The Bratva’s Bounty (Volkov Bratva #3)

2. Nicole

Chapter 2

Nicole

Life was good.

Too good.

It felt like the calm before the storm, and I didn't like that one bit.

Just like how I didn't like this stupid rat tailing me.

I had to give him props, though, because if I weren't so paranoid and overly observant, he could have gone unnoticed. Or if I had been carefree like before, he would have slipped by. Too bad I lived my life on an anxious edge.

Even though it was a no-brainer to cut myself from my family six months ago, it didn't make living my life any easier because of their persistence. I'd let my parents run my life for too long, and I was stupid to let them get away with it for as long as they did. At least I learned to open my eyes before it was too late.

Too bad them letting me go wouldn't be easy. They had so many deals lined up, expansion opportunities, a shit load of stuff, all dependent on me marrying some creepy old man to form an alliance. Yeah, no, fuck that. Especially after they fucked me over by stealing my own cybersecurity company from right under my nose. I already played the role of the good and obedient daughter growing up, even going as far as throwing out my dream of being an engineer with my parents' constant nagging and pushing for me to go into business. I lived my life for them, and obviously, that was a huge mistake. So, now it was time to take everything back and live the life I always wanted.

After I get rid of this stupid idiot tailing me.

Yes, I did have a person following me. No, I wasn't imagining things, nor was it some coincidence that he was going in the same direction as me. This handsome man has been following me for the past week, no mistake about it. If he wasn't so darn good-looking, then he could have faded into the background to me.

Go ahead, sue me for thinking my stalker is handsome. I was no idiot, nor was I blind. This man, whoever he is, though I was willing to place my bet on him being someone my parents hired, was handsome as hell. Gotta love myself a tall and buff man, especially one with striking blue eyes because, fuck me, I was such a sucker for colored eyes. Honestly, those lovely pair of sky-blue orbs were what snatched my attention and made me zone in on him. Damn man be looking like a damn model out of a magazine. Maybe that's why he looked familiar to me.

Huffing to myself, I shook my head and shook away my little infatuation with the stud. Falling for some hired body by my parents? No thanks. If he wasn't, then, well, falling for my stalker didn't sound or seem any better either.

Actually, now that I think about it, maybe he wasn't some hired muscle from my parents. He could just damn well be some fanboy stalker. It definitely wouldn't be the first time I had fans cross the line and try to get real close and personal to me. Being a young, rich, good-looking, and available woman in this day and age slapped a huge target on my back. I've had my fair share of suitors, all of whom my parents rejected or I rejected personally. I didn't want some run-of-the-mill business tycoon as a husband, nor someone boring. Most of the men who've propositioned me were either dull, rich assholes, too posh with their heads up their asses, or were complete idiots who I couldn't stand.

I wanted someone with an actual personality, a soul made of fire. I wanted someone who would bring me excitement and true love, and someone who wouldn't stunt me as a person. I might have been a little tamer while under my parents, but I was still an outspoken and independent woman who definitely wasn't afraid to speak her own mind; apparently, not many guys I've come across like this. I wanted an equal, not to be lower or higher than anyone.

Shit. Handsome stalker guy.

Need to get my mind out of the clouds if I want to keep my pretty little ass free. Fanboy or hired man, I needed to shake him. It shouldn't be too hard of a task since the streets were pretty busy right now with the lunchtime rush.

Pulling my phone out, I snuck a quick picture of the man for later. For research, of course! I needed to find out more about my little tail. I was growing bored, so if he was hired by my parents, then I could use this opportunity to fuck around with them. If he wasn't, then, well, I'd still get some entertainment from messing around with him. This would probably bite me in the ass after the fact because I was supposed to keep a low profile, being 'in hiding' and all, but if anything went too astray, then I could call Angel for help.

Just some harmless fun with the handsome man, that's all this would be. Then again, to be fair, he's the one following me and got caught.

Smirking to myself, I dipped into my last stop of the day, a small little café for my fix of caffeine. "Hey Nicki! Your usual, along with a to-go?" The owner, a nice middle-aged woman, greeted me with a smile.

"That would be great Lia. Thank you! Oh! And I'll take a little slice of tiramisu this time, too, to go." I returned her welcoming smile with a warm one of my own before sitting at the window bar.

