On Best Behavior (C3) by Jennifer Lane Read Free Book Online Page B

coffee!” He held up his mug and took a sip as the applause dissipated. Only the bartender knew there was no vodka in his drink.
    “I’m gonna catch a smoke.” Andy ducked out to the rear exit.
    Grant barely heard the piano man, he was so keyed up. The blonde he’d sung to was Andrei Kebin’s girlfriend—this time he’d made sure not to miss the Russians when they arrived.
    At the bar, he met Larry the bartender’s eyes and lifted his drink.
    “Another Russian coffee coming your way,” Larry said, taking his mug.
    He slid onto the lone empty bar stool, wishing he could turn around to see what the Russians were doing. Then something touched him, and he looked down to find a manicured hand on his forearm. Next to him he found a brunette woman who applied makeup like Ben buttered bread: thickly and haphazardly.
    “You’ve got an amazing voice,” she said, removing her hand and cupping her mug. From her breath, he could tell she was a big fan of the Russian coffees.
    “Thank you.” Normally he would find an excuse to retreat to the broom-closet-slash-dressing-room at this point, but this was no normal evening. “What brought you out on such a cold night?”
    “You, of course. Don’t you recognize me? I’ve seen you perform dozens of times.”
    Gulp. “Really? How kind of you.”
    Her hand snaked back to his arm. “I missed you when you were gone in December. How could you leave us like that?”
    “I, uh…”
    “Excuse me.”
    He looked up to find Andrei Kebin nudging in between them, casting a shadow across the bar. The consigliore to the Russian don had slicked back his jet black hair and appeared tidy and confident in his maroon button-down shirt and black jacket. “Come sit with us, Mr. Saylor.”
    “Mick’s fine. And you are?”
    “Andrei. My girlfriend wishes meet you. And what Innochka wants, Innochka gets.”
    “Hey,” Coffee Breath protested, pouting her thin lips. “ I was talking to Mick. Buzz off.”
    Grant watched Andrei bristle. She obviously had no clue who she was dealing with.
    “I was indeed talking to…um…” He looked at her for help.
    “Sandra.”
    “Sandra,” he said, looking at the Russian. “Perhaps I could meet your lady friend another time?”
    Any lingering pleasantness vanished from Andrei’s expression. “ Now is best time. Bartender!”
    Sandra jumped on her barstool.
    “Another drink for lady ,” Andrei commanded, looking at her with disgust, when Larry came over. “And send round of Stoli elit shots to table. Come, Mick.”
    Grant hesitated, glancing at Sandra, then shrugged. “Sure. Pleased to meet you, Sandra.” As he stood, ignoring her disappointment, he noticed he was a couple inches taller than Andrei.
    They weaved through the crowd. Before reaching their table, Andrei confided, “Not sure I introduce you to Innochka. I believe she quite taken with you.”
    He nodded with a plastic smile. The last thing he needed was a mobster thinking he might steal his girlfriend.
    “May I present Vladimir Federov?” Andrei nodded toward a well-built man with neat gray hair and piercing eyes. Vladimir stayed seated.
    Grant held his breath as he reached over to shake the don’s hand.
    “Good entertainer,” Vladimir said, elongating the vowel sounds. His roll on the “r” was more pronounced than Andrei’s.
    “Isn’t he so good?” Innochka gushed, batting her thick eyelashes.
    Vladimir’s girlfriend, a waif-like brunette, was less enthusiastic. “Some modern songs you sing next, yes? No more old singing.”
    Vladimir laughed heartily, gesturing to the open chair. “Sit.”
    As Grant and Andrei took their seats, Vladimir tugged his girlfriend from her chair onto his lap, where she barely made a dent. “You must excuse my Katya. She quite rude.” He snuggled his lips into the nape of her neck as she shied away. “Perhaps she need spank tonight.”
    There was a second of terror in her eyes, and probably nobody at the table caught it but Grant. Katya