Page 14 of Devotion

“You won’t be saying that when you see me in a proper outfit.”

“Then we arrange this. I go with you.”

“Ah, so it’s like that? You’re my shadow as long as I am a pleb?”

“Something like that.”

“Or are you my handler?”

“You would love for me to handle you, no?” I smirk, watching his brow furrow. “No, I volunteered to handle you, to train you. You were outsider. I capture. I make decision. You passed test, now you are in. Clear?”

“As mud.”

“Matvey spoke true, your sense of humor is shit.”

“My humor is shit?! I haven’t heard a single good joke since I got here.”

“You haven’t understood a good joke, yet.”

“Right, must be me.”

I smile genuinely at his frustration, leading him alongside the baths toward the barracks.

“Welcome to St. Petersburg Volk compound. Main gate is there, large building there is for business. Offices. Armory. The big house is my father’s.”

“Wait, your dad lives here?”

“Uncle, technically, but he raised me.”

“So your room is…”

“In the same house.”

“Cool, I’ll drop by sometime.”

“You are presuming so very much.”

“And you are slowly falling in love with me.”

The stare I give him makes him squirm.

“Now, back there is gym and sparring circle, past that are the barracks. You will stay in bunkhouse there.”

“It’s like I’m going away for summer camp! Pillow fights and experimental kissy-kissy. Do all the Volk live here?”

“No,” I ignore his commentary. “Squad leaders and their chosen men have apartments around the city. You will earn better housing as you go.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less or anything more.”

“This is why I chose you. You are bold. Tough. But…be careful how to speak to Pyotr.”

“Pyotr, right. He’s the big boss?”

“Da.”

“Wait a minute…Pyotr is your dad. Uncle. Dunkle. Shit. I forgot you’re the boss’s daughter. And I’m the boss’s daughter’s slave! Do I have to wear a maid outfit?”

“Only if he really likes you,” I snap, hiding my grin.

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