CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER SEVEN

The next morning, Dominic caught his Alphas on their way to breakfast. Standing in one of the compound’s many tunnels, he gave them a rundown of Mila’s situation. As Dante and Jaime were passing—and fighting over which of them got to hold Hendrix—they heard a little of the conversation and nosily came closer, wanting to hear more.

Rubbing his jaw, Trey exhaled heavily. “I had hoped that the website would be crushed way before now.”

“I spoke with Shaya earlier,” said Dominic. “Nick told her that Donovan’s super close to cracking through the anonymity network. Then he’ll not only have the name of the creator of the website, he’ll also have the identities of all those who’ve put out the hits.”

“With any luck, Mila’s brother will reappear before then.” Taryn bit her bottom lip. “It’s weird that no one has been able to get in touch with him. Do you think something might have happened to him?”

“Mila said this kind of thing’s not unusual for Alex,” Dominic told her. “He’s a wolverine—they’re notorious for roaming. He doesn’t use his phone or the internet while on his travels.”

Jaime’s brows flew up. “He’s a wolverine? Seriously? That’s awesome. I find them fascinating.”

Cradling their son, Dante frowned at his mate. “Fascinating? What is wrong with you?”

“I think we’ve been over that already,” said Jaime. “Several times, even.”

Taryn took a step toward Dominic. “So . . . you seem to like this Mila a lot. I’ve heard her sing—and, hell, she’s amazing—but I’ve never spoken to her. Tell me about her.”

So he did, but it wasn’t long before he cut himself off and frowned at his Alpha female. “Why are you smiling at me like that?”

“You like her like her,” said Taryn, beaming.

He shrugged, nonchalant. “She’s a likable person.”

“You should bring her here,” Jaime told him, eyes bright. “We’ll be nice, I promise.”

“You know you can’t rely on your twisted charms with this one, right?” Taryn patted his arm. “I’m sure you’ve been full of compliments, but—considering your reputation—she knows you’re good with pretty words. She’s not going to be wowed by them. You’ll need to give her something you haven’t given others. Something that shows it’s different with her.”

“No, I don’t,” said Dominic. “You’re reading more into this than you need to.”

Dante sighed. “So even though you clearly like her, you still want nothing more than a fling?”

A muscle in Dominic’s cheek ticked. “She’s entering into an arranged mating soon.”

Taryn’s mouth fell open. “No way.”

“Yes.” Dominic couldn’t quite understand it—Mila could do so much better than that. “She’ll be living in Russia.”

Jaime exchanged a look with Taryn and then declared, “Well, I for one think you should spend with her what time she has left as a single woman.”

Taryn raised a hand. “I second that.”

“Right now, I’m more worried about the assassin situation than I am about her moving to Russia,” said Dominic.

“The Olympus Pride is strong, and they rally around each other,” Trey reminded him. “Mila will be well protected.”

Dominic knew that. Still, he’d thought about trying to talk her into staying on his territory, where it would be next to impossible for a hit man to get to her. He’d practiced the conversation over and over in his mind, thought about what ways to broach the idea with her, but he always hit a wall. Mila would never hide—especially when it wouldn’t solve the problem. The bounty would still be there, and anyone hoping to collect on it could hurt her pride mates to flush her out . . . just as she suspected someone was threatening her life in order to flush her brother out.

Hearing his cell phone ring, Dominic fished it out of his pocket. Not recognizing the number on the screen, he felt his brow furrow. Nonetheless, he answered, “Hello?” The voice on the other end of the line made him smile.

“You seem a little distracted today.”

Shutting the cash register, Mila blinked at Dean. “I’m good. Just a little tired. How’s Finley?”

Dean’s mouth curled. “Aside from having a bump on his head after he tried and failed to ride his cousin while said cousin was in their bobcat form, he’s fine. Hey, I went to the Velvet Lounge last night. I hadn’t been to the club before, so I had no idea you performed there. You have an amazing voice.”

“Well, thanks.”

“My girlfriend’s a big fan of music, which is why she’s constantly dragging me to karaoke bars. She loves your voice. In fact, I think she now has a crush on you.”

Mila chuckled, at a loss. “I don’t really have a response for that.”

“I’m not sure I would either, in your shoes. Take care, Mila.”

