Page 62 of The Bratva King's Claimed Bride

Yvonne touches my face. “Calm yourself, Igor. Matvey is telling the truth, and you know it. What is the sense of fighting amongst ourselves? It isn’t going to bring Arina back.”

I breathe heavily before I nod. “Fine. No more fighting.”

Matvey spits again, and Yvonne turns to him. “Go rinse your mouth out with salt water. Then let’s meet in the study and discuss what we’re going to do to get Arina back.”

“I need a moment. I’ll be there now,” I say, going upstairs to our bedroom. I slam the door behind me.

I look around, and I see her silk nightgown. I pick it up and sit on the bed with it in my hands. I raise it to my nose and sniff. It smells just like her soap and cream mixed together. It’s what I smell when she lies in my arms at night, like honey and milk.

I clench the nightgown in my hand and fight back the tears.

If the Milovs do anything to her… I think my worst fear is that they will turn her against me. After everything we’ve been through, from absolutely hating me to accepting her role as my wife. I hate the thought of losing her.

I lay her nightgown on the bed beside me and got up, taking off my tie and unbuttoning the top button of my shirt.

I go back to the study and pour another glass of whiskey. Matvey comes in looking worse for wear.

I pour him a whiskey and hand it to him before I sit down.

Matvey sits opposite me, but Yvonne remains standing.

“We need to come up with a way to speak to Kervyn Milov to get her back,” she says, looking at us.

Matvey shifts slightly, and I drain my glass. Yvonne knows something is up, so she puts her hands on her hips. “What did you two do? What was Igor saying about you tipping off the Milovs before?”

Matvey is the one to speak. “I found out the Milovs didn’t know about her, about Arina. That’s why she was never in their lives. Not because they abandoned her or drove her mother away but because they didn’t know she existed. I let it slip to Luka Milov and caught him following her. It’s the real reason I didn’t want her to go to the mall alone.”

Yvonne looks at Igor. “You told her, right? You told her that her brothers didn’t know about her?”

I look up at her, feeling sorry for myself as I reach for the bottle of whiskey. “No.”

“You didn’t tell her? She’s going to find out now, and if she finds out, you knew she’s going to be pissed with you.” Yvonne throws her hands in the air dramatically. “Men!”

“No one knows I know,” I say quietly. “But I need her back, Yvonne.”

“I can try to arrange a meeting with Kervyn to discuss this, but he knows who you are. He remembers you from Russia. He won’t give her up to you easily.” Yvonne sits beside Matvey and crosses her legs.

I rub my head and then pour another glass of whiskey, which prompts her to get up and take the bottle away. “Getting drunk is certainly not the answer, Igor.”

I drain my glass and sigh. “Make the arrangements.”

“Go get some sleep,” Yvonne says. “Or go watch a movie. Or do something to distract yourself.”

I look up at her. “Leave the whiskey, and don’t tell me what to do.”

She purses her lips, but she knows better than to argue with me.

She puts the bottle down and taps Matvey’s shoulder. “You come with me.”

Matvey drains his glass and sets it down, getting up and walking out with Yvonne.

I pour another shot of whiskey and stare into the glass miserably.

What am I going to say to Kervyn Milov that would convince him to give his only sister back to me as his wife? He hates me—he always has. Our families have been rivals since before we were both born.

I drain my glass.

Arina. Fuck I miss you, Arina. I wish I’d told you I love you this morning before I left for the resort. Then again, I wish I’d stayed home to take care of you. Maybe this wouldn’t have happened.

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