Page 83 of Sinful Wrath
I pull out my own phone and go through Pinterest to show Bianca some color scheme ideas for the flowers as well as some styles of wedding dresses for her to forward to her friend.
The conversation flows easilybetween us, and we go back and forth between discussing wedding plans and sharing stories of our overprotective fathers.
I find myself smiling and laughing with Bianca in a way that I never have with Kara or Macy.
I think a big part of it is because Bianca has been in my very shoes. She was forced to marry a man she didn’t know and now she’s here pushing their baby around the gardens of their beautiful home, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone look so happy.
It makes me actually start to believe that perhaps everything happens for a reason…
After an hour or so, Leo starts to stir in his stroller, and Bianca winces.
“He’s starting to fight his naps, which means I have to spend hours walking around the garden trying to get him to sleep. Thank goodness for podcasts, otherwise I might actually die of boredom.”
“I’d be happy to keep you company.”
Bianca offers me a sweet smile.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I’m sure you have better things to do than hang out with me and the baby.”
“Actually, I’d appreciate the company.” I shrug.
Until now, I’ve felt awkward being around Bianca but after chatting with her today, it turns out we have a lot in common.
I know I can come across as loud and extraverted, but that’s usually under the influence of a lot of alcohol. Trying to bond with girls when I’m sober is not something I’m very good at.
Perhaps, it has something to do with growing up without a mother, with only an older brother and an emotionally absent father guiding me in the relationships department. It would explain why I tend to get along withmen so much better, but that usually means I clash with other girls as a result.
It’s a lose-lose situation.
Men want to fuck me, and girls want to rip my hair out, which has resulted in me only having onerealfriend, and that’s Elle.
But I’m starting to think that perhaps Bianca could become one.
20
MIKHAIL
I’m startingto get restless.
My brothers and I are no closer to taking down Alfonzo Morano despite our best efforts and Igor Ivanov is still potentially harboring my half-brother somewhere, that is if he’s even bothered to keep him alive.
I need to do something. I can’t just sit around this house twiddling my thumbs.
Alexei says he trusts me to take more initiative within the bratva, so perhaps, I need to use this as an opportunity to show him what I can do.
If Igor Ivanov is holding a potential Koslov heir hostage then we need to fucking know about it.
Taking matters into my own hands, I give my private investigator a call to see if I can dig up some more information on our missing half-brother.
“I was wondering when I’d hear from you.” Rosa chuckles. “It was starting to get a little too quiet for my liking.”
“Don’t worry, I have something that will keep you busy.” I perch on the edge of my bed.
“Hit me with it, then. The anticipation is killing me.”
“I need you to look into Katya Petrova for me, formally Katya Ivanov.”
“What am I looking for, specifically?”