Chapter 2

2

GWEN

W ith bright blue eyes, a man emerges from the shadow of the alley, caressing the pipe of his pistol as if it were a loyal dog.

Venom sneers, "You better fuck off before Mason has your fucking head."

Blue Eyes's lips spread into a sinister smile as if he was a kid playing with his favorite toy. "Oh, and this Mason lets you run around and rape young women?"

"Mason owns this city and everyone in it." Venom laughs as he points to me. "Especially her, so I'd mind my fucking business if I were you."

Blue Eyes shrugs. "You see, I would if she didn't say no, and well-" He winks at me. "When a beautiful girl says no to a jackass like you, I can't help myself."

It all happens in a flash. Blue Eyes reaches for Venom's gun, twisting his body so Venom's head is on the sidewalk, underneath Blue Eyes's knee, and his arm bent back so that Blue Eyes could easily break his arm.

Underneath the streetlight, I can see his slick back, dirty blonde hair, with a rogue strand dancing above his right eye, which is brown. I want to tuck that strand back so it can spring back and have a reason to touch him again. His blue eyes are vibrant and deep like the ocean, and he has swirls of intricate black tattoos peeking out of his button-up and up his neck. I swallow as my eyes land on the vein popping on the forearm that stretches to put pressure on Venom's shoulder blade.

When he looks up at me, there is a sparkle in his eye, and his lips are in an easygoing smile. "Normally, I'd break your arm, but since you were bothering the lady, I think it's only right that it is her choice what we do with you."

I twist my lips as if I am in deep thought because the idea of Blue Eyes breaking Venom's arm for me makes my panties wet. "Well, before you break anything in my honor, how about you tell me your name?" I purr, leaning forward to his eye level. Venom struggles beneath him, a slew of curses leaving his lips.

He brandishes a bright smile, rolling his name off his tongue like we are meeting in line at a coffee shop. "Nikolai Petrov, pleasure."

"Nikolai? Petrov?" Venom whimpers.

"In the flesh." Nikolai's cocky smile flashes in my direction with a flourish.

"Petrov, wait, I-I-" Venom begins to beg, but Nikolai clicks his tongue, silencing him.

"No. No begging now." Nikolai twists his arm, causing Venom to yelp, but he brings his eyes back to me. "Our handsy friend is getting a little impatient…"

"Gwen. I would shake your hand, but they seem full right now." I smile, flipping my curls over my shoulder, the broken bottle still swinging between my fingertips.

"Well, Gwen." Fuck, I love the way he pours over my name. "What would you like me to do with the handsy guy here?"

"Hmmm, you see, a broken arm can heal."

"Continue." Nikolai nods, intrigue flashing across his eyes as a devilish smile spreads.

"And I think this fucker needs a permanent reminder to keep his hands to himself." I purse my lips as if contemplating before looking down into Venom's eyes. "Don't ya' think, Venny?"

"Gwen, I swear to God-"

"Threaten her, and I will take your tongue as a souvenir," Nikolai growls, and heat rushes straight to my core. "Continue, love."

"Thank you." I beam. "I vote for a pinky finger, not too significant, but he'll miss it."

"I like the way you think, Kotik." Nikolai pulls a knife out of his back pocket, flipping it open. He looks at the hand he is currently twisting away from Venom's body, pressing the knife to the base of his pinky. He looks down at Venom with a nasty grin. "This may hurt a tad bit, mate."

The alleyway fills with the screams of Venom, and I think I am in love with a psycho.

Venom shakes in the fetal position, vibrating from the pain as he holds his bleeding hand. Nikolai looks at me with a mischievous smile, with the pinky in his hand. "For you, Kotik."

"How romantic," I deadpan. "Normally, men get me diamonds and dinner first."

Nikolai throws the pinky away as far from Venom as possible. "Those men are carbon copies of each other. At least you will remember my name," he teases.

A smirk dances on my face. I cross my right arm under my chest and placing an inquisitive finger on my chin. "I'm sorry, what's your name again?"

He laughs in his low voice as he grabs my hand, kisses it, and whispers, "My name is yours if you want it to be."

My cheeks heat up, and electricity sparks where his lips connect with my skin. There is no reason for one man to be so sexy and smooth with eyes that make me so weak in the knees. The smirk he gives me while he looks at me through his eyelashes will end me.

"Jeez, you're too much of a charmer for your own good."

The laughter that rumbles through his chest causes me to catch my breath, wishing to hear the sound again and again. "And you are too beautiful for your own good. A girl like you should be throwing the tips, not dancing for them."

I pop my hip to the right, my nails wrapping around my hip. "What? You didn't like my dancing?"

Nikolai's eyes heat, his tongue poking out to brush over his lower lip before poking his inner left cheek and looking away.

"Oh my God, do you think I am a bad dancer? "

Nikolai's hand loops around my waist, his hand spreading over my lower back, pulling me into his chest. The motion startles me and I drop the beer bottle. The scent of leather and fresh rain invades my senses. His eyes flutter to my lips, the boyish smirk spreading across his lips before he makes eye contact with my breathless body. "No, my love, I love your dancing." His voice lowers. "I just would rather you do it in private for me."

I can't breathe. I can't think, not with Nikolai this close, and for the first time since the fourth grade, I fucking stutter. "W-well, i-if you wanted a d-dance. All you had to do was ask." Jesus. Fuck. Get it together, Gwendolyn.

His nose grazes mine. "Dance for me."

"When?" He slides his phone into my hand.

"Tomorrow. Let me take you out and show you the lifestyle you're supposed to be living." My mouth parts mindlessly, and I gather all the shallow breaths I possibly can as I type my number into his phone.

"Pick me up at 8," I say. Nikolai lets me go, and I immediately feel the chill of the night consume me.

He winks at me, not even checking if I gave him my real number, the cocky bastard.