Page 42 of Stolen By The Bratva King

“Deal,” he says, releasing me and picking up his suit jacket. “I’ll give you a call when I’m done.”

I glance around, confused. “Call me how? Don’t tell me you have a secret landline in the bathroom or something. And besides, I’m not staying here all day; I’m going to work. People need me.”

“On your wedding day?”

“Yes. Obviously, I should be at my reception, but seeing as I’m not, I may as well be at the hospital. Anything is better than sitting around here like one of your ugly vases.”

His brows lift, clearly surprised by my insistence, but then his mouth curves into a small, almost proud smile.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I snap. “Just because you stole me away doesn’t mean the world stops turning.”

He laughs softly, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “You amaze me,moya zhena.”

Before I can respond, he reaches into a drawer, pulls out my phone, and holds it out to me.

My jaw drops. “You had this the whole time?”

“Naturally,” he says, unapologetic. “Your father gave it to me.”

“You mean you took it from him?”

He tilts his head at me. “Po-tayto, po-took-it. Whatever. I needed to make sure you wouldn’t do anything stupid.”

I snatch it, glaring at him, but he only smirks. “You have free use of my driver,” he adds, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “And keep your phone handy. If anything happens, you call me. Understand?”

I nod reluctantly, clutching the phone like it’s a lifeline.

“Good,” he says, his tone firm but affectionate. He presses a lingering kiss to my lips before pulling away. “I’ll see you later.”

And just like that, Leon is gone, leaving me alone in the silence of his coldly anonymous apartment.

I sink onto the couch, trying to clear my head. The coffee he made for me sits virtually untouched on the table, its warmth rapidly ebbing.

A month to figure out who Leon Vasiliev really is. A month to resist falling for him or get too entangled in his web to break free.

What have I gotten myself into?

26

Leon

Icould have called Viktor back rather than drag him to the office, but I needed some breathing space.

Emery got to me in more ways than one.

I knew she was beautiful and intelligent but didn’t realize she would bring out my goofy side. That aspect of my personality is usually reserved for my closest friends, but I want nothing more than to make her laugh.

And orgasm. I still can’t quite believe that happened, yet somehow, her virginity is still intact.

My mind begins to drift, picturing Emery’s soft thighs around my head when there’s a knock at the door.

Damn. Okay.Time to get real.

Viktor enters and sits in the chair opposite mine. “You asked about the barge where the trouble went down.” He hands me a cardboard file. “We got a few photos from the dock’s security. What’s weird is that no one seems to know these fuckers—I’ve asked around, but nada.”

“Why is that weird?” I ask. “I made my position on human trafficking extremely clear. Zero tolerance, ever, for the sale and exploitation of innocent people. So anyone in my territory with a brain cell to spare could anticipate a bad reaction if they tried it.”

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