Page 2 of Accidental Bratva Daddy

I bristle slightly at his presumption. "Sometimes you have to stand up for yourself. For your family."

"Ah, yes. Family." His tone is neutral, but something flickers in his eyes—an emotion I can't quite name. "A noble sentiment. But in my experience, engaging with rumors only gives them more power."

"Is that your sage advice? To just ignore it when people slander your loved ones?"

Luka chuckles, the sound low and rich. "Not at all. I'm simply suggesting there might be more... effective ways of dealing with the kind of problems your family is having.”

There's a weight to his words that makes me wonder exactly what kind of "effective ways" he's hinting at. I narrow my eyes, studying him more closely. "And what would you know about my family's problems, Mr. Volkov?"

His smile doesn't falter, but something dangerous flashes in his bright eyes. "More than you might think, Ms. Orlova. Moscow is a small world, after all."

Before I can press further, a familiar voice cuts through the crowd.

"Natalia! There you are!"

I turn to see my younger sister, Alina, weaving through the sea of glittering dresses and dark suits. She's a vision in powder blue, her chestnut curls bouncing as she hurries over. I’m relieved to see her—though a strange sort of irritation goes through me that she’s interrupting my conversation with this delightful new stranger.

"Sorry to interrupt," Alina says, flashing a quick, curious glance at Luka. "But I wanted to remind you about our flight tomorrow. To Isla Miramar?"

I resist the urge to groan. With everything going on, I'd almost forgotten about our impending family vacation. A week on a tropical island sounds heavenly in theory, but the reality of being cooped up with our entire extended family—including Uncle Viktor—is far less appealing.

"Right, of course," I say, plastering on a smile. "How could I forget? We're meeting at the airport at...?"

"Nine AM sharp," Alina supplies. "Don't be late, or Mother will have both our heads."

I nod, already dreading the early wake-up call. As Alina turns to go, a thought strikes me. "Wait. Is Uncle Viktor here tonight? I haven't seen him."

Alina rolls her eyes good-naturedly. "You know how he is. Never shows up for anything the day before traveling. Says it's bad luck or something."

With a little wave, she disappears back into the crowd, leaving me alone once more with the enigmatic Luka Volkov.

When I turn back to him, I find his gaze fixed on me with an intensity that makes my breath catch in my throat. It’s not just the stress of the event. He has some kind of power over me that I’ve decided I don’t like at all. No man should be able to make it hard for me to breathe, especially not one who seems entirely too confident in his ability to do so.

"Sounds like quite the family gathering," Luka says, his tone light but his eyes sharp. "Isla Miramar, was it? I've heard it's lovely this time of year."

"Oh?" I arch an eyebrow, a hint of challenge in my voice to cover up the tension that sits alongside it. "And where are you vacationing, Mr. Volkov?"

His smile widens, revealing a hint of perfectly straight, white teeth. "As it happens, I had a meeting canceled tonight. We were meant to meet at my hotel bar, and now my evening is free. What a... fortunate coincidence."

My heart rate kicks up a notch. Is he flirting? The logical part of my brain screams that this is a bad idea. I know nothing about this man beyond his name and the fact that he oozes danger from every pore. But there's something magnetic about him, a pull I can't seem to resist.

"And what hotel are you staying at tonight?” I ask, surprised by my own boldness. I hate him for how he makes me feel, but I’m drawn to him like the shimmering red promise of death written on the underside of a black widow spider.

"The Grand Resort," Luka replies. "I've heard good things. Especially about the bar.”

I can't help the smirk that tugs at my lips. "Well, then I'm afraid you've been misinformed. The bar at the Executive Lodge is far better. Much more... exclusive."

Luka leans in slightly, his voice dropping to a low rumble that sends shivers down my spine. "Is that so? Perhaps you'd care to show me what I'm missing out on?"

The invitation hangs in the air between us, loaded with possibility. I know I should say no. I have a family vacation to prepare for, a business to run, a reputation to maintain. Getting involved with a mysterious stranger is the last thing I need right now.

And yet...

"You know what?" I say, meeting his gaze steadily. "I think I would. What do you say we get out of here?"

Luka's eyes darken with approval and something that looks a lot like hunger. "Lead the way, Ms. Orlova."

As we make our way towards the exit, I can feel the weight of eyes on us. No doubt this will set tongues wagging even more than my earlier outburst. But for once, I find I don't care. Let them talk. Let them wonder.

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