Remaining at the desk, Mila merely waved. For the millionth time, she gave the view outside a quick once-over. There were no suspicious-looking characters lurking around that she could see. But then, an assassin would strive not to look suspicious, wouldn’t they?

Really, she didn’t need to worry. Tate, Luke, and the pride’s enforcers were spread across the street, surreptitiously keeping a close eye on things while appearing otherwise occupied—relaxing on benches, painting shop doors, cleaning store windows, hanging near the mechanic shop under the guise of waiting for their cars to be fixed. She’d know something was wrong the moment they sprang into action.

Of course, any assassin who came along would no doubt spot Tate, Luke, and the enforcers. But that was the point. Vinnie wanted it to be clear that this would be no easy job. The only reason the cats weren’t out-and-out patrolling the streets was that it would attract the attention of humans.

The best time for anyone to attack Mila would be while she was far from her pride, which was exactly why she didn’t intend on going far. Why make it easy for the people wanting to collect on the bounty? No one with any sense would strike at her while close to so many pallas cats. Then again, no one with any sense would fuck with a pallas cat pride at all, so anyone who came at her had to be a total fruitcake.

Mila quickly tidied her station and then announced to the other barbers, “I’m taking a quick coffee break before my next client arrives.” Which wouldn’t be for another fifteen minutes.

Archie looked away from his client long enough to give her a brief nod. “Make me one, would you?”

“And me,” said Evander, cleaning his shears. “Black. No sugar.”

She sighed at him. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone else who doesn’t always take their coffee the exact same way.” Evander changed it up all the time. Earlier, he’d had it extra milky.

Evander shrugged. “I like variety.”

“Or maybe you’ve just never tasted the perfect cup of coffee,” she suggested. “When you do, there’ll be no going back; no changing it around.”

He grunted. “If finding perfection means I’ll no longer enjoy variety, I’m not interested.”

Her nose wrinkled. “Did you just fart?”

He didn’t even look up from his shears. “No, sweetheart, I blew you a kiss with my ass.”

She snickered. He’d sounded perfectly serious. Always did. Evander wasn’t a joker. Didn’t people-please or even try to flirt. To be fair, he didn’t have to. He possessed a sexy sort of arrogance that reeled females in. His imperious frown somehow made him hotter. She’d crushed on him a little when she was younger, but it faded fast—they just didn’t gel that way. Still, she could appreciate the pretty picture he made.

Hearing the door open behind her, Mila glanced over her shoulder. And her stomach rolled as in walked yet another male who easily drew women to his side. Each step fluid and deliberate, GQ sauntered toward her, his eyes so fiercely intent on her that a rush of sexual energy swept across her skin and heated her blood. Her cat lifted her head, watching him carefully.

Dominic shot her one of his panty-dropping smiles. “Ah, Mila, light of my life.”

She sighed, going for annoyed when in truth she was anything but. She liked his company, even though he could be super weird when he chose to be. “What do you want now?”

His brow furrowed slightly. “Didn’t you hear? I’m the new milkman. Want it in the front or the back?”

Struggling not to join the others in laughing, Mila shook her head. “It’s official—you’re whacked.”

Evander tipped his chin at him in greeting. “You’re early.”

Mila frowned. “Early?”

“My appointment’s not until five thirty,” Dominic told her, eyes dancing with mischief. And then she understood.

“You’re my next appointment, aren’t you?” she grumbled. Evander must have penciled him in on her behalf, the bastard. “Well, you’ll just have to wait; I’m on my coffee break.”

Dominic followed her down a narrow hallway and then turned into the break room. “Coffee sounds good.”

Making a beeline for the kitchenette, she quickly prepped the coffee machine, switched it on, and then started pulling mugs out of the cupboard. “Who brought my car back?” She’d noticed it parked in the lot outside her apartment building when she began her short walk to work this morning. Exceedingly short walk, considering she lived on the same street as the barbershop.

“I did last night,” said Dominic. “My pack mate, Trick, drove me to the club and then followed me to your building.”

“Ballsy of you to drive the car of someone who has a bounty on her head.” She had to give him credit for that. Would even have thanked him if his arms hadn’t snaked around her as he pressed his front against her back, catching her off guard. Then his mouth was trailing along her neck, lightly nipping and licking and bringing her nerve endings to life.

