Page 39 of Unwilling Bratva Bride

He’s sort of in with some crazy shit. But he can help. And those friends of his will really spend money at the shop. I had to. You know, for Mom and Dad.

Plus, you’re not wrong about the hot thing. We may have…you know. Don’t tell anyone.

It was barely a second before Molly’s text came back, and I giggled as I read it, so grateful for my goofy sister and her unshakeable loyalty.

HOLY SHIT. Really? Nice! And yeah, like I’m going to tell anyone. Ryan says he supports your move to somewhere nice and parent-free. I want details, though! Later anyway. Mom has us going to the market for new produce. Shop’s reopening tomorrow. Big whole thing.

My heart squeezed, and I plopped down on the foot of my bed, cradling my phone between my hands as my eyes stung.

Oh, good. I…I’m sorry I can’t be there. I love you guys. Really. Details later if you can manage to actually help Ryan. Don’t make him carry everything. He’ll tell me if you do. Talk soon, k? Love you.

Ugh, you’re so not fun. Okay. Later. Love you too.

Stillness crept back in, and I was immediately itching to move, to run, to fucking do something. I hated being cooped up in this house like a prisoner, but what exactly was I supposed to do?

Ivan had been pretty clear about sticking around, and…I still wanted to know more about him. Despite everything, he intrigued me. And it was unlikely that I would forget how he looked at me—or stop wanting that whenever I could get it.

Looking over toward the duffle I’d brought, the black tote bag I’d snagged with my art stuff lay next to it. It had been a while since I’d had the time to just sit and paint, or sketch or draw, for that matter.

“Not a lot of options. So…”

I stood up, crossed the room to retrieve my stuff, and pulled out the large sketch pad and the set of pencils and charcoal I kept in a small tin.

No ideas flew into my head as I set up the paper in front of me. I was definitely blocked, and that’s when it hit me.

When I couldn’t sketch, or the ideas dried up for a moment, I always went back to the basics, filling the pages with figure drawings. It was hard to go off of nothing. I usually used a reference. So, it was back to another old standby: setting up on the floor in front of the mirror and using myself as the model.

My fingers picked up the motions, and I remembered how to create the shapes as I sketched furiously. After a few minutes, the mood changed, and I surrendered myself to the artistic impulse.

I was different. The light and surroundings were different. Opening the patio door even more, I let in the sounds of nature and then sat back down in front of the sizeable full-length mirror that was propped up in the corner by the tub.

The wind rushed over my skin as I studied how the light hit me in that spot—dappled and full of contrast, thanks to the shadows created by the trees and their leaves.

A thought pinged.

Who am I beneath the layers of who I was? Who’s at the core of it?

Pulling my shirt over my head and tossing it to the side, I fluffed up my hair, letting the long waves cascade around me. I pulled off the leggings I’d chosen, and there in the mirror, I studied the woman seated there, scribbling her down onto the page.

Everything else melted away.

Chapter 16 - Ivan

Everything from the waist down and on the back hurt from sitting in the damn car for hours. We’d tracked Donovan to several meetings throughout the day, and several required fucking waiting on my ass while he shot the shit with his contacts. Thank God for surveillance equipment, or I wouldn’t have been able to peg down that location for tomorrow.

Still, I was beat, and a fucking beer was sorely needed.

Abe and Vlad were still being pissy with me too, which was fucking annoying and had been that the car was especially quiet. They just needed to chill and get that fucking stick out of their asses. Nothing that a little family dinner wouldn’t cure.

After all, if they could have their chance to see Adley for themselves—and ask too many fucking questions—I was sure they’d get over the abrupt change.

My steps dragged as I climbed up the steep staircase to my room. The trek was a familiar one after a long day, but what awaited me inside was a new perk that I was really looking forward to sinking my teeth into again.

I was deadly quiet as I cracked open the door. I didn’t know what Adley had been up to all day, but the idea of getting a glimpse of her again without her knowing was too good to pass up.

Where are you, little peach?

I’d chucked my duffle of supplies into my office before coming up so my hands were free to roam over my sweetheart if I walked into a compromising position again.

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