Page 65 of Secret Bratva Baby
“Oleg was pretty happy with the new SUV we sent him.”
“Ah, great. I wanted to ask you about that.”
“Yeah, we dropped it off yesterday. I am thinking of ordering one for myself. Have you seen the features on that car?”
Ark chats away, and I find myself searching the crowd for Rose.
It’s easy to spot her. She stands out like a shooting star in a dark sky. She’s radiant. I watch her talking to Jade and Aliyah. My sisters aren’t the type to pretend to like someone. Even from here, I can see they like her already.
Niko waves at me. “Hey man, you made it,” I say.
“Yes, I got back literally a few hours ago. We’re just stopping in to say hi, then heading home. We’re exhausted. The flight was long.”
“It’s good to have you back. I hope you’re rested and ready for work.”
He chuckles. “I’ll be ready on Monday.”
“Luka,” Oleg says loudly, spotting us across the room. He walks towards us, a little drunk on birthday vibes and champagne.
“I’m ducking out,” Niko says quickly with a grin. “I’ve already said hi. I’m going to find my wife and see if we can sneak out yet.”
I nod and turn towards Oleg.
“I never took you for a champagne drinker, man,” I laugh, pulling him into a hug.
“My wife insisted I try it. The right woman can really change a man.” He chuckles.
“I agree,” I muse, my eyes drifting back to Rose. He follows my gaze.
“She’s beautiful. You have to watch out for the beautiful ones. They can be trouble.”
“Not this one. She’s no trouble at all,” I murmur, lost in the sight of her.
“Oh man, you’ve got it bad,” Oleg laughs loudly, turning to Ark to say hello to him.
I chuckle nervously, not realizing how blatant I’d made it. Maybe he was just drunk. Teasing me. I'd better watch myself, though.
Throughout the night, whether I’m standing next to her or watching her from a distance, she is all I can focus on.
At one point she hurries over to me, beaming, perhaps a little tipsy from the steady line of drinks I’ve noticed Aly and Jade bringing her, and she grins, leans close, and whispers, “Every single one of the Kuznetsov siblings—their names allstart with R.” Her eyes shoot wide as though she’s told me a secret. I chuckle and pull her into my arms.
“You’re glowing,” I whisper in her ear.
She giggles again. “I—I don’t ever drink. I hope my face isn’t all red.”
“That’s not what I mean.” I grin, looking down at her. “I meant you’re radiant, Rose. You’re friendly to everyone, and you make people smile. I can’t count how many people have come up to me tonight to comment on how beautiful you are.”
She presses her lips together, then bites her lower lip.
“I do feel pretty in this dress.”
“Rose,” Jade calls her. She turns towards my sister. “We’re doing tequila shots.”
“No, Jade,” I shout back.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” Rose says in fake horror.
“Rose, please drink water,” I laugh.
