Page 77 of Cruel Honor

I return her smile. “Thank you.”

“Sit, sit.” Vera motions toward the other empty seats at the table. “Let’s chat. It’s what us girls love to do.”

“God,” Aleksandra mutters. “We haven’t been girls in years.”

“Speak for yourself,” Inessa replies, making the other two laugh. Katya joins in, and I allow myself to relax. I’m safe here. Nothing can hurt me. Not Dima, not Abram.

“Oh, Ava!” Vera calls out to a young woman who just entered the room. “Come sit with us.” She turns back to me. “Ava is just delightful.”

“Who is she?” I ask Katya quietly.

“She’s married to Nikolai Petrov. He’s a business partner of my brother’s.”

Ava is a beautiful woman with golden hair and a kind smile. “Nice to see you again, ladies.” She looks at me. “I’m Ava.”

“Evie.”

Her eyes light up. “You’re Dimitri’s wife?”

“Yes.” I’m not sure if I’m blushing out of pride or embarrassment.

“Good luck, then. Dimitri is … something else.” She sits beside Vera.

“What do you mean?”

“I just mean I’ve had some issues with Dimitri in the past. He wasn’t always the nicest. I hope he’s treating you better.”

“I … never knew that about him. I barely know him,” I admit.

“That’s because my brother said he wanted Evie and took her,” Katya says.

Inessa’s laugh is a twinkle. “That’s Bratva men for you. They’ll take whoever they want, whenever they want.”

“I’m not sure that’s something to laugh about.” It comes out of me before I can stop it.

The table goes silent.

Then Ava says, “You’re not a Bratva woman, are you?”

“Is that a problem?”

“No. I wasn’t either. My husband, Nik, he … well, he forced me into a marriage with him.”

“Really?” I’ve never met someone who’s been in the same situation as me. “Dimitri did the same.”

“I get it. It’s new for you?”

I nod.

“Hopefully, it’ll get easier,” she continues. “It did for me. I found love with my husband. But it wasn’t easy. That’s the thing about Bratva men. They’re hard and cold.”

“But they can also be the most passionate,” Vera says. “They’re protective. They’ll fight tooth and nail for the women they love.”

“Oh, Dimitri doesn’t love me. We’ve only known each other for a short time.”

Inessa grabs my hand and gives me a wink. “Just give it time.”

I can’t tell these women there isn’t any more time to give. Dimitri and I will soon be divorced. I appreciate these women trying to comfort me, but it’s just a reminder that I don’t belong here.

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