Page 32 of Secret Bratva Baby
Falling asleep is borderline impossible.
I’m restless and uncomfortable, and my thoughts are looping. I force myself not to go and check on the girls during the night, to give them their privacy.
Rose has witnessed the people who are after her. I don’t think she’ll try to leave. She knows she's safe with me—even if it’s only because I’m a monster, capable of killing with ease.
***
In the morning, my eyes are dry and burning when I wake up. I might have been lucky enough to get two hours of sleep in total.
I groan as I pull the covers off myself and climb out of bed. My body feels like it belongs to someone else.
Checking my phone, I groan again. My brothers are asking if they can come for lunch or dinner. I can’t face everyone today.
I ignore the message and head downstairs to the kitchen.
Lily and Rose are in there making cereal.
Rose glances at me and gives me a tight, awkward smile.
“We’re almost done,” she mutters, packing away the cereal box and picking Lily up.
“There’s no rush. You can eat in here if you want. You’re not in my way at all.”
“No, it’s ok. We prefer to eat somewhere else….”
She hurries away before I can say anything more.
My heart sinks a bit lower. She’s closing me out.
Maybe Ishouldhave my brothers over for dinner tonight. At least she will be forced to sit at a table with me.
No.
No, that’s not fair. Give her space. Don’t push her into any corners; it will only make things worse than they already are.
All day, Rose is very efficient at avoiding me. As soon as I come into a room, she has an excuse to leave it. If I ask her a question, she has a one-word answer. She’s not being rude, but her guard is up.
By five in the afternoon, I’m so tired all I want to do is crawl back into bed.
One of my security guys comes to me to let me know my brothers have arrived.
“What?” I stammer, confused.
“Your brothers are here, sir.”
“But—" I narrow my eyes. I ignored them, and they showed up anyway. Sighing loudly, I tell the guy to let them in. I haven’t arranged anything for dinner. I wonder if the chef can whip something up for all of us.
Yilian walks in first, grinning. “You know ignoring us doesn’t work, right?” he chuckles, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.
Ark follows behind him. Thank goodness, he’s carrying a few pizza boxes. “I come bearing gifts,” he says proudly.
“Pepperoni and avo? The one with the mushrooms and chili sauce?”
“Of course. I also got a plain one because I wasn’t sure what the girl likes.”
“Rose,” I say.
“Yeah, her,” Ark nods, walking past me towards the dining room.
