Gilded Tears: A Russian Mafia Romance (Kovalyov Bratva Book 2) by Nicole Fox (novels to read for beginners txt) 📗

I’ll tell you,” he says mirthfully. “And boy, I promise you this—it’s one hell of a story.”

A few hours later, Cillian and I head downstairs. He promises me that he’ll be at the club opening tonight—he just has to go take care of a few things first.

We hug again and then he limps away, still leaning on that silver-tipped cane.

I can’t believe the story he told me. But it makes sense, in the end.

And something tells me there’s more of it yet to be written.

I make my way to the curb out front, where my Jeep is waiting for me. Adrik is constantly suggesting I use a driver, like Stanislav and Budimir had done, but I refuse every time.

I may be the don now.

But I’m going to do it my way.

It takes me only fifteen minutes to drive from the hotel to my new investment and business venture. It’s a huge plot of land that I bought only four and a half months ago.

The building that stood on the plot was dilapidated to say the least, but with money and manpower, I have transformed it into the night club it is now.

The façade is sleek and simple, almost understates. Then you walk inside and realize just how huge it is. The dancefloor is the central focus, but there’s a separate area for the DJ and a whole section devoted to the bar.

The private rooms are spacious, luxurious, and they’re hidden behind the VIP section.

I hand my car over to the valet and head inside.

The place is quiet when I walk in. Only the staff is present, bustling around as they prepare for opening night.

“Hello, handsome.”

I turn and see Svetlana walking towards me. She looks the part in her figure-hugging gold sheath dress and four-inch heels. The perfect hostess.

“‘Lana,” I greet with a courteous smile.

She kisses me politely on the cheek. “I didn’t expect you here so early.”

“I wanted to make sure everything was ready for the big night.”

“Of course you did,” Svetlana says, rolling her eyes. “The two of you are made for each other.”

I frown. “Is Esme here?”

Svetlana smiles and nods. “She’s in your private rooms right now, changing that little Casanova you have for a son,” she confirms. “She came early to make sure everything was ready for the big night. Sound familiar?.”

My smile gets wider. “If you’ll excuse me.”

Svetlana just winks.

I leave her and walk through the VIP section towards the private rooms, but I veer right from there and keep walking. I hit a black wall that looks like a dead end, but I make a sharp right and find a black door that blends into the wall.

I walk inside and lock the door behind me.

My quarters are meant to function as a meeting area as well as a lounge area. I enter into the office space, and then walk through the trellis partitions to the lounge that I had constructed with Esme and Phoenix in mind.

There are large sofas and recliners in the spacious room. I’ve even had a play space set up for Phoenix. That’s where I find Esme.

She’s got her back to me, as she leans over the cot in the corner, her fingers entwining with Phoenix’s as the two of them coo back and forth at each other.

I stand there silently, admiring the two of them together. Esme looks like a modern-day Aphrodite with her dark hair in smooth waves that fall down to her middle back.

The dress she’s wearing is made of champagne silk, fitted at the bust and held together by a halter neckline that ends in a dramatic side bow. It fans out at the waist, flowing down her soft curves with ease.

“Wow,” I breathe.

She gasps and turns to me with a start. The moment she sees me, her face relaxes and she smiles widely, lifting her skirt a little and twirling around for me.

“You like it?”

The dress’s bodice is worked in the front with tiny seed pearls, and I notice the pearl earrings I’d bought her earlier that month dangling from her ears.

“You look breathtaking.”

She beams at me before walking right into my arms. “You look handsome.”

“I try.”

“How did the meeting go?” she asks cautiously.

“It went well,” I say. “I’ve reforged a few old alliances and new oaths of fealty have been pledged to the Bratva.”

“My peacemaker. I never thought I’d see the day.”

I roll my eyes and grumble, “Don’t think I won’t get a little handsy with anyone who tests my limits. You most of all.”

Phoenix gurgles a little as he turns on his chest and catches sight of me. He’s not sounding out words yet, but he has just started recognizing faces. Another reason why he’s always attached to Esme.

“Hey little bird,” I say, adopting the moniker that Esme uses on him all the time. Half the time, I don’t even realize I’m doing it.

I pick my son up and plant a kiss on his forehead. He smells like baby powder and fresh soap. He’s also wearing a long-sleeved shirt with little black suspenders.

“Someone just had a bath,” I observe.

Esme laughs. “I gave him one just now.”

“Why the fuck am I paying Talia if you’re the one doing all the work?” I ask.

Esme laughs. “Because Talia’s his nanny, but I’m his mother,” she says. “I’m still the one in charge of taking care of him and raising him.”

“And I have no problems with that,” I say. “But it’s not necessary for you to be washing him when you’re all decked out like this.”

She smiles patiently at me, as she runs her hand over Phoenix’s downy hair. “I got dressed after I washed him.”

“Not the point.”

She laughs. “Will you stop being so grumpy?” she demands, patting my arm. “It’s the grand opening tonight. You should be excited.”

“And I am,” I say. “In more ways than one.”

I paw at her ass. She yelps and ducks away from me laughing. “No tocas! Keep those filthy hands to yourself, Mr. Kovalyov,” she exclaims. “Talia could walk in at