Lev: a Shot Callers novel (7 page)

Chapter Ten
Mina

“Mina?” I heard vaguely.

I wasn’t interested. Instead, I burrowed farther into the covers, desperately wanting them to merge with me so I’d never have to leave.

“It’s time to wake up, mouse.”

Pulling my chin under the quilt, I groaned long and pained. “Five more minutes.”

“You might recall that you said the same thing the last three times I’ve tried to wake you.”

Oh. That’s right.

It all came back to me.

Lev had been trying to wake me for the good part of twenty minutes, but every time I swore I was awake and fine to be left to get ready, I fell back asleep.

I peered up at him. He stood by the bed, looking and smelling freshly showered. His jaw was dark with stubble, and his light cologne smelled edible. My reply was muffled by bedding. “Okay, I’m up. Give me five minutes.”

“I’d leave you to it, but you’ve proven to be quite the fibber on that front,” he accused lightly.

I tried to scowl, but my sleepy eyes kept blinking, ruining the effect. His eyes, the color of warm honey, crinkled in the corners as he looked down at me.

I knew there was only one thing to do. In one fell swoop, the covers flew off me and I sat up, shaking my head to clear it of sleep. “Okay,” I chirped. “Yep. That did it. I’m awake.” But as my eyes began to droop again, I mumbled, “I’m sort of awake.”

“What are you wearing?” he asked, his disgust clear.

“My new pajamas,” I looked down at the canary yellow jammies and returned a little defensively.

He looked me up and down, and not in a good way. “They’re hideous.”

My nose bunched. “I didn’t choose them for the way they looked. They’re comfortable.”

I did not dare tell him that they were the bargain price of $4—new in pack, I might add.

My eyes had closed on me again, gosh darn it.

Lev had obviously never had an issue getting up in his life, because his large, warm hand was suddenly on my forehead. “Are you sure you’re all right? You seem lethargic.”

Lifting my hand, I pushed his away gently, and snorted. “I’m fine. It’s this bed. It’s magical. I never want to leave it. If I could, I would have all my meals served in this bed. This magical bed.”

I smiled sleepily up at him, but all I could focus on was his hard frown. He shook his head. “No, I don’t think you’re okay to work tonight. Perhaps next week.”

I stilled. “Wait, what?” Well, that had the desired effect. I shot out of bed. “I’m good. I’m fine. I just need…” My brain had yet to awaken with my body. “I don’t know. I need something.”

“Coffee,” he supplied.

I could have kissed him. “
Yes
.” This came out in a long whisper.

“Already have a pot brewing. Maybe a shower would help.”

He was right, of course.

Opening my eyes as wide as I could, I dragged my feet toward the bathroom. He called after me, “I’ll be downstairs.” As I shut the door, he reminded, “Don’t lock the door, mouse. I’d hate for you to fall asleep and drown in there.”

I scoffed, but didn’t bother bringing the sass. Rather, I rolled my eyes, clipped my newly straightened hair up, and jumped under the warm spray, careful not to wet my face. Once I was awake, I soaped up, rinsed off, and stepped out.

This house was like one giant, warm hug.

The bed was snug. The shower was toasty. The bathroom lights heated my naked body, drying me as a stood there, soaking it up like sunlight. It was like a five-star hotel. Or so I imagined one would be like. I’d never actually stayed at a hotel before, let alone one that was five stars.

As I stood there naked, I thought about Lev and why he brought me here. I had yet to figure him out. He seemed genuine in his gesture, but my history had told me that you never got something for nothing.

I was mentally ready for the ball to drop.

Having placed my clothes in the bathroom that afternoon before my nap, I dressed in what I had on when I returned from my shopping expedition with Nas. Taking the clip out of my hair, I brushed it gently, as per the instructions of the hairdresser; otherwise, I was destined for frizz. Apparently. Whatever the heck that meant.

My makeup still looked good. I was surprised by how much makeup was applied to my face to get the ‘natural’ look. I laughed to myself. It really was silly.

