Page 23 of Brutal Bratva Boss

Wrapping my arms around his waist, I sink into his embrace, letting my worries melt away for a moment. With my head pressed against his chest, I hear his heartbeat thumping steadily in my ear.

“I missed you today,” Theo says softly.

I pull back, and a worried look passes over Theo’s gorgeous features.

“Well, that’s reassuring.” I pause for a beat. “Because I missed you too.”

It is the truth. Every day he is not around I miss him, and I look forward to our nights together.

A smile touches his lips before they descend on mine in a domineering kiss. Theo’s arms tighten around me as he pries my mouth open so his tongue can stroke inside. Every now and then we have moments like this when Theo is so gentle it is as if he thinks I might break. It’s such a contrast to the forceful way he ravishes me most nights, but every bit as breathtaking.

When he finally pulls back so we can both get some much-needed air, he nods towards the door. “Fancy dinner?”

I nod. “I believe Anya made a casserole for tonight. We can head over and eat whenever you’re ready.”

He regards me for a moment before he dips his head again. “Maybe one more,” he mumbles against my lips.

After stealing another three kisses, Theo leads me to the conservatory. We have dinner as we do every night now, exchanging details about our day. The recounting of my day is much shorter than Theo’s, even if he still does not share too much with me about his business dealings. The only information I have to share is what I have decided to do in the nursery. I have asked Theo’s opinion a few times, but he just says I should do what makes me happy, so that is exactly what I plan on doing. Other than my time with him, it is the only other joy I have to fill my day.

After dinner, Theo makes love to me. I call it this because it is a gentle, meaningful experience, to me anyway. He whispers sweet nothings in my ear—something I did not think he was capable of—although he still leaves me to sleep alone in my bed.

When I wake the next morning, Theo has already left for the day. It is nothing new, so it should not bother me, but somehow it does. Even though things have gotten better—and they really have so I should not be complaining—Theo still does not include me in any of his business dealings. It would not be such a problem if it didn’t mean that I was left alone every day. He very seldom has meetings at home anymore since I took over the nursery, although I wonder if there is more to it than not having a space dedicated to entertaining guests. I wonder if it may also be a way to keep my identity a secret.

The only company I have is the interior decorator who has started coming in to paint the nursery. With me being pregnant, I am not allowed anywhere near the fumes, so once I decided on the color scheme last night, Theo arranged for someone to come and implement my vision.

As much as I appreciate having the new company, I still have too much alone time during which my mind runs rampant with thoughts of my father. As much as I try to ignore it, fear still claws at my insides at the thought of the very real danger that hangs over my head. I have no one to talk to about it, which means the thoughts sit and stew, growing in menace until I shiver at random moments throughout the day.

My only hope is that nothing materializes and that Theo is still in the dark about everything. As much as I hate actively keeping it from him, I fear what he might do if he learns about it.

With how our relationship has evolved lately, I want to believe that it is indeed real. That what I feel for him has merit, and that he feels the same for me. I worry that if he learns the truth about the letter and the fact that I have kept it from him, it might cause him to lose his trust in me, and to rethink his changed opinion on me being here to betray him.

It could very well destroy everything.

Chapter 12 - Fyodor

The steady thrum of my fingertips on the table in front of me should be calming. It is not.

The reason for this is the slimy excuse of a man sitting across from me.

Alexandr Golubev is the shriveled half of a spineless man at best. With his ties to human trafficking and the rumors that he likes to sample his own products, he is not someone I have ever wanted to do business with. If I never saw his face again, it would be too soon.

Unfortunately, due to recent developments, I have no choice but to sit here and listen while he spouts a list of demands he expects me to abide by, only pausing to leer down the server’s cleavage whenever she brings us another round. Which has been a few times in the short time I have been sitting here. Either the man has alcoholic tendencies, or he is looking to shorten the time between having a free view of a good set of tits. My money is on the latter.

When he drifts off again as he eyes the poor girl who looks barely legal, I snap my fingers in front of his face. “Hey, jackass! Get to the point.”

Most days I would not entertain any of this, but today there are extenuating circumstances. When my phone rang and his voice was the one I heard when I answered, I was ready to end the call almost immediately. Until he mentioned Kat’s name, stating that he knew she was my new wife. And so, much to my distaste, I agreed to meet him at this seedy joint he fancies and hear him out. I need to find out how much he actually knows, and how it could affect Kat’s safety.

Alexandr snickers. “Do not forget yourself, Fyodor. I could easily share the information I have with some interested parties. Who knows what would happen to your new bride if I were to do that.”

I grind my teeth so hard I think they might turn to powder. “That would not be wise on your part.”

Alexandr leans back in his chair, casually crossing one leg over the other. “I feel it necessary to add that I have contingencies in place. If I do not walk out of here, someone is ready to get the information to the relevant parties.”

My hands ball into fists. It is taking everything in me not to lunge over the table, wrap my hands around his short, thick neck, and squeeze until I see the life fade from his eyes. “I might not be able to kill you, but there are many other ways I could teach you a lesson for your imprudence.” I motion to his crotch. “Cutting off your balls and feeding them to you, for example. I doubt any member of the opposite gender would shed a tear over this. Hell, I would probably be doing them a favor.”

Alexandr jumps up, leaning over the table as he waves a finger in my face. “I will not be spoken to like that!”

No sooner have the words left his mouth than he is looking down the barrels of four guns as my men draw their weapons from behind me. His men do not even have the time to register what has happened, which means they end up with their hands on their holstered weapons, unable to draw as my men move their aim to them in warning.

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