Page 19 of Cruel Russian Pakhan
With everything I had on my plate, I couldn’t shake Vera’s reaction from my mind. Part of me was convinced she was lying,but another part couldn’t deny the trauma I saw written on her face, carved into her body language after the shootout. So, I decided to do something about it.
Dressed in gym wear, with the bag of things I had purchased for Vera in my hand, I made my way to her room. Without knocking, I unlocked the door and entered.
The television was on, but she just sat there in a daze. She hadn't even heard me come in, which wasn't a good thing.
I closed the door loudly enough to get her out of her stupor but softly enough not to startle her. Immediately, her head spun in my direction, and she shot to her feet and took a few steps back.
I walked over and held out the bag.
“Put these on,” I ordered.
Vera folded her arms. “Why?”
I rolled my eyes internally. Did she have to question everything?
“We’re going to the gym downstairs. This week, I’m teaching you self-defense.”
I swore I caught a glint in her eye before it faded as she took the bag. I thought she was going to head to the bathroom to change, but this was Vera. She wasn’t a woman who made anything easy.
“You thought I was going to get you killed out there, didn’t you? Is that what this is about?” she asked, her eyes narrowed.
“I didn’t think you’d get me killed,” I said. “I thought you’d getyourselfkilled.”
Her jaw tensed. “Why didn’t you let me, then? It would've made your life easier. You could find a wife who actually loves you and wants to be here.”
“In our world, marriages aren’t built on love. They're built on convenience.”
And leverage, but saying that part out loud would put her on the defense. I needed her to be open to get the information I needed.
Vera scoffed. “So, I’m a convenience?”
“Yes.”
I wouldn’t lie to her. Letting her die before I got the information I needed from her wasn't an option. And besides, Artyom would’ve told her the lie I fed him, that I needed a wife to bear my children. So, she knew exactly what this marriage was: a convenience. Why was she acting so surprised?
“A convenience you had to protect…so she wouldn’t get herself killed?” she snapped.
“Yes.”
If she had died out there, things between the two factions would've imploded. Even if it had been her brother’s doing—which I still didn’t have the proof of which I needed—he would've spun a different tale to anyone willing to hear out a grieving brother.
Vera rolled her eyes. “So, in this self-defense class, you’re going to teach me to dodge bullets?” she asked, dry and mocking.
I stalked toward her, stopping just shy of touching her. I looked down at her and she stared back at me without flinching.
God! She was so infuriating.
“Will I teach you to dodge bullets? No. Will I teach you how to move fast enough to survive a shootout? Yes. Will you learn to shoot, so you can take down your share of men if it happens again? Absolutely. Nowifeofminewill be caught off guard.”
I stepped back. My voice flattened. “Now, if you're done with the questions, go change.”
She saluted. “Yes, sir!” With an eye roll, she disappeared into the bathroom.
I let out a breath through my mouth as I stood by the door, my arms folded. Was this what marriage with Vera was going to be like? Head-butting at every turn? Even Jaroslav knew not to question my authority, but Vera didn't care. Was she testing me to see how much she could get away with?
Before I could finish the thought, Vera stepped out of the bathroom, and I wasn’t disappointed by what I saw. Everything fit her perfectly—a bit too perfectly. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself not to close the distance like some horny teenager itching to run his hands over every curve on display.
When I looked at her face, there was a flicker of something in her eyes that I couldn't quite read before it disappeared.