As we’d left the beauty salon and made it back to the car, Nas had handed me a small bag. With my brow furrowed, I peeked inside.

All the expensive makeup that had been used on my face by the beautician was neatly stacked at the bottom.

“Wha—” I gaped at her. “Why?”

She shrugged. “It looks good on you, and you’re not going to be able to get the same effect with the cheap stuff we bought earlier.” She spotted my obvious discomfort and tried to ease it. “You don’t have to use it, but I can’t return it. I’d like for you to use it.”

I was still unsure.

She tried another route and attempted to look bored. “Besides, the club has a reputation for some of the most beautiful faces in the country.” She side-eyed me. “You’ll pull down that standard with your shitty makeup.”

I smiled then. “Thank you, Nastasia.”

She returned it. “You’re welcome, Mina.”

Holding my heels in my hand, I came down the stairs and found Lev holding Lidiya on his hip as he poured two cups of coffee. She babbled, gripping his lapel in her tiny fist, and he kissed the top of her head.

I cleared my throat at the door, not wanting to interrupt. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Mirella will be here in a few minutes.” He answered my unasked question, “Lidiya’s nanny. You’ll be seeing a lot of her.” He handed me one of the coffee cups. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know how you took it.”

“Straight up black,” I uttered, taking the cup with a smile of thanks. I sipped at it slowly and it was wonderful. I couldn’t help watching the chubby, long-lashed little girl. My chest tightened in awe. “She’s adorable, Lev.”

He pulled back to look down at his daughter. His soft response nearly had me swooning in a dead faint. “She is my life.”

Warmth flooded me, leaving me in a haze of wonder. What had I done so well in my life that I’d come across Lev Leokov? Whatever it was, I was thankful for it.

The little girl turned and, finally spotting me, gabbed. “Zhena. Zhena. Zhena.”

My nose bunched with my smile. “What is she saying?”

Lev watched me closely. “She doesn’t know your name. She’s calling you her version of ‘lady’ in Russian.”

“Oh, so you’re Russian then?” I asked stupidly.

Patiently, Lev responded, and I commended him on not calling me a dumbass. “Yes, from both my father and mother’s sides.”

“Oh, cool,” I said. And what followed was a long, awkward silence.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, Lev asked, “Where is your family, Mina?”

My response was curt. “Dead. I’m an orphan. I didn’t know my father. My mother died when I was twelve. My grandmother didn’t want me, and so I went into foster care. I ran away when I was seventeen.”

Affected by my sudden change of manner, Lev whispered, “Okay,” and it sounded off. Almost childlike.

The door opened suddenly, and a gaggle of people came through it, conversing loudly and openly.

Nastasia came in first, face red, lips tight, arguing with the man behind her. “I don’t give a shit who she was, Vik.”

The man, who I easily guessed was Viktor, came in behind her, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Sure you do, baby.”

Nas turned and her lip curled. “She was kind of pretty in that ‘I hope you don’t mind STDs’ kind of way.”

Viktor was tall, brawny, and wore a pair of dress pants, a white shirt rolled up at the sleeves to reveal a bunch of colorful tattoos, and had a toothpick sticking out the side of his mouth. His blue eyes popped in a way that made you want to stare into them for days, and he wasn’t at all fazed by Nastasia’s wrath. “You know me. No jimmy, no hanky.”

A beautiful redhead came in behind Viktor. I immediately noticed she had the same eyes that Viktor did. From the way she smiled, she only had eyes for Lev, and when she looked to me, her smile fell fast.

Lev winked at her, a tender look in his eye. “Anika.”

My stomach churned violently at the way Lev looked at her. I didn’t understand it.

I mean, I
understood
it. She was pretty in a way that I just couldn’t compete with.

“Well, hey there, princess.” Anika held out her hands, smiling once more, and Lev handed over Lidiya as if this were a regular occurrence.

My gut rolled. Again.

What the hell was going on here? Stop it, stomach!