As I waited for my order to come out, I could spot him in the background through the window's reflection. It really was a shame I couldn't pursue him; he really was a catch looks-wise. On the other hand, I couldn't shake this eerie feeling that I'd seen him somewhere before. If it weren't for the nasty, jagged-looking scar running down the left side of his face, then I would have chunked him as some random man.

Not gonna lie, it was a nasty scar, and it gave him a scary look. Shockingly, I didn't care, even though that should have been a big red flag for me to scram and hide out of his sight, not poke at him like I planned to do. Well, the shocking part was me digging it because, fuck it, I wanted a dangerous and rugged man. I was tired of trust fund boys who didn't have a manly bone in their body (the boys my parents wanted me to get with).

Yeah, rebelling in my mid-twenties probably seemed stupid and cliché, but better late than never, I say. I only wished I'd done this sooner. Thinking back on how long I let my parents manipulate me and make most of the decisions in my life peeved me greatly. More so at myself for being so stupid and blind to let my parents go as far as they did. I can't believe it only took losing everything for me to open my eyes.

Sighing softly, I picked at the hem of my jacket while I waited for my order. I still wasn't completely free yet, either. I couldn't go about my life freely yet.

My fingers twitched as I stared at my phone sitting on the countertop. Call me immature or childish or an addict, but I wanted so badly to log onto my social media accounts. Yes, I was one of those people who wasted my time away on social media, but only because that was one of the only ways for me to connect to the outside world and get any social interaction with people who understood me.

Too bad I couldn't. I would draw too much attention to myself and give my parents a way to pinpoint my location. It was already risky for me to go out and about like this on a near-daily basis, but living in a cabin outside the bustling city limits slowly drove me mad.

Well, if anything ever went wrong, Angel was always a call away. Yeah, I felt kind of bad to lean on her like that, but she owed me big time for all the shit I've done for her throughout the years. Besides, what's the point of having a mafia boss friend if you coukdn't abuse their powers vicariously through them?

Angel Vu-Volkov, wife to the esteemed Nikolai Volkov, Pakhan of the Volkov Bratva. Last I checked with Angel, ever since she overthrew her stepmother, took her mantle of Dragon Head of the Qing triad, and merged it with her husband's bratva, they nearly ran all of Nespin, California. They were working on securing San Diego, San Francisco, more of Los Angeles, and possibly another city or two, last I remember my little business chat with Angel a while back.

I had friends in high places, so might as well cash in my favors. Well, that and Angel was a good friend who would do anything for me to have a happy life. Sometimes, it was hard to remember that she was a mafia wife and head herself with how kindhearted she was as a person. That's all before the fact she was a career nurse and business owner of a shelter for the abused. Unless she was in a mood and seen in action, it was easy to forget her title as the Bratva's Bride.

I probably could have had it made like that, kind of. If I'd let my parents parade my life around how they wanted, then I'd be living it cushy with my rich husband. Yeah, maybe I was a little crazy for throwing that life away, but dwelling on such a future gave me such an ick. I didn't want to be some trophy wife or a warm body for a rich bastard to come home to.

My thoughts ran away from me at the sight of Lia out of my periphery. "Penny for your thoughts?" Lia questioned with genuine curiosity and warmth.

"Oh, just thinking about life, just in a bit of a rut and trying to get myself out." It wasn't a lie; I was basically in a life crisis.

Even after this shit with my parents got figured out, I had no idea what I'd do with my life. I couldn't pick my company back up, not after my parents and brother were dragging it through the mud and dirtying it with their mafia business. Starting another business was a possibility, but also a shit ton of work. Also, I wouldn't be truly happy running another business because it wasn't really my passion. Maybe I could go back to school and get my engineering degree, but I didn't want to waste time or run around in circles.

"Oh, you're still young with a lot ahead of you. Just do whatever makes you happy, that's all I can tell you, and have fun while you're young and still can. Oh, I miss when I could frolic around freely, give the boys a run around for their money." It was a little hard to imagine nice ol' Lia as she described herself, but one look in her eyes and I could see the simmering flame.

Peering out the window, I bit my bottom lip to suppress my widening smile as I carefully eyed the man's reflection. "You know, I might just take that advice. Have fun while I still can."

Time to fuck around and find out.