Page 2 of Bratva Wolf

I flip my hand up to the annoying pest chirping at me.

“Thane?”

Fucking leave me alone. I turn and stare into the cold dead eyes of Jose Aguilar. He’s the boss of the New York plaza of his Uncle Arturo’s cartel.

“You’re spending a lot of time here.” His head flicks at the woman gyrating on the stage. “Have you tapped that yet?”

“Asking about my life, Aguilar?”

“Just making conversation.”

The man grates me the wrong way. He’s just like the rest of his family. They traffic girls and kids, which turns my stomach. “What can I do for you?”

“I’ve got a business proposition for your people.”

You mean you’ve figured out a way for us to do the work and make you a ton of money? “What kind of business?”

He plunks himself down into the booth, tipping his head at the server. She knows exactly what he wants. “We want to increase our loan making business.”

“Why?”

“We need to launder more money, and I have to admit, we’re concerned about your IRS. Legitimate loans and title loans make us good money on top of giving us a way to clean the dirty money. My accountant figured out this is an innovative way to hide our money.”

“Okay?” This could have waited. “I’ll have Cynric call you.”

“Is that the best option? I hear he’s lost his edge. No one ever sees him anymore. Hell, there’s a rumor he’s dead.”

My head jerks to the small man. “Trust me, you don’t want to see the beast except for scheduled appointments. He’s lethal when he’s pissed.”

“I’d rather do business with you.” Jose crosses his arms, as though that makes him look more decisive.

“That’s not how it works. My brother is the gatekeeper to the bratva. Want our involvement? Convince Cynric.” Jose’s right though, my brother has been absent since a stock car crash burned him a few years ago.

My head swivels to the redhead as she bounces around the stage in a G-string. Jose understands my dismissal and walks away as I text Cynric that he wants to bother him again.

I give the pretty redhead a few minutes to change her clothes. She never stays past her three dances. She steps out of the dressing room as I lean against the dark wall. “Hello, Red.”

She jumps as a blush rises up her face. “Thane.”

“Come home with me.”

She readjusts the large blue canvas bag on her shoulder, maneuvering around me in the hallway. The area is blocked enough from the main room that you can hear another person when they talk without screaming at you. I glance at the back of the club which has multiple rooms behind heavy wood doors. I could take her into one but I want her alone.

“I’ve got to get back to my grandmother.” She steps quickly down the hall.

“It’s not that late. Just a few hours.” I dog her steps trying to catch her before she gets to the exit at the end of the hall.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. You said the first time it would be the last, and we’ve been together five more times.”

I run my finger down her cheek. “But it’s good.”

She cocks her hips and studies me. “Good?”

“Great. You’re right. It’s excellent.”

She flips her wrist to check the time. “An hour.” No way an hour is long enough.

I nod. I never let a woman dictate. What the fuck is wrong with me? “Excellent. Are you going to drive yourself back to my condo again?”

---