Page 44 of Brutal Bratva Boss

“Of course, I do!”

Kiril shakes his head at his brother. “Don’t ruin it.”

Theo holds up both hands to silence his brothers. I am hoping he has something to say now because he has been uncharacteristically quiet through most of the bickering.

“Look, whether you agree with me or not, I gave Kat my word her father would not be harmed.” He shakes his head when Paval tries to interject. “I have my reasons, and as I am the head of this organization, I expect you to trust me and not go against it. Now.” He turns towards me, and I hold my breath. “About your cousin. As Kiril said, Paval does have a point.”

I shake my head furiously. “I can promise you she would not do that. She doesn’t want to be a part of this world, and she has done everything in her power to keep it that way. She doesn’t get involved with the politics of anything.”

“But you can understand how it would look that way to us?”

“Yes, but I know my cousin. Theo.” I pause, leaning forward to place my hands over his in the middle of the table. “I need you to trust me, please.”

Paval scoffs in the background, and Kiril shifts in his chair.

Theo’s eyes fall closed. “You ask too much of me.”

“I know,” I say as I nod. “But I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t necessary.”

Theo’s eyes search mine. I am not sure what it is he is looking for, but if it helps me protect my cousin, I hope he finds it.

“I say leave them all to the wolves,” Paval spits. “If someone is going to get rid of them, it’s one less enemy for us to worry about.”

I turn my attention to Paval. “Natalya is not an enemy.”

“Of course, she is, she is a Patrov.”

“Paval, Kiril.” Theo addresses his brothers. “Send what men we can spare to the cousin’s home. Tell them they are under orders to protect them at all costs.”

“But—” Paval starts.

“That was not a request,” Theo says firmly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need a moment alone with Kat.”

Kiril stands, pulling a fuming Paval up and ushering him towards the exit. “You got it.”

After they leave, Theo turns his attention to me. “I will do everything in my power to see to it that your cousin isn’t harmed. But it’s going to cost you.”

I slide my hands off his and shrink back in my chair. After all I have given up, after everything I have already sacrificed, I do not know what else I have to give. “What do you mean?”

“I’m sending precious manpower to protect your cousin. Manpower we cannot really afford to spare. That means I now have fewer men at my disposal. And in turn, so do you.” Theo leans back in his chair, his fingertips thrumming on the table. “I know you don’t agree with me sending you out with a small army, but it’s for your protection. With everything that has happened, I worry they will make a move to take you in an attempt to hurt me.”

Everything Theo has said and done up until now has led me to believe that he thinks of me as his property. So, to hear him say they would use me to hurt him is something I do not fully understand. “Why would them taking me hurt you?”

Theo’s breath whooshes out in an exhale, and he slumps his shoulders in surrender. “Because as much as I have tried to fight it, I love you. Despite everything that was drilled into me and everything my brothers keep reminding me of. Despite everything I could be putting on the line if you are indeed lying or, as my brothers have said, here to betray me, I still love you. I can’t deny it, and trust me, I’ve tried.”

Theo looks at me expectantly, looking more vulnerable than I have ever seen before. I round the table and he pushes his chair back. Winding an arm around his neck, I slide into his lap and curl into his chest.

Theo continues, his voice vibrating in my ear where it is pressed against his sternum. “So, I need you to promise me you will not leave the premises without me for any reason. At least until we’ve sorted this out. I am putting my faith in you, and I am trusting that what you say is the truth, and so I need you to promise me you’ll honor my wishes. Because as you have seen, this will not go over well with my brothers. Tensions are already high between us because of everything that’s happened, and they’ve started to question my sanity. I would not be able to handle the fallout or losing you if this all goes to shit.”

I press closer to him, fighting off the tears that threaten to spill over. Damn pregnancy hormones. “I promise,” is all I can manage.

Chapter 18 - Fyodor

Kat’s hair is fanned out over the pillow next to me. Her back rises and falls with each deep breath. Curled up under the covers, she looks so peaceful. It is a direct contrast to how things have been around here lately.

There is a constant tension that lies coiled beneath the surface, and as much as we try to ignore it, it seems to be growing. Between rival families banding together and rallying against mine, and the tension between my brothers and me, I need my and Kat’s relationship to be okay. Paval is hardly ever happy about the decisions I make, always challenging me no matter what it is I decide. But now even Kiril is doubting me. He does not say it, but he disagrees with the moves I have made recently relating to Kat. They are especially upset about me giving my word not to harm Igor. They almost lost it when they heard I had the chance to kill him and did not. If I am being honest, I would have been just as upset had the roles been reversed.

And then there is the promise I made to protect Kat’s cousin. I know we can not spare many men, but I felt the decision to protect Natalya was a necessity to build our relationship. Yes, the thought that Kat might betray me is still present. My brothers are sure to remind me of this possibility every chance they get. But I try not to pay them much heed—my brothers or the thoughts. No relationship is truly safe. There will always be doubts no matter what, but the important thing is where you choose to focus your attention and which part you choose to foster.

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