Page 73 of Kept By the Bratva
“When Pavel was in charge, he got too close,” Ivan said.
“But now, we need to stop him,” Alek ordered. “He’s determined to bring the Valkov Bratva down, and I’m getting sick of it.”
No one spoke up, regardless of Alek’s pointed looks around the table. He was waiting for a volunteer. “Anyone want to head up a mission to bring that fucker down?”
I opened and closed my mouth. I never shied from hard work, and I’d be perfect for this kind of an operation, relying on stealth and hiding to get close.
Amy put her hand on mine, shaking her head. “Not Nik.”
As the newest person to join our selective group, she showed that she had some guts to speak up like that. She didn’t waver, looking Alek directly in the eye. While she wasn’t being disrespectful, she was brave to use that firm tone.
“He’ll need to take a break from some ‘missions’ when the babies come.” She cleared her throat, looking down at the table for a moment. “I know I have a lot to understand about your lifestyle and the way things work around here, but…”
“Of course, Amy,” Alek agreed easily. “Of course. And when my daughter is born, I’ll step back accordingly too.”
She smiled at him and let out a deep breath, relieved.
“We have an entire brotherhood here. Everyone will pitch in to help with all missions. But we do need a direct plan to stop this cop from becoming more than a nuisance.”
Ivan shrugged. “I’ll take care of Murphy.” He said it with his usualwhateverbrand of indifference, like it wouldn’t bother him one way or another how he killed the crooked cop.
“Once things are secure around here,” he added. “I’ll handle it.”
“Thank you,” Alek replied.
Amy stood to take her dirty plates to the tray waiting in the corner of the room, and I noticed several of my brothers smiling. We weren’t spoiled, but we all knew how much Margie and the other housemaid would nag for trying to take over and do their work for them.
“What?” Amy asked when she realized everyone watched her.
I snagged her hand and brought her over to sit on my lap.
She wasn’t shy, nestling in and sighing with a smile. “Before our meeting is adjourned… I should let you all know that Amy and I will be house hunting soon.” We’d only mentioned it last night, but I was serious. We needed space with two babies on the way.
“We’ll need a family home.” Amy frowned. “Well, a more baby-proofed one.”
Alek nodded. “That makes sense.” He smiled at Mila. “We will likely do the same.”
“Wait.” Maxim grinned, pointing and Amy and me close together. “Am I going to need to find a priest and bribe him to hurry here?”
Mila laughed, shaking her head.
Amy smiled at me, caressing my jaw. “I’m not one of those girls who have specific dreams about a wedding.”
I leaned close to kiss her. “But you’re getting one. And it will be perfect.”
Because it would be ours, to mark the start of our new life together, and we’d already proven to each other how perfectly we fit, come hell or high water.
30
AMY
Two months later…
“Oh, honey,” the older woman told me at the table out back. “I’m telling you. I devoured sauerkraut. That was my craving. Nothing sweet like cake.” She licked her lips.
“Sauerkraut?” I grimaced but smiled as I snacked on a second slice of wedding cake. “Really, Violet?” I wouldn’t call this cake my craving. It was just too good and I didn’t want to pass it up. I only planned to ever have one wedding day and one wedding cake, so I’d enjoy as much as I wanted when I could.
She nodded sagely. “It was all I could keep down.”