Page 6 of Dark Bratva Christmas
“I think you’re no different than the rest,” I say simply, shrugging my shoulders. “You take what you want, and you’ll whack whoever gets in your way.” The accusation sits between us, and Matysh seems to visibly grow tenser, as if he might explode on me right then and there.
“While you're living inmyhouse, I would advise you to watch your mouth,” he warns through gritted teeth. “I think it would be wise of you to learn that lesson before I’m forced to teach it to you.”
I laugh, which only makes his jaw clench tighter. “Would that include a lecture? And would it allow for me to leave this godforsaken room—”
“Enough!” Matysh shouts, his voice jarring me where I’m seated on the bed. “I swear to God, Catarina, if it were not for my loyalty to my brother, I would fucking shut that pretty mouth of yours permanently.”
I open my mouth to spit back a response, but then stop. I don’t have my father’s men here to fight my battle if I start one, and Matysh is a dangerous man—one of the most dangerous in the city.
I’m notthatstupid. Maybe stupid enough to push, but smart enough to stop.
“Did Mikhail express any fears? Was anyone putting pressure on him to back out?” Matysh lets out a heavy breath in annoyance, as if he’s having to speak to a subordinate.
And that only serves to annoy me all over again. “I've already answered. I don't know. Can you leave now? Or better yet, canIleave now?” I fold my arms across my chest, and straighten my shoulders. “This is fucking torture.”
He cocks a brow at me. “If you think sitting in a room and sulking by a window is torture, you don't know what torture really is.” A hint of a smirk forms at the corner of his lip, and it almost morphs his entire face. It makes my stomach curdle.
“I know enough. Ifyouthink holding me here in this cage is going to fix anything orprotectme, you're wrong. People are going to be looking for me eventually.” I take a breath and meet his eyes once again. “When my father finds out you’re holdingme against my will, he’s going to come for you, and all truces will be lost.”
Matysh laughs, a sick, deep chuckle that makes my heart race. “Oh, your father knows. He knows it very well. And heapproves.I think he was looking forward to passing on the burden.”
His words sting more than I want to admit, and it takeseverythingI have not to show it. “You’re ahuylo(dickhead).”
Something in Matysh’s face shifts with some sort of emotion, but too briefly for me to make any sort of sense of it.
“You can call me whatever it is you choose, but it will not get you out of this room.” He folds his arms in front of him, cold blue eyes still beaming down on my face. “I'll ask you one last time, who do you know that would have objected to the wedding?”
I glare up at him, knowing immediately what he's getting at—and I realize maybe Iamstupid enough to push him to the edge. I stand up and level up to him, nearly toe-to-toe.
“I know you surround yourself with a bunch of sycophants looking to climb the ranks in your little brigade,” I taunt him, my voice low. “But if you think you’re going to find a reason to murder me and sink me to the bottom of the bay to fulfill your sick power trip, you’re wrong. Youwill end up there before I do,huylo(dickhead). Don’t forget I’m a Petrov.”
His eyes darken, his hands flying up to my throat and then stopping before they wrap around it—as if he has some sort ofsick self-control. “Mne khochetsya sledit' za toboy s nozom u shei, no bratovskaya klyatva derzhit menya. Nikto iz moikh ne smeyet prikosnut'sya k tebe(I want to watch you with a knife at your throat, but the brotherly oath holds me back. None of my people dare touch you).”
A shiver rolls through my spine as he steps back, leaving me trembling beneath my satin robe. He turns his back, and then heads for the door.
As he turns the knob, I can’t help myself. “I didn’t ask for your protection,” I call out.
He scoffs, muttering something under his breath as he exits the room, and slams the door behind him. I hear the locks being turned back into place, and I collapse onto the bed in defeat.
I thought living with my controlling, overbearing father was hell, but this is much worse…
And I think it’s only the beginning.
Chapter two
Matysh
I should’ve expected Catarina to be fucking infuriating.
Siren of a woman.
I take a few deep breaths outside of her room as I try to calm myself down. I’ve been patient, given the circumstances. I’ve forced myself to keep a roof over her head, feed her, and ensure she has everything she needs, and still…
Her obstinacy only serves to emphasize she’s no ally of mine.
“Vo chto ya vvyazalsya(What have I gotten myself into)?” I sigh as I sit down behind my desk and start thinking.
Every time I start making a plan to rectify what happened at the wedding, my mind wanders back to Catarina standing there inthat lacy white dress, vowing to spend the rest of her lifelovingandhonoringmy brother.
