Page 32 of Bratva Beast

He smirks. “Now, now. That was just the one time.”

“One time caught.” I banter back. “If you’ll excuse us, we need to place a bid.”

I pull Isabella away. “Thank you. I told him I wasn’t interested. He told me to tell you Aguilar’s opportunity should be avoided.”

“Shit.” I keep us walking to the tables to place some bids. “I fucking hate the damn competition among the factions.”

She glances up. “Factions?”

“Yeah. The three groups that want a piece of what we have. The judge serves the Ukrainians, but he owes me..”

“Huh.” She nods and then points to a poster of a beach scene. “Think we could do something like that for Christmas, while I’m on break?”

I bend and press my lips to hers. “Definitely. Just make sure you have a bikini so I can enjoy your bump.”

She looks down at the floor before raising her head back up to lock eyes with me. “We haven’t talked about that.”

I nod. “We will. Just wanted to give you time to wrap yourself around the new adventure.” The hair raises on the back of my neck, and I turn into the knowing eyes of Aguilar. I should have been more careful with my words. Damn it. He knows Isabella is carrying my child. Fuck!

His eyes sparkle. “A beach vacation. What’s that called? A babymoon?”

Isabella reacts perfectly. “You misunderstand.”

He nods. “Oh. Well, time will tell.” He tips his head and walks away.

Isabella’s brow creases. “It’s a problem that he has that information.”

“It is.” I’m kicking myself and screaming in my head. “We’ll need to up your protection. I’m sorry. It isn’t what you want, but he’s evil.”

She runs her hand down my face. “I’m not worried. I have my beast.”

I whisper. “And I’ll disembowel anyone who fucks with us.”

Chapter 9

ISABELLA

Thane holds the door open as I enter the penthouse. He hasn’t said more than five words to me. I put my hand on my hip. “Tell Cynric you don’t want to babysit me.”

His impassive face cracks. “Yeah. I’m going to tell my father’s heir that I don’t want to do the job he’s given me.” He grits his teeth. “That’s not how this works.”

“Well, I can say that this.” I move my hand back and forth between us. “This doesn’t work.” I set my backpack on the bench by the front door and saunter to the kitchen. It’s midnight, and Cynric is with that horrible Aguilar guy. “I’m sure there’s someone who wants to move up in the bratva that wouldn’t mind watching after me.”

He makes some indiscernible sound as he sits down on a bar stool. “Cynric seems to give a shit about your safety. I don’t know why Papa doesn’t just give you to someone.”

I snort. “Suggest that to your brother.”

The door opens as Saxon calls out. “Hey, Izzy. Make me a sandwich.”

I chuckle. “Don’t let him hear you call me Izzy.”

“Ha. He’s in New Jersey.”

Thane’s eyes widen. “Why is he in New Jersey?”

I turn with the sandwich ingredients in my hand. “Aguilar.”

Thane stands, knocking the bar stool backward, cursing in Russian. “We need to go.”

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