She slapped the hand that began roaming south. “Enough.” He splayed his hand on her lower stomach, one fingertip excruciatingly close to her clit. A wicked need thickened her blood, tightened her nipples, and sent her pulse racing. Her body responded to him far too eagerly and intensely for Mila’s liking.

His mouth grazed her ear. “I dreamed about you last night. Dreamed I was deep inside you.”

The finger directly above her clit doodled a little circle that massaged and stretched the skin just enough to tug at the hood of her clit—fuck, that felt good.

“You were so fucking slick and hot. Tighter than anything I’ve ever felt. I woke up just before you came for me.”

She swallowed. “Really turning up the intensity dial, aren’t you?” When he channeled it just right, his innate charm could probably reduce any poor girl to a puddle of want. She opted not to tell him about her own dirty little dream—a dream during which he’d sent her body into total meltdown. She had the feeling he’d be able to do exactly that in real life. “I told you last night to let this go.”

Sharp teeth raked over her neck. “You knew I wouldn’t.”

Refusing to let him unravel her control, she very casually poured coffee into four mugs. “You’re only torturing yourself, GQ.”

“You’re right on that one,” he said, surprising her. “There’s really no point in me pushing for sex.” Keeping one arm around her, he moved to prop his hip against the counter. “My cock . . . well, it died. Is it okay if I bury it in your pussy?” He smiled at her exasperated look. “Or you could try giving it some mouth-to-mouth. Hey, it might rise from the dead—you never know.”

She handed him a steaming mug. “You have serious issues.”

“Not something I haven’t heard before.”

After giving Archie and Evander their coffees, she settled on one of the plastic chairs in the break room with her own cup in hand.

Dominic grabbed the neighboring chair and angled it so that his front would face her side and he could bracket her chair with his spread thighs. He wanted to look at her. Wanted to watch the emotions flit across her face, see her eyes light with amusement, and get a flash of her dimple whenever her mouth curved.

Resting one arm over the back of her chair, he sipped at his coffee. “I noticed a lot of your pride mates are hanging around, keeping an eye on things. No sign of any bounty hunters?”

“All’s been quiet on the Western Front so far.”

“Good. You had any luck getting ahold of your brother?”

Her lips thinned. “No. And no one seems to have even the slightest idea where he could be. Let’s move on to a subject that doesn’t make my cat want to rip someone’s arm off.”

“All right.” He tapped his fingers on the back of her chair. “You finish work at six?”

“Yes, but—”

“Good. We can go straight to dinner from here.”

She sighed tiredly. “Even if I wanted to go out with you—which I don’t—I couldn’t. I’m eating at my parents’ house tonight.”

“I know. I was invited.”

“My mom only said you should go for dinner ‘sometime.’”

“Last night, yeah. But when she called me this morning, she said I should be there tonight at six.” Dominic took a sip of his coffee as he watched her digest that. He almost laughed at the sour look on her face. “Don’t ask me to cancel on them, Mila. It would be rude.”

Mila ground her teeth. Oh no, this wasn’t good. Valentina didn’t invite just anyone to dinner. She preferred for meals to be family occasions. For her to invite an outsider, there had to be a purpose behind it. And Mila knew just what it was. “That woman is unbelievable. And my father is no doubt in on it.”

“In on what?”

“They’re using you, hoping they can push us together and it will keep me from moving to Russia.”

Yeah, Dominic had figured as much. “I can’t blame them for doing whatever they think it will take to keep you here.” And honestly, he didn’t want her cheating herself out of a real mating any more than her parents did.

Not that he could be the devoted mate that her parents wanted Mila to have, but he was pretty sure they knew that. They probably just wanted someone to get rid of those shadows in her eyes and make her have some fun, hoping it would be in some way healing for her. Before she could start ranting, he stood. “You got a restroom here?”

Her teeth grinding, she gestured at the hallway. “Second door on your left.”

“Thanks, baby.” After setting his mug on the table, he disappeared into the hall.

Huffing at his absentminded use of the endearment—and pretty damn annoyed that it had made her stomach flutter—Mila fisted her hand. It was literally seconds later that Joel entered the break room, looking sheepish. Her cat stood with a hiss, slicing out her claws.

“Hi,” he said simply.

She summoned a smile for him, but it was somewhat strained. “Hi.”

