Page 70 of Stolen By the Bratva

“I just wanted to know if you even knew what you spent.”

She nodded. “Until we can improve the Family’s businesses, I don’t need to be wasting money for no good reason.”

As if I needed another reason to love you more. She wasn’t a materialistic woman. I’d already guessed that much. She cared about deeper, more lasting things like love and freedom. She wasn’t like other women, careless about their spending and oblivious to details. Of course, she paid attention. She was diligent and was always conscientious about her actions in everything she did. My wife wasn’t a frivolous person.

She sat on my lap when I beckoned her closer. She’d arrived with Ivan right after I’d found my mother’s ring, and with her seated on my thigh, I took her hand and slipped it on.

“This—” She huffed a laugh. “I just told you that I don’t need riches and wealth. How much did you spend on this?”

I kissed her finger just below where I’d placed the diamonds. “Not a thing. It was my mother’s. I found it here, deep in a drawer of the desk.”

“He took it?” she asked, scowling at what else my uncle had done.

“Among so much more,” I replied bitterly before the man himself entered the room.

“What—” He sneered at us, locking his eyes on my wife. “What the fuck is that Kastava scum doing here?”

Then he turned his wrath to me, flustered and turning red in the face. “Explain yourself!” He flailed his fists, enraged and near exploding with the force of his anger. “First, I show up to that alliance that fell apart because of your actions?—”

“You mean the coup my father tried to pull on you?” Mila sassed.

He blustered, opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water.

“Then you kill my son!” He smacked his fist to his chest. “The heir to the bratva!”

I would take it to the grave that the magnificent woman on my lap was my cousin’s killer.

I shook my head. “You’re looking at him.” I tossed the birth certificates to the desktop. “You set my father up so you could kill him. Because Pyotr Valkov was the firstborn twin. He was the rightful Pakhan, and you killed him to have the power for yourself.”

“That’s bullshit!” he roared, reaching for the gun he never bothered to actually wear anymore.

“It was. And it’s time for a new future for the family.” I lifted the gun I’d rested on the desktop. “I’m the rightful heir, the rightful leader, and with my wife, we will lead the Valkov Bratva to its former glory and might.”

I aimed and shot only once, sinking a bullet right between his eyes.

His mouth remained open in an O of surprise. Mila barely flinched. She stayed cool and collected as she sat on my lap, and together, we watched him drop to the floor. Within moments of his fall, Ivan and a couple of other soldiers came in to remove his body. After they’d taken him out, silence filled the office.

Peace and hope did as well, and as I felt Mila sigh and relax against me, I knew this was only the beginning.

Of my rule. Of my real Family. Right here, with the daughter of my enemy.

“It’s all done now,” she murmured, rubbing her hand along my jawline.

I gazed at her, letting her see all the love and commitment that I could offer her. With a slow smile, I shook my head. “As far as I’m concerned, my life can only truly begin now.”

She bit her lip and leaned closer to kiss me, promising my prediction with the impatience to make that come true.

30

MILA

Two months later…

“All I’m saying is that it would make more sense if we handled the wallpaper first, then ordered new furniture.” I set my hands on my hips and raised my brows at my brothers-in-law.

Of all the things that I needed to adjust to, remembering that I had a family was the biggest change. Brothers, soldiers who acted like brothers, loyal men who served Alek like he’d belonged as their Pakhan all this time. I had a support team. I no longer had my father. I'd cut him out of my mind and heart since I moved into the Valkov mansion with my husband. I would never cease to wonder at the inclusivity of these men, and slowly but surely, introducing more women to this family would be a blessing.

I tilted my head to the side, considering Ivan and Maxim. Which of you should be the first to work on that, hmm?

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