"Okay." A nice warm bath does sound good.
Merri walked over to her luggage and took out a nightgown. She clutched it to her chest and hurried towards the bathroom. He is going out? It is rather late to meet for business. Well..I guess it is really none of my business.
Nikolai noticed her shy expression and chuckled as he left the hotel suite. As he walked down the hallway to the elevator he called Max, his cousin, to pick him up.
Standing on the sidewalk he was deep in thought, recalling the last time he was in Kazan with Alexi. They were there to remove a threat to Sydney's art smuggling operation. At the time Alexi and him were as close as brothers. I never thought I would want to break away and lead a normal life...with the girl Alexi wants in his bed.
A cold winter wind was blowing so he tightened the black scarf around his neck then cupped his hand around a cigarette and flicked a lighter. He inhaled deeply then blew out a thin stream of gray smoke. I want to marry the little angel and no one will stop me...not Alexi or Sydney.
His cousin pulled up to the curb in a produce delivery truck. Nikolai crushed the cigarette under his shoe then got into the passenger seat.
Max patted Nikolai's cheek, " Bro, you look like shit!"
"Drive."
"To the Viper Club?"
"No. Suli's."
When the two men arrived at the inconspicuous bar, his cousin, Max, parked then said, "Are you going to visit your parents?"
"Maybe."
"I saw Uncle at the woodshop, he said Auntie isn't doing too good. Her heart condition is acting up. It would do her good to see you."
"Don't mention I am in Kazan. I'm not sure I will have time to go to the countryside."
When they entered the smoky bar, the heavy stench of sweat mixed with cigarettes permeated the air. The bar was crowded with gangsters and prostitutes. He curled up his lips and took a deep breath, I should stop dreaming, this is my life...I don't deserve a beautiful pure girl like the little angel.
He walked up to the long wooden bar. A man with a flat nose and greasy hair narrowed his eyes staring at Nikolai's expensive looking suit.
Ignoring his scrutinizing gaze Nikolai said, " Double vodka," as he looked at the door in the back of the bar, "When does the next fight start?"
The man set down the glass, "Half hour, if you want to place a bet you need to do it now."
"I want to fight the winner."
The bartender had a low and deep laugh as he slapped the bar, "Pretty boy, did you come here to die tonight? Did you bring someone along to cart your corpse away?"
Nikolai expressionlessly gulped down the vodka, "Another. Tell your boss, Nikolai Rushkin is here."
His cousin put down the beer he was drinking when he heard him. "I could tell you were in a bad mood on the ride here. What is going on?"
"I just need to vent."
A fat balding man approached them. He reached out his short arms and hugged Nikolai. He looked at Max then around the room, "Where is Alexi?"
"He didn't come."
"You wanna fight tonight?" He scratched his scraggly beard, "Good. Very Good. I like to watch a good show. Just don't kill your opponent...he is a member of the Scorpion gang."
He points to a group of unsavory looking men, "They all came to watch him fight."
A skinny young man with a pocked face sitting next to Nikolai put down his beer mug and laughed, "Crusher is undefeated. Fuck! how can this soft looking pretty boy defeat him? He will be lucky if Crusher doesn't make his face look like a piece of raw meat. He could even lose his little life."
The owner of the bar's face was ashen listening to his brother-in-law insult Nikolai. Pretty boy? Weak? He dragged the man off his bar stool and grabbed him by the collar. "You Moron! Shut up! If you don't want to die keep your flappin jaw shut!"
The fat man hurried back to Nikolai to apologize for his cosuin's disrespectful remarks. his forehead covered in sweat he pleaded, "Don't mind him. I don't know why my little sister married such a stupid man."
Nikolai patted the apprehensive man on the shoulder, "Don't look so scared. I won't make your sister a widow."
He smirked, " But, make sure he places a big bet on the other guy."
Grabbing the bottle of vodka on the bar Nikolai lazily walked over to a table followed by his cousin.
He poured another glass and lit a cigarette. He has been craving a smoke but resisted the urge because he was with Merri.
Nikolai's's eyes were covered in a layer of frost as his indifferent gaze wandered around the bar looking at the gangsters with women hanging off them. Some of the rough looking men were laughing...some of them were kissing and groping the heavily made up women wearing revealing clothes. He never indulged...no woman...no matter how beautiful or seductive... had ever made him feel any desire until he met Merri.
His turbulent mind was filled with images of the gentle and beautiful girl he loved. Her tender skin that was whiter than snow, her golden blonde hair as shiny and soft as silk and her beautiful innocent and pure eyes.
The sweet taste as he kissed her pink lips, the heat that penetrated into his bones as he embraced her tiny waist.
When the little angel smiled at him he forgot who he was..who he is..a ruthless and cruel killer. He gripped the glass tightly then gulped down the alcohol trying to calm his restless spirit. I need to remind myself of who I really am... a merciless killer unworthy of such a perfect angel.
His cousin saw the complicated look in Nikolai's dark eyes and wanted to know what was bothering him. "Cousin, you seem different. Why are you in Kazan anyway?"
"Business." He looked at his watch anxious to unleash the terrifying beast inside of him to vent his frustration. A storm was brewing in his obsidian eyes as he swallowed the last of the vodka. He handed his cousin a wad of cash. "Make a bet. I am going downstairs."
After finishing the cigarette he strode to the back of the bar. A muscular man stopped him at the top of a flight of stairs. "Your betting slip." No one was allowed to enter that didn't make a wager.
"I am the next fighter."
Staring at the handsome man in an expensive designer suit, the guard grinned exposing his gold front teeth. He chortled, "Don't make me laugh. Make a bet or get the fuck out of here."