Joel took a deep breath. “Look, I’m sorry I lost it on you yesterday when you told me about the arranged mating. I shouldn’t have yelled. I’m your friend; friends are supposed to support each other. I just . . . well, I want you to have a real mating. Plus, the other barbers don’t cut my hair right, and there’ll be no one to talk to about Game of Thrones if you’re all the way in Russia.”

“We can talk on the phone.”

“You don’t even know this Maksim guy, Mila. How can you be so sure about someone who’s practically a stranger to you?”

She lifted a brow. “Didn’t you just say friends are supposed to support friends? You’re heading into ‘you’re making a mistake’ territory again.”

He cursed. “I’m sorry, I just don’t get it. I feel like there’s something I’m missing. Something you’re not telling me.”

“You’re missing that I’m a big girl who can make her own decisions.”

He exhaled heavily, and seconds of silence ticked by. “This is really what you want?”

“It’s really what I want.” More specifically, it was what she needed to do.

He sighed. “I can’t honestly say that I’m behind you one hundred percent. I want you to stay, and I don’t think you’re making a move that’s best for you. But I won’t give you any more grief about it. Just . . . please be open to changing your mind.”

“Glad to hear there’ll be no more lectures.”

He moved forward as if to join her at the table, but he stilled when Dominic stepped into the room. The two males eyed each other, one predator studying another. GQ gave him a casual nod and then strode purposely toward her. He returned to his seat and assumed the same exact body position as before, settling into her personal space as if he had every right. His closeness eased her cat ever so slightly, to Mila’s surprise.

The males then went back to eyeing each other. The tension ratcheted up until testosterone practically swamped the air.

Joel glared at him. “I remember you. It’s Dominic, right? Yeah, I heard plenty of stories about you from females too. They all said the same thing.”

Dominic picked up his mug. “It’s true—my dick really is that huge.”

Mila snorted a laugh, and her coffee went down the wrong tube. Motherfucker. Coughing so hard her eyes teared up, she couldn’t quite catch her breath.

“You’re all right, just swallow it down.” Dominic rubbed her nape. “That’s it, breathe through your nose, relax your jaw. Just swallow a little more.”

Oh, the bastard.Once she’d finally composed herself, she wiped at the tears in her eyes. “Sorry about that.”

Joel cleared his throat. “Anyway, Mila, I’m cooking dinner tonight for Adele and her parents. Fancy joining us?”

“Already made plans to have dinner with my parents, but thanks.”

“No problem. I wouldn’t miss your mom’s cooking either. I’m guessing she’s making beef Stroganoff, since it’s your favorite.”

She got the feeling he threw that little fact in as a “Ha, I know her better than you” statement for GQ’s benefit. Her cat didn’t like the sly dig. “Probably.”

Tugging on one of her curls, Dominic said, “Beef Stroganoff is sautéed beef in sauce, right?”

“Yep.”

“Then why did your mom ask if I like sour cream?”

“She adds smetana, which is sour cream.”

Joel tensed. “You’re taking him as your guest?”

“Valentina invited me,” Dominic told him, although his eyes were on Mila’s hair as he playfully plucked at her curls.

Joel’s eyes went diamond hard. “I see. Mila, can we talk in private for a minute?”

Dominic lifted a daring brow. “What, you can’t talk smack about me while I’m right here? Because we both know that’s what you’re about to do.”

Joel inclined his head. “Fine. Like I said, I’ve heard a lot about you. I don’t want my friend being used by yet another player. She had enough of that shit from her ex.”

“Commendable of you. But Mila’s no pushover. She doesn’t need anyone acting as a voice for her. If she wants me to leave, I’ll leave.”

Mila snorted. “No, you won’t.”

Dominic’s mouth curved. “No, but it sounded good, didn’t it?”

“It did.” She looked up at Joel. “Thanks for the concern, but it’s not needed.”

“If you really think that, you haven’t learned your lesson from Grant,” Joel clipped.

Her cat snarled and lashed out with her claws. The way the feline saw it, Joel had relinquished his rights to her; he had no business interfering in her life. But Mila saw his interference for what it was—a subconscious drive to shield her, one that his instincts wouldn’t allow him to ignore. His intention wasn’t to hurt her. “You’re back to lecturing me again.”

His mouth tightened. “I just wish you were as protective of yourself as the people who care for you are.” With that parting shot, he left.

