Page 90 of Bratva Knight

He pulled out a phone and placed it on the table. I frowned. “That’s not your phone.” He unlocked it and my frown deepened. That wasmyscreen saver. It was a photo of me and my dad. I dug into my handbag and withdrew my phone, placing it down right next to that one. They were identical, right down to the placement of the apps and the setting themes.

What the fuck?

I picked up his and flicked through it quickly, realisation hitting me like a ton of bricks. “Youclonedmy phone?”

Sure enough, when I went into the messages, right there on the screen where the few texts Steve and I had exchanged. The where and when to meet up. Everything I did on my phone would show up on that one.Everything.

“You sound surprised,” he said casually, taking a small bite of his risotto. “But are you, really?”

I ignored that, because no, I wasn't overly surprised. It was right on par with Nikolai, actually. “When did you do this?”

“You disappeared after Nikolas died, and I couldn’t find you. I vowed that would never happen again, so when you finally came back, I took your phone and cloned it, so I would always know where you are. You might as well know there’s a tracker in there too.” He didn’t know that I didn’t disappear. Not really. I just hid out at my dad’s house and heassumedI went running as far away as I could get, when in reality, I was right there. Under his nose.

I should probably be mad at this huge invasion of privacy. He was essentially monitoringeverythingI was doing. At any time, day or night, he could just look at this and find out what I was up to. I should have been mad.Stark raving mad.A normal woman would be. But I wasn’t. Because it was exactly something that was classic Nikolai. I already knew he was uber possessive and had zero boundaries. That when it came to those he cared about, he would do anything and everything to keep them safe—including invading their privacy.

I continued to eat my pasta. “So, you saw the texts between Steve and I and just decided to show up here?”

“You think you can go on a date with another man and I’d just allow it?” He took a sip of his wine, his Adams apple working up and down as he swallowed the liquid. He chuckled, shaking his head. “Tati, I thought you knew me better than that.”

“It wasn’t a date. I was just doing my dad a favour.”

“Oh, I know all about that.” Of course he did. Despite Illayana not talking to me, I still texted her and told her about the stupid favour my dad asked of me. She hadn’t responded, but that didn’t stop me from messaging her again and again anyway. Nikolai must have seen those texts. “And I’m going to deal with Ivan.”

My whole body stiffened. “What?”

He stared me dead in the eyes, his gaze never wavering. “You heard me.”

I dropped my knife and fork. “Nikolai,” I growled. “Don’t you dare do whatever it is you’re thinking about doing. I will never forgive you.”

“I’m not going to kill him.” I relaxed at his words. “But I am going to punish him. You’remine. I don’t care what he says or how he feels about it. He tried to set you up with another man. For that, he. Will. Be. Punished.”

I recognised that look on his face. I could hear the finality in his words. Nothing I said would change his mind, but perhaps my actions would.

I channelled all the rage I felt towards him into the angriest scowl I could muster as I got to my feet. He had the right mind to look a little uneasy.Good.

Words didn’t work with Nikolai. Actions did. He needed to see what would happen if he went through with whatever he was thinking about doing.

Without another word, I marched away.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Tatiana Andreeva

Ibarelymadeitout the door before Nikolai caught up with me.

“Tati—” I twirled and punched him in the gut. He doubled over, wheezing out in pain.

“That’s for cloning my phone.” I rammed my fist into the side of his face and his head whipped to the side. “And that’s for threatening my dad.” I shoved him and he lost his footing, falling to the ground.

I continued to walk on, thinking that would be the end of it, but strong hands wrapped around me and dragged me down the alley behind the restaurant. I fought, kicking and screaming, far too angry to try and be reasoned with, but Nikolai placed a hand over my mouth to muffle the profanity flying past my lips. He shoved me up against the brick wall, his chest pressed firmly into my back, keeping me caged between him and the wall.

“Dostatochno,” Enough, he snarled in my ear. Shivers shot down my spine. He sounded positively feral right now. “I’m sick of you giving your back to me. Walking away from me. No more.”

I bit into his hand and he hissed, removing it. But he stayed close, keeping me right where I was with his body, not allowing me an inch to move. “Promise you won’t lay a finger on my dad.”

“If I do, will you promise not to walk away from me again?”

“Yes.” Like I said, actions spoke louder than words with Nikolai. I could scream and shout for days, telling him not to hurt my dad, but he wouldn’t hear it. The only way I could get him to listen was byshowinghim what the consequences of his actions would be. Me…gone.

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