Page 20 of The Bratva Bosses' Nanny

I stride into the living room, feeling their eyes on me before I even see them. Aleksandr leans against the mantle.

Nikolai turns to face me, “So?” Nikolai prompts.

I clench my jaw, my patience worn thin. “This whole thing was your plan, Nikolai. And we are the ones who are suffering the consequences.”

Aleksandr raises an eyebrow, silently questioning. It’s clear he wants details, but I’m not in the mood to satisfy his curiosity.

“Emma is off-limits,” I say, the words coming out like a decree. “Whatever game you thought you were playing, it ends now.”

Nikolai’s expression hardens. “Stop blaming me. We all know this was necessary.”

“We’re done with the tests. We’re done using her as bait,” I shoot back.

“Since when do you care about her?” Aleksandr asks.

I hold his gaze, unflinching. “Since she was willing to give her life for this family without knowing a damn thing about us.”

Nikolai lets out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “You’re getting soft, Dmitri. That could be dangerous for all of us.”

I bristle at that. “I’m not soft,” I counter sharply. “I’m being smart. We can’t afford to turn those we need against us.”

“Don’t worry,” Alex says, “if anything happens to her, I am responsible now. I made a promise to her.”

That settles it. No more arguments, no more debates. Aleksandr has spoken, and when he makes a promise, it’s as good as an oath.

Nikolai’s tone is sarcastic as he spreads his hands wide. “Perfect. You paint me as the villain.”

I fix him with a glare. “You’re the one not facing her. She wants an explanation from you, too, Nick. Weren’t you the one who had a little chat with her the other night? Or should I say threatened her?”

His smirk fades into a frown. “That was part of the plan.”

“Plans change. And now you owe her more than just a threat.”

Nikolai looks between Aleksandr and me, his defenses slowly crumbling. “Fine,” he concedes, “I’ll talk to her. But not now,” he quickly adds, “I’ve got something else to handle first.” I study him for a moment, trying to read his thoughts. It’s just like him to push off the uncomfortable, to delay facing the music until the last possible moment. “Don’t wait too long.”

He nods. Nikolai might play it loose at times, but he knows the importance of keeping the inner circle tight and secure.

As he strides away, likely off to deal with whatever has caught his attention, and I turn back to Aleksandr. “She’s going to need more than just words,” I say.

“Like a kiss?” He grins.

“W-what the hell are you talking about Alex?” I feign innocence. How could he possibly know?

He points at the corner of his mouth, that smug smile still playing on his lips. “You’ve got some lipstick there.”

Damn. I wipe at my face, feeling the traitorous heat of a blush. “It’s not what you think,” I mutter, even though it’s exactly that.

Aleksandr chuckles. “Sure it’s not.” He leans back against the mantle and steeples his fingers. “She’s quite the sight to look at, isn’t she?”

“What?” I say, a defensive edge to my tone. “Thought you hated her.”

I drop into one of the leather chairs, throwing one leg over the arm, trying to seem as relaxed as he does.

“Hate is a strong word. Let’s just say she’s... growing on me.”

I shake my head, not wanting to get into this with him. Not now. Emma’s safety and well-being are what matter, not Aleksandr’s reluctant approval.

I stand up from the leather chair. I can’t deny Emma has captivated me in a way no one else has, and it’s driving me crazy. I need to get out of this house, away from everyone.

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