Page 62 of Brutal Bratva King

I drop the champagne off on a waiter's tray when they walk by and turn towards my brother.

“How are things going here?”

“Really good, actually. Everyone is in a great mood. You should have joined us for drinks after the joint operation. It was like a team building exercise.” He laughs, raising his glass and greeting Leon, who just walked out into the garden a distance away.

Leon smiles and raises his glass back towards Rad.

“Mm. It seems there is some improvement between us all.” I nod.

“Yes, I heard what happened with Ruslana. Man, that girl is causing trouble lately.” He shakes his head.

“I have a feeling she won’t be doing it for a while.”

“Roman told me about the guy who tried to take her home with him.”

I growl, still angry about it, not wanting to remind myself about that right now.

“Yeah, man, I know. I know. I would’ve broken his nose, too.”

“Have you seen her yet? Is she here?”

“Roman refused to let her skip out on it. She tried. She looks like shit. I think she believes she’s dying.She has serious regrets.”

“Good. She needs to suffer a bit to understand why I keep telling her not to do that shit.”

Across the room, I see Anya bending over a chair talking to someone. Her perfect, plump ass catching my gaze.

“Oh, there Ruslana is with your wife.”

Anya stands up and walks away. She returns a few moments later with fruit juice and a bottle of water.

I watch how gently she is treating Ruslana, brushing her fingers through her hair. Talking sweetly to her. Making sure she is hydrated. She is so caring. Even though Ruslana doesn’t deserve any of it.

Anya moves from Ruslana to say hello to my brothers, smiling and laughing and bringing everyone together. Between herself and Raisa I think that they are the real reason our two families are starting to get along. Yes, the joint operation went really well yesterday—but Anya was the one who calmed that meeting down—and without her we might have still been arguing over which was the best route to take.

Between her diplomacy and Raisa’s little baby on the way—our families are becoming more like family and less like a business arrangement.

I stand leaning against the doorframe, watching Anya move from group to group, her bright smile is infectious, and everyone seems to enjoy her company. Her brothers tease her, and she takes it well, my brothers have even started teasing her a little and she is playful in return.

Every now and then, she glances over to me, her eyes glittering brightly and my heart flips.

“You haven’t taken your eyes off her since you got here,” Renat says, standing next to me.

“My wife? Is it a crime to watch my own wife?”

“No, I’m just wondering if maybe you started to go soft for her. Maybe you caught some feelings—and this isn’t just a business relationship anymore?”

I stand up a little straighter, pushing my shoulders back and clearing my throat.

“It’s always about business, Renat. You know that. Our marriage is to strengthen the alliance,” I say sternly.

“Mm. Well—it’s starting to look like something else.” Renat laughs and walks off.

I turn my attention back towards Anya, who is at Ruslana’s side again, handing her a small plate of food and trying to convince her to eat something.

Taking a deep breat,h I mull over my brother’s accusation. I was quick to deny it—but if I’m at least being honest with myself, I have to admit that my obsession with Anya did not fade when I got her. In fact, it got stronger and continues to get stronger every moment we spend together.

I don’t think this obsession is ever going to disappear—and deep in my heart, I know something else.

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