Page 64 of Sweet Deception
The voice startled me, and I jerked up.
Yegor.
Antonio’s son.
He leaned against a stone column, arms crossed, studying me. “You slapped the king of our bratva?”
I lifted my chin. “He’s my husband.”
“Hah. Bold.” He smirked. “You two must really hate each other. I was watching from upstairs.”
I gritted my teeth. So much for privacy in this goddamn place.
Yegor shrugged. “Gleb’s rarely home, but I don’t have much to do lately. I can be your friend.”
I snorted. “Right. That seems like a great idea, befriending a Romanov.”
“Did I say something funny?”
“I just don’t need friends here.”
“Think about it.” He reached out, brushing his fingers over my hand.
I yanked away instantly. “Don’t touch me.”
He smirked again. “Or what? You’ll slap me too?”
“If you cross my boundaries, I’ll do worse than slap you.”
Yegor chuckled, slow and mocking. “Funny. I thought you were some delicate little thing, always in a wheelchair. But you’ve got some fire in you.”
“Leave.”
His smile faded slightly. “Why so rude? I’m just trying to be nice.”
“And I said no.”
Something shifted in his expression. A flicker of irritation. Before I could react, he grabbed my hair and yanked me up.
“This is my territory, little Italian,” he hissed. “Who do you think you are?”
“You think you can just dismiss me?” Yegor’s voice was smooth, but there was something sharp underneath. “Like a servant? Like a nobody?”
Pain flared across my scalp. I screamed and kicked him hard in the groin. “I don’t care what you are.”
He let go immediately, doubling over, cursing. Before he could recover, I punched him in the face.
My knuckles stung, but I didn’t stop. Another punch.
Another.
He stumbled back, eyes flashing with rage.
He wiped the blood from his nose, laughing darkly. “You’ve got some fight in you, huh?”
Then, without breaking eye contact, his hand dropped to his gun holster. Not drawing it, just a warning. A reminder.
Blood dripped from his nose. His voice was pure venom. “Bitch.”