Mila sighed, and her cat’s hackles lowered. She needed to start locking the freaking break room door. Feeling Dominic’s eyes on her, she stood. “Come on, let’s get you sorted.” Soon enough, she had him caped and reclining in her chair with a warm, moist towel over his face.

As she browsed the shaving products on the shelves, Evander sidled up to her and asked, “Have you taken Lothario up on his offer of ‘fun’ yet?”

“I heard that,” said Dominic, his words muffled by the towel.

Mila tossed Evander a glare. “I told you, I’m not interested in being another notch on his bedpost.”

“I heard that too,” Dominic muttered.

“Well, we weren’t whispering.” Mila swiped off the towel, ignoring his chuckle, and patted his face and neck dry. As she applied a light coating of preshave oil, a low, contented growl rumbled out of him. Her cat kind of liked it.

“You smell good,” he said, his voice pitched low.

“Thanks, I do try.”

He chuckled. “Do you and Joel have some kind of history?”

At the mere mention of him, her cat’s mood plummeted. “No. He’s just a friend.”

“He’s very possessive of you.”

“Protective,” she corrected, grabbing a tub of shaving cream. “He’s mated—you must have sensed it.”

“I did. That doesn’t mean he can’t still have lingering feelings for someone he was once involved with.”

“There has never been anything between me and Joel other than friendship.”

Dominic watched her closely as she used a little shaving brush to apply the cream. She was telling the truth. And yet she wasn’t. He didn’t quite get it. Wondered if maybe she’d once tried to push for more than friendship with Joel before he mated and then had gotten her heart broken. “Your cat doesn’t like having him around. I sensed her tension. Did he hurt you somehow? Reject you?”

She gave him a curious look. “I never had you down as nosy.”

He shrugged. “What can I say? You intrigue me.”

“Hmm. Right. I want to leave the shaving cream on for at least a minute.”

Before she could walk off and busy herself elsewhere to escape the conversation, he grabbed her hand. “Fine. I’ll drop the Joel thing. Besides, I have a question: Should we take a bottle of wine or something with us to dinner tonight?”

Her brows snapped together. “You can’t be serious about going.”

“I was invited.”

“Only because my parents plan to use you in their little bid to keep me here.”

“Your mother promised me Prague Cake, Mila. Now it’s true that I don’t know what that is, but you can’t go wrong with cake in my experience. I’m not about to miss out on it just because I make you nervous.”

She pulled her hand from his and planted it on her hip. “You do not make me nervous. You make me want to slap you.”

Wrestling back a smile, Dominic said, “Hey, it’s okay. You make me nervous too. That’s why I get so shy around you. When you look at me all predatorily like that, it makes me feel like a baby gazelle about to get devoured by a lioness.”

She crossed her eyes. “I don’t know whether to laugh or finally give you that slap.”

“As long as I’m deep inside you while you’re slapping me around, I don’t mind. It’ll make it feel all forbidden and wrong.”

She scrubbed a hand down her face, determined not to laugh. “We are not having sex, and you are not coming with me tonight.”

“Oh, I’ll be coming with you in multiple ways,” he said with a wicked smile. “You know, I’ve never done dinner with the parents before.”

“We’re not a couple.”

“No, but if you go along with it instead of fighting me on going to dinner, they’ll think we just might become a couple. If, however, you don’t turn up with me at your side . . . well, they could try their hands at matching you up with other males instead.”

Fuck, he was right, Mila thought. Her parents could be relentless at times. Nothing stopped them once they got an idea in their heads. “Hmm. I suppose you are the lesser evil.”

He smiled. “I knew you liked me.”

“Unless you want to donate blood, be still.” She rinsed the blade under hot water before taking that first swipe. It glided smoothly and effortlessly across his face and neck with each pass. Once she’d finished, she rinsed him off, applied some aftershave balm to his slightly damp skin, and then patted him dry with a towel. “There.”

He glided his hand over his now butter-smooth skin. “Nicely done.”

After he’d paid and left a far-too-generous tip, she said, “I just have a couple of things to do, and then we can go.”

He gave her a pointed look. “Ten minutes, Mila. My face is leaving in ten minutes—be on it.”

“Oh my God. Do you ever stop?”

“Being what? Charming? Funny? Irresistible?”

“Bizarre? Warped? Disturbed?”

“Hey, now, there’s no need to get mean.”

She stalked off, shaking her head. “Hopeless. You’re totally hopeless.”