Page 16 of Bratva Daddies for the Single Mom

“Robert Ransen.” The thunderclouds gave way to a tight grin. “I handled him.”

“He broke his wrist,” Annie added with what sounded like shock.

“Yes, well.” I nodded my thanks to Ilya. A broken bone was better than the man deserved. I stalked across the room until I stood within Annie’s reach. “I will ensure nothing like that ever happens again. You will not take a job from Miles Kent. Not ever.”

Annie gaped at me, doing that strange mimicry of a fish gasping for air. “I can’t give up a big client like that just because you say so.” Her hands finally unlocked, and she slammed her fists onto her narrow hips, standing to her full height. “Who do you think you are? You can’t boss me around like that.”

The corner of Ilya’s mouth twitched upward.

Fyodor opened the door, took one look at Annie, and rushed inside, closing the door tight behind him. “You found her.”

“Yes. We’ve established that.” Annie’s snark rose to a piercing level that amused me. She turned back to me. “My work is important. Maybe not as important as whatever you do here, but massage therapy is kind of a big deal, and I need the income Mr. Kent offered.”

“Not at the expense of dealing with assholes like Robert.” Ilya grated out the words. Much more and he’d not be able to control himself. He stood so completely still and rigid that a stiff breeze would topple him like an unyielding oak.

Fyodor stood off to the side, taking in the conversation but remaining silent. Typical for my right-hand man.

“I’ll pay you ten times what Miles offered if you agree to spend the night with us again.” I would pay a hundred times more if it meant her safety and our satisfaction. She need not know the depth of my depravity and need. Not if I could get out unscathed.

A sharp sound from Annie preceded her hand rising to cover her mouth. Her eyes glittered, a sheen of moisture gathering on her lashes. She stomped one foot. “Fuck you. Is that all I’m good for now? Huh?” She pushed Ilya when he moved to intercept her.

He stood his ground, but the surprise on his face almost brought out a burst of laughter. I couldn’t remember a time when anyone had tried to shove past Ilya, especially when he’d shifted into protection mode.

Annie backed away from Ilya, her lips pressed flat and her shoulders so stiff I could cut myself on her collarbones. “Ever since that stupid auction…” She shook her head. “What a joke. I do one thing to help myself, and now all I’m good for is sex.Paidsex.” Ilya held out a hand. Annie batted it away. “Leave me alone, Ilya.”

He sucked air through clenched teeth when Annie ducked around him. Her steps were long and graceful, the curve of her neck delicate–much too delicate for the likes of us. She reached the door, pausing with her hand on the knob, and I silently cursed Fyodor for not locking it behind him. The few additional seconds might’ve saved us.

“What if we hire you as a masseuse?” Fyodor shifted his weight to his heels and rested his palms on my desk, letting his ass rest on the edge. He checked in with me, a flash of a look that Annie missed. Seeing my agreement, he pressed on. “We could use a massage therapist around here. That is what you do, yes?”

“Yes.” She lingered over the word, almost as though looking for a reason to say no.

Fyodor watched Annie. We all did. I could not help myself. She was a vision in her blue skirt and white shirt with the puffy sleeves that capped across her shoulders. Her blonde hair waved around her face, framing her jaw and resting down her spine.

“Name your price.” I fought with my inner self, the part of me that wanted to demand that she stay and be with us. I was not an animal, but I was used to getting what I wanted. How long had it been since anyone had presented me with a challenge?

She rattled off a number and fidgeted with her hands. Insecure or trying to lie?

“That’s all Kent was willing to pay?” Ilya released an aggrieved sound similar to what pinched my own throat. “Cheapskate.”

“That’s more than any other client has ever paid me.” Annie defended herself with her fists back on her hips. For a moment, she reminded me of a superhero, all fiery vengeance and justice. “It’s not like I make hundreds of thousands of dollars on the daily.”

“You could.” I cut in before Ilya or Fyodor dared, taking control of the conversation once again and giving myself a chance to be the hero. “I will pay you ten times Kent’s rate.”

“For the same job? Massage therapy?” She narrowed her focus to me, seeming to understand that I was the man in charge.

It was not what I wanted. I desired much more than a massage from our delectable Annie. But I would take what she offered and continue to evaluate the situation. “Yes.” Like she did earlier, I stretched out the single word. I had little to no doubt I would be able to convince her to sleep with us again. She had enjoyed herself too much to continue to hold back when we offered her a second chance. Even if she never acceptedpayment, pleasure waited in our near future. If money made her insecure in saying yes, I had other means to guarantee she found compensation. “You may start with Ilya.” I tapped his shoulder. “He clearly needs some stress relief.”

“If you are willing to start right away,” Fyodor added.

Right. I disapproved of his butting into the conversation, but he made a valid point. Annie had suffered today. She might wish to go home and recover before leaping back into the frying pan.

“That would be great.” Annie’s smile was bright enough to warm even my cold heart.

Ilya relaxed beside me, the whoosh of his exhale caving his chest. He pressed his palms together and tapped his fingers to his lips. “You’re certain?” he asked me.

“Absolutely.” I forced down the denial clawing its way up my throat. “Find her somewhere to set up.”

“I know just the place.” Ilya snapped his fingers and smiled easily at Annie. “Follow me.”

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