The Mobster’s Flower (Men of Valor Springs #3)

Chapter Three

Rue

My heart is racing as I rush out of the hospital, daring to breathe only after I have made it outside and away from the siblings. I look around for somewhere to rest my trembling knees, stumbling over to a bench near the entrance and dropping down with a sigh.

What the hell just happened?

This entire day has felt like some kind of weird nightmare.

How does one go from opening their dream business one minute to being in a hospital room with bickering siblings, one of whom literally crushed my business, and the other is…a crime boss of all things. A crime boss who does not in fact, breath fire.

Even without the fire breathing element, I see why people are terrified of Vlad. The only thing he and his sister have in common is their midnight black hair, but their similarities end there. Vlad has black eyes that would leave anyone feeling unnerved, and every time his gaze was fixed on me, I could feel myself slowly getting sucked into them.

It was a tad scary to have him look at me but even scarier is the effect his gaze had on my body. The weakness in my knees and the shortness of my breath not to mention the slight ache between my legs.

“Ugh!” I bury my face in my palms as I try not to think about it. His gaze felt penetrative and then it changed when he turned to his sister. Those dark eyes were laced with concern and so was his voice when he approached her hospital bed.

When they started arguing, I felt like I was an interloper, so I sought to remove myself. I figured I ought to leave them alone to talk.

Liar.

Fine, maybe my leaving had more to do with what Vlad was doing to me by merely fixing his gaze on me and talking to me in that deep throaty voice that commanded attention and left my heart racing.

Christ, I can’t think of Vlad. I need to think about myself now.

Arya is fine. A few scratches, a sprained wrist, and a concussion, but she will be fine. I need to push away thoughts of the siblings and focus on my own heartbreak. All those years I worked hard to build my business now feel like a waste of time, especially the holidays I missed because I was working. I don’t have much of a social life because my goal has always been to own a flower shop.

I told myself that I would date and socialize once my dream was realized because I didn’t want any distractions and now…it was all for nothing.

My phone pings with a text, and I imagine it’s Annie checking on me again. I texted her about an hour ago to report on Arya’s health and promised to call her when I left the hospital, but now, I can’t bring myself to do it. Heck, even the thought of going back to the scene of the accident has my heart clenching with pain. I know for a fact that there is nothing to be salvaged from my flower stand, and all those years of saving and planning were all for nothing.

I’ll have to talk to Annie and see about the wreckage of my cart eventually, but instead of calling, I send her a text letting her know that I’m done at the hospital. She’ll be too busy at the bakery to pick me up and Valor Springs is too small a town for a taxi, but maybe I can get an Uber.

I pull up the app on my phone; looks like Valor Springs is also too small for rideshares. Just my luck.

Today I wore my yellow sundress with a sunflower print because they represent good fortune and positive opportunities. So much for that.

I kick a rock across the pavement, looking for an outlet for my disappointment, but that isn’t at all satisfying. I need a release for my frustration, but I don’t know where to start. I’ve spent the last hour reassuring Arya that I don’t hate her, hiding my own pain behind a self-assured smile.

“Damnit!” I hiss, kicking another rock—a bigger one this time—except it doesn’t simply roll over the pavement like the first. No, it hits someone. Right in the shin.

I lift my teary eyes to the person I just assaulted, blinking in alarm when they connect with intense black eyes. He doesn’t say anything, only stands there watching me, his expression unreadable.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” I sniff, running my palms over my wet cheeks. “I didn’t mean to—”

“You say that a lot,” Vlad says, making no move to step toward me.

“Huh?”

“Sorry. You say that a lot, and that you didn’t mean it.”

I don’t know how to respond to that, so we stare awkwardly at each other. Well, the awkward bit is all me as this man doesn’t seem moved by the tense silence between us. I look around to see what might have brought him out here, but we’re alone. Well, other than the few people walking in and out of the hospital, but they aren’t paying us any attention.

