Page 64 of Savage Bratva King

“The pakhan asked that you be moved to his quarters.” There’s no hint of emotion or judgment in his tone; he’s simply stating a fact.

“He did?” I try to quell the excitement gurgling inside my chest.

I want to ask what this means, but Leo isn’t back yet, and he didn’t give me any warning that this was going to happen. Is he worried that Tamara might try to help me flee a second time? Or does he feel, like me, that the air he breathes isn’t the same when we’re not together?

The guard, whose name I still don’t know, waits outside while I enter Leo’s room. I don’t know what’s expected of me, but I feel like an intruder, until I see the small dog bed in the corner of the room. Braver, I enter the walk-in dressing room and find one side filled with clothes that all appear to be my size. Does Leo keep a selection of outfits just in case the need should arise, or did he send Tamara shopping for clothes this morning? I can imagine how well that would’ve gone down and make a mental note to check the clothes for strategic rips and sharp objects hidden inside the seams.

I haven’t eaten yet today, so I walk back to the guard and ask him to escort me to the kitchen. I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but there seems to be more security staff than usual positioned around the house. I instinctively glance up at the ceiling and catch a glimpse of the flashing red light of the camera.

Tamara and Ivana are in the kitchen, seated at the breakfast counter with their lunch and a couple of cans of soda, and my stomach twists. I hoped that the room would be empty. I get the impression that Olga doesn’t particularly like me, but she’s less abrasive than the two sisters, and keeps her opinions to herself while she gets on with her work.

I feel awkward helping myself to food with them around, so instead, I find the dog treats and sit on the floor with Lucky, trying to teach her to sit and give me her paw.

The guard who accompanied me sits with them, and the three speak in hushed tones. I try not to listen, but the atmosphere in the room is oppressive, like the calm before the storm clouds start rolling. Each time there’s a lull in their conversation I feel their eyes boring into the back of my skull. Lucky is oblivious, and I try to be more like her, but it’s difficult when the only person who is happy about my presence in the house isn’t around.

Marvel keeps one eye on the group sitting at the counter behind me, and lies with his haunches poised ready to spring him into full-on attack mode. More guards appear in the doorway and walk away again once they’ve accounted for everyone present.

Something bad is going down. I sense it. I know what it’s like to live with the constant threat of danger hanging over my head, and I can feel the tension emanating from the other people in the room.

“Who’s handling it?” the guard asks.

There’s a pause before Ivana answers, “Andrej.” Her voice is rougher around the edges than her sister’s, a heavy smoker’s voice.

“He was here yesterday,” Tamara adds. “Pakhan said it was time.”

Time for what?And who is Andrej? I shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but there’s no mistaking the bitterness in Tamara’s tone.

“We hit them last night.” Ivana drops her voice a notch, but either she wants me to hear their conversation, or she never learned to be quiet.

Either way, she can only mean one thing: Leonid’s men hit Xander Amory’s mob last night while Leo was in my bed. Something cold and slimy slithers down my spine. Was I a distraction to take his mind off what was going on outside? Or had he not intended to spend the night with me when he came to my door?

Before I can think about what this means for me, I hear the screeching of tires outside the house. The two women and the guard are on their feet in an instant, guns in their hands.

Panic solidifies inside my stomach.

Has Xander come for me? Where is Leonid? Will the guards try to stop him from taking me or will they hand me over. What if someone gets killed…?

Without thinking, I scoop Lucky into my arms and put her back inside the crate with Marvel, locking the door so that they can’t escape. Then I stand in front of the crate, shielding them with my body as best I can.

My heart beats erratically when Tamara and Ivana place themselves between me and the door, while the guard presses his back against the wall behind the door, both hands wrapped around the handle of his revolver which is raised to chest height. They’re expecting trouble. Despite everything, the sisters’ instinct is to follow orders and protect me, and for once, I’m grateful as no one is likely to hand me a gun to defend myself.

Footsteps inside the house.

A voice calls out, “Don’t shoot. It’s Marco.”

A glance passes between the sisters and the guard, but no one moves. Until a short, stocky man enters the kitchen carrying a sturdy box in front of him, followed by several more armed security staff all dressed in black. He knows his way around, and they obviously know him. Tamara and Ivana wait until he places the box on the island counter and steps away, then they sweep in and peer inside.

Their faces are turned away from me, but I watch their spines stiffen. The temperature inside the kitchen seems to drop a few degrees.

“Who?” Ivana asks.

“We don’t know yet,” Marco answers.

“Has anyone told Leonid?” Tamara slides a phone from her pocket.

Marco nods. “He knows.”

“Andrej worked his magic last night.” Tamara again. I still don’t know what’s in the box, but she sounds disappointed that she missed whatever magic display Andrej put on.

---