Page 68 of The Bratva's Bride

The panic in me subsided when Nikolai’s face lit up with a big grin as he looked at me lovingly. “I just wanted to make sure I heard you right.” He chuckled softly before leaning down into a deep and passionate kiss.

“YA tozhe tebya lyublyu.” He whispered heavily after our lips parted. “I love you too, Angel.YA tozhe tebya lyublyu. Your words were a little stiff, but that’s okay, it doesn’t matter.” He was elated, and I couldn’t help but let it spill over to me.

Those three little words always scared me, especially since the last time I uttered them I got stabbed in the back, literally. I knew there were feelings that festered for Nikolai, but I didn’t want to jump the gun just because we were married. I wanted to be sure before I made myself vulnerable to him by giving him my bleeding heart on a platter.

I couldn’t deny it any longer though, especially after tonight.

Carefully, he pulled me under the covers with him. “As much as I want to throw you down and make love to you right now to celebrate, you need rest,lisichka.” He whispered against my forehead before kissing it.

I wanted to protest, but I knew I was at my limit tonight. I needed to recharge fully after the trip and drop. I was too exhausted, and I could already feel the heaviness of sleep dragging me down into the darkness of slumber. “Good night,anh.” I mumbled happily with a smile as I snuggled myself into him.

“Good night,lisichka.” His voice a distant echo by the time his words filled my ears as I drifted off.

~*~

Iwoke up around middayafter going back to sleep once I had called out of work, because no way was I able to drag myself out of bed after a night like that. I was still exhausted and aching after sleeping the many hours I did. I only faintly remembered mumbling a quick ‘bye’ to Nikolai when he had to leave this morning for business reasons, but even that felt like some strange dream.

My body was still so heavy I barely managed to drag myself to the bathroom for a quick rinse and back to bed. I was way too tired for anything but to sleep again after I haphazardly pulled on a pair of shorts and short sleeved shirt after the shower. Food could wait. Nikolai could scold me later for it, but I wouldn’t be able to eat a bite in this exhausted state.

So, with a tired groan, I slowly wiggled my way over to Nikolai’s side of the bed, burying my face into his pillow to surround myself with his scent. Then, just as sleep’s sweet embrace started to take me, I was startled with a shot of adrenaline when I heard some clattering in the house.

Is Nikolai home?

A quick check of my phone answered my question. Nikolai religiously informed me about when he would be coming home if he knew I was home so his presence never came as a surprise. He also did so because sometimes he wanted to come home to me ready in bed for him, which I indulged him with most of the time.

But if Nikolai wasn’t home, then what was going on? There wasn’t any mention of remodeling or moving things. No shipments either. No way that came from equipment because it sounded like papers and dense boxes being moved.

Chewing my bottom lip, I quickly shot a text message to the family group chat, asking if any of them were present at the house. It wasn’t unusual for any of them to hang around the house since this was their second home. Unfortunately, all of them replied that they weren’t.

Honestly, it might be nothing. Maybe I was being a little too paranoid... On the other hand, when has my gut ever been wrong?

Ugh, fuck it.

Getting out of bed with another groan, I opened Nikolai’s nightstand safe and grabbed one of the Glocks, loading it with a full magazine before throwing on one of my robes. Then, I headed towards the source of the noise. I kept my small body firmly pressed against the wall as I slowly stalked towards Nikolai’s office where the noise came from.

Was he home? No, he replied to the group text he wasn’t, and he wasn’t one for pranks. So, who the hell was in his office? The place was always locked if he was gone, and no one was allowed in there besides Nikolai himself, his brothers, and I. Not even the house cleaner was allowed in to clean the place.

“Come on, I thought you said you were the best cracker.” A hushed voice said. A male from the sounds of it.

“I am!” A second male voice replied frustratedly.

“Then why the fuck does it keep popping up error?” The first male hissed.

“Do we really need to get access to his computer? We have the books.” The second male spoke up again.

“Kolya? Honey, is that you in there?” I called out as I slowly pushed the ajar door open more.

With the gun hidden behind me, I leaned against the doorway with a fake surprised face. “Oh, sorry, I thought Nikolai was back. What are you guys doing in his office?” I kept my voice light and clueless, hoping to play them to avoid setting the two men off. At least there were only two. Only problem? They weren’t strangers.

The man behind the computer grinned at me sheepishly, and the nervous tick of his lips didn’t go unnoticed by me either. “Oh, Mrs. Volkov. I’m sorry if we disturbed you. Mr. Volkov sent us to retrieve some documents from his office, but he kind of forgot to give us the details for his access code. Do you think you could help us out Mrs. Volkov?”

So, that’s how they want to play it huh?

Faking a smile, I responded in an innocent voice, “Sorry, Nikolai doesn’t divulge any of that to me either. Family business and all ya know? Why don’t you just call him? He’s out of his meeting by now.”

I couldn’t make a move yet when I couldn’t fully assess them. Being bodyguards for the family, I knew they had at least one handgun on them. So, I had to assume they were armed, but I don’t know if they were packing any other surprises.

I had a clear shot of both of them. One stood by the desk while the other sat behind the computer screen, but the computer guy was offset enough to where I could get a clean headshot. I would have to shoot one of them down because I wouldn’t win against two guns if both of them pulled their piece on me. The big question: who. I was intent on keeping one of them alive enough for questioning, but who would be my snitch?