Page 9 of Caught By the Bratva Beast

Scowling, I prop one arm above her, the ridges digging through my suit jacket as I loom over her. Her breath hitches and it’s then that I’m sure she knows exactly who I am.

Do I play her game, or do I expose it?

“I own the casino and a few other businesses spread throughout the city. What do you do for work, besides going on expensive and boring dates?”

“Between jobs right now, I’m afraid.” She crosses her arms, the slender tone of her biceps showing.

“What were you doing for work?”

Pearl’s jaw twitches, her tongue running along the inside of her cheek. That façade slipping out of place for just a moment has me leaning closer to her. I wonder what she would do if I decided to close the distance between us.

It would be easy enough to kiss her senseless. Hearst would go wild knowing that I stole his little toy right out from under him.

“I have a degree in computer science. I used to work for a social media company, but that fell apart after a few months when the company went under. It was only a little startup, but I guess I should’ve seen it coming.”

“You’re interested in tech?” My eyebrows climb before I school my features into place.

“What’s the matter?” she asks, trailing a finger up my chest, flicking my black bowtie with a smirk. “Never heard of a woman being a computer science major?”

“Didn’t think a woman like you would spend years of her life going to school for that.”

Her lips quirk. “I think you might underestimate me.”

Before I can reply, Noah Hearst appears behind her like the steaming pile of shit he is. He puts a possessive arm around her waist, hauling her close to him.

My blood boils the second a flash of annoyance appears on her face. At the same time, I’m glad to see it. It means that she would rather be talking to me.

The sooner he figures that out, the bigger the thorn in his side is going to grow.

“Come on, Pearl. We have our dinner waiting for us. Maxim, excuse us.” Noah nods to me, but he’s no doubt picturing punching me in the face right now.

I shoot her a quick wink before leaning in and kissing her cheek. “It was a pleasure to see you again, Pearl. Remember what I said about coming with me the next time I travel to Japan.”

She lights up with amusement, stifling a smirk as steam nearly pours out of Hearst’s ears.

“Maybe I’ll just have to take you up on that offer.” She bites her bottom lip.

Despite knowing it was wrong, and that I only said that to piss off Hearst, if Pearly said she wanted me to take her to Japan, I would.

But only after I’ve unsheathed that mask she’s got plastered on her face.

Chapter 4 - Pearl

I wrap the robe tighter around me, the silk slipping against my skin like a lover’s soft touch. Humming to myself, I sit at the vanity in my bedroom, reaching for the button on the mirror to turn on the lights that frame it.

Bright light floods the room as Aesha wanders in, perching herself on the edge of the couch in my dressing room, spooning Rocky Road ice cream straight from the tub.

My nose wrinkles as I grab the body lotion and turn, pouring some of the vanilla and tobacco-scented moisturizer on my legs. “Do you have to eat it straight out of the pint?”

Aesha takes her time licking the back of the spoon. “You’re not about to abandon me for some guy tonight, are you? It’s girls’ night.”

I roll my eyes, smoothing my hands down my legs, and rubbing the lotion into my damp skin. “I’m not going to ditch you for a guy. It’s been forever since we had time to spend together. You’re always off saving lives in the NICU while I’m here.”

“You’re here, dating rich men and making a fuck ton of money doing it.” Aesha carves out several of the little almonds from the marshmallow swirl. “I don’t think that’s any less of a job. Someone has to put up with the people nobody else wants to be with.”

Cackling, I stand and head into my closet, looking for the silk pajama set Noah gave me after the charity event. He was trying to ply me with gifts, and while it won’t work, the little camisole and shorts are wonderful to slide into after a steamy shower.

I come back out of my closet wearing the deep plum set. “I keep thinking that Dad would be disappointed in me. I don’t think this is the life he would ever want me to live.”

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