Page 47 of The Bratva's Hunted Bride
I push the plate of lasagna into the microwave and turn it on, then walk over to him and slip my hands around his waist. He responds instantly, hugging me against his solid, muscular chest.
“Timofey, please tell me what’s going on,” I mutter, disheartened.
“Darling, it’s just work. It’s not something you need to worry about at all. I’m tired, but I can’t even explain to you how happy I am to come home to you every day, no matter what is going on in the rest of the world.”
I sigh loudly and push away from him, pulling my mouth to the side and narrowing my eyes at him.
He cocks his head to the side and grins at me. That gorgeous smile that makes my legs go weak.
“I think the lasagna can wait. I have something else I’m hungrier for,” he says, lifting me and throwing me over his shoulder.
I laugh and make a weak attempt to wiggle free as he carries us up to his room.Our room.I haven’t slept in my own room for ages. It wouldn’t feel right anymore.
***
In the morning, I wake up, and Timofey is not in the bed next to me. I jump out of bed and hurry downstairs, worried he left without waking me up to say goodbye.
But I hear his voice coming from the kitchen, and the dark, rich scent of fresh coffee.
He’s on the phone, and his voice is harsh. I stop, pausing outside the door, a knot forming in my stomach as I realize that whatever is going on …is still going on.
“Again? This is getting ridiculous…I know it’s because of what I did, but this is business, and they’re pushing it too far. No. No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. The Popovs aren’t messing around, Oleg. Yeah. I’ll be in soon. Bye.”
I burst into the kitchen in a rage.
“The Popovs?” I blurt out. “My brothers have been retaliating?”
I’m angry and worried.
Timofey groans loudly and hangs his head for a moment.
“Darling, I really didn’t want you to overhear that,” he sighs.
“Well, I did. And I’m really annoyed that you’ve been hiding this from me. I demand to know exactly what’s going on.” I stomp my foot, pout, and knot my brows as I glare at him.
He chuckles.
“You’re really cute when you’re angry,” he muses, trying to pull me close to him.
I push him away. As much as I want to be in his arms, this is serious, and I can’t believe he kept it from me.
“What have my brothers been doing?” I huff, folding my arms across my chest and keeping a distance between us so that he can’t distract me with his touch.
He clenches his jaw and rolls his shoulders.
I watch him as he contemplates whether or not he’s going to tell me, but the look on my face lets him know I won’t back down from this.
“Your brothers have attacked our operations a number of times over the past few weeks. They’ve been consistently targeting us.” He lets out a slow breath.
“Timofey, how can you keep this from me? It’s obviously because of me…because of us.”
“No, absolutely not. This has nothing to do with our relationship and in no way affects what is going on between us,” he says with adamant force.
“How can you say that? This has everything to do with us.” I gesture between him and me.
He shakes his head.
“I won’t let this affect our relationship, darling,” he says with full confidence as he walks over to me and pulls me against his chest.
