Protected by a Mobster: A Russian Mafia Romance (Volsky Mafia Book 1) Read Free

all that I know, I know. But I will not speak, I will run away.”
    -William Butler Yeats
     
    I let out a sigh as I flicked my turn signal and pulled into a diner on the outskirts of Las Vegas. The drive from New York City had taken nearly two days and I was exhausted beyond belief. I’d driven straight through, fearing that if I stopped, my father’s men would catch up to me and drag me back to a life I feared. My body ached in places I didn’t know could ache. I killed the engine, taking a moment to take in my surroundings.
    I’d say I felt safe, but that would be a huge resounding lie. Dane and my father’s men were already looking for me. To be naïve now would only get me caught, and I damn sure didn’t want that. Making it this far away was a sign; a sign that I was doing the right thing. But staying at least one step ahead of the men looking for me would be difficult.
    Countless times, I had considered going to the police, but after giving it some thought, I decided that wouldn’t be any better than staying at home. There was no way to know how far my family’s reach actually was. The information I possessed was only a fraction of the bigger picture. Once the rose colored glasses I had been wearing were finally removed I saw everything move clearly… and part of that was knowing I didn’t know everything. But I knew more than I used to.
    The men I had always called ‘uncle whatever’ were soldiers employed by my dad. They were his hunters. The guns I had never questioned before now told a different story. Worse were the stories that popped up about my father on a simple Google search. Just the thought of the headlines made me cringe. They had more resources and money than I did. My money would dry up fast if I wasn’t careful. I had taken my jewelry in hopes of pawning it for extra cash in an emergency, which was better than nothing. At least it was a start.
    Grabbing my purse and locking up the beat-up car I’d traded my fancy car for, I couldn’t help but smile. Malcolm would be so proud of me. I’d gone from a Mercedes to a clunker Ford Taurus.
    Riches to rags.
    Mafia princess to girl in hiding.
    I’d left behind all of my fancy clothes. The small bag of clothing I had stowed away in my car only provided a few articles of clothing and personal items because I knew I’d more than likely need to change my appearance at some point, but I’d hold off as long as I could on that. The mere thought of using store-bought hair coloring products more than freaked me out. I’d seen plenty of girls in the salon that had ruined their gorgeous locks with that shit.
    Changing my name would be a great idea, too… but I had no idea how to do that, so blending in, or just hiding out, was the best chance I had of staying under the radar while I figured out how to approach the Russian mafia in Las Vegas.
    My plan, or what little of one there was, went as far as finding the Russians and asking for help. Hell, I’d beg for their help if it came down to it. Surely, after hearing what I had to say, they’d be as eager as I to take down my father and Dane.
    As I strode across the nearly empty parking lot to the diner, the warm Las Vegas sun bore down on me, the heat from its rays giving me a burst of energy. I’d always wanted to visit Las Vegas and see the sights. The iconic Vegas Strip was the place to be… but it would also be the first place my family would look for me. They wouldn’t expect me to live in a low-class part of town, so for now, my plan was exactly that; a cheap place to stay off the beaten path and away from prying eyes. Maybe I’d have time to sneak a peek at the casinos and at some point... if I was here long enough.
    A bell jingled and a wave of cool air swept over me, cooling my heated skin when I pulled open the front door of the diner. A hefty waitress who looked to be in her forties hustled across the room in my direction, bright red lipstick coloring her overly pouty lips. “Welcome.