Page 23 of Unwilling Bratva Bride

Shaking my head, I shut the door behind me and paused there on the steps, resting my hand against the cool wood of my door. Everything inside me ached to go back inside and take what was rightfully mine, but I’d also felt my phone buzz in my pocket.

I didn’t get messages unless it was necessary.

I sucked in a deep breath, reaching for my cell as I jogged down the stairs to the main area on the second floor. When I glanced at the text, I saw it was from Lev. He was still concerned about what that fucker Pavel had started with his successful, if brief, ascension.

Brief because the asshole was buried six feet under, thanks to yours truly and a well-placed shot from his daughter.

And he had good reason to be. That asshole had nearly started his own criminal organization within the span of a few months. Talk about climbing the ladder. Pavel had gone from loan shark to bonafide problem way too quickly, and it was instilling a lot of descension in the ranks.

Hell, he’d nearly killed Lev, and if it weren’t for that new bride of his, my boss would be six feet under. I couldn’t blame the guy for wanting to quell any remaining unrest—and fast.

While it didn’t look like many Dons were still shopping the market, as it were, there were still a few lower-ranking organizations in the area looking to capitalize on any challenge to Lev’s status.

Particularly Tommy Donovan.

The Irish mobster had been searching for a way to take down Lev since he rose up to Don, and these days, he was working every angle in a bid for power.

My steps hit the stairs hard, echoing down the small stairwell that only went to my room. I hoped that Abe and Vlad were still downstairs so we could chat. Knowing Abe, though, it was a fifty-fifty chance. He usually liked to be gone when I brought the rare woman back to the house.

Thankfully, my brothers were both at the pool table when I reached the second floor. A low smack sounded as Vlad knocked his last solid ball into the pocket, and I grinned. Asshole just has the eight-ball now.

“I hate to say this, Abe, but I think you lost.”

Turning over his shoulder to glare at me, Abe ran his tongue along his teeth as he slowly raised his hand. When it was level with his face, he flipped me off. I just laughed, and then the sound of Vlad sinking the last shot sounded behind him.

Abe looked down at the pool table and sighed, tossing his cue onto the black felt surface.

“Well, fuck.”

Vlad stood up from taking his last shot. He barely smirked, but that was pretty typical for the guy. As I walked over to the table, Abe leaned against it and folded his arms over his chest while Vlad circled around to the same side.

They both stood there for a moment, just staring at me.

“What?” I grumbled, already annoyed with their answer.

“Hasn’t been long since the last one. I would have thought your appetite was satisfied for a while.”

Rolling my eyes, I shook my head. “Thank you for the astute observation, Abe. But that’s not why I’m here. Lev is concerned about Donovan. He wants us to step up the attention.”

“Sure,” Abe said, raising his brows innocently as the corners of his mouth turned down.

“That’s it? We’re going to be out for at least the entire day tomorrow running down Lev’s laundry list of leads, and you give me ‘sure.’”

He licked his lips, unmoving otherwise. “Yup.”

Clearing my throat, I looked between my brothers, not buying this no-comment bullshit for a second.

“Great.” I hesitated, chewing on the inside of my cheek. “Myguestwill be staying here while we’re out, so…we may want to lock up the more sensitive shit.”

Abe and Vlad both stared at me, their eyebrows raising as they exchanged a quick look with each other and then returned their glares to me. I wasn’t about to ask because I really didn’tcare about the fucking answer, but Vlad went to his pocket, pulling out his phone.

I waited for him to type something out in his notes app. We’d all learned to give Vlad the time he needed because he’d make you feel like shit well enough without speaking if you didn’t. Abe and I silently agreed that we’d always give Vlad the space he needed to express himself.

And I only ever ignored his messages when I wastrulypissed.

He held out his cell, and I took it with a long sigh.

“Why do we have a woman staying here? Morning-after walks of shame are one thing, but this?”

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