Expose' (Born Bratva Book 3) by Suzanne Steele Read Free Book Online

guy?”
    Gilbert makes a guttural choking noise, then begins to cough violently, holding on to the back of my chair for support. I pat his back lightly while he catches his breath, then turn my attention back to the intruder in our midst. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no. Gilbert is my dearest friend,” I snap.
    “Not my business? Oh, I beg to differ.” He saunters over to me and toys with a strand of my hair. “You see, my dad wants me to keep an eye on you, so that makes it – and you -- very much my business.”
    The cocky smile he’s giving me right now isn’t reassuring me.
    “My dad is wondering how in the world you just happened to show up at his place of business.” He directs his attention to Gilbert, who is standing behind me with his back stick straight and his eyes wide with terror. “You and I both know hacker boy here gave you the low down on the gambling house, but I haven’t mentioned that to my father. We’re still getting acquainted, so I don’t think it’s the right time. Not just yet. Now, we have no secrets, he and I, but I think it would be in your best interests that I tell him in my own time. That depends on how cooperative you are, of course. He’s already pretty pissed that a card counting journalist has been sniffing around. This really does pose a bit of a problem, though, because now I have to babysit Dorkoff here, too.”
    I hear the unmistakable sound of a whimper from behind me. I really need to catch Gilbert up on what’s going on but there’s no time. Now that I’m on the Bratva’s radar, I need to go along with whatever this asshole has planned for us. Kodiak straightens and crosses the room to stand in front of me. “We have a party to go to tonight, so chop, chop, boys and girls. It’s time to go shopping. It’s a formal affair and if I had to guess, neither of you has the wardrobe to fit in with all the crazy sons of bitches who will be there tonight.”
    “You are such an ass, Kodiak,” I say indignantly. “I can’t tell you how it puts my mind at ease knowing that I’ll be attending a formal party with people who would just as soon kill me as look at me!”
    “You have no idea.”
    I yank my jacket off the back of my chair and jerk Gilbert up by his arm and hiss in his ear, “Still think I should take that job?”
    “Glad to know I have your vote of confidence, Gilbert,” Kodiak says smugly. The irritation I’m feeling turns to anger when Gilbert smiles that goofy smile he has and answers Kodiak.
    “Oh yeah, you do, Mr. Glazov.”
    “That’s my dad, Gilbert. Call me Kodiak.”
    Gilbert, who seems to be intoxicated by the fact that he’s been accepted by one of the cool kids , is beaming, which only heats my anger to borderline rage.
    Kodiak pulls me into his side and leans down to whisper in my ear, “Oh, this is going to be fun.”
    Kodiak is everything I hate—a sarcastic, alpha asshole. But two can play this game. If he’s going to force me to attend a formal Bratva soiree, he can damn well pay for the wardrobe. I don’t have the means or the resources to obtain the kind of clothes those women were wearing last night and he knows it. I can only hope I haven’t gotten in over my head. If there’s this much drama and he doesn’t even know about the article for the writing competition, I’m going to have to be incredibly discreet.
    I feel nauseated as curiosity killed the cat jumps to the forefront of my mind. What was it Kodiak said last night? You really need to work on your poker face, Logan. I guess it’s time to start doing just that.

Kodiak
    My breath hitches when she steps out from behind the folding screen in the private dressing room. The simple satin gown flows over her body like melted butter. I get up like a man in a trance and walk slowly over to her, circling her like she’s prey.
    “You. Are. So. Fucking. Beautiful.” My cock is not in the habit of getting hard at the sight of a fully clothed woman, but this