Page 58 of Trapping His Darling

She was everything.

Every single thought.

Every single move.

Her very presence brought me to life.

If others knew the power she wielded over me, it could destroy everything. The Bratva weren’t known for emotional connections to women. We often killed our mothers, our spouses, our mistresses; almost anyone who held two X chromosomes. Connections were a weakness that could be used against you.

Alexie was a perfect example of this.

No. The love I felt for Tiffany couldn’t be real. And when it came down to it, I wouldn’t hesitate to do what I must to keep the Bratva safe.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Viktor

The morning sunlit the penthouse in a warm, golden glow as Tiffany and I sat at the breakfast table. The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the aroma of pastries and Russian blini. It was a rare moment of tranquility in our tumultuous world, and I cherished it.

I watched as Tiffany sipped her coffee, her eyes meeting mine with a mischievous glint. “So, Viktor,” she purred, her voice laced with playful intent. “Are you going to teach me some more Russian today?”

A smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I poured myself a cup. “Of course,Lyubimaya,” I replied, using the Russian endearment that had become a regular part of our conversations. “But you have to promise to keep your mischievous distractions to a minimum.”

Tiffany’s laughter was a melody that warmed my heart. “I’ll do my best, but no guarantees,” she teased.

As I began our lesson, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the way Tiffany embraced the challenge. She listened attentively,her eyes locked onto mine, her determination evident. Her attempts at pronouncing Russian words were endearing, her accent adding a touch of charm to each syllable, but they were horribly mangled by her lovely tongue.

“Repeat after me,” I said, my voice low and encouraging. “Zdravstvuyte.It means ‘hello’.”

Tiffany leaned in closer, her lips forming the unfamiliar sounds. “Zdravstvuyte,” she repeated until her pronunciation was surprisingly accurate.

I couldn’t help but be impressed. “Very good,” I praised, reaching across the table to touch her hand.“Ty umnitsa.”I smiled. “You’re smart.”

Her cheeks flushed with a hint of bashfulness, and she flashed me a shy smile.“Spasibo,”she replied, her gratitude evident.

We continued our lesson, the words flowing between us like a love language. It wasn’t just about learning Russian; it was about connecting on a deeper level. With each word, each phrase, our bond grew stronger.

As we wrapped up our lesson, Tiffany leaned in, her lips brushing against mine in a sweet, lingering kiss.“Spasibo za urok,”she whispered, her eyes locked onto mine.

I couldn’t resist the opportunity to be flirty and romantic in my response. “You’re welcome,Lyubimaya,” I murmured, tracing a finger along her jawline. “But remember, there’s always more to learn.”

Our laughter filled the air, and I couldn’t help but think that teaching Tiffany Russian was just the beginning of the beautiful journey we were embarking on together. In our world of danger and darkness, these moments of sweet connection were the light that guided us forward.

“I must go,” I said.

Tiffany nodded. “See you soon?”

“Yes.”

Though I was out the door, she never strayed far from my mind. I couldn’t bear to be too far from Tiffany, so I orchestrated an essential meeting at the nearby bodega, just a few blocks from my beautiful wife.

While discussing a missing money issue with my enforcer, my phone rang. Upon seeing the name on the screen, I swiftly excused myself from the meeting, instructing my men to stay put, that I’d contact them soon.

“What’s wrong?”

She giggled. “Wrong is not an accurate description of the situation.”

Tiffany knew not to call unless it was an emergency, which meant somethingwaswrong, and she was being a fucking brat.

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