She bounced Lidiya on her hip, kissing her cheek. Lidiya showed no signs of discomfort with the woman. She looked to me and spoke softly, her voice melodic. “Hi. I’m Anika.”

I opened my mouth to respond, already reaching out with my hand when Lev straightened. “This is Mina. The new bargirl.”

I smiled at her. “Yeah, what he said.”

At his explanation, Anika’s tension visibly faded and she warmed up toward me. She shook my hand lightly. “Oh. That’s great. We’ll be working together.”

Viktor looked at me then, and seemed surprised, as if he’d just noticed another person in the room. “What’s up? I’m Viktor.” He looked me up and down appreciatively before turning to Lev and smiling slyly. “Where’d you find this one?”

His eyes on me, Lev responded without emotion, “Stealing Sasha’s wallet.”

My heart stuttered before it started to race. Everyone had gone silent apart from Viktor, who blinked at me a solid ten seconds before erupting in laughter.

My cheeks heated, but my body turned cold. I felt the stares of everyone in the room and the tension became too much.

I got it. I stole his brother’s wallet. It was a shitty move. If I weren’t desperate, I wouldn’t have done it. Was I going to be punished for it forever?

Under my breath, I muttered, “Asshole,” before slipping on my heels and clomping out the kitchen door. I almost fell ass-over-tit in those damn heels, but Nas told me I needed to get used to walking in them.

Ten minutes passed, and down the path, I spied a mature woman with dark curly hair and kind eyes coming up toward the house. She slowed when she saw me, so I smiled. “You must be Mirella.”

“I am,” she stated carefully.

I took a step forward. “I’m Mina.” I pointed back to the house with my thumb. “I’m living here temporarily. Lev told me that I’d be seeing a lot of you.”

Her eyes widened and her jaw nearly dropped. “You’re staying…here? In the house…with Mister Lev?”

My nod was slow. She seemed beyond surprised. More like astonished. What was with that reaction?

Catching herself, she attempted a smile, but it was uncomfortable. “Nice to meet you, Mina,” she said, moving toward the kitchen door.

“You too,” I returned just as she closed the door behind her.

I waited out in the cool breeze for another few minutes before the door opened and everyone, sans Mirella and Lidiya, came outside. I felt Lev’s eyes on me, but I didn’t give him the satisfaction of looking up.

Nas smiled sympathetically as she watched me avoid everyone else’s scrutinizing eyes. “Ready to get that blood pumping?”

“Sure,” I sighed.

I mean, really. How bad could it be?

***

Lev

“How’s she doing?”

Nastasia smiled too widely, and it came across more like a grimace. “She’s only broken four glasses so far, so—” The sound of glass smashing followed by Mina’s “Ah, crap.
Sorry!
” sounded. My sister shook her head. “Five glasses in two hours. Is she trying to set some kind of record or some shit?”

“She’ll get the hang of it.” I didn’t sound as confident as I hoped.

I watched Mina closely as she listened to Anika. She was concentrating hard, nodding on occasion. I couldn’t understand why this was so hard for her. Her shoulders looked tight with tension.

“Listen,” Nas broke into my thoughts. “I gotta tell you, Lev, telling Vik and Ani that you met Mina when she was stealing Sasha’s wallet…” She winced. “Ouch.”

I was suddenly confused. “What?”

My sister had always been patient with me, but tonight, she sighed. “It’s not cool, bro. You only get one chance to make a good impression, and before Mina had the chance to do that, you tore it out from under her feet.”

“I don’t understand.” I really didn’t.

Nastasia leveled me with a hard stare. “You introduced her to our closest friends as a thief.”

Oh.

I was beginning to comprehend what I’d done. “I see.”

“No, you don’t.” Nastasia took my hand in her own and squeezed. “You’re a wonderful person, Lev. But you don’t see.”

Panic welled up inside of me. I lowered my gaze, training my eyes on my feet. What was I to do now? I didn’t know how to react. I felt
wrong
.