Page 56 of Brutal Reign
Kin scrunches his nose. “What about all my stuff at home? Can we go get it?”
“I have an even better idea,” Pavel offers. “How about your mom takes you shopping once you’re settled and buys you all new stuff?”
“Can I buy another dinosaur?” Kin asks, holding up the raggedy stuffy in his hand.
“If your mother allows,” he says, glancing at me, more warmth in his eyes than I’d seen since we were together in London.
I swallow hard and look straight ahead before my expression can give anything away. This is Kin’s first time meeting his father, and he doesn’t know it. Neither of them does.
“We’ll see, sweetheart. We’re still figuring everything out.”
Kin nods and steps a little closer to me, eyes flicking back to Pavel like he’s still trying to size him up. He must look like a giant to my little guy.
“I’ll need your phone,” Pavel says to me, holding out his hand.
I fish the destroyed burner from my purse and hand it to him. He takes it, expressionless, and slips it into his pocket.
Without a word, he lifts the bag from my shoulder and begins to walk.
I curl my fingers tighter around Kin’s small hand and fall in line behind him, down the hall toward the chopper that’s waiting to carry us to whatever future Pavel has planned.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
PAVEL
The plane’scabin is dim, the lights low, a quiet hum filling the space. Roman pours us both a drink; we need one after the last twelve hours. He hasn’t said much since we boarded, only watched me, eyebrows raised in silent interrogation.
Hope’s curled up, sleeping on the cream-colored couch toward the rear of the cabin, her son tucked protectively against her side. Seeing her like this, soft and maternal, all her defensive edges smoothed by sleep, tugs at my chest.
The moment I found out she had a kid, everything about this situation became more complicated. It’s not only about protecting Hope anymore; it’s about protecting someone completely innocent who got dragged into this war through no fault of their own.
Across the aisle, Roman hands me a glass and lowers himself into his seat. “So. Married, huh? Should I be offended that I didn’t get an invite?”
I grunt noncommittally, welcoming the familiar burn of vodka as it slides down my throat. It seems appropriate for a daywhen I’ve detonated my carefully ordered existence. “Nah, it was rather… spontaneous.”
Roman snorts. “So what’s the plan? She’s going to live with you at the compound?”
“That’s generally how marriage works.”
“When it’s voluntary, sure.” He adjusts his position. “I’m guessing she wasn’t exactly a willing bride. And now you’re bringing her and the kid back to live with all of us. Do you realize the danger you’re putting everyone in?”
The compound isn’t only my home; it’s where we all live, where his pregnant wife sleeps, where Maxim’s three kids run around. Hope is an unknown variable, the daughter of our enemy, with every reason to hate us.
Maybe I hadn’t considered all the implications when I slipped that ribbon around her finger. The same ribbon I noticed she’s torn off. Something I plan to remedy very soon.
“I’ll make sure she stays on my property and keep a close eye on her,” I vow, meeting his gaze. “But in return, I need your word that you’ll leave her alone. No interrogation.”
Roman’s mouth tightens, but he knows the score. Bratva code makes wives and children untouchable. Even if they’re the enemy’s daughter.
Roman laughs, a harsh, humorless sound that scrapes at my nerves. “What makes you so sure she’s not a threat to us?”
“Instinct. She’s afraid of Simon. I saw it at the altar when she stood across from him. You can’t fake that kind of fear.” Fear I didn’t see when I forced her in front of the priest. She had no trouble showing her fire then. That told me all I needed to know. “Simon was ready to blow her brains out, because she wouldn’t escape with him. He was going to force her to abandon her kid. Not exactly a loving partnership.”
Roman shrugs. “Doesn’t prove anything. She could know things, could have been involved in his plans. You don’t reallyknow where her loyalties lie, but it’s sure as hell not with you or us.”
“Maybe not, but I’ll prove to you and Maxim that it’s not with Simon either.”
