Page 53 of The Bratva's Innocent Sold Bride
“That doesn’t sound like our cousin Masha,” I said, looking across at Masha’s shy, somewhat dreamy sister Lilia, who was more likely to say something like that.
But either Masha was just playing along with our cover story or being a smartass… or she’d caught on to my true feelings. She had gotten me pretty worked up that day while we were waiting for Anatoli’s second in command to finish his manicure.
Rurik pointed out how our cousins had all married Americans, and I pointed out that they, too, were American now. Perhaps they better understood that urgent need for freedom and independence better than I ever would. Or maybe CJ would just have to keep trying to teach me.
The chatter grew rowdy as we continued to toast one another, and Nik had to close the doors on our private room so we wouldn’t disturb the movie stars, politicians, and other high-profile diners who had waited months to get a table. As the dessert was being served, I made Emerson switch seats with me. Only a couple of hours and a few feet away, and I missed CJ. I wanted to hold her hand and make sure she wasn’t overwhelmed.
“What do you think?” I asked, gratified to see she was relieved I had come to sit with her.
“They’re all great,” she said, looking around the table a little wistfully.
She could accuse me of being old-fashioned all she wanted, but I still thought her only child's existence must have been desperately lonely. We’d eventually fill our house with children; that was a fight I wouldn’t lose.
“But you could use a break?”
“It’s a lot,” she admitted under her breath. “I’m scared to death I’ll get someone’s name wrong.”
“Well, don’t do that. We break kneecaps for that.”
It took her a blink to realize I was joking, but her brows still furrowed with anxiety. “Why didn’t you tell me you named the dog after your cousin’s son?” she whispered. “It’s a good thing Jenna wasn’t offended.”
“She wouldn’t be,” I assured her. “And I like the name. Since we couldn’t use it for our own child, this seemed the next best thing.”
A deep blush stole over her face. I leaned in to tell her how pretty she was and steal a quick kiss when someone tapped on their wine glass.
“Time for the newlyweds to kiss,” Max called, with Dima egging him on.
CJ’s face flamed bright red, but I swooped in and claimed her mouth. My family’s laughter faded into the background, and it was just us. Her hand slid to my thigh under the table, moving up a little too far. I covered it with my own, feeling her smile against my lips. We were both ready to call it a night and get back to the hotel.
When we finally broke apart, the atmosphere had quieted down. In fact, Aleks was speaking to someone on the phone with a dark expression on his face, while Dima shared a message he had just received with Max. A second later, Daniil must have received the same message. As soon as he read it, he stood, patting his side where his gun lay in its holster and signaling to Rurik to follow him.
Aleks and the rest of the LA brothers were on their feet as well, heading out in a rush.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
“We’ve got this,” Aleks said, preoccupied with the problem at hand, which seemed like a big one. “Enjoy your vacation.”
I grabbed his arm in a vice grip. He was lucky I didn’t punch him. “Are you fucking kidding me? If there’s trouble, I’m going to help.”
“Good,” he said, visibly relieved. “Because we’re going to need it.”
I hurriedly told CJ to stay with the women. Mila promised she’d be safe, and in Nik’s restaurant, I had no doubt. She kept an upbeat tone to her voice as she jokingly told CJ this kind of thing was typical for a family gathering, and that it was no big deal, but her eyes told a different story.
“What’s going on?” CJ asked, trying to get up to come with me.
Mila put her hand on her arm and offered reassurance. I didn’t hear the bustle to get out the door and on our way. I threw one last apologetic look at CJ and took off, ready to defend what was ours.
Chapter 33 - CJ
So many Fokins. It was overwhelming, to say the least. Within minutes, I forgot that every last one of them was probably a highly trained assassin, because they were all so damn nice. It was clear they would walk over fire for each other, and what kind of broke my heart a little was that they so easily accepted me as one of their own.
I wasn’t, and that was what hurt.
It was impossible to keep up with who was married to whom and what their kids’ names were, but I let their happiness at all being together wash over me, wondering what it would be like if Mat and I were really married.
I mean, we were, but if it was real. If the love-at-first-sight story they all believed was true. Looking across the table at Mat, so handsome and relaxed, I could almost believe it myself.
Then everything changed. The mood grew somber and dark, a frisson running through all of them after a single glance at the eldest, Aleks. Something was wrong. Really wrong. The wives and Nat and Mila tried to joke it off, but I could see in their eyes that they were worried. The glances they exchanged with each other told me all I needed to know.
