Jaxson: A Romantic Suspense (V Mafia Series Book 3) Read online

  “Just like that, huh?” Her lips formed a thin line. “Just stop?”

  I nodded.

  “You’re putting yourself in danger.” She tugged the blanket tighter. “And for what? A story?”

  “Justice.” My eyes connected with hers and doubt flickered through her gaze. “Joe deserves justice, and if the authorities aren’t going to honor him with that, then maybe I can.”

  “I wish I believed it was as simple as that.” She sighed, but something on the television caught her eye, and I followed her gaze as she turned up the volume.

  A photo of a woman flashed across the screen with the word MISSING in bold red letters above her head.

  “It’s awful what’s going on in this city,” my sister muttered as we stared at the television. “I’m glad I’m only visiting, but it doesn’t make me thrilled about leaving you behind.”

  “I’ll be fine. Bad things happen everywhere.”

  “How many women have been…” She cleared her throat, not finishing her sentence. “Five?”

  “I think it was up to six, but this could make it seven.” I studied the photo, noticing the hard lines running across the woman’s once-delicate features. Her stringy blonde hair, vacant eyes, and the dark shadows underneath her eyes screamed addiction. I’d seen it before.

  “She looks so young.” My sister curled into herself. “But like someone who’s had a really tough life.”

  The screen flashed back to the newsroom, where two reporters were now discussing some city councilman.

  And then the very brownstone I was at earlier tonight sprang onto the television.

  I let out a little gasp as a cold chill skated over my flesh.

  “What?”

  “I was there tonight.” I pointed at the television and motioned for my sister to turn up the volume.

  “Is that where Jaxson lives?”

  “No. He went there after the bar though.”

  “You followed him?” Her voice rose alarmingly high.

  “Yes. In a taxi. He had no idea.”

  “You’ve got to knock this off.” She shook her head frantically. “You don’t know that he’s as clueless as you hope. If he’s involved—”

  “City Councilman Rick Harner hasn’t released an official statement as to the disappearance of his niece,” the woman continued.

  “His niece?” I shook my head. “His niece is missing?”

  “What would that have to do with the Volkovs?” my sister questioned.

  “I have no idea.”

  “Why would Jaxson be at the councilman’s home?”

  “I have no idea,” I repeated, keeping my eyes on the TV.

  The story switched to something new, and I sat back on the couch with my nerves spinning into a tight web of unease.

  “See what I mean?” My sister tried again. “I don’t want you to be one of the women who winds up missing because you’re sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

  “I’d be surprised if the Volkovs had anything to do with the missing women. Females are their one soft spot.”

  “I don’t put anything past them, and you shouldn’t either.”

  “I’m not saying they aren’t capable. I just don’t see them operating like that.”

  My sister’s gaze fell to one of the gossip magazines and my stomach dropped. The moment she picked it up and opened the pages, she’d know why I had it.

  Jaxson Volkov was featured inside as one of the city’s most eligible bachelors, and he had given an interview to the NYC magazine.

  That was the problem with these men. They were everywhere. Whether it was proving to be the highest bidder at a charity auction or donating some apartment building to the homeless crisis, they created a seamless image of doing good everywhere they landed. One of them even opened a soccer camp for the underprivileged, for heaven’s sake.

  They owned Wolf Industries by day and did all of their dirty work by night under the guise of the V Mafia.

  Sadie reached over and picked up the magazine, throwing it open to the first page where the table of contents featured a large photo of Jaxson.

  Her eyes darted to mine.

  “Yes, I know.” I laughed. “My only hope was that you wouldn’t pick it up.”

  “You’ve never been all that lucky in life.” She chuckled and continued looking at the photo before flipping to Jaxson’s article, which also featured his other brothers, Devin, Blake, and Drake.

  “They’re all attractive, aren’t they,” she stated as a matter of fact.

  “Yes. They are.” I sank into the cushions a little deeper.

  “Their eyes are such a distinct blue. Or is that only in the photographs?” She looked up at me and flipped the page.

  “No, their eyes are that color in person too.” I leaned my head against the back of the chaise and took in a deep breath as my mind raced with reasons Jaxson was at the city councilman’s tonight. I knew it wasn’t a coincidence.

  Before I left the bar, Jaxson had implied his night was merely getting started, and in his line of work, I fully took that to mean cracking more men’s heads open or whatever he did for pleasure.

  “What did you see when you looked into his eyes?”

  My sister’s question surprised me, and I stayed silent for a few seconds before lifting my head back up, but I knew why she was asking. We’d both known a man who was evil, and his eyes truly were the opening to his soul. We saw the wickedness before he ever had to act upon it.

  “You did look him in the eyes, didn’t you?” she asked again.

  “I did.”

  “And did you see pure evil?”

  I shut my eyes, and Jaxson Volkov’s sapphire blue eyes settled into mind.

  “No. On the contrary.” My eyes blinked open. “I didn’t. I saw a man full of determination but not evil.”

  And I saw more kindness than I cared to admit for someone who’d just beaten up another man and still held a twinkle in his gaze after all was said and done.

