Page 31 of Escaping the Bratva

“It's fine, Haley. V refuses to listen to anyone.”

I stride into the room and take a seat across from her. Her assistant closes the office door and leaves us.

“What, V?” she asks, going back to typing on her keyboard.

“So we’re back to this?” I ask. We’re back to her acting like I’m not worth her time even though my dick was just deep inside her the other night. “Where’s the dog?” I look around the office space, but it's clear of the dog bed and the furry pup.

“I hired someone to take care of him while I’m at work. I have a lot on my plate. I can’t worry about a dog too.”

“Hire someone? You had him sitting by your feet wearing a sweater the other day.”

She finally looks away from the computer and stares at me with a blank expression.

“Is there a reason you came here? I’m trying to do damage control so that my entire reputation doesn’t go to shit.”

“Can you stop fucking thinking about what everyone else says?”

Who cares if the world thinks our relationship is scandalous? I once blew out a man’s knee caps for trying to screw me over on a deal. There are much bigger things to worry about in the world than the tabloids running a stupid ass story.

“My clients—”

“If your clients have their heads so far up their own asses to not work with you because of your relationship then why would you want them anyways?” I ask.

“We don’t have a relationship.”

“I would disagree.”

“Of course you would,” she grumbles. “I made a mistake, and like always, I’m the only one who picks up the pieces.”

“A mistake, huh? Or maybe you can leave the pieces and stop hurting yourself by trying to pick up shards of glass.”

She doesn’t say anything, but I can see her soften a little bit. Maybe all she needs is permission to let it go. The world isn’t going to cave in because of a story. I’d fight to be with Sasha until my last breath, but it’d be nice if she made it a little bit easier on me. It’s starting to feel like running on a treadmill, and now, I’m going to have to tell her something that will set me back even further.

“I’m putting a bodyguard on you.”

Her eyebrows pinch together. “What?”

I lean forward and place my elbows on my knees. “Something came up. I’m assigning one of the guys I hired for the company to look after you. Just live your life like normal. He’ll just be a quiet shadow in the background. You’ll barely notice him.”

“What do you mean something came up?”

“Nothing to worry—”

“Something from your past?” she asks.

I stay quiet, staring into her eyes. She runs her hands over her face, and the air in the room suddenly feels heavier. It feels just like that night twelve years in my bedroom when she told me it was over. I hate to see her hurt like this. I hate that my stupid decisions and actions cause her so much pain. I glance at the clock on the wall above her head. I have a meeting with my probation officer soon, and I’m all too aware that I can go back to prison at any time. I stand and go to her side of the desk. I lean down and place a kiss on her lips. I don’t feel the need to claim her mouth like I did the other night. It takes a moment before she responds and kisses me back.

“Come by my place tonight,” I say.

“I—”

“Bring Teddy. I have a yard he can play in.”

Defeated, she nods, and I smile before walking out of the office.

*****

“Don’t bullshit me. Is this going to come back hot?” Carson, my probation officer, says as he hands me a cup to piss in. He’s a hard ass, and I’m pretty sure I’ve been assigned the worst P.O. in Seattle, probably because my crimes were so severe, but I served so little time. It’s a way for the justice system to torture me a little bit longer.

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