Page 53 of Secret Bratva Twins

Chapter Twenty - Chiara

The soft evening light filters through the curtains as I sit on the edge of the bed, the comforter cool against my fingers.

Days have passed since I first stepped into this house as Serge’s wife, and I’m still adjusting to the rhythm of living under the same roof. The mansion is quiet now, the children tucked away with the nanny for their nightly routine, and I find myself in the rare calm that comes when no one else is demanding my attention.

The door opens without warning, and Serge strides in, his presence filling the room like a storm cloud. He’s still in his formal wear, his tie slightly loosened and his jacket slung over one shoulder. His eyes meet mine briefly before he moves to the corner of the room, unbuttoning his cuffs with deliberate ease.

“Long day?” I ask, my voice casual as I watch him from the bed.

He doesn’t answer immediately, his focus on removing his tie. When he finally speaks, his voice is low, steady. “The usual.”

He drapes the tie over a chair, then moves on to his belt, sliding it off with practiced efficiency. There’s something strangely intimate about watching him shed the trappings of his power, even though he’s still every bit the man who commands fear and respect.

I clear my throat, deciding to seize the moment. “I need to talk to you about something.”

He pauses, his hands hovering over the buttons of his shirt. “Oh?”

“It’s about the twins,” I say, my voice softening. “They’ll be four in a few days. I usually plan a little birthday celebration for them.”

His expression shifts, the faintest hint of surprise flickering in his eyes. “Four already,” he murmurs, almost to himself.

I nod. “Yes. It’s important to me that they have something special. Something that feels normal.”

To my surprise, he steps closer, his interest clearly piqued. “What do you usually do?”

“Nothing extravagant,” I reply. “A small party. Some decorations, a cake. They love anything with animals, so I usually make that the theme.”

He leans against the dresser, his arms crossing over his chest as he considers my words. “Animals, hmm? We can do better than a simple party, don’t you think?”

I blink, caught off guard by his enthusiasm. “What do you mean?”

He smirks faintly. “They deserve something memorable. We’ll get a cake, of course, but let’s add something more. Maybe a petting zoo, or—”

“A petting zoo?” I interrupt, my brows raising.

“Why not?” he replies, his tone almost playful. “Or perhaps something even better. We could bring in performers, magicians—whatever they’d enjoy.”

For a moment, I don’t know how to respond. This is a side of Serge I haven’t seen before, and it unsettles me almost as much as it intrigues me.

“They don’t need anything grand,” I say cautiously. “Just a little joy. That’s all I want for them.”

He nods, his expression softening slightly. “Then we’ll make it perfect.”

Before I can process his words, his phone buzzes on the nearby dresser. He picks it up, glancing at the screen, and his smirk deepens.

“Excuse me,” he says, stepping away as he answers the call. His voice drops into a smooth, controlled tone. “Yes?”

I can’t hear the other side of the conversation, but his responses are short, laced with amusement. “Is that so?” he murmurs, a chuckle escaping his lips. “Well, well. That’s unexpected.”

He ends the call and turns back to me, his smirk now fully formed, as though he’s just received the most interesting news of the day.

“What is it?” I ask, wary of the glint in his eyes.

Serge doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he sets the phone down and takes a deliberate step toward me. “It seems,” he begins, his tone laced with mockery, “that your dear half brother, Lorenzo, has suffered an unfortunate end.”

I stiffen, my heart skipping a beat. “What are you talking about?”

He shrugs, almost casually. “He had a heart attack earlier today. Didn’t survive it.”

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