“Yeah, yeah, don’t rub it in.”
He laughs and smacks me on the back before heading to the door. “Oh, hey,” he says, turning to look at me. “How’d it go with the mysterious Irish granddaughter?”
My face must say it all because Dima laughs again and takes another step closer. “That good, huh?”
“Such a pain in the ass,” I groan. “She’s rude, stubborn, and she called me Nik.”
That really makes him laugh. “Please tell me she doesn’t look like Paddy.”
“No, the little shit is actually pretty beautiful,” I begrudgingly admit.
“Ah, I see.” Dima raises a brow at me and scrubs a hand over his jaw, scratching at the scar he’s had since he was eighteen.
“Oh, you don’t see shit,” I say, my gruff voice making him smile.
“Is she young?”
“Don’t think because you’re a father that I won’t punch you.”
“Young, beautiful, and just as intimidating and stubborn as you. This should be interesting.” Dima says with a laugh, walking backwards to the door and giving me a very amused grin. “I think I’m going to hand over all business with the Irish club to you.”
“Don’t you dare,” I yell after him.
Some of the stragglers are still punching bags, but everyone ignores the loud conversation going on around them in Russian. Just a typical day at the club.
Dima gives me a shrug and pulls out his car keys. “Sorry, Gina and Sergei need me at home more, and Aleksei is busy with all the accounting shit. Looks like you get Irish duty. Try not to piss her off too much, Kolya. It would be nice if the two clubs could get along now that Paddy is out of the picture.”
“God, fatherhood has turned you soft. You’ll be coming in here with a beer gut soon if you don’t watch it.”
He points a finger at me, which only makes me laugh. “If Sergei wasn’t waiting for his teether, I would kick your ass for that.”
“God, man, you just gave me chills, so fucking scary.”
He laughs because Dima and I have never been able to stay mad at one another for longer than a few seconds. We’ve been through way too much together. Even though we’re not blood related, he’s the only family I have, and before Gina and Sergei, I was the only family he had. A bond like that isn’t easily broken.
“Tell Gina I said hi and kiss Seryozha for me,” I holler to him as he turns to leave.
“Will do,” he hollers back before walking out into the dark.
Making my way to the office, I see Aleksei packing up his laptop and grabbing his jacket. He’s been working as our accountant ever since Dima and I opened the clubs. His parents left Russia when he was young, but Russian was his first language and he never lost it. He’s the youngest of us having just turned thirty, but he’s a damn whiz at numbers and has kept our underground fighting money safe from the government’s prying eyes.
“Hey, Aleksei,” I say, sitting down in the now vacant office chair. “Heading out?”
“Yeah, Jamie has supper almost done, and she’s been introducing me to the amazing world of ‘80s horror movies.” He laughs and slings his computer bag over his shoulder. “Apparently, you can’t start preparing for Halloween early enough.”
“How’s living together working out?”
I swear his eyes actually light up as he answers. “It’s great, Nikolai. She’s amazing.”
“I’m glad it’s working out for you.” I sigh and turn on the office computer. I need to order a few things for the club before I forget.
“Do you mind if I head out, or do you need me to stay and close the club?”
I can tell the poor guy is dying to get home to his girl, and I certainly don’t have shit waiting for me at my place, so I wave my hand at him and say, “Sure thing. I’ve got to do some stuff before I can leave anyway.”
“Thanks, man,” he says, giving me a wave and bolting out the door before I can change my mind.
Looks like I’m the odd man out. Dima’s happily married, Aleksei is well on his way, and here I sit, alone and wondering how the hell I turned into such an old grump. I used to have fun, a different girl every night, and sometimes two if I was up for it, and now I’m just bored with the whole thing. Instead of going next door and getting a drink and a woman for the night, I’m placing orders for boxing equipment and wondering if I remembered to water my plant before I left the house this morning.