Page 53 of Cruel Russian Pakhan
The bed shifted again as he stood up. I heard footsteps heading for the door, then the door opened and closed.
And just like that, I was alone again.
I waited an hour and a half before leaving my room. I was starving, but the thought of running into Lev made my stomach churn. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I heard voices coming from the lounge. My heart quickened when I realized it was Mariya and the others.
I tiptoed to the open door, straining to hear.
“Lev, what you did today was reckless,” Jaroslav said. His voice was calm, but there was an edge of disappointment. “When Yegor called and sent the video footage, I called everyone. This isn’t a Bratva problem, this is a sibling problem. I’m worried about you. You haven’t been yourself lately. We can’t afford for you to make mistakes that could get you killed.”
“I knew Artyom wouldn’t have me killed,” Lev answered. “He might be arrogant, but he’s not an idiot.”
“So, Artyom, who named us the enemy, had you in his clutches, threatening his sister, and you really think he wouldn’t have killed you?” Marten scoffed.
Avit added, “Had you died and the footage leaked, it would’ve shown you in the wrong, shattering everything we uphold as a faction, especially when it comes to women andchildren. Hell, if the footage leaked now, we'd crumble faster than the fucking walls of Jericho.”
I flinched at the thought, but stayed silent, trying not to draw attention to myself.
“Lev, why are you so against Katya getting remarried?” Mariya asked. I heard the confusion in her voice. “She's the sister of a Bratva leader, and she will be in high demand. It’s bound to happen. You may have stopped it this time, but it’s inevitable.”
Ninel asked quietly, “Lev…do you have feelings for Katya?”
Pyotr swore under his breath, then chuckled softly. “You do like her. In all the years I’ve known you, Lev, you’ve always calculated every move, controlled every variable. But the thought of Katya being someone else’s wife? That rattled you. For the first time in your life, you acted before you thought. And once you were in the situation you couldn't back down from because you wanted to protect her.”
The silence that followed made my heart lurch. Was that what this was all about? Did Lev really have feelings for me? Was that why he kept acting hot and cold?
“Yes, Lev, I’d like to know as well,” I spoke, stepping into the room. All eyes turned to me, but my gaze was fixed on Lev. He stood as I approached, his face turning cold, a mask falling into place.
“When we got to the church after you kidnapped me, you could’ve used brute force to remove me from the van, but you didn’t. Then you protected me during the shootout, held me after when I thought I was going to fall apart. During our training sessions, you’ve been gentle, and calm…a great teacher.” My breath hitched, but I forced myself to keep going ashis eyes darkened. “We may not have always gotten along, but when I felt the barrel of your gun pressed to my temple…that was the first time I was actually afraid of you. The first time I felt my life was in real danger around you.”
I saw a flicker in his eyes before it faded. “Help me understand,” I said, my voice trembling. “Why did the controlling man I know act…irrationally?” I stepped towards him, my eyes pleading with his. “Please, I need to understand.”
There was no warmth in Lev’s gaze as he looked at me. It was cold and lethal, locked on me with a fury that snatched my breath from my throat.
“Nothing about what I did today was irrational. Don't let Pyotr’s assumptions go to your head. As I told you before, you're a wife of convenience. I needed to show Artyom that just as you're a pawn to him, you're a pawn to me.”
I heard a sharp gasp behind me, but I didn’t turn around. My heart chipped away with every word that fell from his lips; those same lips that gave me pleasure. I fought the tears threatening to fall.
Lev smirked, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “The difference is, he needs you more than he’s willing to admit. Artyom crossed the line today. Whether he likes it or not, I’m still your husband, and that means I control your movements, not him.” His voice dropped, hardening. “I don’t trust him not to back out of our deal. Him making plans to ‘sell you off’ as a wife just confirms it. You’ll return to Artyom after I marry Vera, not a moment sooner.”
By the time he finished, I felt sick. A pawn. A wife of convenience. I meant nothing to him. His words crushed me and left me bleeding out.
I spun on my heel and ran out the door.
Footsteps followed me, but I didn’t stop. I burst into my room, slamming the door behind me, only to have it open moments later. Ninel and Mariya rushed in, and Mariya immediately wrapped her arms around me, guiding me to the sofa. I collapsed into her embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.
I felt Ninel's hand soothing my back and she spoke softly to me and Mariya. “I don't care what Lev said, I think Pyotr is right. I think Lev has fallen for you.”
I wanted to believe Ninel, but where was the evidence to show it? It couldn't be the sex, since I was obviously just used to scratch an itch like a one-night stand.
“Fallen for me?” I choked out. “Didn't you hear what he said? And you don't pull guns on the people you love.”
“If it meant getting you away from Artyom, he would. He told us what happened when you got there,” Ninel said gently.
Mariya spoke then. “Lev has never had the luxury of having a steady relationship. When our parents died ten years ago, he was thrown into the leadership role. He was twenty-eight and expected to fill some mighty big shoes. Ninel was only eleven then, Pyotr was fifteen, I was seventeen, Avit was twenty-one, Marten twenty-four, and Jaroslav twenty-six. So, Lev not only had to be a leader, but a parent as well.”
Despite how angry I was at Lev, my heart went out to him. Having to deal with losing his parents, raising his siblings and stepping up as a Bratva leader couldn't have been easy.
But he had sisters. He didn't have to be a complete ass when it came to my feelings.
