Page 20 of The Bratva's Nanny

Who was that man? Why was he watching the house?

At some point, during her story about a hungry little girl, Sofia fell asleep on her lap. She ran her fingers through her hair, trying her best to soothe her, even in sleep. Alix kept staring at the clock, seeing the time click on by. It went to one, then two, and by three o’clock, Dmitry entered the living room and Sofia at the noise of the door opening, woke up.

“Picnic time?” Sofia asked, groggily.

“Yes, we’re still going on a picnic,” Dmitry said, holding his hand out to Sofia.

She moved toward him, slowly waking up. She started off sluggish as if her feet couldn’t quite carry her. The moment she got to the door, though, her little energy batteries had been all charged, and she was speeding ahead, pulling on her father’s arm.

Alix had so many questions, but she went to the kitchen. Dmitry’s call to her made her stop.

“Follow us,” he said.

Dmitry and Sofia led the way, and sure enough as she stepped outside, she saw during their little lockdown he’d used the time to set up a beautiful picnic. Sofia gasped, let go of her father’s hand, and ran toward the blanket that had been spread out. It was a large one, with cupcakes all over it. There was a wicker basket, opened, but across the blanket was a variety of food, mounted up on plates.

It looked perfect, ready for any picnic photoshoot, and Alix was oddly touched. She wouldn’t have been able to pull this off if she had tried. Most of her and Sofia’s picnics were on a small blanket, small amounts of food, and each other’s company.

This was sweet.

Chapter Seven

The mysterious man at the side of the building, smoking a cigarette and standing out because he wasn’t wearing a suit, was Benjamin Nikitin. He had some more information which included George’s involvement with Angeloff, that extended past just a few choice meetings.

Dmitry knew there was no point in asking Alix what her husband had been up to during their marriage. Benjamin had confirmed her story about her constantly attempting to divorce him.

There were several divorce papers sent to George, but none of them, until he got him to sign, had been successful. All of them had ended up lost or discarded. There was also truth in their living arrangements. They stayed together for a short time, but the moment George’s and her own parents passed, Alix moved out, back to her old apartment, which she had kept up with the rent, even though it nearly crippled her. Alix had tried to cut and sever all ties with her husband, to make him her ex. She had no information on him.

With Benjamin now looking deeper into George and Angeloff’s affairs, not only were there missing drugs, there was now money unaccounted for. Not to mention a small group of men—their soldiers—who had also gone missing.

“I believe they’re coming for you,”Benjamin said.

Dmitry had already figured out that was going to be the end game. When one of his brigadiers had gone missing, along with part of a very expensive shipment of drugs, Dmitry already put two and two together. This was not the first time a brigadier would attempt to take him out. Just like his father before him, this had happened to him. He’d spent many nights, sitting with his father, especially on his dying bed, as he talked about his regrets.

“Son, to run the Bratva, you must have strong men. Those same men need to be able to learn to take instructions and follow your rules. We all know how badly that can end. In the beginning, it is always fine. There are never too many waves, but as you and they get older, as the power and money start to flow, so does greed. When you don’t always agree with what they want, there is always that risk. Loyalty is a hard commodity to come by, especially in powerful and strong men.”

Benjamin had insisted he move them to a safer location. One that hadn’t been exposed to both Angeloff and George. He also believed that George was going to find a way to reach out to Alix.

There was no way for her ex-husband to do that, not unless he used one of his staff, and Dmitry needed to know who was close enough to him that would risk it. Who would like more power? He understood there were men who worked for him who didn’t want to be boss, who liked to be one of brigadiers, spies, soldiers, or associates. They didn’t want the ultimate power. Dmitry needed the ones who wanted more to expose themselves, to show him their true colors.

Sitting on the ground with Sofia in front of him and Alix to the side, he knew he put their lives at risk. Leaving this house would put them at risk even more.

The picnic he had rearranged went off without a hitch. Sofia stuffed herself on more pies than she could handle. He loved watching Alix chuckle at Sofia’s little dance show. She wore a pair of jeans and a shirt with a ruffle around the bottom. She looked so cute and adorable.

Alix was also in a pair of jeans and a shirt. One of his shirts. The jeans were the only things that hadn’t been destroyed in the overambitious search of her room. At least their destruction had resulted in giving him something he’d been wanting—Alix in his bed.

It wouldn’t be long before he was fucking her again. Glancing across the picnic, he couldn’t help but be drawn to Alix. Even in his oversized shirt, she looked sexy. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she didn’t wear a single bit of makeup. She looked stunning. He wanted to fuck her, to have her all to himself.

Sofia stopped her dancing and rushed toward Alix, grabbing her hands and pulling her up. Alix laughed and began to dance with his daughter. The two were getting close and he saw the bond that was forming between them. Alix grabbed Sofia, taking her to the ground and giggling with her.

“The tickle monster!” Alix moved from Sofia’s arms to her ribs, down toward her toes. His little girl had kicked off her shoes the moment she hit the picnic blanket.

Dmitry had a humbling feeling inside his chest. All he wanted to do was spend time with his daughter and Alix, and to stop thinking about all possible threats, but he knew that was impossible.

It wasn’t long before Sofia wore herself out. Alix went to pick her up, but Dmitry took over, lifting a now sleeping Sofia into his arms and carrying her to the house. He went to the main stairs and Alix followed him all the way to her bedroom. Alix turned down her sheet and as Sofia curled up, they changed her out of the jeans, into her pajamas, and tucked her into bed. They tiptoed out of the bedroom without making a sound.

“She is going to be awake so early,” Alix said, laughing.

Dmitry chuckled. “There’s something I need to show you,” he said.

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