Fall(Romanian Mob Chronicles Book 2)(4)

“Since when has a little unruliness bothered you, brother?” he asked.

“Are you fucking with me?” I said, spinning to look at him and the smile that he didn’t even try to hide.

“Maybe a little,” he replied, laughing then, the expression on his face reminding me of a time so very long ago when he’d been free, had been just Vasile, my big brother, and not Vasile Petran, leader of Clan Petran, weighted by all that came with it.

I shook my head. “She tests me.”

“That’s not a bad thing. It’ll keep you sharp. Besides, you know what I think?”

I suspected what he thought and had no interest in hearing him share it, so I said nothing, which didn’t discourage my suddenly talkative brother.

“Everyone falls at your feet because of the name, that pretty-boy face of yours. Not Esther, though. And you don’t like it.”

I grunted my disagreement. My issues with Esther had nothing to with how little my charm seemed to affect her.

“No, what I don’t like is how she’s always around. She’s not family. Clan,” I said.

“She’s Fawn’s family, and will be treated as such.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I said, drifting back to the chair I’d recently vacated, trying to push thoughts of Esther and how much she pissed me off aside.

“You’re going to Familie tonight?” Vasile asked.

“Yeah, but I’m dropping by Petey’s first.”

“Good. There’s been talk about Clan Constantin. Christoph is in poor health.”

“Has he named a successor?”

Vasile shook his head. “Not yet, and time’s ticking.”

“Two sons and Anton and he still doesn’t know who’ll take over. What a fucking mess. This could get ugly, especially if a more ambitious soldier sees an opening.”

“It’ll be up to you to contain the fallout,” Vasile said.

“Yeah. I’ll let you know what I hear,” I said as I stood.

I left and headed toward the front door. I stopped and almost turned around when the sound of Esther’s voice drifted down the hall toward me, the sound sparking an awareness that wasn’t quite annoyance, one that made me want to escape if only to avoid figuring out exactly what it was.

But after a brief moment, I continued. I was Sorin Petran, brother of the leader of Clan Petran, a powerful and feared man. No one, not even Esther Jordan, would make me cower.

“So I have the interview at the hardware store tomorrow,” Esther said as I turned the corner.

I stopped, looked at her, seeing that for once she wasn’t wearing a scowl on her face as she stared down at Fawn who held Maria. She actually looked…pleasant, almost friendly. Nothing would ever make her exactly pretty, but the soft smile on her face almost did the trick. I took the moment to watch unobserved.

She was very tall, closer to my height than Fawn’s, solidly built with sturdy legs, thick waist, broad shoulders. There was nothing dainty about her, in body or mind, but there was a certain appeal in her. One wouldn’t have to worry about being delicate, handling her like she was fragile. Not that anyone could get close, not with her slashing tongue and fiery eyes.

“You got fired again,” I said before I could stop myself.

She pressed her lips together, her smile dropping in an instant. Then she turned slightly, looked me from head to toe before turning back to Fawn.

“So wish me good luck,” she said as she leaned in to half hug Fawn around Maria.

She was ignoring me, dismissing me, and I thinned my lips into a grim line and pierced her with a stare. And she noticed. Tried to pretend she didn’t, but I saw the momentary pause, saw her gaze as she shifted it to me but then looked away quickly.

I relaxed my face and nodded, some of the tension leaving. I was not one to be dismissed, and Esther now knew it.

“I’m not worried. I know you’ll get the job,” Fawn said.

Esther huffed. “Yeah, I just have to keep it,” she said, her voice light with humor. “Catch you later.”

“Wait. It’s dark out. Someone will drive you home,” Fawn said.

“I’m cool. Bye-bye,” she said, and with one last look over her shoulder, she walked out.

“You leaving, Sorin?” Fawn asked.

I nodded, and she met my eyes, put her free hand on my arm. “Take care.”

“Always,” I said and then left.

I thought about them, Fawn, Maria, even Esther, as I drove away, how normal they were, how I’d never had people like them in my life before. People who weren’t of my world.

And soon, I didn’t think at all.

It was time for work.





Two





Sorin