What is he doing out here? Shouldn’t he be in there with his sister, holding her hand or something? I want to ask, but I am not brave enough. Not because I am scared of the man, but I already have too much of his attention as it is. I don’t want to invite more.

“Tell me what happened this morning.”

I force my gaze back to Vlad, quickly looking away again when it connects with his. I wonder if there is anyone who’s able to maintain eye contact with this intense man. “I think you should wait for your sister to tell you.”

“You were there.”

I kick another rock, careful not to hit anyone this time. “Unfortunately.”

“Tell me what happened.”

“Your sister crashed her car right into my flower stand.”

I sense movement, but I resist the urge to look up. My only wish is that he is walking away from me so I can have a few moments to wallow in my pain, but instead, he sits down on the bench behind me and gestures for me to do the same. Reluctantly, I do, and I’m immediately aware of how close we are to each other. Close enough that I can feel his body heat and see the rise and fall of his muscular chest from the corner of my eye as he breathes.

“Was she distracted? On her phone?”

My eyes shoot to his in surprise. “No, Arya… Her phone was in her purse.” At least that’s where the nurse found it when Arya asked to call her brother. “I saw her car driving erratically down the road, and somehow, I knew she would crash into my cart. Our eyes connected right before she did, and she looked terrified. She said something about the brakes not responding and the steering wheel being too loose.”

“How bad was the damage?”

“To her car, quite a bit. She hit a bollard in front of Annie’s bakery after crashing through my flower cart. That’s what finally stopped the car. The front end is more or less caved in and the airbags deployed.”

Vlad is silent for a long time before he finally speaks. “I meant to your business.”

Oh.

My life’s savings is gone, and I have no way of starting over. But I can’t bring myself to tell him that. I don’t want to think too deeply about it, because then I will start bawling in this man’s presence, and I don’t want to make things more awkward than they already are. Tonight, I will bawl my eyes out, and maybe even tomorrow, before asking Annie to bake me one of her tasty dessert pies to drown my tears in, and then later, I’ll think about the damage to my business.

“Whatever the cost, I will take care of it.”

Perhaps those words are meant to soothe the bleeding wound in my chest and they should comfort me, but they don’t. I know I’ll need help to restart the business, but it won’t be easy forgetting what happened today. The thought of starting over turns my stomach.

I comb my hands through my curls before grabbing a fistful and tugging. Trying so hard to distract myself from those thoughts. To push them to the back of my mind, but they keep popping up.

The years. The work and the sacrifices.

This morning when I woke up, I was equal parts nervous and excited. Months of planning were finally going to bear fruit when I made someone’s day brighter with a rose or a lily. The carnations, especially the purple ones, looked beautiful, and while I wasn’t looking to sell out on my first day, I’d hoped to sell one or two bouquets of flowers.

The thought of going through the process of planning and agonizing over everything again doesn’t sound like something I am ready for, with or without support. Maybe I’ll think differently tomorrow. After all of my tears have dried and I’ve eaten an entire pie, I’ll be excited to start the journey all over again, but not today.

Not right now.

With my hand buried in my hair, I turn to the mob boss, who has been staring at me the entire time. “I’ll take a ride home.”

Vlad raises a dark brow at my words. “Excuse me?”

“My aunt is busy at her bakery, and I can’t get an Uber.” I raise my phone as if to illustrate my point. “I came to the hospital in the ambulance with Arya, so now, I don’t have a way home. I just want to forget about everything that’s happened today and climb into bed with a pie and watch trashy TV until I fall asleep,” I say, all sense of embarrassment swallowed by my sudden bone-deep weariness.

“Answer my question first. How badly will this affect your business? You said you owned a flower cart?”

“Yes. Today was my opening day. I’d set up shop outside Annie’s and was just about to officially open for business…but I didn’t even get that far.” I sigh heavily, not wanting to voice the next part, though I know I have to. “I haven’t fully expected the damage yet, but from what I saw right after the accident, but my cart and my entire inventory are total losses.”

