Page 29 of Used Bratva Bride

He gives me a lazy smile. “Of course, sorry.”

Without another word, he turns and walks out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I exhale, slow and measured, rubbing the tension from my temples.

Ivan is wrong, Julie isn’t broken. Not yet, anyway, but she will be.

***

The day moves forward in a routine that should have been mindless—meetings, phone calls, deals that require my attention. A sense of normalcy settles over the operations, but I know better than to trust it.

Peace in this world is an illusion, a brief pause before the next inevitable act of violence. Still, I go through the motions.

By the time I leave my office, the sun is rising, casting a pale glow over the city skyline. The compound is already coming to life—men moving through the halls, phone calls being made, security shifting positions. The Bratva never truly sleeps.

In the main room, I find Leonard, another of my men, sitting at the long wooden table, a cup of black coffee steaming in front of him. He looks up when I approach, nodding once.

“You look like shit,” he remarks dryly.

I smirk, dropping into the chair across from him. “Good morning to you too.”

He slides a second cup toward me. “Long night?”

I take the coffee without answering.

He watches me for a beat, then leans back. “I heard you and Ivan have been arguing.”

I raise a brow. “You heard?”

“I hear everything,” he says smoothly, taking a slow sip of his drink. “Word is, you’re a little preoccupied these days.”

My grip tightens slightly around the cup. Leonard is one of the few people I actually trust—but even trust has limits.

“Julie Spade is leverage,” I say evenly. “Nothing more.”

He snorts. “Leverage that’s keeping you awake at night?”

I don’t dignify that with an answer.

He grins, but his expression sobers quickly. “So what’s the plan?”

I exhale, rubbing my jaw. “I give the Spades a little more time to react. They care more about power than blood, but they won’t let this go unanswered forever. Their pride won’t allow it.”

“What if they decide she’s disposable?”

I lean back. “Then I make her useful in another way.”

Leonard’s gaze sharpens slightly. “Careful, Boss.”

I meet his stare, unflinching. “I don’t need reminders.”

Leonard nods, not pushing further, but I can see the warning in his eyes.

I know what he’s implying. I don’t like it.

I finish my coffee and push the empty cup aside. “Since you’re here, and Ivan apparently tells you everything, you can give me the status update,” I state, shifting the conversation.

Leonard catches the change in tone and leans forward. “Shipment arrived last night. No issues. Semyon is handling distribution.”

---