Page 54 of Used By the Bratva

“We’re going to stay with your mother?” I grin as he sits down next to me. “Does that mean I can ask her to see all your baby photos? I have a lot of questions about you as a child, you know.”

He chuckles as he slides in beside me. “Not happening. My mom died many years ago, but she left the beach house to me. She thought that I would appreciate it more than Sergey, and she was right.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

I look out the windows as we drive through the streets, beige buildings with terracotta roofs on either side. People sit outside in the waning sun while others walk back from the beach with their bags slung over their shoulders. Everyone is sun-kissed and glowing, looking relaxed.

“Don’t be,” he says, interlacing my fingers with his. I can hear the anguish in his voice as if an unrelenting pain is casting a shadow over him.

I still want to know what happened back then, but now is not the time to ask. If my father was in the mafia too, he must have done something seriously wrong because I believe deep in my heart that Leon doesn't do anything without a reason.

After what feels like an eternity, we pull into a driveway that leads to a huge beige house. My jaw drops as I enjoy the view of the beach behind the house, where the gloomy waves crash against the shore.

Leon waits while the driver unloads the bags before carrying them to the door. I follow him and am startled when he opens the door and turns on the lights to make the terracotta tiles and blue and white accents stand out even more.

This place looks like an oceanside oasis.

“You know, I don’t know what I was expecting when you said beach house, but I didn’t think you meant that the back door led straight out into the sand.” I turn to look at Leon, who opens the fridge and pulls out a bottle of water.

He breaks off the lid and takes a long sip. “I know. This place is a sanctuary. I think of all the places my mother decorated; this was the one she was most proud of. This is where she spent her last years, surrounded by people she loved.”

As I see the plush wicker sofas and white cushions, I imagine myself cozying up with a book while Leon works.

Although he's arranged the honeymoon, I doubt he’ll be taking much time for himself. He doesn’t seem like the kind of man who can slow down and enjoy life for too long.

Leon also hands me a bottle of water and leans against the counter. “Do you want to explore a little?”

“No.” I hold a hand over my mouth to hide my yawn as the excitement fades and gives way to exhaustion. “I just want to go to bed. Maybe watch another movie or something, but I don’t think I can stay awake for much longer.”

He chuckles and drinks more of the water. “I have a bit of work to do before I can go to bed tonight. There are some substantial amounts of moving money I need to take care of, which means I'll be spending the rest of the night emailing with Sergey.”

“Will you at least lie in bed with me so that we can enjoy the first night together?”

“Of course.”

He finishes his water before carrying our bags into the room.

Everything in the room is either light wood, terracotta, or white bedding. Plants stand on shelves around the room, and huge doors lead out onto a terrace.

I know where I’ll be drinking my warm lemon water in the morning.

Leon puts the bags to the side. “If you want to take a shower, the bathroom is just behind that door.”

“A shower sounds amazing.” I head for the bathroom, leaving the door open as I shed my clothing and head straight for the shower.

The rain shower cascades warm water down over my tense body. Sighing, I slick my hair back before looking around for shampoo and conditioner.

There are small bottles on the shelf in the shower, and when I reach for the first one, I see that it is the same brand I have back home.

Warmth spreads through my heart that Leon has thought of getting his staff to stock the house with duplicates of things I like.

I wrap myself in a fluffy towel, go back to the bedroom, and rummage in my suitcases until I find an oversized shirt and a pair of shorts.

Leon is already lying on the bed under the covers, his bare chest visible and his laptop glowing in his lap. He looks up at me and lets his gaze wander up and down my body.

If I weren’t so tired, I'd find a way to convince him to put the laptop aside.

I put on the shirt and shorts before turning off the light and climbing into the plush bed beside him. His fingers absentmindedly comb through my hair as he reads his emails.

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