Page 23 of The Bratva's Beast
"Now what is really bothering you bitch?" And there she goes picking at my life.
Sighing softly, I continued driving silently for a few seconds before responding to Angel. "I was just hoping you'd be here to lessen the surprise with Stepan and Lev." Also, there was another last-minute adjustment, which I wasn't aware of until about two hours ago.
"You're overthinking it, they ain't gonna flip out or anything, and they're coming in with the full mindset of following someone else's orders. So, don't worry about any conflict there. Besides, this is a very good time to show Stepan what you're really made of without any restraints." Angel still tried to lessen my nerves with her reassuring words and voice.
This would be the first time I'd see Stepan and Lev outside of work, not counting that one club run-in with Stepan of course. Both were still oblivious to my connection with Angel and the triad, so everything would come out of the bag tonight.
"Hanna, you've done a shit ton of things without me before without making a big deal out of it." Angel retorted with a soft chuckle that sounded a little muffled and buzzed through the phone speaker because my car didn't have the capability to have Bluetooth.
"I know, I know. I just…" I didn't know how to finish my train of thought without sounding like some brainless idiot.
"Hanna, Stepan's not going to run for the hills after seeing you beat a man's face off tonight." Angel half-joked with another chuckle, but this one sounded a little hesitant.
"I'm not worried about Stepan and what he thinks." I retorted almost instantly, scrunching my face in discomfort when images of Stepan's smiling and smirking face flooded my mind.
I might complain about not having anyone in my life, but it was meant in jest most of the time to give the others some grief. I couldn't allow myself to be vulnerable like that to anyone.
No matter how much my heart yearned for attention and affection, I would rather hurt myself by shutting the doors to everyone rather than suffer tremendous heartbreak.
I could hear a long sigh scratch at my speaker before Angel's drawn-out voice replied. "Hanna, you can't bullshit me. I know it's not easy for you, but if you're going to try with anyone then Stepan would be a great choice if you get the feeling that there's a mutual affection between the two of you." No doubt she had a small, sad frown right now from how she sounded. "Or, as I said before, fuck him out of your system."
My tense face twisted into a grimace as my hands gripped the steering wheel painfully. "No." No matter how much my heart ached to be denied, better me than someone else.
"Hanna, don't do this to yourself." Angel sounded like she chided me, disappointed almost.
"I'm doing this for myself. I know what I'm doing Ange. It's my life, and I'm doing what I need to preserve it." The curtness of my tone should be enough of an indicator for Angel to drop the subject.
A long, heavy sigh blared at my speakers before a few seconds of silence followed. "Good luck out there tonight. Give them hell." Her words sounded forced; I could still hear the underlying heaviness of her voice.
"Don't worry Ange, when do I not give them hell?" I had to force myself to laugh a little to better my mood.
"They're going to shit their pants the moment they see you." At least the dark chuckle was fully genuine.
"Alright, I'm pulling up. Rest easy Ange, we'll report back to you once everything is all done." I assured her with a smile before hanging up after she said goodbye in response.
Sighing heavily, I white-knuckled my steering wheel as I fought the discomfort furling under my chest. I had a little less than five minutes to pull myself together. I had a little less than five minutes to prepare myself to face Stepan.
Breathing deeply, I released one hand from the wheel to run it down my face. Groaning out of frustration, I let my hand linger against the right side of my face.
This is for your own good.
I had to remind myself the rest of the way as I pulled my steel walls back up.
As I pulled up to our meeting area, where other vehicles were parked, I saw that everyone had made themselves comfortable in one large group. They weren't loud, but I could hear their faint conversation and laughter the moment I parked and killed the engine.
"Finally, there she is! Oh man, you two are in for one hell of a night if she's coming out to play." I could hear one of the men say proudly when I opened my door.
"Hm? Who?" The one voice I could pick out from a crowded room with ease hit my eardrums, making me shiver from the pleasure of his deep voice.
"The Beast, that's who." Not sure if it was the same man from before who answered, but someone did with a twisted chuckle.
"I'm about to make you my bitch if you don't shut up." I threatened playfully with a sneer, shutting the car door and turning to look at everyone.
"Hanna?" Stepan's quick shock was expertly covered within seconds after his eyes landed on me.
"That's my name, don't wear it out." I teased cheekily with a wink and snicker.
Too bad this was no fairytale.