Read Online A Very Russian Christmas by Roxie Rivera - Free Book Online
Authors: Roxie Rivera
Tags: Suspense, Romance, Literature & Fiction, romantic suspense, Anthologies, Collections & Anthologies, Holidays, Mystery & Suspense, Multicultural & Interracial
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away from the small group she chatted with and smiled at him. Bewitched by her beautiful face, he returned her friendly look. One mischievous little wink from her and his heart raced. The cherry red hue on her lips tempted him greatly. If he kissed her, how would she taste? Sweet, he surmised. Intoxicating.
Refusing to surrender to the dangerous yearning he felt toward the young woman he guarded from afar, he broke their shared gaze. Their friendship was complicated enough without him looking at her like a lovesick puppy.
Nikolai spotted one of his enforcers lumbering through the kitchen entrance. He checked the black leather stretched across Sergei’s broad shoulders for any signs of precipitation but saw nothing. He hoped the wintry mix of rain and sleet had finally stopped for the night. He wanted everything to go perfectly tonight—and bad weather wasn’t part of those plans.
Without having to be beckoned, Sergei knew he was needed. The great big bear of a man edged the dance floor where couples were laughing and swinging their hips. The enforcer’s hawk-like gaze swept the restaurant even as he delivered his update. “Everything is arranged in the garage, and the drivers have already started lining up out back. Bobby wanted me to tell you that he sent over extra taxis, just in case.”
Arranging rides to and from the Christmas party was another way he took care of his people. Quite a few of the kitchen staff relied on public transportation. Those who had their own vehicles often chose the free rides so they could indulge in the open bar without worrying about how they would get home.
“Good.” He clapped Sergei’s back. “I’ll be in the office getting the bonuses ready. Ask the DJ to start winding down the night.”
“Done.”
Moving into the rear offices of Samovar, Nikolai unlocked his office door. He punched in the code for the safe and withdrew the sack of envelopes holding the holiday bonuses he gave to every employee. He based them on the years they had been at his restaurant, making sure to give extra to the workers who had busted their asses the most, gotten the highest reviews from customers and to the ones who were having difficulties at home.
The bonuses in hand, he returned to the restaurant’s main floor. He took a moment to enjoy the view of the festively decorated space. Despite all that he had accomplished in life and as high as he had climbed, he still had moments where he was taken aback by his successes. While he would like nothing more than to shake off the stain of his involvement in Maksim Prokhorov’s crime family, Nikolai understood that was a dream. He was in too deep—and there was no escape.
Here, in the real world, he had managed a rare feat. He kept one foot in Houston’s underworld and one in the light of day where he was acknowledged as a successful businessman—and whispered about as perhaps something a bit more. It was a delicate balance but one Nikolai had maintained so far.
Blending into the crowd of Samovar employees and their dates were the men who formed his Houston branch of the crime family. Some of his captains—Artyom, Ilya and Evgeni—had attended with their close-knit crews. Nikolai’s own hand-picked men—Sergei, Danila, and Kostya—were constantly moving inside and outside of the restaurant, keeping an eye on things and making sure that nothing spoiled the night.
A flutter of green lace caught his eye. One of the kitchen boys spun Vivian around the dance floor and held her entirely too close for Nikolai’s liking. Dark-haired and dashing, Aaron was a medical student who picked up extra hours at the restaurant whenever possible. Lately, Aaron seemed to be putting his name on the schedule only when Vivian was waitressing. It was a coincidence that hadn’t escaped Nikolai’s notice.
Hating the streak of jealousy that blazed through him, Nikolai clenched the stack of bonuses. He wanted to be the one gliding Vee around the dance floor. He wanted
Refusing to surrender to the dangerous yearning he felt toward the young woman he guarded from afar, he broke their shared gaze. Their friendship was complicated enough without him looking at her like a lovesick puppy.
Nikolai spotted one of his enforcers lumbering through the kitchen entrance. He checked the black leather stretched across Sergei’s broad shoulders for any signs of precipitation but saw nothing. He hoped the wintry mix of rain and sleet had finally stopped for the night. He wanted everything to go perfectly tonight—and bad weather wasn’t part of those plans.
Without having to be beckoned, Sergei knew he was needed. The great big bear of a man edged the dance floor where couples were laughing and swinging their hips. The enforcer’s hawk-like gaze swept the restaurant even as he delivered his update. “Everything is arranged in the garage, and the drivers have already started lining up out back. Bobby wanted me to tell you that he sent over extra taxis, just in case.”
Arranging rides to and from the Christmas party was another way he took care of his people. Quite a few of the kitchen staff relied on public transportation. Those who had their own vehicles often chose the free rides so they could indulge in the open bar without worrying about how they would get home.
“Good.” He clapped Sergei’s back. “I’ll be in the office getting the bonuses ready. Ask the DJ to start winding down the night.”
“Done.”
Moving into the rear offices of Samovar, Nikolai unlocked his office door. He punched in the code for the safe and withdrew the sack of envelopes holding the holiday bonuses he gave to every employee. He based them on the years they had been at his restaurant, making sure to give extra to the workers who had busted their asses the most, gotten the highest reviews from customers and to the ones who were having difficulties at home.
The bonuses in hand, he returned to the restaurant’s main floor. He took a moment to enjoy the view of the festively decorated space. Despite all that he had accomplished in life and as high as he had climbed, he still had moments where he was taken aback by his successes. While he would like nothing more than to shake off the stain of his involvement in Maksim Prokhorov’s crime family, Nikolai understood that was a dream. He was in too deep—and there was no escape.
Here, in the real world, he had managed a rare feat. He kept one foot in Houston’s underworld and one in the light of day where he was acknowledged as a successful businessman—and whispered about as perhaps something a bit more. It was a delicate balance but one Nikolai had maintained so far.
Blending into the crowd of Samovar employees and their dates were the men who formed his Houston branch of the crime family. Some of his captains—Artyom, Ilya and Evgeni—had attended with their close-knit crews. Nikolai’s own hand-picked men—Sergei, Danila, and Kostya—were constantly moving inside and outside of the restaurant, keeping an eye on things and making sure that nothing spoiled the night.
A flutter of green lace caught his eye. One of the kitchen boys spun Vivian around the dance floor and held her entirely too close for Nikolai’s liking. Dark-haired and dashing, Aaron was a medical student who picked up extra hours at the restaurant whenever possible. Lately, Aaron seemed to be putting his name on the schedule only when Vivian was waitressing. It was a coincidence that hadn’t escaped Nikolai’s notice.
Hating the streak of jealousy that blazed through him, Nikolai clenched the stack of bonuses. He wanted to be the one gliding Vee around the dance floor. He wanted
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