Page 22 of Bratva Hunter

She chews on her lip as her eyes catch mine and there’s a glimmer of sadness that wasn’t there before. “I’m sorry I… One of my friends called to let me know that my father had come to town. If I wasn’t there at the hotel, when he got there, I have no idea what he might’ve done to me.”

My brow lifts. “Was that really a concern? Is your father some kind of ogre?”

The scared mouse look on her face makes me feel bad for asking in the cavalier way. I know what an asshole her father was. Obviously, his entire family is evil, considering they’re after her and want me to track her down and kill her.

She swings her head back-and-forth as though she’s trying to knock out a memory. “My father was not a good man.”

I cock my head. “Was?”

“Yes. He recently passed away. “

My brow lifts again. I raise the octave of my voice as I ask. “What happened to him?”

She waves her hand as she looks down at the floor and mumbles. “He had a heart attack.”

I hide my smile with her excuse as to what happened to her dad. Would she tell someone that she knew well what really happened? I don’t really get the chance to ask before she steps away from her friend’s door with her basket in hand.

Chewing her lip, she cocks her head. “Have you been to Phoenix before?”

I smile and nod at the basket. “No. This is my first visit.” She nods again as she leans to head down the hallway. I raise my hand to catch her attention. “Have you eaten?”

She nods as she shutter steps. Time to get her inside. Dipping her head before she picks it up to look at me. “Why?”

I chuckle at her question. “Well, I haven’t, and I hate to eat alone. I have Chinese. You mentioned in the hotel room that you like chicken teriyaki, and I have some in my bag.” I lean towards her and turn my body, leading her to the idea of coming with me. “Why don’t you just come in? Keep me company. Your laundry will wait.”

“I just ate.”

“Okay, but I have a washer and dryer in here.”

She nods as she follows me into my condo. Well, that was easier than I thought.

She sets the basket down as I move to the small dining table with the bag and my beer. I motion for her to take a chair. As she sits down. I set the bag on the table, turning to head to the refrigerator. “There are drinks in the fridge: soda, ginger ale, and water. Anything interest you?”

She chews on her bottom lip again and nods. “A ginger ale would be great.”

I grab the can, crack it open, and set it in front of her, before reaching into the bag and pulling out plastic ware and a napkin. Smiling, I sit down on the bench. “What brings you to Phoenix?”

She shreds the plastic wrap covering the chopsticks, setting the utensils onto the table for me. I pull out the containers, opening them up, realizing we need plates. I dash to the kitchen and open the cabinets, pulling out two plates. She’s shaking her head as I walk back to set out a plate for her and one for me. I scoop chicken teriyaki onto her plate along with some white rice as she smiles.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Well, it’s too much food for me, after all. Just a bite while you tell me what brought you here.”

“I decided to come visit my friend Melanie. She’s on a modeling assignment, but she should be back in a couple of days.”

I scoop Kung Pow Chicken, Chicken Teriyaki, and Broccoli Beef onto my plate as I lean back smiling. “Well, this is fortunate.” That blush that makes me so happy creeps up her neck and onto her face. She bats her eyes with a smile. I nod as I use my chopsticks to grab a piece of chicken teriyaki and scrape it through the rice.

She holds my gaze for a moment before she nibbles off her plate. A few moments later, she raises her head and smiles. “I’m sorry I just left.”

“It’s fine.” I set down my fork and crack open my beer, taking a big swig before I set it down. I give her the look that I know will wet her panties and smile. “That’s okay. I’ll just punish you for leaving without my permission.”

Rosa squirms in her chair. I know her brain is thinking about what I said, and the sadistic part of me is happy that she’s worrying about what I’m going to do to her. We finish our meal with idle conversation about bits and pieces of nothing. I pick up the Styrofoam containers and put them back into the plastic bag as I get up walk across the dining area and drop them into the open trash. I turn as she stands smiling I know this is the time. “Did I say you should stand up, baby?”

“…… My laundry.”

I flick my head to her basket and smile. “I think that can wait, don’t you?” Her facial expression reminds me of her youth and inexperience. She’s not quite sure what I’m asking for. Once again, I have the upper hand. The thought floats across my brain. When was the last time I didn’t have complete control?

She sits back down in the chair and waits like the patient girl I would expect. She glances over to the black bag that I have resting on the back of the sofa. “Did you just get here?”

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