Patrick: A Mafia Love Story Read Online Free Page A

away, he scooted a bit closer around the U-shaped seating so that they could speak quietly. The pulsing music wasn’t so loud here, and all the patrons were focused on the stage, where a buxom blonde was in the process of stripping off her naughty schoolgirl outfit. It was the perfect place for a meeting, because no one gave a fuck and no one paid attention.
    “I got the last shipment.”
    Patrick nodded to Alexei as the young woman returned with his drink. He handed her a hundred dollar bill, and with a wink, said, “Keep the change.”
    She grinned at him as she walked away, her body drawing his attention briefly. She was exquisite, but she couldn’t compare to the woman dominating his thoughts, and his gaze returned immediately to Alexei Varnakov. “That’s good. I hear your shipment arrived safely in Belfast.” He struggled to hide a grimace, hating that heroin was now flooding the streets of Ireland, simply because it was a horrible drug.
    He didn’t understand drugs. Oh, he understood the allure of their profit potential, but he didn’t stand understand the kind of idiot who started voluntarily using them. Guns were simple. Guns could kill, but it wasn’t the guns themselves that killed people. People would get guns either way, so he might as well make some profit from it. And guns could do good things as much as bad.
    They had a quick meeting, and as he started to leave, Alexei motioned to one of the dancers making her rounds. She was a cute redhead with freckles peppered across the bridge of her nose and large eyeglasses. It was difficult to tell if they were part of her costume or necessity.
    “Tonya, take care of Mr. Murphy before he leaves, will you?”
    Patrick bit back a groan, not wanting to deal with such hospitality. Refusing a lap dance—or whatever he was being offered—could lead to bad will, so he steeled himself to follow her into a private room.
    Tonya indicated he should sit on a comfortable recliner, and he did so, but he couldn’t relax. He curled his fingers into the leather upholstery as she started to gyrate in front of him to the sultry music playing. It sounded like some sort of Indian music, with a sitar plucking mournfully every few notes. It wouldn’t be his first choice for sexy music, but her moves were in perfect sync, and she did it well.
    If his mind hadn’t been completely consumed with Lauren, he wouldn’t have had any problem responding to the little redhead, and he probably would’ve enjoyed a quick fuck in the private room.
    As it was, he couldn’t hide his lack of interest when she sat on his lap, rubbing against him in a suggestive way. It reminded him of the way Lauren had danced with that other guy, and the thought of being against her instead made his erection harden.
    Tonya giggled. “That’s better. I was starting to think you didn’t like me.”
    He maintained his silence as she bobbed and rubbed against him, barely managing to keep himself erect. He certainly wasn’t feeling it when she was rubbing against him. Even imagining it was Lauren didn’t help, because it felt like a betrayal. She wasn’t his, at least not officially, so she had no claim on him, but it felt disloyal to be imagining her being the one doing this to him when some strange woman was touching him.
    Finally, with a grunt, he lifted her off his lap and back onto the floor. He kept his hands on her hips for just a moment until she was stable on her platform shoes. “Thank you.” He said it gruffly, aware he didn’t sound all that grateful.
    She tipped her head, looking puzzled. “Don’t you want more? Mr. Varnakov told me to take care of you.”
    If she’d been frightened, or displayed fear at displeasing her boss, he would have perhaps reacted differently, or maybe even offered her a way out. As it was, she just seemed puzzled and not too concerned about disappointing Alexei. Apparently, she wasn’t forced to work here, or she didn’t feel threatened if she was.
    He didn’t