Page 3 of The Bratva's Sold Bride

“You should have told me you’d be home early,” Brooke said, tossing herself into Max’s outstretched arms. “I would have had something ready for you to eat.”

“That’s why we didn’t tell you,” I joked, turning away as they just about ate each other’s faces.

As if they’d been apart for weeks instead of a few hours, Max kept a tight grip on her as we headed toward the back terrace to sit by the pool in the remaining hours of sunlight. Was I jealous of what they had? Maybe a little. One by one, my older brothers, who’d all been sworn, lifelong bachelors, were pairing up with their soulmates.

While mine was moving away.

Shocked that such a thought even crossed my mind, I fell into the nearest lounge chair and stared out at the glistening blue water of the pool. Soulmates. What a crock. I was attracted to the woman, nothing more, and I didn’t like missing out on something I wanted. I’d wanted Olivia for two years, but until the last few months, when we’d begun to work somewhat closely together, did it turn into this driving need.

A perfect hostess, even if a lousy chef, Brooke had us set up with drinks and appetizers while the cook put the finishing touches on dinner. We chatted about her classes, which she was passionate about, having given up her prestigious scholarship to Berkeley to be with my brother.

I noticed she wasn’t drinking the very good vintage wine like Max and I were, but prying about their pending parenthood was better left to someone like our younger sister Mila, whocould brazenly ask any question of any of us without fear of retaliation. If Brooke was pregnant, it would come out in due time, and I had more pressing concerns on my mind.

“Do you know why Olivia’s going back to LA in such a rush?” I asked when there was a lull in conversation. “Or did working for this tyrant finally wear her down?”

Adding that little jibe would keep them from wondering why I was so interested, but there was no way I could keep from asking. Olivia and Brooke had become friends, while Brooke and Max had to keep their marriage a secret, and surely, she knew something.

Brooke’s eyebrows shot together in a scowl, and she shrugged. “I have no idea either, and honestly, I’m a little upset about it. She loves working for Max, and Lord knows he pays her enough, so something must be wrong at home. I thought we were better friends than that, but she obviously doesn’t want me to know whatever’s really going on.”

“So, you think she’s hiding something?” I asked.

“I know she is,” Brooke huffed, looking sad and disappointed.

“Enough, you two,” Max interrupted before I could start speculating. “I don’t like losing her either, but her mind was made up, and I, for one, am going to respect her privacy.”

Uh, to hell with that. I was more determined than ever to get to the bottom of things, especially with Brooke looking so worried for her friend. Olivia had been a huge help to her since she had come into the relationship not knowing a damn thing about how organized crime families worked, and it was definitely odd that she hadn’t shared if there was a problem.

Which either meant it was nothing and Olivia was just ready for a change, or it was super fucking serious.

“Oh, damn,” I said, pretending like I’d just remembered something. “I’m sorry, but I just realized I have an appointment and have to run.”

I was up before they could say anything and heading toward the front, the wheels in my head spinning so fast I barely registered them teasing me about having so many women that I couldn’t keep track of all my dates. I ignored their mildly judgmental tones because if they knew where I was heading, they would have had something to say about it.

Since I knew so much about her, Olivia was likely still at the office, getting everything done. Since she was obsessed with a particular coffee shop, and it was the only kind she ever brought us, I headed to Jen’s Java. I also suspected the place was close to where she lived, though I never went so far as to follow her home.

Yet.

It might just come to that, but for now, I parked myself at one of the tables with a view of the door and waited. I was getting to the bottom of what had Olivia on the run.

Chapter 2 - Olivia

I sat in the spacious office I helped decorate, dragging my heels on the last bit of work before I went home. It wasn’t like I didn’t have plenty to do to get ready for the move back to LA, and the work was second nature to me by now. But my heart still felt heavy, no matter how mundane the finishing tasks for the day were, because it was the countdown to being one of the last.

It was silly to be so melancholy about not sending the emails nagging for faster service, or putting out inquiries on all the permits that needed to be fast-tracked. Even wiping down the counters in the office break room had me smoothing the damp cloth a little slower than usual.

I absolutely loved working for Max, even though it wasn’t a job I would have chosen. I was proud of how quickly I learned the ins and outs of a high-ranking Bratva kingpin’s daily schedule, and how Max had come to rely on me. I even liked the work. Sure, it was tedious sometimes, but it was explosively exciting at others.

Max’s wife had been nothing but an angel to me, and I’d grown as close to her as I dared. It was nice lending an ear to someone new to the Bratva, and so far, I’d been able to deflect any questions that were too personal with a story that wasn’t about my own life. The hurt in Brooke’s eyes when I had to flat-out refuse to give her any details about why I was so suddenly quitting and moving back to LA hung even heavier on my heart than leaving the job I adored.

I could get another job, eventually. But would I ever find someone who’d be on my side like Brooke?

She won’t be on your side when it all comes to light. None of them will.

And really, what were the chances I’d ever get another job again?

Going home to visit last week had been my biggest mistake, but it wasn’t like I could skip it. If I stayed away too long and my father didn’t deem I was being a properly doting daughter, he’d only come down here to collect me. I couldn’t risk a scene in front of Max, who’d only ever been kind to me, even though I wasn’t his choice of an assistant.

My job was originally nothing more than a handout since my father and Aleks, the eldest brother and head of the Fokin organization, were friends in the past. I’d since proven myself a hundredfold, and I just about burst with pride every time Max told me how grateful he was to have me on his team. Just the day before I had to resign, he’d told me warmly how glad he was that he could always count on me.

---