Page 27 of Claimed Bratva Virgin

“And you’re trying to be smarter. Figure it out then, bastard.”

This dinner was going extremely well, if you asked me. “Should you be talking to a potential partner like that?”

“We’re both past the stage of decent courtesy. Take it or leave it.”

I wasn’t going to leave, and she knew it. I enjoyed our banter a little too much to back out. And she didn’t know it, buther tantrums had quite the opposite effect of whatever it was she was aiming for.

“Is it the Rossis?”

Every outfit knew Luca was making trouble, trying to divide the Italians between themselves. He craved more power and plowed the ground to have Enzo’s disciples cave in and submit to him. Any attempt he tried now wouldn’t have been the first, but Enzo had always been able to quench the rascal and surge forward.

What changed?

“My father’s dying, Rafayel.”

There it was—the truth, at last. Probably something I’d skipped in the moment of our bickering, but her eyes were glassy now, almost teary. She wasn’t faking. She clutched the tablecloth between her fingers, and I surmised how hard she was trying not to cry.

Good thing she didn’t. Handling crying women wasn’t my strongest suit.

“He needs this, and, as I already said, I don’t like it. If I had alternatives, I’d readily choose from there. But this is what he wants, so I’ll grant it for him, even if it’s the last thing I fucking do.”

Her resolve was back.

“What I’m offering here…what we’re offering here is a good thing, and you know it. You might think we’re weak now, but you know we’re not powdered dust. We need reinforcements to strengthen our pillars; that’s all. And you need more ground—more people and resources to elevate your status.”

Leonora was, unfortunately, right. At any chance given to expand, the Bratva was going to consider itifit was good.

And an alliance with the Colombos wasn’tbad.We’d have access to their markets, their clients,and leverage against rival factions.

I found the Colombos annoying, like pests that refused to be exterminated, but that was all there was to it. The Rossis, on the other hand…. I knew little but enough to grasp they were dangerous, less trustworthy, and high risk.

Leonora wasn’t going to say it, but Enzo desperately needed our help. Made sense. We were the strongest peas in the pod.

Satisfied, I finished off the wine in my glass and rose to my feet.

The disappointment on her face when her eyes followed me was more visible than that darn bold lipstick seeking my attention.

“You’re leaving?”

“Yes, I am. I enjoyed dinner, even if there was no actual food.”

“But…” she stuttered, hurt and confused at the same time. Truly, her father’s child. She hated my guts but carried a spark of hope that this meeting would pull through for his sake.

“But the proposal—”

“We’ll review some terms. I didn’t like the sound of thatequal profitspart, but other than that, we’re good.”

Hope. It shone brighter than I’d ever seen in those seducing eyes of hers. “We’re good?”

“Unless the almighty one doesn’t understand basic English, I meant your proposal for an alliance with the Bratva has been accepted. Enjoy the rest of your night, Leonya.”

Turning my back on her, I fished out my phone and put Tikhon on speed dial.

He picked on the second ring. “How’d it go?”

“Get Mandy to the penthouse.”

“On it.” The line went dead.

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