Page 94 of Shattered Altar (Makarova Bratva Duet)

She nods in sympathy. “You’ll have your friends and your family back one day.”

“You really think he’ll let me see them?”

“He will,” she says. “When he can be sure of your loyalty.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “How could I ever be loyal to someone like him?”

She cocks her head to the side. “Sometimes, it’s just about appearances, Olivia. Do you understand what I’m trying to tell you?”

I stop short as understanding hits me sideways. “Are you telling me to fake it?”

“Like I said, I will try and help you any way I can, in the ways I’m able.”

“Does he know you’re up here with me?”

“Yes. I was sent to tell you the rules. About what it takes to be a Bratva wife.”

I roll my eyes. “Oh goody, I was hoping to hear the do’s and don’ts. This should be fun.”

“Loyalty and obedience,” she says, ignoring my sarcasm.

My eyes haven’t even finished rolling before I’m rolling them again. “Shocking.”

“You will be expected to maintain decorum in front of his men and his business associates.”

“When would I even meet them?”

“There are dinners and events to go to. As his wife, you will accompany him.”

I frown. “I’ll opt out, then.”

“I doubt you’ll be given the choice.”

“This just keeps getting better and better,” I snap. “Is there anything else I need to know?”

“He is don,” Yulia says, her expression ironing out into deadly seriousness. “In this house, his power is absolute. Don’t cross him, Olivia. He’s not the merciful type.”

“Now, you are trying to scare me, aren’t you?”

“Maybe a little,” she admits. “But you’d do well to heed my advice. Whatever he does, you cannot and should not question it. It is expected that he will most likely have other women—”

“Whoa, hold up,” I blurt. “It’s expected?”

“It’s common, at least. Many dons partake in… extramarital affairs.”

“And their wives are fine with it?”

“I wouldn’t say that,” she says with a tired sigh. “More that they have to accept it.”

“Did you?” She stops short, and I instantly feel bad for asking. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she says quickly. “I did accept it. Whenever I was relegated to my bedroom in the opposite wing of the house, I told myself that it was for the best.”

I stare at her in horror. “He would bring other women here? He would sleep with them in your bed?”

“His bed,” she corrects. “Everything was his. Still is, in many ways.”

“So you’re telling me that if Aleks decides to sleep with a bunch of different women right in front of my face, I’m supposed to just pretend like I don’t see it?”

---