Page 1 of Secret Bratva Baby
Chapter 1 - Luka
“When does Niko get back?” my brother asks, scuffing his boot against the ground inside the warehouse.
“I’m not sure, Arkady. What are you doing here? I have work to do, and you’re kind of in my way,” I huff, trying to nudge him out of the path of men carrying crates towards the trucks. Niko has taken a break and gone on holiday with his new wife, Sera. In his absence, I’m handling the family business. We have a lot of deliveries to get out this week, and Arkady is hanging around and achieving nothing other than testing my patience.
Arkady takes a step to the left, leaning on a massive crate with his arms folded over his broad chest. He has that expression on his face, the one he usually has just before he starts shit.
“I’m waiting for Yilian. He’s on his way here, and I’m going to grab a ride to the bar with him. Are you joining us for a beer?”
“Ark, I’m trying to get this shipment out. Can you go wait somewhere else? I have work to do. Or make yourself useful and help me.”
He snorts with laughter and rolls his eyes at me. “Niko left you in charge, not me.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t help.”
“That’s exactly what it means.” He laughs again, pushing off the crate and wandering towards the sound of Yilian arriving outside. A car door closes, and Yilian’s boots crunch on gravel until he steps into the warehouse. “Hey guys, how are things going?” Yilian asks, walking towards us.
“Luka is busy taking life too seriously again,” Ark taunts me.
“If taking life too seriously translates into getting things done, then yes, that’s what I’m doing.” I’m losing patience with him. “Yilian, you can take him off my hands now.” I tilt my chin towards my other brother. “You’re on babysitting duty.”
Yilian chuckles. Arkady has always been the reckless, irresponsible one of all the brothers. Ark throws me a glare, full of warning.
Yilian ignores our normal banter and looks towards the truck. “Are you almost done loading the shipments?”
“No, I think it’s going to take another hour or two. This is only the second truck.”
“Will you come to the bar afterwards?” Yil asks.
“No, man. I’ve got other things to do after this.” I gesture towards the trucks.
Ark pouts in annoyance. “You used to be fun,” he huffs. “Why don’t you let me set you up with that blonde chick—I got her number last week, what was her name?”
I roll my eyes. “No thanks. I’m done with the drama of one-night stands.” The truth is that casual hook-ups used to satisfy me, it was good for stress relief, just to let off some steam—but at some point they started to become empty and leave me with a hollow feeling. I can’t do it anymore. I want something meaningful.
And since Niko got married, I’ve noticed how happy he is. I want that.
It reminds me of someone.
I’ve only once, in my entire life, come close to something meaningful.
Rose. Fuck, I loved that girl.
No, I can’t be thinking about that shit. It’s over. It was four years ago, and I’ve moved on. There is no point in dwelling on the past, despite the undeniable fact that just the thought of her name leaves me with a deep ache in my chest.
“Come on, man. You just need one night with her, she’ll make you forget you have that stick so far up your ass that you can’t go for a beer with us,” Ark says, punching me in the arm.
I snort. Nothing I say is going to convince Ark that this work is important. He’s got one thing on his mind—going for a beer.
“Yil, can you drag this idiot out of here before I shove him into one of these crates and ship him off somewhere. As far away from me as possible.”
Yilian tries to hide the smirk on his face, but Arkady catches it and narrows his eyes towards him. “Whose side are you on, Yil?” he asks, almost a threat.
“I’m staying out of this,” Yilian says with his hands raised.
His phone buzzes in his pocket, and he pulls it out, making a face as he answers.
“What happened?” he snaps into the phone, tense and eager for an update. “Did it work?”
