Page 41 of The Bratva's Hostage Bride

I hurry upstairs to the bedroom I’ve been using to record. When I walk in, the bed is gone, and there’s a large table set up with way more advanced sound equipment than just my board and microphone. It’s a proper setup.

There’s a more comfortable office chair at the table, and it looks like the room has been soundproofed. I can record in absolute peace and not worry about noises from outside filtering through.

“Luka,” I turn to look at him. “Why would you do this for me?”

“I just wanted to do something nice for you. It’s yours, no matter what happens.” He smiles softly and comes over to me, kissing my head.

No matter what happens.

This is payment for being his temporary wife.

At least it’s something.

“Who is Mama Milov?” I ask curiously. “Asher said we’re having dinner there?”

“My mom,” Luka says a little shyly. “She wants to meet you. She’s about as impressed we’re eloped as your parents are. She loves a good wedding.”

Eloped. He says it as though he believes that’s what we’ve done.

I look at the sound equipment. It’s so fancy. I feel awkward and excited at the same time.

“In an hour? We just got back from the wedding.” I look at the equipment again.

“I promise you can play with it all when we come home as late as you like. The room is soundproof. I’ll sleep right through it.”

“Let me go get changed, and we can go then,” I say, heading across the hall to my bedroom.

He captures my arm and pulls me in for a sweet kiss. “I’ll change too.”

I blush as he lets me go. I change into tights and a vest with a jumper over it. I touch up my makeup and tie my hair in a high pony before I decide to braid it.

I walk out of the room and find Luka waiting for me. He’s in jeans and a jumper. “Ready?” he asks.

“I think so,” I say. “Do I look okay?”

“You look amazing, as always.”

The drive to the estate is short, and the property is basically the same size as Lukas, which is huge. There are other cars parked there, and Luka turns to me. “Just relax. My family are normal people.”

“Normal?” I ask. “Somehow, I doubt that.”

We get out, and he leads me into the house. Everyone is sitting around the table waiting, probably for us. I feel so awkward.

“Hannah, this is Kervyn, Penny, and my nephew Sam. You've met my brother Danil, Asher, and my niece Jade. This is my brother Arseny. And, of course, Mama Milov.”

Everyone greets me, and Mama Milov pats the seat next to her. “Come sit, dear.”

I sit down. There’s a heavenly smell coming from the table center, where a covered plate is. Around the table are various vegetables.

“Let’s eat,” Kervyn says from the head of the table. We all dish up, and then, to my surprise, Kervyn sits Samuel on the floor and turns to watch him.

“He’s starting to crawl,” Penny says when she notices me looking. “You have to keep an eye on him.”

“It’s nice your husbands are so hands-on,” I turn to see Danil with Jade in his arms while he eats.

“Promising, isn’t it,” Penny says with a grin. “We’ll see when we add another how hands-on he’ll be or if he’ll run away.”

“I would never run. I could walk calmly, maybe, but never run,” Kervyn says, getting up to redirect Samuel.

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