  I thought back to my earlier encounter. It was pure luck. There weren’t many minutes in a day when he was ever alone. Whether it was his driver, security, or his brothers surrounding him, he was rarely by himself, and I couldn’t have asked for a better chance meeting.

  He didn’t strike me as a man who went around the city terrorizing women and pleading with politicians to cover his own tracks.

  On the contrary, Jaxson reminded me of a man who’d fix the politician’s problems because of the women they may have terrorized.

  “Why’d you get so quiet?” She placed the magazine back on the coffee table.

  “I feel like things are about to get a lot more interesting.” I crossed my arms over my chest and let out a deep sigh.

  From the moment my cousin’s killer had walked away a free man, I became determined to expose the Volkovs the only way I knew how. I had to write about them.

  I’d let their bad deeds speak for themselves in the pages of print, but first, I needed as much proof as I could get. If political motives and law enforcement injustices could be woven together, it would make the story even more sensational, get more eyes on it, and allow the public to see what these Volkov men were capable of.

  “You want to watch a movie?” my sister asked, checking her watch. “It’s only eleven.”

  “Yeah. Let’s do it. I’m so wired, I need to unwind before I can even think about going to bed.”

  “Well, good then.” She started running through the free cable movies, and I chuckled.

  It was nice to have my sister here. It had been months since we’d last gotten together.

  “How about this one?” she asked triumphantly.

  It was a Rom-Com, and at the moment, that sounded like the perfect escape from today.

  “Great. I’ll make popcorn.” I jumped off the couch and made my way to the kitchen just as someone knocked on my door.

  My body instantly froze.

  Another knock.

  My pulse skyrocketed,
and I looked over at my sister, who looked as startled as I felt. No one, not even my neighbors, had a reason to come to my door this late.

  Sadie shook her head as she clutched her cellphone in hand.

  With my heart hammering in my chest, I tiptoed over to my door and took in a deep, shaky breath.

  Other than the fact that it was really late at night, there was no reason to feel as terrified as I did. I put my eye to the peephole and jumped backward as if the door had electrocuted me.

  “What?” my sister hissed softly. “A neighbor? Should I call the police?”

  Not believing my eyes, I took a step forward and looked through the hole again to see Jaxson Volkov staring back at me with his brilliant, cold blue eyes.

  Chapter Four

  Jaxson

  Showing up at Elena’s apartment was about the last thing I wanted to do tonight, at least under these circumstances. Had we shared a few drinks and she’d invited me back to her place, then I would have been all over the invitation.

  Tonight’s reason for being here, however, wasn’t something that I wanted to think too much about. I didn’t like where the trail led.

  I let out a frustrated sigh and tapped on the door again. It made absolutely no sense that Elena had shown up to the city councilman’s tonight unless she was following me.

  Or checking up on him.

  Something told me not to flatter myself with this woman, so I knocked again and slid my wishful thinking aside. It was hard to ignore that the same night she appeared outside Harner’s house, news leaked out about the councilman’s missing niece.

  My only hope was that she’d look out her peephole and open her door out of curiosity’s sake, if nothing else.

  Elena was gorgeous, demanding, and mysterious. All three traits could get me in trouble really quickly. I wanted to get in and get out with nothing more than the information I came here for.

  I needed to know why.

  Whispers behind the door made my stomach tense as I thought back to her ring finger. She wasn’t wearing a wedding band, but I suppose that didn’t mean she wasn’t with someone. I hadn’t expected to fight my way through a boyfriend to speak with her, but if it was the hand I was dealt, so be it.

  I needed answers.

  Preferably, before anyone else found them.

  After a few more seconds of waiting, I tapped again. While time was on my side this evening, I certainly didn’t plan on being here all night. I had another stop I needed to get to after this.

  “Elena, I’m sorry to bother you at this hour, but it’s important that I speak with you.”

  “Nothing can be important enough for me to answer the door,” she snapped. “You’re a stranger who enjoys beating in men’s skulls.”

  I instantly straightened up and dropped my arm to my side. The fire inside her made me want her even more, which was ridiculous. I wanted to be one of those men who was drawn to peace and calm, but I wasn’t, and it was a definite character flaw. It had already landed me one divorce.

  “Go away.”

  Hearing her voice sent a thrill directly to my core, lighting up every inch of my body. Her green eyes flashed to mind. I took in a deep breath before clearing my throat and readied for battle.

  “I don’t think this is anything you’ll want to discuss through the door so your neighbors hear. That being said, I’m also willing to wait, and I have the patience of a turtle.”

  Stunned silence hovered somewhere between the hallway and her apartment door before she let out a snicker.

  The hum of her laughter tied me up in knots, and I quickly tilted my head toward the ceiling and prayed I’d be able to leave this woman tonight and never come back.

  “You might call it patience. Others might call it slow-witted,” she drawled, and I knew I’d stay in an instant if she asked.

  But judging by that answer, it was safe to say she wouldn’t, which would be better for both of us.

  “So are you going to open the door, or should I begin telling you why I’m here?” I drew a deep breath.

