Page 32 of Bratva Daddies for the Single Mom

I wheeled into the parking lot outside her apartment complex. “I’ll walk you.”

“No.” She held out a hand and grabbed my wrist. “Please, Fyodor. Watch from here, but don’t follow me. If you want me to trust you, you have to give me some freedom.”

“I only wish to make sure you’re safe.” As Viktor’s father taught me, safety was mine and Ilya’s priority. We were responsible for ensuring that no one harmed Viktor or anyone else in his circle. That included Annie. She was part of us now, even if she did not fully realize she’d slipped into my heart.

She squeezed and released my wrist. “I’m home. No one is going to bother me here.”

“Fine.” I agreed because I’d promised myself not to argue with her. “Goodnight, Annie.”

“Good night, Fyodor.” A quick kiss to my cheek and she exited the car, hurried across the parking lot, and pulled open the same side door she’d exited through earlier with Viktor.

I waited five seconds before I followed, creeping to the door and cracking it open enough to see Annie duck into a room and close the door. I tiptoed through the shadows, at one with the darkness that welcomed me. When I reached Annie’s door, I pressed my ear to the thin wood.

Soft steps scuffled. No cries for help. No feelings of wrongness or ill intent from someone waiting to harm Annie. I had trusted my instincts long enough to listen to them even when I’d rather break down the door.

17

ILYA

Days were better spent taking care of business, and after our night with Annie, I almost looked forward to confronting Miles Kent again. I shouldered my way through the glass double doors, smiled at the woman behind the counter, and wrenched open Kent’s office door. The sound of screeching metal and wood snapped the man’s head up.

“What the fuck are you doing back here?” He scrambled to his feet and rushed around the desk.

I slammed the door behind me, both to block the exit and to make sure no one bothered to follow me. “You know why I’m here.”

He smirked at that, flashing his too-white teeth as he stopped and crossed his arms. “Come to break someone else’s wrist?”

“Only if needed.” I tipped my head toward him, the muscles in my arms bulging as I cracked each knuckle, the ominous sounds ringing through the open space. “You have been warned enough.”

“You sound like every Mafia movie ever made.” Kent huffed a wry chuckle and shook his head. “Everyone knows that’s all forshow. A cliché. I’ll admit, I was a bit surprised when you broke Robert’s wrist.”

“You don’t touch what isn’t yours.” Another knuckle popped. “That includes refusing to pay the money you owe. It’s no longer your money.”

“I need more time.” Kent tried another smile, this one as weaselly and annoying as the first. “If you’ll hear me out, I think you’ll agree that it’s what is best for everyone.”

“Excuses.” I spat the word at him. “Last time, you blamed supply issues. Now you say it’s in Viktor’s best interests to let you continue to stand idle with his money?” I shook my head and popped another knuckle. “That’s not how we do business. If we let anyone get away with that, then everyone will think they rule the Bratva and not the other way around.”

Kent’s shoulders stiffened, the tightness in his jaw causing his cheek to bulge. “I’ve done a lot for Viktor… Mr. Petrov… over the years. You can give me a grace period.”

“He can. If he is feeling magnanimous. However, he is not. I would not be here if he did not feel it imperative to ensure your understanding of the situation.” We were nose to nose, nothing but my self-control holding me back from beating his worthless ass into the ground. “If you choose to disagree with me again, Viktor has a few words he’d like to add.”

The phone on Kent’s desk buzzed, a raspy voice cutting into the room. “Mr. Kent, your meeting with Mr. Johnson has been canceled.”

“No.” Kent breathed out the word, quick and sharp, his eyes shooting to me. He narrowed his focus. “You. You ruined my meeting with Jasper Johnson. He’s the answer to my money problems. One more contract with him and I can pay Viktor back in full.”

“I had nothing to do with your contract.” I smiled easily. “But it sounds like your solution has bitten you in the ass. I take thisto mean you would ask for even more time in paying back your loan?”

Kent’s nostrils flared wide. “You would give me that?”

“No.” I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and dragged him from the room. “It is not my generosity you seek.”

“Where are you taking me?” He squealed and twisted. “Melinda, call security. Tell them to hurry.”

I winked at the woman behind the desk. “Melinda, be a doll and tell security that Kent has an appointment with Mr. Petrov. You should cancel all his meetings for the next few days.”

“What? You can’t do that.” He twisted again. “You can’t tell my employees what to do.”

“I believe I can.” I snapped my fingers and pointed in his face. “Listen to me, Kent. Do as I say and everything will be fine. Push your luck, and you’ll lose more than a couple of meetings with clients who haven’t figured out you’re skimming the books and taking money from them.”

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