Page 64 of Baby for the Bratva

My next inhale is shaky, but I’m able to regain clarity for long enough to smile at Yuri. “You really think that?”

“I know it,” he says, the eagerness in his words so obvious that it feels like we’re two teenagers on our first date. Yuri is so pure when he’s not discussing Bratva matters.

My mouth is dry, but there’s no water on the table yet. I swallow, trying to build up some moisture to use so that I can talk again. “Um, you’ve really changed how I think, too. I’ll admit I’ve never met a man like you before.”

“There are none,” he replies, puffing out his chest. “I’m the only one.”

I laugh, tension dissolving from my tight shoulders. “You are, that’s true.”

His smile is dazzling as he laughs with me, his eyes sparkling with even more intensity than before. I love his confidence, the way that he doesn’t take himself too seriously when we’re out together.

“It’s so easy to forget about everything when I’m with you,” I confess, twisting my fingers under the table again. There’s so much more I want to say, but it’s nerve-racking just to admit this much.

“You should forget it. Nothing really matters in life but your happiness,” he says as a waiter arrives. He shifts his attention to him for a moment. “I’ll take a hot tea, please. And my wife here will have a…?”

I freeze, drawing a blank as I try to process what he just said.

Wife? I’m hardly even his girlfriend.

“The same,” I blurt, blushing wildly like I just said the most ridiculous thing.

The waiter smiles, nodding as he leaves us alone again.

“What the hell was that?” I hiss at Yuri.

He chuckles, leaning back in his chair without the least bit of guilt. “That was the waiter.”

I roll my eyes. “Okay, funny guy, you know what I’m talking about. You referred to me as your wife.”

He shrugs. “Might as well be.”

“And why is that? I don’t see a ring on my finger,” I reply, holding out my hand.

“I’d like to change that, eventually.” His voice is smooth and hot like melted butter, but his words hit me like a brick wall.

30

Stella

“We’ve only just met,” I stammer, trying to remain calm while Yuri grins about his casual marriage suggestion. Normal people don’t talk about stuff like this on a first date, but then again, Yuri isn’t normal, and I guess neither am I.

“I’ve known you for long enough to know you’d make a fantastic wife. Also, I wouldn’t mind the residency status that came with it. I’ve been thinking about this for a while, actually.”

I half-laugh, half-scoff at his suggestion. “You’ve been thinking about using me to get into the United States?”

“I don’t need to be there, but it would be nice. The Brazilian authorities would ease up on me if they knew I was a resident of the United States. They wouldn’t come after me so hard, then.”

Suddenly, all the butterflies I ever had for him vanish like it’s the end of summer. It’s going to be a cold fucking winter if this is the way he really thinks about me.

“I can see you’re a bit upset,” he says, worry starting to show on his face.

“A little?” I ask, trying not to raise my voice. This isn’t the type of place I’d feel comfortable having an argument. We can save that for when we’re back on the boat.

“A moment ago, you were suggesting I was crazy for suggesting marriage. Clearly, you’re not ready for it in a romantic sense,” he says, as though that makes anything better.

I groan, pressing my palm into my forehead. “Yuri, you were doing everything right. Literally everything, and now you go and admit you’re using me to gain residency in the United States.”

“Oh, no, that wasn’t my intention,” he says, his voice tightening with concern. “No, no, no, that’s not it at all. I really like you, Stella. You’re an incredible woman, but I’m also in a bit of a tough spot here with the bounty on my head. Hell, it’s risky just being out here at dinner with you.”

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