian and available, fucking take your pick.”
I expect Tiffany to be insulted or pissed, but she looks at Aleksei like he’s just given her the greatest gift imaginable. I’m equal parts surprised and not surprised, and I make a mental note to warn the bouncers of the Tiffany storm that’s headed their way.
“Thanks, Aleksei,” she says before bouncing off to help another table.
“What the actual fuck, man?”
Aleksei shrugs and stabs at his eggs. “Problem solved. You’re welcome.” He grins at me before taking another bite.
We both clear our plates, and after two cups of coffee I feel like I’m actually starting to wake up. When Tiffany walks back to clear our table, Aleksei says, “Can I get one of those waffle monstrosities that Jamie likes so much to go?”
“Sure thing,” she says, and I can’t help but notice how damn chipper she is now that she knows there’s Russian cock on the horizon.
“Still hungry?”
“No, it’s Jamie’s favorite. The woman can put away more sugar than any person I’ve ever known. She was still sleeping when I left, but I’m going to run home to surprise her with it before I head into the club.”