Page 63 of Savage Bratva King

“It can be arranged.” He half-turns back towards the open doorway. “But I have a surprise for you.”

“A surprise?” My eyes flit back to the door expecting Mel to walk in at any moment and tell me off for not calling her sooner. But no one comes in.

Despite the immaculate suit and freshly shaved jaw, there’s a lightness to Leonid today, like his aura somehow turned from midnight-black to sunny-yellow overnight. Okay, so maybe not sunny-yellow, but the hazy colors of a summer dawn instead.

“Are you coming with me to find out what it is, or do I need to send it back?”

“I’m coming.” I cross the room, stand on tiptoes, and kiss him on the lips, heat spreading from my chest and into my face when I spot the guard watching us from outside the doorway.

Leonid doesn’t react. He turns around and escorts me from the room ignoring my sideways glances and the excitement oozing from my pores.

“Stop looking at me like that. If I tell you now, it’ll spoil the surprise.”

“Is my sister here?” I blurt out before I can stop myself. “Is Mel here?”

Leonid’s expression is impassive. Even when we reach the kitchen, and he opens the door wide for me to enter first, he still gives nothing away.

Then I hear the bark that sounds nothing like Marvel, and my heart somersaults as a fluffy, tan-and-white puppy comes skittering across the tiled floor towards us. I crouch and scoop the puppy into my arms, while she climbs up me, placing large front paws onto my shoulders so that she can lick my face.

“Her name is Lucky.”

I giggle in between sloppy kisses and give up trying to deter Lucky from her public display of affection. “She’s … so … cute,” I manage, narrowly avoiding her over-enthusiastic tongue. “Who does she … belong to?”

“She’s yours, Gianna.” His voice takes on a serious tone. “If you want her.”

My chest aches at the unexpected gift. I squeeze Lucky so tightly that she squirms and wriggles out of my clutches, skidding back across the floor and colliding with the bowl of water that has been set down for her.

I stand up and slide my hand into Leo’s. “Why did you…?” I don’t even know how to finish the question.

“I saw how easily Marvel warmed to you, and I didn’t want to lose him.”

I try to ignore the reference to me leaving again. I don’t want anything to spoil this moment. “Thank you. She’s beautiful.”

“Like you.” He takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger, but before he can kiss me, Marvel barks at us from his crate on the other side of the room.

I pull away, grinning. “How does Marvel feel about his new companion?”

“He’s already in protective big-brother mode.”

I slant my eyes at him. “Maybe I should try to escape more often. You have room for a few more dogs at least.”

Leo’s kiss is demanding, and I feel the air leaving my lungs as he presses his body against mine. “Next time, you might not be quite so fortunate.” His amber eyes lock onto mine. “Promise me that you won’t do anything foolish.”

“I promise.” My heart is thudding inside my chest. It’s an easy promise to make.

* * *

I spend the next few hours playing in the garden with the dogs while Leonid goes to the office. He was right, Marvel is already acting like the doting big brother, refusing to let Lucky out of his sight, while the puppy masters the art of wrapping everyone around her little finger.

In typical puppy-fashion, she finds everything an adventure. She darts towards the edge of the pool and would dive straight in if she doesn’t catch a glimpse of a butterfly flitting around the buddleia bushes. She chases a ball around the lawn, tumbling over it and face planting the grass. She tries climbing up Marvel to kiss him and isn’t deterred when, every time, he shrugs her off and sideswipes her with his hind legs.

“Lucky.” I pick her up and nuzzle her fluffy face. “You’re a determined young lady. I think that you and I are going to be best friends.”

Leo didn’t mention what would happen when I return home, but he said that she’s mine, and whatever happens, I’m not leaving her behind.

When both dogs are exhausted and napping in Marvel’s huge crate, Lucky tucked between her big brother’s paws, I go back to the guest room. It feels wrong to be hanging around the house when Leo isn’t here. But the guard is waiting for me, and the door is open.

“What’s happened?” I ask, trying to peer inside. I’ve had no conversations with anyone other than Tamara, but my pulse is racing too quickly at the prospect of a repeat performance of yesterday’s escape bid.

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