Page 83 of Cruel Russian Pakhan
I stiffened, caught off guard. She pulled back almost immediately, flustered.
“I…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” she stammered.
I let out a soft chuckle. “It’s okay.”
Over the next thirty minutes, everyone at the table discussed the safest route for Kira and Vera, how they’d get to my house and back to their trusted driver and guards without Artyom catching on.
When we wrapped up, I sent Marten with them to ensure they reached their car without any trouble.
And then I went home to see Katya.
When I entered the house, I went straight to the bedroom. Sure enough, Katya was curled up in bed, fast asleep, a romance novel slipping from her fingers and hanging off the side.
I gently removed the book, set it aside, and headed for a quick shower. After pulling on a pair of boxers, I climbed into bed beside her. What struck me was how naturally she gravitated toward me, even though I hadn’t touched her yet.
The first time I tried getting into bed with her after they took her and hugged her, she fought me like her life depended on it. I’d held her gently, calmed her down until the tears subsided. She thought they had come back to finish the job.
But now, she wiggled her way over to me on her own.
Once she was close enough, I pulled her into my arms. She murmured something half-asleep before her eyes fluttered open.
“Hi.”
“Hey,” I whispered. “I’ve got some good news for you.”
A flicker of hope passed through her eyes. “What is it?”
“Vera and Kira showed up at the office today,” I said softly.
She instantly tensed in my arms.
“For security reasons, instead of you going to meet them, they’ll be coming here twice a month to spend a few hours with you. They want to be a part of your life.”
Tears welled up in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. I kissed the top of her head.
“When will their first visit be?” she asked, her voice cracking.
“Tomorrow.”
She pulled back to look at me, eyes wide. “Tomorrow? You’re not pranking me, right?”
I raised a brow. “Do I look like a prankster to you?”
She threw her arms around me, and whispered into my neck, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I stroked her side. “Have you eaten?”
She nodded.
“Do you need anything?”
She shook her head. “You being here is all I need.”
I shifted us into a more comfortable position, lying down with her tucked into my side. Her arms tightened around me, and it wasn’t long before she drifted off again.
The next day, I watched Katya pace the lounge like a nervous wreck as she waited for Jaroslav to bring her sisters. She’d been up since the ass crack of dawn, and despite my best efforts to keep her occupied, her anxiety had only grown.
She had snacks and drinks laid out already, determined to make her sisters feel welcome.
