Page 52 of Brutal Bratva King

I know now.

So many things can go wrong. Until everyone is home tonight, I won’t be able to relax. But I’ll do my best to just stay busy at home.

Rodion doesn’t need the distraction of me being out and about on top of the stuff he has to focus on today. The less distraction all of them have, the better and safer it is for everyone.

I watch through the library window as the cars leave the property one by one and turn out into the road. I take a deep breath and close my eyes for a moment. It’ll be fine.

They will all come home safely.

***

The guys have been gone for a couple of hours when Ruslana arrives at the mansion. The guards let her in, and she finds me in the kitchen, where I’m making a grilled cheese sandwich.Ruslana waltzes in with a tense energy which I pick up on the moment she arrives. She slides her ass onto the kitchen counter and huffs loudly, rolling her eyes and dramatically declaring, “I hate every single one of my brothers.”

I giggle. “Hello. Are you hungry? Can I make you something?”

She glances at her watch. “No—do you want to come for a drink with me? We can go for sundowners.” The quick change in topic makes me take a double look at her.

“Ruslana, youknowyour brothers are out on an operation today, right?”

“Yes, and I don’t care. I told you I hate all of them,” she snaps, annoyed at the world.

I shake my head, sliding the spatula under the sandwich and flipping it in the pan. It’s perfectly golden brown and crisp.

“What happened?” I ask, knowing she came here because she needs to vent. And I have brothers—so I know what that’s like.

“I was going to have dinner with this really hot guy last night and they told me I wasn’t allowed to. I tried to sneak out anyway and they went and spoke directly to the guy—basically telling him if he comes near me again they’ll bury him in a shallow grave. I am dying of embarrassment—and Ireallyliked him. I don’t get why they never let me have any fun.”

I laugh. “Ruslana, I know exactly how you feel. My brother’s did that to me all the time. But you know, sometimes they can see things, or they know things that we aren’t aware of. There are so many creeps out there—they are just trying to keep you safe.”

She huffs and folds her arms across her chest. “They are ruining everything. All they want to do is control my life and I can’t handle it anymore.”

“Did youreallylike him?”

She nods.

“Does he like you?”

“Yes, we’ve been talking almost all day, every day since we met.”

“If he really likes you, then just give him some time. He’ll call you and find a way to get your brothers to like him. Then you’ll know he is worth it too if he puts that effort in.”

She tilts her head at me, and for a moment, I think she understands what I’m trying to tell her—but then she rolls hereyes and declares loudly, “Nope. I’m going out. I’m going to get my brothers back for being controlling assholes.”

I tense up, “What do you mean? Just stay here with me. We can make cocktails and have grilled cheese.”

“No. They scaredhimaway, so I’ll go find some other random guy to have fun with and that will teach them not to interfere. They can’t control everything.” She slides off the counter.

“You can’t have liked the guy that much if you are already keen to find a new one.”

“That’s not the point. Now, are you coming with me or not?”

She raises her brows at me, her hands on her hips.

“Where are you going?” my mind is racing, trying to figure out a way to stop her from leaving.

“Black Cat Club in town. I love it there.”

“Let’s wait, have a few drinks here, and go when it’s darker. It’ll be empty there now.”

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