Page 20 of Savage Bratva King

She hesitates inside the doorway when she sees us. All kinds of emotions dance across her face, and something I’m not quick enough to catch flickers in her eyes before she blinks it away. Jealousy? Sergei stopped teasing me long ago about Tamara’s crush on me when I told him that, to me, she will always be the little kid I discovered in a stinking container. But my mother has hinted on several occasions that she worries the young woman’s affection for me will be her undoing.

I don’t want Tamara to love me. She is too important to me for our relationship to be destroyed by misplaced affection. So, making sure that Gianna remains under the covers, I ease my bulky frame off the bed and take the tray from Tamara.

“Why didn’t you stop her?” I demand.

“I tried.” She shrugs. “She was simply carrying out your orders, Pakhan.”

“My orders were to see that she understood the lesson.”

Her gaze slides to the bed and the pale face on the pillow, stringy-damp hair fanned out around her like a halo. “She understands.”

Tamara might not always agree with her sister’s methods, but she will always have Ivana’s back. Even if it means choosing her twin over me. And I would not have it any other way. I give loyalty to my people, and I demand loyalty in return because without it, we are nothing.

I take her words on board and nod once to confirm that I understand also. “No one touches Gianna without my knowledge. No one harms her. No one so much as fucking looks at her the wrong way or they will have me to answer to. Including Ivana. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Pakhan.” Tamara peers down at the coffee pot. “Do you want me to stay with her?”

“No. I will stay a while.”

“But, Pakhan, the next shipment is due later today.”

“I canceled it. What is one shipment when I have a war to win?”

Tamara goes to walk away and falters with her hand on the doorknob. “Do you know what lesson you were trying to teach the printzessa?”

Her voice is steady, calm, but laced with something else that I cannot quite place. She would never normally dare to question my orders. It seems that Gianna’s presence is affecting her too, and I don’t know if this makes me feel glad or uneasy.

“Yes. Do you?”

“You wanted to show her who is in control.”

Something icy settles inside my gut, turning circles like a dog trying to get comfortable. “And you think I failed?”

“It is not for me to say.”

She turns away from me again, but before she can leave, I set the tray down on the nightstand and grab her arm, spinning her back around to face me.

“Speak.”

Tamara lowers her gaze to my hand on her arm. “When was the last time you laid a hand on me?”

It’s an easy question to answer. “Never.”

“So, why is it different now that she is here?”

The question unnerves me. “Nothing has changed.”

“Don’t you see?” She holds my gaze, searching my eyes as if she wants to see what’s going on inside my head. “Everything has changed.”

I release her arm. “You have no idea what you are talking about. I have secured the asset as planned. Nothing more.”

“So long as you and the asset both believe this to be true, then we have nothing to worry about, huh?”

I shake my head. “Stop talking in riddles and say what you want to say.”

“Alright, Pakhan.” Tamara takes a deep breath as if psyching herself up for the punchline.

I might rule with a combination of fear and loyalty, but not with the twins. Never with the twins. I don’t want them to fear me, I’m their savior. If they fear me, they will be able to walk away from me, and that means that my enemies will be able to buy them and encourage them on their way.

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