Page 31 of Bratva's Vow
Because I liked it too. I liked knowing he wanted to beclose to me, even in the smallest ways. He wasn’t the only one. If I didn’t have him in my sight for some time, I worried where he was, what he was doing, and with whom.
“I’m being honest.”
He shifted, tucking his leg underneath his ass and adjusting the tablet. “Okay, but seriously, what about a cake? Any flavors off-limits?”
“Wren—”
“Do not say you don’t want cake, Maxim. That is blasphemy. Besides, Jess already said she would bake the cake for the party.”
“Party? You didn’t mention a party.”
“Of course a party. Your birthday party.”
“Seriously, Wren, you don’t have to go through all that trouble.”
“Please, I want to.” He clutched the tablet to his chest. “This is the first time I’ve been excited to celebrate a birthday since my twelfth when my dad told me he would be there but he never showed up. I’ve not seen him since.”
His voice had gone so soft I almost missed his words. My stomach twisted at his tone, coated heavily with pain.
“You haven’t celebrated your birthday since then?”
He shook his head. “Now you see why this is important to me.”
How could I deny him? If he’d wanted to throw me a birthday party that lasted the entire week, I would have gone with it. And still that wouldn’t make up for the horrific thing I’d done.
“Wren, you can throw me a party and even buy me a cake. I promise I’ll enjoy every minute of it.”
I’d force myself to if it were the last thing I did.
“Any idea what kind of cake you want?”
“I’m fine with anything you choose, just no chocolate.”
“Boo. You’re no fun.”
“Jess will be fun enough for me and you,” I said quietly.
He laughed, and I caught his smile in the mirror—the way his lashes fluttered just a bit before he looked back down at the screen. Good, he was no longer sad.
This was what I couldn’t lose.
This boy with his sweet smile who could sit inches from danger and not suspect a thing.
I had to find the chief. I had to end this. Before another car crash resulted in a body bag.
But for now, I focused on the sound of his voice, the little jokes, the rapid-fire questions about party decorations and guest lists.
He was planning a birthday like we were normal.
Like we were safe.
Thankfully, more than half the names on the list happened to be bodyguards.
“Hey, Wren.”
“Huh?” He snapped his head up.
“Why don’t you forget about the party for a bit and join me?”
