The Russian's Assertive Lover (The Tonov Triplets Series Book 2) by Ivy Iverson Read Free Book Online

his erection strained against his pants at the thought of Courtney sitting next to him. She was enough to drive any man crazy as his cock stood at painful attention throughout dinner.
    He took off his shirt on the way to the bathroom. The cold air in the apartment was particularly sensitive on the scars that decorated his torso but it did nothing to relieve the heat inside of him. He turned on his shower and turned it all the way cold before finishing undressing and getting in. He sighed as the frosty water ran over his skin and he slowly came back to reality. She was an employee, and one who was motivated only by money. She was bad news. It was about time he remembered that.
     

Chapter Eleven
     
    Cindy didn't show up for her shift on Monday. Nik called her cell phone but she wasn't answering. His brow furrowed as he stared at his office door.
    This wasn't like her. She was one of the best workers he had, and was on time always unless she called but she had definitely been acting strange lately. Scarlett had said that she had been arguing with her boyfriend and he wondered if that was part of it.
    He walked out to find Scarlett making a drink at the bar. He caught her eye and waited until she nodded before going back into his office. A second later, after Scarlett had gotten someone to cover the bar, she came into the office. “What's up?” she asked.
    “Cindy hasn't come into work yet and she hasn't called,” Nikolay said. “Did she tell you that she would be late or that something was going on?”
    Scarlett shrugged. “No,” she said. “Not that I can remember. She hasn't been looking too good lately, though. Do you think something's wrong?”
    “That's what I'm afraid of, but it might still be nothing. Thank you. That's all.”
    Scarlett nodded. “Let me know when you find something out.” She went to take over the bar again just as Courtney approached with a tray of empty drinks.
    “Where's Cindy?” she asked. “A regular just requested a private dance with her.”
    “She's not in yet,” Scarlett replied, glancing over both her shoulders. “She's late and Nik is starting to get worried.”
    Courtney remembered the bruise on Cindy's face and bit her lip. “Where's Nik?” she asked. “I think there's something he needs to know about her.”
    “He's in his office. Is she in trouble?”
    “Yes. I think it's definitely possible.”
    Courtney pushed the door to Nikolay's office open. “Mr. Tonov?” she asked quietly.
    He looked up from his computer, his face haggard from looking at financial information. “Courtney,” he said. “What's going on?”
    “I heard you were looking for Cindy and I thought you would want to know I saw a bruise on her face a few days ago. I think her boyfriend is beating her.” She described the bruise she had seen on Cindy's temple and she watched his expression grow more and more concerned. 
    “Who else knows about this?”
    “No one, as far as I know,” Courtney said. “When I asked her, she told me that it was an accident. I didn’t want to push her, but she clearly didn’t want to talk about it.”
    The phone rang. Nikolay held up a finger to tell her to wait for a second and then answered. “Suds Gentleman's Club,” he said, his voice smooth and pleasant despite the worry still etched on his face.
    Even though the phone wasn't on speaker, Courtney could hear Cindy's panicked voice from the other side, talking fast and low.
    “Slow down,” Nikolay said. “I can't understand you. Where are you?”
    He listened for a couple more seconds and then he hung up. “Tell Scarlett I'm leaving.”
    “Something’s wrong, isn’t there?” Courtney demanded.
    Nikolay stood up and grabbed his coat. “Just tell her I need to go.”
    “I'm coming with you.”
    “No, you're not. You are staying here. Get back to work.”
    “The hell I will.” Courtney followed him out the door and to the floor. “Scarlett, we're leaving,” she called to the bartender.
    Scarlett