Page 5 of Born into Chaos

Vitaly laughs and tosses the knife back in the drawer. “This should be interesting.” He pours us both another shot and raises it up so we can drink to our new arrangement. “Text me when you’re ready towork. You’re no use to me if you’re too injured to protect my daughter. Take some time off and let yourself heal.”

He tosses back his shot and gives another laugh. “We’re all going to be busy with Natalya’s wedding anyway. Making sure Lev doesn’t kill his future son-in-law is going to be a full-time job.”

I’d kept up with things while in the hospital, so I’m already aware of Natalya and Dominic’s engagement, but I also know it’s not my place to do anything other than raise my shot glass in a toast to the happy couple. Who their daughters marry is of no concern to me.

Vitaly walks me to the door, and I leave without ever catching sight of the rest of his family. Sveta’s twin brother, Val, has officially joined the Bratva, along with Roman and Danil’s oldest sons, so I’m sure I’ll see him around soon enough, but Katya, Vitaly’s wife, isn’t someone I usually run into, and I’m not surprised to find her absent today. The Melnikov men are very protective of their wives and kids. There was no reason for me to see them today, so Vitaly made sure I didn’t.

I know I won’t ever have a family, but if I did, I’d be the same damn way. This world is cruel to fragile things. My brother learned that lesson the hard way, and I’ll be damned if I ever live through something like that again.

No attachments means no one gets hurt.

I can watch over Svetlana and keep her at arm’s length. She’s stubborn, but she’s no match for me. I’m a highly trained member of one of the world’s most notorious Bratvas.

I think I can handle one eighteen-year-old, no matter how damn gorgeous she is.

Two months later, Vitaly gives me the all clear to start work. I haven’t seen Sveta since the day she came to see me in the hospital, and as I get in their private elevator, I can’t help but hope that my memory of her isn’t correct, that maybe blood loss and painkillers had fucked with myhead more than I realized. I’ve almost convinced myself of my own bullshit when the elevator doors open, and Svetlana shoots it all to hell.

Her honey-brown eyes aren’t nearly as sweet as they were when she thought I was dying. She’s glaring at me with one hand hiked on her hip, looking every bit as beautiful as I remember her being. I have the insane urge to close the distance and press my lips to the mouth that’s currently scowling at me. Instead of breaking my promise to Vitaly on my first official fucking day of work, I nod at Svetlana and step into the penthouse apartment.

“I can’t believe my dad assigned you to me,” she mutters, and I don’t bother correcting her and telling her that I asked for the position. “Follow me. He wants to see you before we leave.”

Without a word, I follow her down the hall, staring at her perfect ass the whole way. Before we turn the corner, I pull my eyes away from the curves that threaten to undo me and turn my face into an unreadable mask. Vitaly is waiting for us, leaning against the counter as he drinks a mug of coffee. His eyes run over me, but he stays silent, and if he thinks I’m going to be the one to break the silence, he’s in for a surprise. I’m used to keeping my mouth shut and following orders. Skills that I predict will serve me well in my new position.

Vitaly sets his mug down and turns to his daughter. His eyes immediately soften when he looks at her. “Do as he says, Sveta. His job is to keep you safe.”

Sveta sighs and grabs a banana from the bowl on the counter. “I don’t understand why I can’t just have Val take me places.”

“Because Val has better things to do than drive his twin to the mall,” Val says, walking in and heading straight for the fridge. “Hey, Vitya,” he tells me on his way by. I nod to him but stay silent. Grabbing a drink, he slams the door shut and looks back at Sveta. “Plus, you know you’re not allowed to eat in my car.”

“One time,” Sveta says around a mouthful of food, “and the stain came out.”

“Eventually,” Val says. He looks over at me. “She ate a cupcake andgot crumbs everywhere, and then she spilled her chocolate milk. I almost tossed her out at a red light.”

He’s laughing while he tells the story, but I’m already cringing at the idea of her making a mess of the SUV I’ll be driving. I don’t do so well with messes. I like things clean and in order. Sveta meets my eyes and laughs like she can read every damn thought I’m having, and then she tosses the banana peel in the garbage and puts her hand right back on her hip and asks, “You ready to go?”

I nod and then turn to Vitaly when he says, “Don’t forget what we talked about.”

He doesn’t need to remind me of the threat. I have no intention of losing my dick or of touching his daughter. She’ll get out of my head soon enough. She has to. It doesn’t matter that I haven’t been able to figure out a way to do it over the last two months and that was without seeing her every day, and it doesn’t matter that every night I still dream of her sweet face hovering over mine, begging me to live.

“Your job is to protect her with your life,” Vitaly reminds me as if I don’t already know what my position entails. “If something happens, you save her life.” He smiles at me. “It’s as simple as that.”

“I will,” I tell him, speaking my first words since arriving.

He nods and then gives Sveta a hug before he tilts his head back and yells, “Ptichka, get your sweet ass in here so I can kiss you goodbye.”

Katya comes walking in with a smile on her face, and as soon as Vitaly sees her, he pulls her close and kisses her.

“Dad, really?” Sveta groans, but Val just laughs and shakes his head, the two of them clearly used to seeing their parents’ public displays of affection.

Vitaly pulls back, leaving Katya blushing and flustered before he smacks her ass and says, “I love your mom, and I’m incapable of hiding it.”

“Have you ever tried?” Sveta deadpans, but I can tell she’s fightinga laugh.

Vitaly gives her a wink. “Once a very long time ago after our forced nuptials, and I swore I’d never do it again.”

“It didn’t last long anyway,” Katya says, reaching around to squeeze his ass.

“Jesus, Mom.” Val groans and then looks at Sveta. “We can’t take them anywhere.”

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