he sneers. “She would have been better off with me.”
“I doubt that. Now, unless there’s business you need me to bring back to my club, or you want my autograph, it’s time for you to leave.”
He hesitates, then pulls something out of his pocket. His asshole attitude vanishes. “Anatoly’s lawyer is working on the appeal. He wants to speak with Mallory but no one knew how to reach her.” He hands me the card. “We want to get him home as soon as possible.” He stares at me as if he has more to say, then seems to realize we’re in a record store full of people and maybe it’s not the best place to discuss family business.
“I’ll make sure she calls him.” I hand Mallory the card and watch her tuck it away in her purse.
“Of course, I’ll call,” she promises.
She stands, pressing herself against my side and I slide an arm around her waist.
“Is he okay?” she asks him in a low voice.
Vasily’s gaze slides over Mallory’s body a little too long for my taste before answering. “You know your father. He is…making friends.”
“I expect nothing less.”
While I have plenty of reasons to dislike Vasily, that’s not the reason I want to put an end to this reunion. The last thing Mallory needs is word spreading that her mobster father’s in prison. The tabloids salivated over a non-existent love triangle when Andrew got shot. If they get wind of a scandal this juicy, they’ll be wolves gnawing on a goat.
Vasily stares down at the table as if noticing the promo material for the first time. He taps one of the ‘Candy Jar’ posters with a perfectly manicured finger. Jesus, is that clear nail polish?
“I cannot believe this is you.” It’s definitely not a compliment coming from his mouth.
Ignoring his disapproving tone, Mallory flashes her camera-ready smile. “Me either.”
“Your father will not approve.”
She shrugs. “He’ll get over it.”
He keeps staring at her as if he’s meeting Mallory for the first time. And I guess in a way he is. It doesn’t seem like anyone in her life ever bothered to get to know the real Mallory.
Anyone until me.
Chapter Twelve
Mallory
“I can’t believe he had the nerve to show up there!” I stare out our hotel room window after hanging up with my father’s attorney.
“What’d the lawyer say?” Chaser asks.
“Not much. I don’t know what he thought I could tell him that would be helpful.” I tap my lip, thinking over the conversation and Vasily’s appearance. “Maybe he used it as an excuse to come see us?”
“Let us know we were on his turf?”
“Yes.”
Chaser shrugs. “He left peacefully and as long as we don’t see his ugly face again, I really don’t care.” He seems to reconsider the day’s events. “I don’t want you out alone while we’re down here, though. You’re with me anytime we’re off the bus or outside. At the show, stick with Robbie, Alvin, or…” he pauses, his face twisting in annoyance, “…I hate saying it, Andrew. He’s a pain in the ass but if someone tried to mess with you, he’d fuck them up.”
“You think so?”
“I do.”
I slide over and wrap my arms around his middle, leaning against him. “I don’t plan to let you out of my sight, so it won’t be a problem.”
“Good.” He bends down and kisses the tip of my nose. “Exactly how I like it.”
“You really didn’t mind having me there today?”
“Nope. Felt good having you by my side.”
He says it without hesitation and that finally erases my doubts about the afternoon. Even the girl who so obviously showed up to bang my boyfriend is forgotten. “Did your father say when he’s arriving?”
“Early tomorrow afternoon. Half the club’s coming with him. Thom gave me all sorts of shit about finding backstage passes for everyone.”
I roll my eyes. “If they can magically come up with passes for groupies every night, he can find enough for family members.”
“That’s basically what I told him.”
Someone pounds against our hotel door. Intuition says it’s Andrew. I sigh as Chaser opens the door. I don’t have the energy for his crazy antics tonight.
“She left me. She really left and went home.”
“I’m sorry.” Chaser pats Andrew’s shoulder as he barrels into our room.
“Did you take her to the airport?” Andrew asks.
“No, Jacob did.”
“Did he fuck her?” Andrew’s eyes widen. “Be honest.”
Chaser slams the door shut. “I didn’t ask to sniff his dick. Settle down.”
“Sorry.” He glances up and finally seems to notice I’m in the room. “Hey, Mallory.