Page 68 of Forcibly Sold to the Bratva
“Are you okay?” she asks in a sleepy little voice. “Did I hurt you?”
“I’m better than ever,” I assure her, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“Rest now,” she murmurs. “You still need to heal.”
I hold her close, my own eyes growing heavy, and drift into peaceful, midday slumber, something I don’t ever remember doing. Around Arina, I just feel …relaxed.
* * *
For the next three days, Arina and I spend more time together outside my room, sometimes cooking together. One night, I convinced her to watch a horror movie with me, and she clung to me all night in fear afterward.
I smile as I think back to that night. I didn’t mean to scare her like that, but if the thought of ghosts is enough to make her stay close, I have half the mind to tell her this house is haunted.
Of course I won’t do that, I think as I reach for my tie. I can’t be that cruel. But still, it was funny.
Finally, she’s allowing me to go back to work. I had to have the doctor come over yesterday to have her hear it from him.
Once fully dressed, I exit my room and make my way down to my waiting car when I see Arina in the foyer, holding out a little doggy bag.
“What the hell is this?” I ask in surprise as I look at the little paper bag.
“You need to take your antibiotics at noon,” she fusses over me. “Make sure you eat before.”
My heart melts as I take her into my arms. When I pull back, I see the worry in her eyes.
“You do know we have food at the office, right?” I inquire, with a cocked brow.
“Homemade is always healthier,” she says like a know-it-all.
I shake my head and chuckle. As she moves to walk away, I can’t help but smack her ass just for fun. She squeals and turns with a giggle, but at the same time gives me this dirty little look as if to say she’ll get back at me later.
I can’t wait for later.
***
Hours later, I’m sitting at the conference table waiting for it to begin. Today, we have a meeting with the alliance, and since the Zolotovs are the most powerful of us all, Boris takes the lead.
People are still pouring in, and every single one who does walks over to tell me how glad they are I’m okay.
At last, the meeting begins, and since it’s happening at our office, Agafon speaks first. “Good to see you vertical, brother. How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a truck,” I reply dryly, earning a few chuckles. “But I’ll live.”
“Any idea who was behind the attack?” Vladimir Orlov asks, leaning forward on his arms.
“We’re still gathering intelligence,” Melor says with a sigh.
There’s a short silence before Nikolai speaks. “Did we… look into the Sokolovs?”
Now, the room turns tense, and I notice everyone avoids my gaze.
“I’m sure they’ve been looked into, right?” I murmur. “Just as everyone else?”
“We believe it might be them,” Agafon says, giving me a sheepish look.
“Why?” I ask, my heart racing. “Is there proof?”
“Well, not exactly,” Boris says from the head of the table.
