Page 59 of Bratva Knight

I drove into the underground parking lot of the apartment complex and parked the car, but I kept the engine running. “I haven’t had a chance to sit down with them yet, but I’ll do it some time over the next few days.”

“Hustle on that. I need you back here in three days.”

“What for?”

“You really need me to remind you?”

I frowned.What could he be talking about?Then it hit me.

“Oh.” Guilt smothered me.

“Don’t feel guilty,” he said instantly. My brother knew me too well. “There’s been so much shit going on lately. I’m not surprised you forgot. You only need to be here for the night, then you can go back to Tatiana the following morning.”

“Of course I’ll be there.”

Even though he told me not to feel guilty, I still did. What kind of son forgot his own mother’s birthday? It had become a family tradition to spend her birthday together. We all sat around eating junk food and watching all of her favourite TV shows. It would be the first time in seven years my father was not there. The tradition didn’t start until after he got back from his killing spree.

“I know you’ll be nervous to leave Tatiana—”

“No, no, it’s fine,” I cut in. “Things have progressed and we actually have a plan set in motion to catch Franco and some of his men. It’s not set to go down for another week, so I have time. There’s nothing Tatiana can do until then, so timing wise, it’s actually kind of perfect. She’ll just be preparing for classes and working at the café. Nothing too dangerous that requires a bodyguard.”

“I’m sorry, I thought I just heard you say she’s working at a café?”

“I did. That’s what I said.”

“Tatiana?”

“Yes.”

“TatianaAndreeva?”

“Is there another Tatiana you know that I’m not aware of? Yes, fucking Tatiana Andreeva.”

A beat of silence…then full on laughter. “You’re joking.”

“Shut the fuck up before I fly down there and knock your teeth out,” I growled. “She’s going at it on her own and that deserves some fucking respect. I’m proud of her and—”

“Calm down, calm down. I’m sorry for offending your woman. It was a knee-jerk reaction. Picturing her in a café making coffee and serving people? Come on, I’m sure even you laughed at that image.”

“No, I fucking didn’t.”

Liar.

“Uh-huh. Okay.” He fucking knew I was full of shit.

“Was there anything else you wanted? Or has your mission been accomplished now that you’ve pissed me off?”

“Mission accomplished. I’ll see you in three days.”

“Actually, before you go, is Drea there?”

“Why?” he asked suspiciously.

“I just need to ask her something. Girl advice, you know?”

I knew my brother well enough to know he was narrowing his eyes.

“Just put her on the fucking phone, Zander.”

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