“Yes, sir.” Pulling her hand back, she tipped her chin up and looked me in the eye. Good girl, she was showing no fear when she absolutely had every right to.
“Yannick, please.”
“Yannick,” she breathed. Clearing her throat, she stood taller. “I’m Jolie Summers, here to cater for your needs tonight. Should you or your party require anything, you just need to ask.”
Jolie, her name was Jolie. Not a name I would have guessed but on first - or second impressions really - she appeared to be the kind of woman who wouldn’t have a lacklustre name, and Jolie suited her perfectly.
I leaned in closer, towering over her. “Such a gorgeous name.”
A hint of colour tinged her cheeks at the compliment. Pink. I glanced at her hair and decided right there and then, pink was my favourite colour.
“Thank you.”
I could have lingered, wanted to if I admitted it, yet making her feel more awkward than she clearly was didn’t seem like such fun. “We’re fine for now. Maybe take ten minutes, then come back. We’re celebrating, and my boys drink fast.” There was no way she’d learn what the celebration was for, she’d already seen enough of my unsavoury character, and I wanted a calm night with a happy server. “It’s good to see you again, Jolie.” Moving into the VIP area, I took a seat next to Sandir who had already poured glasses of champagne all round.
“Very cute,” he nudged.
“Off limits,” I growled loud enough, making sure they could all hear. “Nobody touches, don’t be disgusting.”
“You heard the man.” Sandir lifted his champagne glass in salute. “One of these, then onto the good stuff. Vodka!” Most of the champagne went down in one go, the four men around me ready to start their night after the shit show involving Clive.
“Did Bill get what you asked for?”
“He bloody well better have,” Greg called from the other side of the low table.
“He assured me he did. It’s not like he hasn’t brought in that unique brand before.”
These men were my inner circle, the five of us loyal to each other and no one else, we’d spent years building what we had together, our bond tested on numerous occasions and we still held fast. They’d been with me a long time and after the day we’d had, they deserved a night to hang it all up and forget. Caulder’s Bar, my bar, was the perfect place to get a little drunk and let loose without enduring any aggravation.
“What the fuck was wonder boy thinking?”
“That was more than his dick talking, that’s for sure,” Sandir spat with venom, disgusted. He hated liars and cheats, and dickheads like Clive.
“Well, it sure as fuck ain’t talking anymore, stupid bastard.” Tayte snorted out a laugh and jabbed Sandir in the ribs, earning a scowl in return.
“You don’t steal the boss’s money,” Greg said roughly.
“Here, here.”
“So, Irina got the woman?” Tayte asked. He was one of the smartest men I knew, with connections that rivalled my own, and in any other circumstances I would have considered him a worthy adversary.
“That’s what she wanted,” I replied. “I didn’t have the stomach for it to be honest.”
“Poor bitch,” he laughed. And wasn’t that a fact. Kayleigh would be in pieces by the time Irina said enough. She loved to play with her blade and could slice and carve flesh to perfection. A blood thirsty woman when the mood struck, she wouldn’t have taken kindly to Kayleigh trying to outsmart us to the tune of four million quid.
“Hey, Yan. You want to get Miss Bunny Ears to fetch the vodka?”
I grinned at Sandir. He knew he was the only one who could get away with that kind of comment after my warning and he was testing the theory. It was said among many people, I couldn’t love, and I couldn’t be loved, but that was so far from the truth because I loved Sandir, loved him like a brother, much like the rest of the men around the table. Brothers who would never betray me. I knew just about everything about my best friend, as he did me, he was the one I turned to when I couldn’t quite bring out the ruthless man I was expected to be. He knew my past, my present and probably knew my future without me having to spell it out for him.
“They look like bunny ears to you?” Andrey smirked.
Jolie caught my attention as she walked across the floor, black bar tray under her arm. I took a little longer than I normally would have to watch; the woman mesmerising me.
“Damn. Really, Yan? She’s off limits?”
I glared at Tayte, the big guy with deceiving looks, he could move faster than lightning, despite packing some serious muscle. “Yeah, Tayte. Really.”
“Shit,” he grumbled. “She’s cute as fuck. You know her?”
“Something like that.” I turned my attention back to Jolie as she walked up the steps.
“What can I get you gentlemen?” She eyed the empty glasses and bottles before stepping forward and clearing them onto the tray she’d had under her arm.
“Bill has a little something for us.”
“Of course. I’ll get rid of the empties and be right back.”
“Thank you, darling.” Greg gave her a kind smile, the guy a big softie at heart.
I had no worries with him leering at her, she really wasn’t his type at all, too feminine for his liking. Jolie smiled back, genuine and comfortable. I’d hoped the break to get over the shock of seeing me again had helped. I would have hated for her to be uncomfortable or intimidated while doing her job.
Andrey was watching her too, wouldn’t be long before he figured out where he’d seen her before. Question was - who’d get there first, him or Sandir?
“Make sure Bill
