Page 24 of Brooklyn Bratva

“I’m not a kid, Ivan.”

It was my turn to frown.

“I can see that.” That was precisely why she needed a chaperone. Wandering alone thinking the best of everyone in her pristine white uniform, looking like some kind of saint, she was going to get a hoard of guys trying to take advantage. Uniform fetishists were all over the place. Too many guys thought a nurse’s uniform was a ticket to do exactly what they wanted. And I wasn’t going to stand for it.

“Did Dad say something to you?”

“I haven’t spoken to him.” I didn’t plan to, until I had this infatuation with Becca under control, or I had her under me. One way or another.

“Good. Because yesterday could have happened to anyone. Like you said. I don’t need him thinking it was a big enough deal that you aren’t going to let me out of your sight. I used to live around here for crying out loud. It’s a fifteen minute walk. I don’t need a bodyguard!”

I gritted my teeth. Her father had done a great job of smothering her so she thought she had to fight to be taken seriously in her own right. She couldn’t see that I was looking for an excuse not to leave her alone.

“Besides, I said I’d pick up some things for your Mom. And then she’s going to show me how to make proper goulash.”

Goulash.

My fist clenched tightly, knuckles straining to white. I’d never had my favourite food get in the way of me and a woman before, and Becca wasn’t just any woman.

“Fine.”

“Good.”

Becca

The night before Mrs. K had clasped my hands around an envelope. “Becca, my prescriptions. Please you get them. I do not want to worry Vanya.”

The secretive way she asked had me concerned, but I did what she’d asked and kept it to myself. It made sense she didn’t want Ivan worried if he was anything like my dad, which I was pretty sure he was, then he’d be worrying himself to death over this, and if there was one thing I’d already learned about diseases, it was that all the wishing and the worrying in the world couldn’t do a thing to stop them.

I glanced over at him again as we walked on. Easy silence fell between us again, but I could tell that he was still simmering about me declining his invitation to chaperone me. I didn’t want him as a bodyguard, I wanted him as a boyfriend, and more than that.

I wanted him to know that he didn’t have to worry about me too. If he didn’t think I could even handle myself going down to the Bazaar, he was never going to take me seriously as someone who could be the mother of his children.

I bit the inside of my lip, trying to snap myself out of it. There I was going back to my fantasy land again when for all I knew he had a girlfriend.

“Where’s your place?”

“Over on the other side. Same block you used to be in. It’s pretty close to the precinct.”

“Oh, that’s neat. I guess it makes sense to live near work. Your hours must be crazy.”

“They’re pretty erratic. You get used to it. I’ve been doing this for a while now. It’s part of me.”

“Does… um. Doesn’t your girlfriend mind that you’re gone at all hours?”

Ivan stared at me. I could feel the weight of his eyes on me as he looked me over, his gaze rubbing down me so physically, it felt like a cat lick. I had to bite down hard on the inside of my cheek to keep me from shuddering with pleasure.

“I’m not involved with anyone.”

“Oh.” Mentally I punched the air with triumph and it was a struggle to keep the smile from my face. “You should be.”

“I don’t think so.”

“No? Don’t say that. Dad always says that. You should. You’re great.” My voice caved in on itself as I realized that convincing him to give dating a go probably wasn’t going to work out in my best interests. Not least of all because I’d just put Dad in the same sentence as him.

Ivan let out a pissed sounding grunt. “The pair of you can leave my damn love life alone.”

Somehow we’d made it to the clinic already, and Ivan’s large hand closed around the thick door handle, yanking it open and holding it for me.

“No arguments.”

Damn it. That was not how this was supposed to go.

I pursed my lips, about to argue with him, but a single solid finger pressed over my lips and under his touch, I fell mute.

Ivan smirked at me, and the knuckles of his other hand grazed softly against my cheek, touching me as though everything about me was precious to him, and I wished it was the truth.

His voice dropped to a whisper.

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