Page 39 of Cruel Russian Monster
I exhaled through my nose, debating.
While I was at work for most of the day, Vera was at home for hours on end with no one to talk to. It wasn't something she was accustomed to, yet she never complained about it.
Letting her speak to my brothers wasn't a huge deal since they already knew each other and got along.
Are you seriously going to feed your affection? Weren't you trying to get rid of it before your brothers arrived?
I took a step back and gestured toward the lounge. “Go ahead.”
What I didn’t expect was the quick, featherlight kiss she pressed to my cheek before she lit up with a smile and hurried into the lounge. I followed.
While I nursed a drink, I watched Vera catch up with my brothers. She asked about Katya and the baby, naturally, and checked in on Ninel and Mariya, too. My brothers didn’t hold a grudge against Vera the way I did; who they truly hated was Artyom.
After nearly two hours of easy conversation, laughter, and a few shared memories, she hugged each of them and quietly excused herself for bed.
My brothers turned to me. We sat there quietly, letting the silence settle between us. I sure as hell wasn’t going to be the first to speak.
Avit broke the tension, glancing at Marten and Pyotr. “Either of you notice Vera subtly switch her wedding ring from her left hand to her right?”
“Yup,” they replied in unison, then turned their gazes on me.
“Jaroslav, what the hell is Artyom’s sister doing in your house?” Marten asked flatly. “You got a damn death wish?”
“If you noticed the switch of her wedding band, then you should assume that we're married. And to ensure there's no miscommunication between us, Vera and I are married,” I said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Three sets of eyes widened.
I told them everything about my trip to Vegas, kidnapping Vera, and how Father Gordon had married us almost three weeks ago.
Avit let out a low whistle. “I’m starting to think Dad kidnapped Mom. This can’t be normal. Maybe it’s genetic. Or a curse. First, Lev kidnaps Katya and marries her, now Jay loses his damn mind and does the same to Vera.”
My eyes narrowed. I may not have been the head of the Safin faction, but my brothers sure as hell knew better than to come into my house and disrespect me.
“Avit, have you lost your damn mind?” I shot to my feet. “In case any of you forgot, I’m your older brother, and you will speak to me with the respect I’m owed. You barge into my house, and now you’re questioning a decision I made to protect this damn faction? To protect all of you?”
Avit stood too, squared up and ready. “Decision? Since when did we start making critical, life-altering decisions on our own? Even Lev told us about his decision to marry Vera! And he's the bloody faction leader!”
Avit's nostrils flared. “This shit could backfire, and you know it. Or did you forget we have two sisters? What if Artyom or one of his psychopaths decides to retaliate by kidnapping Ninel or Mariya and forcing them into marriage? And then treat them like shit just to prove a point to us? What then, huh?”
“Do you think I haven’t thought through the consequences? Every fucking last one?” I growled, stepping closer. My voice dropped to a lethal level. One of my brothers have heard over the years when we've faced off with enemies.
Pyotr and Marten stood as well, tense, eyes glued on us.
“Have you forgotten what I do for this family? The role I excel at? Marrying Vera forces Artyom’s hand to halt the war. And it ties our assets. He might have rejected Katya, but he can’t turn a blind eye to my marriage to Vera. We may not like the Rykovs or trust them, but everyone in this room knows how powerful they are, and if we align with them, we'll be unstoppable.”
But the anger in Avit’s eyes didn’t fade.
“The keyword here is trust,” he snapped. “We don’t trust them. Or have you forgotten the shit Artyom pulled after we rescued Katya? He could’ve killed Lev if he wanted. He hates Katya, and he wants her back. What the fuck do you think he’ll do when he finds out Vera’s married to you?”
Avit stepped closer, our faces just inches apart.
“If Artyom or his brothers kidnap Ninel or Mariya and force them into marriage, I’ll never forgive you. Lev’s beenincluding our sisters in how the Bratva runs, not to turn them into pawns, but to empower them. And you just shot that to hell.”
Then he shoved past me and stormed out of the lounge.
“I’ll talk to him,” Pyotr muttered, already moving after him.
I sighed. I had never seen Avit that angry before, and it bothered me.
