Page 12 of The Mistake

Lottie

Ive was nowhere to be found this morning, which surprised me. I’mnot normally a light sleeper. Being in Ive’s bed last night, I’d spent a great deal of time wide awake, going over what he’d told me.

All I had to do was swear loyalty. In my luggage, therewas a phone Rage had given to me last night at the reception. He’d told me to use it whenever I felt unsafe. If I had that cell phone and swore my loyalty to Ivan, I’d be lying. To swear complete loyalty to Ivan, to my husband, to the Volkov Bratva, I could no longer trust or rely on the Evil Savages MC.

Cassie had told me she’d call me, that she’d find a way for us to hang out. I’d gotten her message this morning from one of the wait staff. I sat in a private booth, my morning breakfast in front of me, but I couldn’t bring myself to eat it.

If I gave that cell phone away,I’d have no choice but to trust my husband. Could I trust Ive? I didn’t know him.

“You look troubled, young lady.”

Glancing up, I see Ivan Volkov himself, taking a seat opposite me.

“Mr. Volkov,” I said, about to bow my head and thenI frowned. What the fuck was I doing?

Ivan chuckled. “There’s no need to bow. I’m not royalty.”

“In my husband’s world, you are.”

“True. So very true. I guess you could say I am the king.”

Should I look at him? What the hell did I do?

“Don’t be frightened. I know you’re not aware ofmy traditions and customs and if I’m being honest, neither am I.”

This caused me to frown and I lifted myhead.

“That’s better. I wanted to have a conversation with your face, not the top of your head.”

I was tempted to touch my head, but I managed to keep my hands firmly in my lap. Yay me.

“You’re not eating.”

“I’m not very hungry.”

“A little advice—Ive cannot deal with petty behavior. I imagine he sees you as a child already, so skipping meals will not be ideal in winning him over.”

I wasn’t being petty. The breakfast looked lovely. There was so much fruit and even the toast looked mouthwatering, and I wasn’t a big fan of toast at all. I often ate cereal, sometimes dry if we had spoiled milk. Cassie would often forget to go to the store, and only when I was given money did I ever get a chance to shop.

Reaching out, I picked up a slice of peach and took a bite. It was juicy, and so incredibly tasty. I wanted to close my eyes and bask in the taste but with Ivan sitting opposite me, I didn’t know what to do.

“Good, isn’t it? Do you mind?” he asked.

I shook my head and he winked at me, taking a slice ofpeach.

“You don’t need to be afraid of me.”

I highly doubted that.

Ivanlaughed. “I can see you have your doubts.”

“You just said that you’re the king of the Volkov Bratva. Your word is law, in everything. How can I not be afraid?”

“True, I can seewhy you believe that. I do have it on good authority from Adelaide and Aurora, that I can be quite a nice guy.”

I had no idea what to say to him. This manhad taken me, and in a strange way he’d kept me.

Lifting my head, I looked him straight in the eyes.My dad had told me many times that I was a fucking idiot. I didn’t know when to keep my fucking head down. Often, that came with a slap or a punch or a belt.

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