Page 68 of The Bratva King's Claimed Bride

“Oats,” Yvonne says as she leads me out of my office and down the hall. “With sugar and butter.”

“My favorite. When did you hear back about the meeting?” I ask. “Did they say anything else?”

Yvonne shakes her head. “It was just a few minutes ago. I came straight to you. They didn’t say much, just that Kervyn agrees to see you tomorrow at his estate.”

I sigh and rub my out-of-control beard. “Book an appointment with the barber for after breakfast. I’ll go there as soon as we’re done.”

“I already have,” Yvonne says as she sits down in her chair at the table. Out of habit, we both glance at where Arina would normally be sitting, and I know Yvonne misses her as much as I do.

Matvey still swears he didn’t tip the Milovs off, and I reluctantly believe him. Although he’s made himself quite scarce these days, which does make me a little suspicious about what he’s up to.

Marie brings our food and sets it out in front of us.

I load my oats with way too much butter and sugar and stir it in, letting the hot oats melt the butter and blend with the sugar. I take a big spoonful and smile as I eat it. “Just like Mama used to make it.”

“What are you going to say to Kervyn?” Yvonne asks quietly. “What can you say that will make him hand Arina back to you?”

“I don’t know, but I cannot show weakness. That is the last thing I need to do because if he thinks I am weak, he can use her to hurt me.”

“You’re already hurting,” Yvonne points out.

“I just want to know she’s all right,” I admit quietly. “That she’s being treated well. I want her to be able to come home with us.”

“Well, you better prepare yourself for some tough negotiations. I hear that Kervyn is a demanding asshole who doesn’t take no for an answer.” Yvonne blows on her oats before she takes a spoonful.

We finish breakfast, and I go upstairs to get dressed to go to the barbershop. I need to look my best after everything I’ve been through, so I put on a suit and fix my tie in the mirror.

Alfie is waiting downstairs for me and opens the car door for me. “We’re going to the barber.”

“Yes, sir,” he says before closing the door and climbing into the front with my driver.

I rub the rough hair on my face, and now that I know I’m going for a shave, it's just irritating me more and more.

Once we arrive at the barber, I walk in, and there’s a general hush around the place. The owner, Vlad, gestures to a seat. “You look like you woke up in hell.”

“I did,” I say, sitting at the basin and resting back. A woman washes my hair, and once done, she towel-dries it. Then, I move to sit in front of the mirror.

Vlad comes over and starts clipping my hair: short on the sides and back, and longer on top. I then rest back while he tends to my beard, trimming it into a neat, shorter style.

Once I’m done and feeling fresh, I decide to go to the resort to check on things.

It feels like no matter what I do, time is dragging by as slowly as possible.

I go through the paperwork Arina left me to check, and I take a stroll around to make sure deliveries are happening seamlessly. But nothing can fill the gap her absence has left in my life.

I have a drink in the suite before I head home, restless, and anxious for tomorrow’s meeting.

I skip dinner, have a shower, and get into bed. I lie back with my hands behind my head and stare at the ceiling.

I don’t know how I’m going to negotiate with Kervyn. I don’t know what of mine he’ll want in exchange for Arina, but I know I’m going to have to sacrifice a great deal to get her back.

I can’t think of anything but Arina.

I turn and pull her pillow to me as I have every night since she’s been gone—a week of torture. I hug the pillow tightly, but her smell is slowly fading away. I need to rectify that and bring her home.

I have another night of tossing and turning. I can’t get comfortable unless she’s in my arms.

In the morning, I shower again and dress, but I can see the bags under my eyes from the lack of sleep. I go downstairs to the dining hall, where Yvonne is pouring me a cup of strong coffee.

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