Page 78 of Sins He Taught Me (Bratva Crime Syndicate 3)

Unfortunately, there’s a knock on the door and I know that I won’t be taking that vacation anytime soon. “Yes?”

Victoria enters. “I’m just calling to remind you about tomorrow.”

I rack my brain for a moment. “What’s tomorrow?”

“Nikolas is having that parents’ night tomorrow at his school, and you said that you would be attending with him.”

“Parents’ night. Damn.” I can’t believe I forgot that. I vaguely remember agreeing to go, mostly to make Niko happy, but now I’m not sure if I can make it. With everything going on right now, it doesn’t seem like a good idea. “I don’t know if I can go.”

“You made a promise,” she replies icily. “You told Nikolas that you would go with him. He’s excited to show you off to all his friends.”

Guilt hits me hard—an emotion I’m not used to, nor one that I like all that much. On one hand, I shouldn’t feel guilty because I’m putting the family business first to make sure Nikolas’ future is secure, but on the other, I did make a promise.

“I’ll go with you,” Victoria offers. “I wanted to go anyway, but I didn’t want to intrude. It’s for families, not kids and their nannies.”

It’s moments like these when I realize just how good of a person Victoria is. Amidst all of the shit she’s been through with her father and the situation he’s gotten her into, she’s treating parents’ night with respect.

I think for a moment, then rise from my desk. I take a few steps towards her and reach out a hand. “Come with me, then.”

“Okay.” She steps into my hold, and before I know what I’m doing, I press my lips to hers, stealing a passionate kiss. I cup her face in my hands and don’t let her get more than a few inches away from me.

I don’t know what it is about this woman, but her lips drive me wild, and I want to feel them in places they haven’t been yet. Only, I have to behave. Now’s not the time for these kinds of thoughts. Not with business still to be done.

Victoria surprises me by pulling away.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, dropping my hands.

“It’s nothing, it’s just …” She crosses her arms over her chest again, biting at her bottom lip anxiously. “I don’t get you, Matvei.”

“Get me how?”

“You’re so confusing. One minute you’re calling me a whore, and the next you’re sleeping with me. You say you don’t care about anyone and that you’re a monster, but then when we’re alone, you’re tender. You treat Niko like he’s your own son, even when he’s not. I just don’t understand you, and I’m trying to.”

For the briefest of seconds, I consider coming clean to her. Telling her how badly I’m obsessed with her. With the smell of her hair, the curve of her hip, the way she moans when I lick between her thighs.

Then I remember who I am.

What happens when I make mistakes.

And I remember who she is, too: my toy. My collateral. She belongs to me, not the other way around.

So I snarl and change my mind. “Let me remind you of what our situation is, Victoria, because you’d be better off remembering how this whole thing works. I own you until your father’s debt is paid. That means I’ll do whatever I want with you. And as for Niko… you’ll never get what that is like. There’s nothing else for you ‘understand.’ Don’t ever ask me that again.”

Her face falls, and I can tell just how badly my words have hurt her. Rather than show it, Victoria nods and straightens up. Her eyes are red-rimmed, but in a shaky voice, she says, “Understood. Have a good day at work. And don’t forget, parents’ night is tomorrow at 6:00.”

Before I can get in a word, she steps out into the hall and closes the door behind her.

It’s not my fault she’s misreading the situation. She can’t possibly seriously believe that there could ever be a future between us. Victoria is supposed to be smart enough to not be blinded by those kinds of feelings.

But even as I sit back at my desk, I’m unable to stop thinking about what a relationship with Victoria might be like.

* * *

The following evening, I feel completely out of place dressed up like this. I rarely wear bright colors like the blue striped button-down and red tie Victoria picked out for me. She said she liked those two colors on me, and she decided that if we were going to be the perfect family, I needed to dress the part of the loving dad.

I didn’t fight as hard as I would’ve just a few short weeks ago. So much has changed since then. Doing this is much easier than trying to figure it out on my own.

When we first arrive, there are booths to get our name tags, and after sticking those to our shirts, we wander through various classrooms checking out all the games they’ve set up.

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