Not wanting to Vlad to think I’m being dramatic or trying to get something from him, I hastily add, “But I had business insurance. I’m sure they’ll cover some of the loss.”

Vlad is quiet for a moment and runs a hand along his defined jawline. The movement has my gaze zeroing in on his full lips, and for a moment, I’m distracted by how soft they look. What would they feel like on mine? He has a dark, neatly trimmed beard. What would that feel like against my skin? Goosebumps rise along my neck and arms at the thought.

I flush when Vlad clears his throat. My eyes dart up to his, and I can see the amusement there. Was it that obvious what I was thinking? Shit. This man is at least ten years older than me and a crime boss, no less. I probably come across as a naive little girl to him.

“As I said, I’ll take care of it. I’m sorry this happened to you on your big day. I’m sure you’re anxious to get this sorted so you can get to work. I’m happy to give you a ride home, but before I do that, I’d like to take you to one of my warehouses. I believe I have something similar to a flower cart. It might not be perfect, but it’ll at least get you by until I can replace yours.”

“Oh,” I say, surprised. “Um, okay.” Wait, did I just agree to go to a warehouse with the local crime lord? Shit!

I try to come up with a way to back out without offending him, but Vlad is already on his feet and walking into the parking lot, gesturing for me to follow. I walk a couple paces behind him, and I can’t help but stare at the outline of his broad shoulders and muscular back that taper to a trim waist supported by strong, thick thighs. The suit he’s wearing is tailored perfectly to his frame, leaving little to the imagination.

I need to stop looking and yet, I can’t. Something about this man…

No, it’s everything about him!

His scent. His voice. His body.

His mere presence.

Everything about him sends my system into overdrive, and I can’t help myself. When he is in my presence, everything else fades into the background. I focus on him and his dominating presence. It’s almost overwhelming, but even after only a few minutes near him, I already crave the warmth that flows through my whole body as I watch him move.

“I own a warehouse in Valor Springs,” he says over his shoulder, that deep voice causing the place between my legs to clench.

When he reaches his car, he turns to look at me, and this time, I don’t break eye contact. Christ, those eyes. They are black holes that threaten to suck me in, and this time, I don’t fight it. I don’t want to.

But at the same time, I’ve never felt anything like this before, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared. For the first time in my life, I’m drawn to man. But Vlad isn’t just any man. He’s older and a criminal. He’s the leader of the Bratva, for Christ’s sake.

He opens the passenger door and waits for me to climb inside, but I hesitate. His eyes narrow on mine. “Everything okay?”

“No,” I say shaking my head. “I shouldn’t have asked you for a ride. I’m sorry. We can do this another time.”

“And why is that?”

I look back at the hospital entrance, feeling guilty that I’ve basically stolen Vlad away from his sister. She needs him right now, but he’s here with me. I can’t take him away from her with Arya lying injured in a hospital bed. I turn away and breathe out a sigh. It’s selfish of me to even consider it.

Vlad grabs my chin and forces my eyes back to his, the move taking me by complete surprise, but his touch… Lord above, the feeling of his blunt fingers on my skin sends my heart racing so fast I wonder if it’s possible to have a heart attack from something so simple. It certainly feels that way.

“If you are worried about Arya, don’t be. She is in safe hands,” he says. “Let me give you what you need.”

“Okay.”

The word slips out. With his entire being focused on my so intently, I’m powerless to say anything else. I want to give him whatever he wants. And for some reason, what he wants is to help me.

“Good girl,” he rasps, his eyes firmly on mine.

To little words, but they light a fire in me. I imagine my face and hair are basically the same shade or red now, but at the same time, a feeling of satisfaction flows through me. Everything about Vlad is all-encompassing. His mere presence exudes dominance. To be the focus of his undivided attention and the recipient of his praise is…intoxicating.