  “I’m letting you know right now that my sister is in here, and she already has her cellphone dialed to 911. One false move, and you’ll be sorry you ever bothered me.”

  I didn’t doubt that threat on many levels.

  Metal clanked as locks turned, and a sense of satisfaction spread through me, but when the door flew open, I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. She took my breath away.

  Elena’s blonde hair was hanging loosely around her shoulders, and her piercing green eyes gave me the once-over while I tried focusing on everything but the fact that she was in a tiny pair of pink flannel boxers and a flimsy white tee.

  My body instantly responded to her, and I bit my lip to stay focused.

  “So, what do you want?” She looked as unimpressed as she sounded while her sister came up behind her, holding the cellphone.

  The women definitely looked related, but her sister had dark brows offsetting her blonde hair while Elena looked more…innocent, angelic.

  Until she opened her mouth.

  “Seriously. You might be used to showing up to women’s apartments across the city, but you’re not welcome here.”

  “I’m not here on a social call.” I straightened my shoulders and got back to business. “Why were you at Rick Harner’s house tonight?”

  “Excuse me?” she balked. “I don’t even know who that is.”

  My brow arched. “The city councilman.”

  “I don’t know who or what you’re talking about.” She swatted the air to dismiss me and began to shut the door.

  “We can stand here and debate the facts or you can tell me the truth and I’ll go away. Why were you at Rick’s house?” My hand stopped the door from closing and she opened it wide again.

  Her sister folded her arms across her chest and looked visibly uncomfortable while Elena shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

  “I don’t know why anything that I do is any of your business.” Her gaze flicked away.

  “It’s not. Unless you do something to make it my business.” I cracked a smile. “And that’s precisely what you did by asking a cab to go to his residence tonight, of all nights.”

  “Well, your sources aren’t as good as you think or you’d know I wasn’t going to the house because of who lived there but rather who was going there.” Her brow curled slightly as she waited for my reply.

  There was something about the way she looked at me that made my thoughts turn to a place they shouldn’t, and her revelation didn’t help the matter.

  “Excuse me?”

  I never expected her to not only admit she was following me but to zero right in on the larger issue.

  “My mind is headed back to the turtle analogy with you,” she mused, and I hid a smile.

  We had connections with the city’s cab drivers. If they ever saw something suspicious, they generally reported that to my people. It was more to cover their ass if something went wrong and they needed alibis, but generally, they fed us the complete picture of things going on around the city.

  This wasn’t the complete picture. In fact, a very important piece was left out. I was the target, not the councilman.

  Tonight, Viktor saw a cab parked across the street from the Harner’s brownstone with a woman inside. She kept looking at his house until the cab finally drove off. Nothing unusual was reported, but Viktor decided to call in to find out why she was there and who she was since I was inside. You can imagine my surprise when I learned the name on the credit card used.

  That she was this Elena.

  “It was a slow night for me, so I thought what the heck? Why not follow a guy who just beat the shit out of someone and said he had more places to go? I’m curious by nature.” She shrugged and glanced over her shoulder at her sister, who looked stunned. “So, I’m afraid whatever reason you have for being here is unfounded.”

  “Funny. I don’t see it that way.” I shook my head. “I came here as a favor to you.
I wanted to find out if you leaked the info about the councilman’s niece, or maybe you’re somehow connected to her disappearance, know something you were debating about telling him, and then got cold feet. Regardless, I wanted to get to you before his people do. I’m not the only one who has connections in this city. They’ll find out you were hanging around his house the night important information was leaked to the press.”

  Her eyes turned to daggers as she sucked in a deep breath. “How in the world would I know anything about his niece? I didn’t even know that was his house until I saw it on the news tonight.”

  I stayed silent, seeing her sister fidget behind Elena. They were definitely hiding something. The question was what.

  “So you did know and you lied to me.” I cocked my head to the side and waited.

  “Not until I got home.” She shook her head and a blush crept up her cheeks.

  “I believe you, but I’d be surprised if anyone else in his camp would.”

  “Why do I care?” A glimpse of fear darted through her gaze, and I instantly wanted to comfort her, which made absolutely no sense. She was a strong and capable woman who didn’t mind busting my balls. In fact, I was pretty certain she got a certain amount of pleasure from it.

  “Sometimes, evil in plain sight is deadlier than when it lurks in the shadows.” I narrowed my eyes on her. “Most in this city are after something. Whether it’s fame, notoriety, wealth, power….” My voice trailed off as I saw recognition settle behind her gaze.

  So which one was it for Elena? What was she after?

  She ran her fingers along her neck and gripped her hand on her shoulder as she let out a sigh and the blush subsided.

  “I’m not much for politics and didn’t even know it was his house. I told you I was interested in you.” Her green eyes widened. “I still am.”

  Her sister looked extremely uncomfortable and began stepping backward.

  “And why’s that?” I took a step forward and felt heat roll off Elena’s body. The thought of running my hands along her bare skin, kissing her, and feeling her next to me was starting to sway my reasoning.