Page 18 of Owned By the Bratva

I watched her without a word as she walked to the fridge and took out beef strips. Once she added the meat and herbs to the pan, she swirled them more. She briefly flipped the mixture with a spatula and took a deep breath before speaking again.

“Look at the world with eyes wide open. There is no such thing as black and white. Everyone has gray moments in life, and some more than others.” Mila turned to me again. Her expression wasn’t sad but seemed less upbeat than earlier as she continued. “Life doesn’t always give you what you want, but when it does, be grateful.”

For a moment, I saw her as a young girl and not a badass spy. She has been through a lot, and the others, too. I didn’t know what I would have done if I had their lives, what choices I would have made.

Mila flipped the food, swirled the pan, and then put off the plate. “Supper is ready,” she pronounced, turning to set the table.

I joined her at the island and lay down the cutlery while she put out plates and glasses. “Mila,” I said as she collected a bottle of wine from the fridge.

She stopped and looked at me. “I’m sorry for punching you, I was scared…” Before I could explain further, the door to the garage swung open, and Leon stumbled in, breathing heavily.

Turning to him, I couldn’t stop the puff of air that escaped my mouth. He was covered in blood. His clothes, hands, and even his shoes seemed to be soaked in it.

Mila spoke as she walked to him. “You know to rinse off out back before entering.”

Leon gave her a look that, if it had a voice, would have told her to get lost. I stood frozen, not sure what to do.

“Okay, just get to where you’re going so I can clean the floor,” Mila added, tapping Leon on the shoulder. His face was drawn together as his brows pulled inward and his jaw clenched. He looked like he was about to explode.

Deciding to stay out of it, I stepped back and waited until he had left the room before speaking. “Do you think he is okay, or should I go see if he needs help?”

Mila grinned at me. “That’s up to you. If you want, then go to him, but I’m sure he will be fine.”

I stood for a moment, considering her words and his appearance with great care. Mila filled a bucket with cleaning materials and dragged a large mop across the blood footprints on the marble floors. As I started towards the stairs, Piotr waltzed in through the front.

“Good evening to you lovely ladies,” he said, stopping at the bottom of the stairs. He glanced from Mila to me and back at Mila. “What on earth happened here?”

“Leon,” she breathed out as she moved closer to the stairs.

Piotr shook his head as he stepped over the prints and headed to the kitchen. Mila stopped at the bottom of the stairs and assessed the couple of prints leading up. “Will need clean water,” she said, picking up the bucket and walking back to the kitchen.

I carefully trodded up, stepping around the blood stains. Luckily, their home didn’t contain any carpets, only tiles. I couldn’t imagine trying to remove those stains from a carpet; they would have to be replaced.

Walking up to Leon’s room, I placed my ear against the door and listened. The room was quiet; I couldn’t hear any movement. I knocked gently and listened.

Chapter 12 - Leon

Drying my hands as I entered the bedroom, I heard the soft knocking. I wanted to lock the door but had to wash my hands first. I wanted to be alone and had hoped to isolate myself from Cindy.

“Go away, leave me be,” I shouted from the bathroom door. I heard the bedroom door creak open. “Cindy, I said go away, please.” My words had barely left my mouth when she stepped into the room and closed the door behind her.

I had just gotten out of the shower and was wearing a towel around my waist with nothing else. “Are you hard of hearing?” I huffed at her as I retreated into the bathroom. Staying away from her had become more difficult, but it was for her protection.

“Leon, where have you been? What happened?” she said.

I heard her voice coming closer and slammed the bathroom door. After jumping into a clean pair of jeans, I opened the door again. There she was, standing in front of it.

“Cindy,” I breathed out, trying to calm down. “You’re innocent and can’t associate with us in this way. The less you know about our lives, the better.”

She stood solidly with her hands on her hips as she spoke. “No, Leon, I want to know where you were and why you’re so upset.”

The way she stood before me, wearing the denim shorts I bought her and a silky satin top, almost made me crumble. I wanted her so badly that every inch of my body was aching. I knew that I couldn’t, dared not, and I had to make her see.

“I’m not the man you think I am, Cindy. The things I have done…” I breathed in deeply as I took her by the shoulders. “God damn it, I torture people for a living; it’s not the kind of life you want!” I heard my voice rising, and so did my anger.

I wasn’t angry at her but at the world, at myself for allowing her to affect me this way. She was an angel, and I could never have her. Shaking her lightly, I continued trying to make her leave. “You think what you saw was bad, sweety. You have no idea. I just dismantled a man; where do you think all that blood came from?”

Cindy blinked rapidly but didn’t back down. Her eyes were focused on me, penetrating the wall I was fighting to build. All I had said didn’t seem to fade her, but I knew this life would change her. I wished that I had left her in that dark hallway. My heart was racing, and my mind filled with images of her tenderness.

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