Page 35 of The Bratva's Arranged Bride

It was a longer game than I anticipated, with him pointing out things I wouldn’t have considered on my own. It wasn’t the worst thing in the world, but part of me was growing tired of it.

I was more than prepared to settle on something we had already viewed, but Andrey insisted there was more to see. Something else that would surely be the right fit.

Trusting he knew what he was talking about, I allowed him to continue, regardless of the growing desire in me to just get home.

There was a strange sort of nervousness about him that caught my attention, almost like he was feeling antsier than usual. He could hardly sit still, moving throughout the buildings for sale and then moving on despite the others being more than suitable.

After hours of driving around the city, I assumed he would be worn out. He wasn’t exactly a spry young man anymore…yet he still hadn’t run out of steam.

“There’s another available on Fifth…great location with ideal foot traffic,” Andrey said, trying to sound casual despite the slightest tension in his tone.

It seemed like he was trying to brush me off or convince me that everything was perfectly fine. But something wasn’t sitting right with me.

He was being weird.

After I hummed my agreement, more focused on him than the words leaving his mouth, Andrey eventually pulled up to the curb and parked.

Getting out, I leaned against the passenger side of the vehicle and studied him for a moment.

I couldn’t tell what, but something was off, and I wanted to find out why.

Andrey always seemed like a sharp guy; he ran a tight ship when it came to his businesses, and he was always calculating. Always ready for the next move.

But in that moment, I could see the subtle tension in his frame, like he was trying to keep himself busy.

He was hiding something…he had to be.

“You alright, Andrey?” I asked while he got out and rounded the front of the vehicle.

He glanced at me, barely throwing a faint smile in my direction. “I’m fine, why?”

Keeping things casual, I shrugged. “You seem…jumpier than usual.”

“Jumpy? No…just tired, I suppose.”

“Tired? You’ve been hauling us all over New York,” I returned smoothly, watching his face for any kind of reaction.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Andrey chuckled while waving me off, walking alongside me towards the building for sale. “It’s been a long week. I’ll be fine.”

Despite his reassurance, I couldn’t help but feel like that was far from the truth.

I didn’t believe him, even if I didn’t press him further.

When we walked into the place—an old lounge that went under some years prior—I expected to see that fire in Andrey’s eyes. The one that spoke of his excitement for the game, the chase he was primed to execute, given his track record.

But I only found traces of trepidation there. Hesitation. Maybe even worry.

We moved through the space with the agent as everything was laid out for us, and while I wasn’t thrilled about still searching for a location, I had to admit Andrey did have a point.

It seemed ideal, on a busy street, and it certainly had the potential to give off the air of luxury I was hoping for.

“Well…do you think this could work?” I asked, looking at Andrey, when we were given a moment to chat.

His eyes roved over the place for a moment, and with a breath, he nodded. “I do. It’ll be an easy but lucrative flip, and the location is ideal. I can crunch some numbers and run it by you before we make any final decisions.”

I watched him for a moment longer, taking in those strange tells of his that were triggering more suspicions of mine.

As much as I didn’t want to dismiss it, there was no reason for me to believe it had anything to do with me or the task at hand. Andrey was a busy man, with plenty of businesses to oversee; he could’ve had anything on his mind.

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