Page 56 of Kept By the Bratva
Even when he brought me books and a tablet to watch movies on, he didn’t join me and treat any of our time together like a date.
He wasn’t cold, but distanced. He was quiet and at times broody, and I worried that something other than saint-like patience was at play while I recovered from the scare.
Late into the night, he came and went from the suite, on the phone and talking with one of the brothers. I didn’t intervene. I didn’t speak up, trying my hardest to read this paperback that didn’t hold my interest half as much as he did.
Curiosity propelled me to speak up when it seemed like he was preparing to go.
“I’m heading out.”
I set the book down. “This late?”
He nodded, pulling his shirt on and depriving me of the view of him in that undershirt that was stretched from the bulk of his muscles. “I need to take care of something.”
I pressed my lips together, lowering my gaze. “Please be safe.”
He paused, looking at me so intently that I felt like he was peering at my soul. “I always am.”
“Good.”
“My brothers will be with me, or near.”
“Right.”
He sighed, watching me closely. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just curious what you… do.”
He approached the bed and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Mostly, I protect the businesses or spy on enemies.” His gaze turned troubled. “I know you think the worst of me, that you’re unlucky to have a criminal for the father of your children, but this is the only life I know, Amy. This is the life I was born into. The life I will die having lived.”
“I don’t think the worst of you.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, pinning me with a hard stare. “You do. I know you do. It’s why I tried to convince myself that one night was all I had any right to expect from you. You view me in horror and recoil from the idea of being with my family.”
I shook my head. “No. That’s not?—”
“I am a Bratva man. My duties lie in serving and protecting the interests of the Valkov Bratva. That will never change, but I wish you could understand that I’m not just a heartless person, a cruel killer who slaughters without reason.”
I know that.“I am aware. You’ve done so much for me that it’s impossible to think you aren’t a decent man.”Even if you only do it out of duty, not because you want to.“And one day, you’ll be a good father.”I hope. I pray.
His smile was slow and genuine.
After a long moment of staring at each other, he took my hand and picked it up. “Dmitri is coming with me. We have a location for Diego, and we are going to eliminate him.”
I blinked, threading my fingers with his and wishing for more than this simple touch. “To… kill him?”
“Yes. It’s the only way. He’s been on the hunt for you.”
I sucked in a deeper breath, startled at this news. It was so easy to hide in here, behind these walls. Diego was out of sight and out of mind, but the reminder that the customer who bought me was still out there and feeling jilted scared me.
“He hasn’t replied to Alek’s offers to ‘buy’ you from him. Diego hasn’t entertained any message from the Bratva. He only insists that you be delivered to himnow, or else. And that’s not happening.”
“You would kill him?” I asked.
“For you?” He nodded.
It felt wrong to be touched that he’d kill for me, but it was a sign of his commitment to my safety. I had no right or desire to wish anyone dead, but I was slowly coming to understand this facet of his world. In many ways, it was the same reality that applied to anyone. Kill or be killed.
“Amy, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you,” he promised in a low, gravelly voice that kickstarted my libido all over again.