Mafia Boss's Fearless Lover (The Karzhov Crime Family series Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

run away and hide.
    He really is beyond gorgeous!
    Kat let her eyes wander down his chest, biting her lip as he slowly removed the suit jacket and rolled his shirtsleeves up to reveal muscular arms adorned with an intricate tribal pattern. She let her feet carry her forward, not stopping until she was close enough to trace the designs on his arms with a fingertip.
    “Why?” she asked.
    “Why not?”
    “How far up do they go?” she asked.
    “You’re a curious one.”
    Kat wanted to demand he remove his shirt and show her, but thought it might be a little rude. She’d always admired well-designed tattoos, but being afraid of needles, had never had the courage to get one. Besides, she had spent a large portion of her life in one costume or another and tattoos required extra makeup to cover them up. Just because she couldn’t get one, didn’t mean she couldn’t admire them on others.
    “Will you show me the rest of them later?” she asked, covering her mouth with her hand as she realized what she’d just said. Way to go, Kat! What must he think about me, being so forward?
    Smiling down at her, “If you want. For now, let’s eat.”
    Nikolai directed her to a chair and helped her be seated. Kat looked at the marvelous meal set in front of her and immediately her stomach reminded her that she hadn’t eaten since early that morning. The hotel she was staying at had boasted a “full continental breakfast” when she’d made her reservations. In reality, breakfast had consisted of cold cereal, yogurt, and mediocre coffee.
    The kitchen staff had sent up a variety of menu items, including prime rib, pasta alfredo, mouth-watering rolls, and cheesecake for dessert. “This looks amazing,” Kat said, shoveling a helping of pasta onto her plate. After forking up the first bite, Kat closed her eyes and moaned in pleasure, “Oh God, I’d forgotten how good pasta could be.”
    Nikolai watched her devour the food, wondering at her strange comment and then asking, “Your meal is adequate?”
    Kat looked up at him, wiping her mouth on her napkin before answering, “It’s fabulous! As a dancer, I’ve always had to watch what I eat so carefully. Even gaining five pounds could make it harder to execute the lifts and turns with a partner.”
    “You speak as if those days are in the past,” he commented, taking another bite of his own meal.
    “For the most part, I guess they are,” she answered him wistfully.
    “Is this because of your parents’ deaths?” he asked, wondering if she’d mentally given up dancing due to depression or sadness.
    Kat smiled at him and shook her head, “No. Last year I had an accident while on stage and broke my ankle. They were able to fix it, but it’s weak and the doctors don’t believe it will ever be as strong as it once was. I’m still trying to regain some of my flexibility, but it’s not looking very good.”
    Nikolai looked at her thoughtfully, appreciating the hardships she had recently endured and her ability to bounce back. “I’m sure there are many other things you could do with your talents.”
    “Besides strip?” Kat asked, a note in her voice indicating her dislike for the profession.
    “Yes. Why strip? Why at that club?” Nikolai knew there was something she wasn’t telling him, but wasn’t sure about what.
    While Kat debated whether she could trust him, the elevator doors opened and two men exited. One was Vanya, the bodyguard he’d left at the club. The other man she recognized immediately—her uncle Danil.

Chapter 8
     
    Nikolai was seated so that he could see the two men step off the elevator, and observe Kat’s immediate recognition of his second in command, Danil Yakimov. He watched her expressions go from relief to joy to wariness and – sadness?
    “Do you know that man?” he asked quietly.
    Kat pulled her gaze away from her uncle to see Nikolai watching her carefully. She tried to find something to say, “He looks familiar, I think.”
    “You